For the first part of this weekend I truly put this skill to use. \u00a0For the first time since my husband and father built our wonderful little cabin* by a lake, I went up on my own for a night and morning of peace and quiet before the rest of the family came up.<\/p>\n
Autumn made an early visit this past weekend. \u00a0When I arrived the air was cool and the rain had started. \u00a0This continued through to the next day resulting in nothing other than the pair of loons being out on the cold, grey lake. \u00a0There\u00a0was what I believe could be called a deafening silence. \u00a0It was, quite simply, wonderful. \u00a0Between Friday evening and Saturday lunch, this was what I did:<\/p>\n
Of course I did stop doing the above in order to get my 10 hours of sleep in!<\/p>\n I had no urge to do anything. \u00a0In fact, it took me about 45 minutes just to make myself get off the couch and pour a bowl of cereal on Saturday morning. \u00a0The fall of Rice Chex into a bowl has never sounded so loud!<\/p>\n The extreme silence would come to an end with the arrival of my husband and boys. \u00a0But even then it was just one of those days to lay low and read. \u00a0My kids will note that I did claim that particular spot on the couch, the most comfortable in the cabin, as my own<\/p>\n Sunday came and I knew this lazy body would have to do something to prepare for the Army Run that takes place in – oh hell, I’m not even going to count the days since it might just send me into a panic. \u00a0Finally that morning I managed to head out the door. \u00a0O.K, it may have been more like noon. \u00a0Thankfully the boys were willing to do a little run with me, which helped get me going. \u00a0Together we did a 3k out and back. \u00a0I knew, however, that 3k for me was just not going to be enough. \u00a0So after dropping them off at the cabin and tearing myself away from this view…<\/p>\n …I set out again. \u00a0Not much to say about this run other than I ran 13 km, pretty much all of it hills, not much of it enjoyable. \u00a0I exaggerate, there was a one km stretch of flat road and since it was an out and back I got to do it twice! \u00a0There are no flat options in the area unless I go for a drive to the nearest town. \u00a0I admit that at the base of two hills – one being the steepest and the other being at least a km long – I turned off my watch and simply walked up them. \u00a0On a fun note, I did discover that those portable, digital signs that tell how fast your car is going will also tell you how fast your are running. \u00a0I know because on that flat stretch I tested it. \u00a0Twice. \u00a0Who needs a Garmin?<\/p>\n Today should have been a rest day but Evan was excited to take me on a 2.5k run he had done on his own the previous night. \u00a0He assured me it was a really fun route because of the awesome hills. \u00a0Great \ud83d\ude41 \u00a0Before fitting in the run though the boys and I went kayaking, with my husband and our dog joining us in the canoe. \u00a0I estimate we traveled about 3km, the longest the boys had ever kayaked on their own (meaning at no time did I grab one of their ropes and pull them behind me). \u00a0No speed records were set, there was lots of floating and enjoying the scenery, but still a sense of accomplishment. \u00a0At the end of the trip I suggested to\u00a0the boys that we should do a\u00a0run right away, telling them we would complete a kayak\/running duathlon. \u00a0They loved this idea so off we went. \u00a0Luke and Mike did a 1k run and Evan and I did that 2.5k hilly route. \u00a0Here he is climbing a hill, leaving me far behind:<\/p>\n![\"photo-18\"](\"http:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/photo-181-e1408420627990.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n