Quiet Weekend

I enjoyed a quiet few days over the weekend. We ran with the Run Club on Saturday and spent a couple of hours hanging out at coffee after. Then on Saturday afternoon, Eric and Riley headed for Pullman to visit WSU. Riley is transferring there in the fall, and this was his weekend to see an advisor, register, and find a dorm.

I prepared well for a weekend home alone, picking up a stack of books at the library and a stack of movies at the video store. The weather was cold and windy, with bouts of snow, hail and rain. That worked into my plans too - no guilt for skipping yard work. My goal was to spend the rest of Saturday holed up at home enjoying the books and movies, then run Sunday morning and repeat. I did it, too - I met my goal! I read three books, watched two movies, did some laundry and walked the dog during a sun break. Today I got up and taught Pilates, then spent the day in the office. I got home in time to finish my last book before the guys get home. Now I even have time to post.

I really am a homebody. I could easily spend days at home, wrapped up in my own little world and be happy. It's one of the things I miss now that I work almost full time. It's probably one of the reasons why homeschooling was such a fit for me - that ability to be happy at home. Not that we spent all day, every day here - we were out and about with friends, on field trips, at 4H or the Y at least a couple days a week. And yes, even in those days, I'd get out the door in the early am to run. I also worked part time at the preschool then, but I always planned in one or two full days at home. I'd do that now if I could get away with it.

One of the interesting things I've learned over the years about personality characteristics is this: introverts get their energy and renewal from solitary time, extroverts get it from people time. Either can have characteristics of the other, but that renewal piece tells the true story. I am introvert - I need time alone if I am going to function. Most people think I am an extrovert because of my job - I speak in front of classrooms of people, I can speak in front of large crowds, I meet and work with new people every quarter, and when I am with a group of friends I can be quite the chatterbox. But, I will go nuts and get really, really grouchy if I don't get that alone time.

I get easily sidetracked in these posts. Started off telling you about the weekend, and morphed into a minor personality analysis! So, I enjoyed my quiet weekend, got my runs in, and finished the week with 39.6 miles. So much for tapering. I'm trying to decide how many miles to do this week. I kind of want to stick to my normal weekday schedule, which would have me entering the marathon on Sunday with 25 miles. My brain is telling me to cut out two of the runs and get some extra rest. My mileage for next week (not counting the marathon) will be right around 10 miles. I probably won't get to run Tuesday or Thursday at all, due to travel and work and that makes me want to get all my runs this week. I don't know what I'll do.

I do know what I'm doing this weekend though. I'm looking forward to a long weekend in California, and to the chance to meet Donald, and see both Dori and Darrell again. And most of all, to run one of my dream-list marathons!