And the days keep flying by..

I had two more donations from very supportive, sweet friends in the last few days. Thanks Brianna and Timothy!

Since I last wrote, I have been riding ALOT. Last Thursday and Friday I did about an hour each day on the trails, and on Saturday, went for just over four hours doing trail, arena, and then trail work again. By the end, my legs were near numb and both me and the horse were covered with sweat. He slowed significantly that day, and when I rode the following day with his owner, she noticed that he was slightly swollen in his right cannon (the part of the leg between the hock and the knee).

I was afraid it may have been from pushing him too hard, but his owner assured me that it was probably an old injury flaring up and he should be in good enough shape that nothing I threw his way shouldn't be too difficult. We wrapped his legs, and decided it would be best not to have him ridden for the following week.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that he will get better by the end of this week, and the weather holds. If not, there will be other endurance rides next year.

I went to a party this weekend, and there is now no denying I'm not as in good shape as I was last year. I could barely fit in my dress (which was loose on me last year), and comparing pictures from last year's party to this year - I have very obviously lost the tone in my arms.

Truth is, last year I did a lot more running, and a lot more climbing. I hated running, and only did it to not be a complete embaressment at the mud runs I was so fond of doing that year. I climbed a lot more because I had membership at a gym much closer to me. I quit going to that gym after it became far too crowded, and joined a gym on the other side of town.

The climbing I can't really bump up, especially with riding so often and the cost of gas, but running I should easily slip into my schedule. I just need the motivation! So, I started running with a friend of mine, and we will try to do it at least twice a week.

I jogged with my friend for around 3 miles yesteray. It was suprising that I could even go that far in all these months of not doing ANY running, but I think the cold air helped. It was absolutely wonderful running in it, and I nearly forgot the pain in my creaky joints. This might not be too bad!

If this weekends race doesn't work out, I'm going to go play in all that wonderful snow that has piled on our local mountains in these last few days.