I had planned to do my workout at the track this afternoon, but a high school cross country meet was scheduled at the exact same time, so I couldn’t use it. Wicked bummer. 
I didn’t want to do my workout on the treadmill at the gym, so I switched-up my training plan and took advantage of the beautiful fall weather this afternoon.
Instead of Track Workout 1, I did Thursday’s 5-mile run at pace. On Thursday, I’ll swap it for today’s track workout. (Mal made the same change in his training schedule.)
I ran 5 miles in 44:17 (8:51 pace). The sunny, crisp fall weather totally made the run enjoyable today. It felt awesome to get out there and just let my mind wander while I trucked along.
When I run in new neighborhoods like I did today, I always look for markers to help me find my way back home. I’ve been known to get lost on my runs, so I try to make mental notes of where to go.
This marker totally got my attention! 
In fact, I changed my running route just so I could run by it again. It was fun looking for it on my way back!
I’m not in the mood to cook at all tonight, so dinner is going to be something simple. But, maybe my husband will cook for me? It’s worth a shot! 
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Stopping by for the first time and have to say that I love the design of your blog
Will be back for more!
wow your leaves are really changing! a few are here but nothing like that. so beautiful!
Ha! That’s a cute run marker. I really wanted to run tonight with hubby, but it’s been pouring rain here all day. I’m pretty sure I’ll be making a change, too. Probably the treadmill. Blech.
I love your leaves. I wish ours changed like that. Beautiful.
What gorgeous fall colors. I miss the orange foliage out here in northern Arizona.
Congrats on the fantastic run.
Pretty trees! Those are some gorgeous colors in your neighborhood.
Haha, I switch up my training plan every week- I never do the “right” runs on the “right” days. But I figure it’s better to just be excited about the workout, than trudge through a run you don’t want to be doing
Always worth a shot to try to get the husband to cook.
What a beautiful run. I have to laugh at the halloween globe decoration though. Those things are so tacky to me.
I just love the fall color you guys get over in the east…I’m envious! Just beautiful:) Sounds like you had a great run! Were you running in your soon to be new neighborhood?
Nice run! I was in the mood to cook dinner tonight! Too bad you don’t live close to Atlanta…I have tons of leftovers! Have a good night!
LOL! Those things are strange. But it would be fun to run past it twice.
sweet! sometimes it’s great to change it up and do what you want
@The Wife of a Dairyman: No, we’re moving even FARTHER outside of the city!
I <3 running in new places! It makes it seem like a piece of cake! The runs always fly by!
Our leaves aren’t really changing much yet! Beautiful trees.
I just want to say congrats on the house buy.
Absolutely amazing.
I watch the NBC Nightly News each night and all I see are foreclosures and people struggling. You’re very fortunate!
I can’t believe we’re pretty much the same age. I have one chair and table in my apartment, its a basement rental and the TV is on the floor, cause extras cost money, and I just don’t have it.
I might never have a lot, but its a journey I’m taking just to be happy and appreciative of what I have…even if I never reach the destination, at least I can try.
Congrats to you guys. So “grown-up”. Ha.
Where do you keep your phone while you run?? (I assumed these were phone pics, I could be wrong! :] )
My bff’s family has one of those huge decorations but it is Christmas themed. The holiday feels incomplete without it now!
I have gotten lost a few time! The moment of panic sometimes motivates me to run faster and farther (especially if I have to because I’ve run way off track)!
Here’s hoping Mal cooks for you!
I love that you say wicked
I do too!
I am new to running but I love running in Golden Gate Park (here in San Francisco)! It’s close to my house and I know it well enough where I wont get lost!
-Sarah
I love the orange tree in the last pic — it is so electric!
And I hope my husband cooks dinner for me tonight too
Hope Mal gets the hint!
Your fall colors are amazing! We just don’t have seasons like that in Texas. We have summer and winter. That’s it. It goes from green to dead with zero in-between!
Ha, I love running the neighborhoods–you never know what you will find!
@Ella: Check my FAQs!
Beautiful fall colours… almost comparable with the beautiful Spring colours we have here in Australia!
I think running on the roads would be much better than track running anyway. Like you said ,you got to see so many fun Halloween sights!!
Running on the treadmill is torture. I only do it when absolutely necessary. The views on your run are beautiful! The Halloween decoration was interesting for sure.
That first photo is gorgeous with the fall colors. We dont get views like that in Southern Louisiana.
I love fall runs too. The colors of the foliage and the cool air are so pleasant to run in. I especially like fall runs in the rain. I don’t know if that’s weird of me but it feels so good after a while when your body temperature is starting to get pretty and you get those cool droplets falling on you cooling you down a bit. I love it.
What an beautiful tree! I can’t wait for the trees where I live start changing to fall colors! : )
Beautiful scenery on your run! Sometimes you just have to change up the schedule and take advantage of what’s there.
Ah yes, I love running outside in the fall. Not to hot, not to cold, and very nice scenery!
I need to find a nice place to run like yours. It might encourage me to relax more & actually smile.
Boston is in full Fall mode! Your run today looked like a taste of Fall. Glad your running is a blast so far!
I’ve been changing my route lately too… I love the changing seasons!
Oh man, I wish NZ celebrated Halloween more than we do! I would love to see something like that out on a random walk!
The garmin has a ‘navigate back to start’ function. It’s gotten me home many times:) I love seeing all the pictures of fall- we don’t have that in CA.
Loving seeing the leaves change color in your photos. And Halloween decorations! They are just so fun.
That tree is amazing!! Being in FL, I miss the fall colors and smells — crisp cool air is something we don’t get a whole lot of!
I love the holiday blow-up decorations! So cute and funny! Glad your liking the marathon training!
Running outdoors in sunny fall weather is the best feeling!
On Monday my training schedule was altered as well because the university track team was using the track… though technically, they weren’t running on it. They were doing some ab exercises, from what I saw… and they could have easily just moved to the grass. Pfft.
And yikes, that inflatable witch is pretty creepy! Imagine being a little kid and catching a glimpse of that on Halloween night… haha
Fall is the perfect running season in my opinion! Glad you were able to find an alternative that didn’t involve the treadmill.
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