Strider

Stodgy Legs Elf was making great strides with her interval training. She could now run 4.5 miles without stopping, and even 5 miles on a good day. She was working toward a 10k. Stodgy was a very, very slow-running elf, but she had a lot of stamina. She could run and run. "Perhaps I should say that I jog, rather than run", thought Stodgy Legs, reasonably.

But Stodgy needed to work on eating less foods. Her plan to watch portions had failed miserably, and now she was caught up in a whirlwind of celebrations during the season of snow faeries and winter sprites. "When January comes, I will begin again" vowed Stodgy Legs.

The Houses of Healing

Artwork found at http://www.elfwood.com/~kat980/Faerie_CG.2892959.html

Stodgy Legs Elf was getting fat. There was no denying it. Parts of her body felt foreign to her, like pieces of aliens clinging to her limbs. "This is what happens when I forget to follow my plans!" mourned Stodgy Legs. She didn't mind so much the way she looked, but it was exhausting carrying 30 lbs of aliens around.

"I am finally running again, and I am eating many good berries, roots and leaves... but I eat too many of the many." thought Stodgy Legs Elf. "I will work on cutting down portions." she told herself.

Stodgy was on week #6 of her interval training. "I must not quit now!" she pledged to herself.

Lost at Sea

Stody Legs Elf and Bucket Belly Elf had been so busy traveling to the sea to play with the dolphins that they had quite forgotten their pledge to hike 84 miles along Hadrian's Wall. Their legs felt wobbly after the months of relaxation and their hearts didn't beat as strong as before.

"Perhaps we should move our goal date to another time" said Stodgy Legs.

"You are quite right, of course" replied Bucket Belly. It will take months for us to become strong enough to hike 84 miles, and besides, I am not sure the dragon flight to Scotland correlates with my seasonal rhythms this year."

Stodgy Legs Elf decided that in the meantime she would ride upon her blue daisy with two wheels which she called Felicia Blue Marguerite. She thought it might be good to visit the forest of training three times a week to lift rocks and logs and mossy things that weighed a great deal. Another three days she would pedal Felicia Blue Marguerite and make her heart pound.

"Maybe the bad Kol Astra Hol demons will flee if they hear my heart pounding", Stodgy Legs decided.

Lazy Stodgy Legs Elf

Stodgy Legs Elf had been to the forest of training, but her Orc was not as slobbery and mean as he used to be, and Stodgy found herself being very lax and lazy about running. It was true that Bucket Belly Elf and Stody were planning now to hike 84 miles rather than run 26.2 miles, so she didn't feel too bad about the hikes she had been taking instead. Still, if she was going to be able to make it 84 miles, Stodgy needed to lose a few pounds and build up some lung capacity.

Stody decided to make a new plan for the next eleven days. By then she would be flying by dragon to Aruba for a long break and the training would have to continue there.

"Here is my eleven-day plan", said Stodgy:

Monday: Forest of Training - 30 mins run/walk with Faerie and Orc. 30 minutes of lifting heavy logs and rocks.
Tuesday: Daisy Biking - 1 hr
Wednesday: Forest of Training - 30 mins run/walk with Faerie and Orc. 30 minutes of lifting heavy logs and rocks.
Thursday: Daisy Biking- 1hr
Friday: Forest of Training - 30 mins run/walk with Faerie and Orc. 30 minutes of lifting heavy logs and rocks.
Saturday: Yoga- 1 hour, Natural Activity, Hiking
Sunday: Take a Break
Monday: Forest of Training - 30 mins run/walk with Faerie and Orc. 30 minutes of lifting heavy logs and rocks.
Tuesday: Daisy Biking - 1 hr
Wednesday: Forest of Training - 30 mins run/walk with Faerie and Orc. 30 minutes of lifting heavy logs and rocks.
Thursday: Daisy Biking- 1hr

Elf doll sold here.

The Foundations of Stone

Stodgy Legs Elf and Bucket Belly Elf had trained together and were enjoying life. Then they had a brilliant idea. What if they were to face a bigger challenge than the 26.2 mile Portland Marathon? What if they were to fly on the backs of dragons to the famed stone wall of Hadrian and march on their tiny elf feet over the 84 mile path which ran most of it's length?

Bucket and Stodgy decided to consider this option. "Scotland is a lovely place to visit", they thought. Dragon flight masters are charging less than usual right now. Hmmmm.

Stodgy Legs: Resting

Stodgy Legs Elf had been overwhelmed with stress-noogles and still recovering from buzzy-glucks and green dragon illness, but the equinox brought with it a week of rest and finally Stodgy felt some renewal.

"I have enjoyed spending time with the creatures I love", thought Stodgy Legs Elf. "I haven't visited the Forest of Training as often as usual, and I still have some buzzy-glucks in my head, but I think I am ready to train with Ork and Faerie again."

Stodgy needed to expand her running time to match Bucket Belly Elf's fast legs. "His legs are so much swifter than mine when he runs". She pondered his legs. Stodgy liked pondering over Bucket's legs. He had fine, muscular legs. "Hmmmm." thought Stodgy Legs Elf.

Stodgy could walk fast, but she could not run very fast. "I will increase my running time slowly" thought Stodgy. "This week I will double the length of my short runs and I will try to maintain my pace."



Art: http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/2100000/Resting-with-a-Friend-fantasy-2185402-700-560.jpg

Speak Friend And Enter

Stodgy Legs Elf was overjoyed. She had a new friend and partner who was going to train with her and run the Portland Marathon in October! Not only was he a good friend and training partner, but the man who called himself Bucket Belly Elf was her lover and life partner as well. Now she and her husband were training together once a week.

"It makes me feel like I'm not alone", thought Stodgy Legs Elf. Bucket Belly Elf was in much better shape when he ran, but Stodgy Legs could hold her own at speed-walking. They decided to do a walk-run pattern rather than just run. "That way we will not hurt our old knees, hips, and backs" decided Stodgy and Bucket.

On Saturday Stodgy and Bucket did their first training together. They started easy and slow and did a 10k outside on the mountain trail. There were many elves and dwarves and centaurs and other creatures on foot and on two-wheeled contraptions zooming back and forth in the mountains. It was a warm and sunny day with no frozen lace in the air. Stodgy and Bucket were happy to be training together, but very sore when it was over.
Artwork: http://www.epilogue.net