Meg came along for my 12-miler last night. We left her house just after Joel got home from work and headed to Lake Phalen and the Gateway Trail. We noticed some dark clouds to the west, but Fox 9's Keith Marler said only 30% chance of rain, which meant to me that it probably wouldn't rain. But about 9 miles in, that 30% turned into 100%. And then came some spectacular lightning and thunder. Which, I guess, wouldn't have been terribly frightening, except we were on this path in the middle of the woods with no place to hide. We went another 2 miles (which I'm pretty sure I sprinted), and found shelter under an overpass. We called Joel, who packed up the 2 munchkins in their feety pajamas, and drove over to Lake Phalen to save us. We were both very wet and very cold.
So I never actually made 12 miles, but I didn't get hit by lightning either.
When I got back to my house, I found I had stepped in poop, my bike was broken, and my garage door wouldn't close. *sigh*
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Shiver me timbers!
Yesterday was one of my favorite holidays: International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
My co-workers think I'm insane for even knowing this holiday exists, let alone actually using pirate jargon all day. I say, it's their loss. Savvy?
Today was my first run since the 21-miler Saturday. After that long run, my joints were pretty achy. No new blisters, though, and no additional missing toenails. I went 5 miles this morning. It was cloudy, breezy, and kind of cool. I've been adding some sprints to these shorter runs, which makes me extra tired, but I finish faster!
Meg and I went to the Twins game last night with Chelsie (a girl we play softball with), and some of her friends. The Twins won, which was nice. I think they've lost the last 3 or 4 games I've attended.
I've been in a bit of a funk the last few days. I'm hoping my day off today will help me break out of it. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!
My co-workers think I'm insane for even knowing this holiday exists, let alone actually using pirate jargon all day. I say, it's their loss. Savvy?
Today was my first run since the 21-miler Saturday. After that long run, my joints were pretty achy. No new blisters, though, and no additional missing toenails. I went 5 miles this morning. It was cloudy, breezy, and kind of cool. I've been adding some sprints to these shorter runs, which makes me extra tired, but I finish faster!
Meg and I went to the Twins game last night with Chelsie (a girl we play softball with), and some of her friends. The Twins won, which was nice. I think they've lost the last 3 or 4 games I've attended.
I've been in a bit of a funk the last few days. I'm hoping my day off today will help me break out of it. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Long Run
Per Hal's Training Module, I was supposed to run 20 miles last Saturday. Meg had a dance audition to be at in the morning, so she wasn't going to be able to go with me. Fortunately, mom and dad drove up from IL to help me out.
The original plan was for the two of them to bike with me the whole way together, but one of the bikes malfunctioned, so plans changed a bit. Mom and I headed out from Meg's house at 9am and went 11 miles. We met dad just over the half-way mark in North St. Paul. He and mom traded places at that point, so mom drove home, and dad biked the rest of the way with me. Meg had given them very specific instructions about when to offer me water, how I needed to be talked or sang (sung?) to, that I can only answer yes/no questions, etc.
The entire run went swimmingly. It was a cool morning, with bright blue skies. Mom told me lots of stories, and dad sang lots of 50's Rock 'n Roll. It was a great mix. And neither one fell of their bikes, thank goodness.
I tried these energy chews along the way. They're called Shot Bloks, and they look and taste a whole lot like fruit snacks. Each block has about the same amount of caffeine as a 20-oz bottle of Coke. I'm not sure what they're actually supposed to do for me, but I definitely didn't fall asleep during the run.
I actually ended up running 21 miles, and I was done in 3 hours and 30 minutes. I was pretty excited to have run that far, but it is really hard to fathom that I have to run 5.2 more miles in less than 3 weeks. Ugh.
The original plan was for the two of them to bike with me the whole way together, but one of the bikes malfunctioned, so plans changed a bit. Mom and I headed out from Meg's house at 9am and went 11 miles. We met dad just over the half-way mark in North St. Paul. He and mom traded places at that point, so mom drove home, and dad biked the rest of the way with me. Meg had given them very specific instructions about when to offer me water, how I needed to be talked or sang (sung?) to, that I can only answer yes/no questions, etc.
The entire run went swimmingly. It was a cool morning, with bright blue skies. Mom told me lots of stories, and dad sang lots of 50's Rock 'n Roll. It was a great mix. And neither one fell of their bikes, thank goodness.
I tried these energy chews along the way. They're called Shot Bloks, and they look and taste a whole lot like fruit snacks. Each block has about the same amount of caffeine as a 20-oz bottle of Coke. I'm not sure what they're actually supposed to do for me, but I definitely didn't fall asleep during the run.
I actually ended up running 21 miles, and I was done in 3 hours and 30 minutes. I was pretty excited to have run that far, but it is really hard to fathom that I have to run 5.2 more miles in less than 3 weeks. Ugh.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Vacation!
Less than a month until the Big Day, and I go on vacation. That is, if you call playing 8 softball games in 2 days in the sweltering Florida sun a vacation.
My summer softball team flew down to Panama City, FL to play in the North American Championships. We ended up taking second place, losing 5-2 to a Missouri team in the championship game. It was a long, extended weekend that got even longer when our plane broke, and we couldn't get out of FL.
I attempted to run on the beach while I was down there, but the soft sand and high tides made it pretty difficult.
Anyway, I'm back in MN now, enjoying the cool weather and hard pavement.
My summer softball team flew down to Panama City, FL to play in the North American Championships. We ended up taking second place, losing 5-2 to a Missouri team in the championship game. It was a long, extended weekend that got even longer when our plane broke, and we couldn't get out of FL.
I attempted to run on the beach while I was down there, but the soft sand and high tides made it pretty difficult.
Anyway, I'm back in MN now, enjoying the cool weather and hard pavement.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Cricket Gigolos and their Cruel Despotic Queen
The road is looonng
With many a winding turn...
She ain't heavy, she's my sister...
Hey there! This is Meg blogging for Jean today. Because Jean ran 18 miles yesterday in 95-degree heat and because she watched my kids for me for 1.5 hours today so I could get some grocery shopping done -- Jean, this blog's for you.
She took off from the start of the Gateway Trail yesterday (just north of downtown St Paul), a little before noon. The weather forecast apparently told her it was only going to be 81 degrees, but I was there, friends, and I assure you it was much closer to the mid-90s, at least by the time we finished. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Jean started solo, because the fam and I were coming back from The Lake and Joel had to take off for his Fantasy Foosball draft by 3:30, so we had limited time to put this 18-mile monster to bed. So I drove up to Hwy 36 and 694, where I parked my car on Hadley, hopped on my (Jean's) bike, and started pedaling toward her (I hoped) at about 1:15. Here is what I packed to make Jean's run less miserable:
3 bottles of water
1 chapstick (cherry)
4 pieces of Trident Original
We met up near downtown North St Paul and I hung a U-ey to continue on with her back to my parking spot. Jean immediately slammed half a bottle of water (she'd already gone about 8 miles) and we continued back up to Hadley before turning back around and doing the second 9 miles. It was really quite lovely in the shade, but the sun was truly brutal. The other detractor from Jean's enjoyment (if you can call it that) of the run were the super-bizarre crickets that flung themselves into her path like hara-kiri-committing goddess-worshippers. These things had giant wings (I insisted they were butterflies, for a while) and they would jump at Jean's shins and then toss themselves about, banging into her from all angles and making an icky buzzing noise.
Anyway, she made it 18 miles!! Isn't that stinkin' amazing. I am so very proud of her dedicating herself to this marathon, even while working full-time, playing in 2 or 3 softball leagues, 2 volleyball leagues, a kickball league, and juggling the attentions of Thursday, her new man-friend. Has she told you about her new man-friend? He's a cuuuuutie...
Anybody who wants to come help me cheer Jean on during the marathon on Sun., Oct 7, we are planning to have a pre-race meeting at my house to plot the course and split up our cheering sections. Following the marathon, there will be a celebratory champagne brunch at my house. You should come!
With many a winding turn...
She ain't heavy, she's my sister...
Hey there! This is Meg blogging for Jean today. Because Jean ran 18 miles yesterday in 95-degree heat and because she watched my kids for me for 1.5 hours today so I could get some grocery shopping done -- Jean, this blog's for you.
She took off from the start of the Gateway Trail yesterday (just north of downtown St Paul), a little before noon. The weather forecast apparently told her it was only going to be 81 degrees, but I was there, friends, and I assure you it was much closer to the mid-90s, at least by the time we finished. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Jean started solo, because the fam and I were coming back from The Lake and Joel had to take off for his Fantasy Foosball draft by 3:30, so we had limited time to put this 18-mile monster to bed. So I drove up to Hwy 36 and 694, where I parked my car on Hadley, hopped on my (Jean's) bike, and started pedaling toward her (I hoped) at about 1:15. Here is what I packed to make Jean's run less miserable:
3 bottles of water
1 chapstick (cherry)
4 pieces of Trident Original
We met up near downtown North St Paul and I hung a U-ey to continue on with her back to my parking spot. Jean immediately slammed half a bottle of water (she'd already gone about 8 miles) and we continued back up to Hadley before turning back around and doing the second 9 miles. It was really quite lovely in the shade, but the sun was truly brutal. The other detractor from Jean's enjoyment (if you can call it that) of the run were the super-bizarre crickets that flung themselves into her path like hara-kiri-committing goddess-worshippers. These things had giant wings (I insisted they were butterflies, for a while) and they would jump at Jean's shins and then toss themselves about, banging into her from all angles and making an icky buzzing noise.
Anyway, she made it 18 miles!! Isn't that stinkin' amazing. I am so very proud of her dedicating herself to this marathon, even while working full-time, playing in 2 or 3 softball leagues, 2 volleyball leagues, a kickball league, and juggling the attentions of Thursday, her new man-friend. Has she told you about her new man-friend? He's a cuuuuutie...
Anybody who wants to come help me cheer Jean on during the marathon on Sun., Oct 7, we are planning to have a pre-race meeting at my house to plot the course and split up our cheering sections. Following the marathon, there will be a celebratory champagne brunch at my house. You should come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
