Night Run

I ran late tonight, after a disappointing loss to Tartan HS. The girls played really well, they just weren't able to make any solid contact with the ball.
It was a lovely evening, and towards the end of my run I stopped to watch a men's fastpitch softball game. My co-coach Jerry Ball was playing against the varsity coach's husband. If you ever want to see competitive fastpitch, watch these guys. They are unbelievable.
Is it really only Monday?

8 Mile

This is no longer an Eminem movie I never saw. It's now the longest distance I have run at one time! I did the same run as Monday, but I added on an extra 1/2 mile somewhere in the middle. My hips are a little sore this evening (which could possibly be attributed to me sitting at a computer all week), but other than that I feel pretty good.
My B-Squad team plays Mahtomedi today. I dropped off some twizzlers, sunflower seeds, and eye black for them. I'll be able to join them again Friday. It's been nice to have a week off from coaching, but I do miss it.

Stuff

I ran around Lake Harriet (3 miles) yesterday afternoon, and I have never seen so many people out walking around. I felt like I was in a parade. I think word got out that it was a beautiful day, and that there might not be another one. Ever.
Lake Harriet is in an upscale area of Minneapolis, and I felt a little sloppy in my mesh shorts and t-shirt. No kidding - people were walking in high heels, fancy tank tops, designer sunglasses, and denim mini-skirts.
I tacked on 2 more miles later that evening with Meg in her neighborhood. I was a little worried about her running since she passed out giving blood Saturday and bonked her head on the floor. She did great, though, and it was nice to be outside again.

Today I ran 7.5 miles. I didn't even mean to run that much, but I got into a groove and just kept going. It took 1 hour and 20 minutes, which I think is between 10 and 11-minute miles. This weather is perfect and I hope it stays for a while.

I work 3pm-11pm all this week, which is a bummer because I have to miss 3 softball games. Right now our B-Squad (sophomore) team has a 1 and 1 record.

On a side note, I did a load of laundry with what seemed like an entire box of Kleenex. I have been picking little bits of tissue out of my towels and sheets for the last hour. AARRRGH!

A day so nice I ran it twice!

Yesterday was about 44 degrees with bright blue skies. Meg and I went to Target in the morning and bought ipods. I got a green Nano, which I'm sure will take me forever figure out. I heard that Grandma's Marathon has banned the use of headphone and music devices to increase runner safety. Clearly this did not stop me from purchasing one.
I ran around Lake Phalen after lunch, then headed off to the high school for our first softball game of the season. As I was driving, however, I got news that games were cancelled because the fields were not in playable condition. So we practiced instead, and it was still sunny out at 6:30, so I ran again.

Today, however, was a different story. It was cloudy and a bit cooler, all in all not bad, but my legs felt really really heavy. I went for 5 miles, but I had to walk twice. AARGH!
At this point, our softball game is still on for today. I will be bringing lots of blankets along to keep warm.

"AND, she's Irish! This is perfect!!"

I ran 5.5 miles outside today, after work and practice. It was partly cloudy and 52 degrees- perfect running conditions for me. About halfway through, I saw 2 cop cars pull over a minivan right in front of me, which was exciting to watch until it occured to me I could potentially be in danger. I quickened my step and turned a corner, and saw what looked like 2 homeless men standing in a parking lot. One of them looked familiar. At first I thought he was a former landlord of mine, then I thought he was a former patient, but then it hit me. It was Larry with the Limp! I cannot possibly type out the entire Larry with the Limp story (it is much better told in person with many hand gestures and facial expressions), but about 3 years ago I cut and filed his ingrown toenails on the #2 checkout lane at Rainbow Foods. It's also where the phrase "AND, she's Irish! This is perfect!" comes from. Anyway, I giggled myself the rest of the way home.

The Twins just won the 2007 season opener! They beat the Orioles 7-4 in a wonderfully exciting game. I am so glad baseball season is here!

They're always after me lucky charms!

This really has nothing to do with anything, but here it comes anyway. I love cereal. I eat it a lot because it takes no time to prepare, and I can satisfy my hunger as well as my thirst all at once. Well, today I was running low on options, so I went to the store. Lucky for me, cereal was on sale! If I bought 6 boxes of General Mills cereal, I got $10 off. So I did, and I did. Also, all Roundy's (generic) brand was 50% off. What a deal! And then, because I bought so much cereal, I got a coupon for 2 free gallons of milk. Huzzah! So now I have 28 boxes at home, which I'm pretty sure is a new record for me.

Soldier Field 10 Mile

The annual 10 Mile Race starts outside of Soldier Field, runs through Chicago's beautiful Southside, then heads north along the lakefront path. Participants run through Soldier Field with a spectacular finish on the field. Friends and family can watch you cross the finish line on the gigantic Jumbotron from inside the stadium.

Ellen talked me into signing up for this race. That girl can be very persuasive! It's going to be the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I can't wait! I just hope I can keep up with her. OK, I take that back. I just hope I can finish!
I ran 6 miles on the treadmill yesterday, which took 58 minutes. My feet and ankles were so swollen by the end - I was on my feet for 8 hours at the hospital, followed by 2.5 hours of softball practice.
I don't work at the hospital today, and I am so grateful for the extra hours of sleep! Yessssss.