Always surprising

This past Saturday, our little running trio, had our first 20 mile training run.  T-odd is The Pace Guy with his super duper Garmin 405, it usually tells us we are not going fast enough and/or that our predetermined route is too f*&%)#& short.

And so, on this day, at mile 19 we knew we needed more.  When we got to what should have been the finish we still needed another 1/2 mile.  We decided to just keep going until the almighty Garmin hit 20.  Seriously, passing what you think should be your stopping point is painful, if you are in pain or not.

So for the next 1/2 mile I am asking “Are we done yet?”, “It’s gotta be close!”  “T-odd, seriously, are we there yet?”  Laura, per usual,  is quiet and stoic and most certainly not complaining.  So we continue, T-odd kept telling us we were close and calling out distances, which by this point I couldn’t even decifer.

We turned the corner and started running up a hill, I continue to complain and couldn’t believe we were not done yet.  T-odd is running about 3 feet ahead of Laura and I when he says, “Ok, that’s it…done…20!”

On his word, I stop.

Until Laura snaps and starts yelling…MARY, MARY…RUN, KEEP RUNNING, YOU HAVE TO RUN TO TODD!

And for the rest of the way to the car we laughed at the insanity in her voice and the fact that I really did want to stop 3 feet short but thanks to her, I didn’t.

The Cat Man

This is our friend Erik.

We have known him for a VERY long time.

He was over for dinner last week and while we were tipping back some wine and chatting, up pops Arthur to sit right next to him, just like this.

Arthur has no idea how close he is to freedom with this man.  If Erik had his druthers, he would steal our cats from us.

Even before we got Lucy, Erik never thought our cat ownership skills were ever really up to snuff and I know he has secret designs on how he is going to take them far away from their chaotic kitty cat hell hole or as I like to call it, our lovely home.

But just so you know Cat Man, you aren’t getting’em, know matter how much they love you up.

Ready…Set…GOOOOOOOOO!

Today starts my first day of triathlon training for the 2009 season.  Enough of the slacking off, drinking too much on Tuesday nights for no reason and eating whole boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

So I have decided to make a few changes.  I’ve increased my training a level this year to level 2.  (level 1-for those short on time or newbies, level 2-those who think they can be at least a little bit competitive in their age group, level 3-are people who have no life outside of working, working out and then obsessing about their races, times, heart rates, power output and wattage)  We will see where it gets me, if anywhere.

The other change to this year’s training is that our marathon is a whole month earlier.  That may or may not be a good thing.  We are also trying to go for a specific time, which is a little bit different than in my past attempts at running/enjoying marathons.  I pretty much know that this isn’t going to be one of those fun runs.

All that said, no more excusses to stop after thre miles for coffee or just blow off the swim.  It is written down and when it is written down on my to do list, it gets crossed off…or else.

This first week looks like this (this includes mileage for marathon training too):

• Monday:  Off  (I love starting this way)
• Tuesday:  run: 8-10 miles marathon pace, swim: 6×25 yard sprints (plus warm-up, cool down, drills)
• Wednesday:  bike:  8×30 second sprints
• Thursday:  swim: distance to be determined, run:6-8 miles and hills
• Friday:  bike: 50 minutes
• Saturday:  swim: 800 yards, run:  14-16 miles
• Sunday:  brick:  35 min. bike and 10 min. run

Off to the races.

Are you SERIOUS?

I love this picture.

Right before I decided to take a photo, I realized my face was contorting into something very unpleasant all because of what I was hearing.  Then I looked over and realized my homies each had their very own rendition of YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME faces on.

At this moment we are being told that the kids need to come forward and there is going to be a big Chinese New Year fireworks finale…inside.

Chemo can be fun!

All good news today.

Ok, a touch anemic…but who cares.

Today we take what we can get.

Bad hoodoo

Today was the kick off to marathon training with a 5 to 7 mile run.

Unfortunately I had a bad start.  I had to stop at a little under three miles due to twisting my ankle on a rock that I couldn’t see because the defrost on my eyeballs were not working due to the seriously negative windchill.  I don’t think I have sworn than many times in a row, that loudly, in a long time.

Usually I am not smart enough to stop running.  Today, with the cold and the ankle, I think it was wise, no matter if it is the first day or not.

I’m just going to put this out to the universe…I do not have a good feeling about this marathon.  This hiccup doesn’t help.  With my bunion still being burdensome, I fear serious pain in my future.  I have no idea how I am going to finish this race in the time I want in any kind of good physical condition.

So, since I’ve said it here, I now must give it away.

Go away bad thoughts…BE GONE!

Making your friend feel welcome

KP had one of his school buddies, Big C, over for a play date yesterday.

When we showed up for school this morning, Big C’s mom just had to share a little story that happened at their house last night.

When Big C was being put to bed, he told his dad that he better go lock the doors and make sure they were locked.

When his dad asked why, he said, “I was playing with one of KP’s big brother’s toys.   He told me that I better not because he will hunt me down.  So can you make sure the doors are locked.”

Racing 09

Yesterday I decided to sit down and plan my racing schedule for this season.  I made the decision to do them all together AND try to print out copies of my registration confirmations due to last years snafu.

Funny enough, yesterday I was having printer problems and could not get the Life Time Fitness confirmation to print and then I closed the window and then I never got an email saying I had registered.

So, I emailed them.  Spencer at Life Time says my name is on the list.  When asked for a confirmation number, he said he could not get into the system but could send me a copy of my information and did.   Believe you me when I say that if I go to “packet pick up” in July and my name is not on that list, I will personally find Spencer and and and and…it won’t be pretty.

ANYWAY, here is what the 2009 racing schedule looks like:

1. Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon, May 3rd
2. Minneapolis Marathon, May 31st
3. Lake Minnetonka Triathlon (sprint), June 20th
4. Freedom Run (2 or 5 miles) Sheboygan WI, July 4 *
5. Life Time Fitness Triathlon (olympic), July 11th
6. Chisago Lakes Triathlon (half iron), July 26th

*This is iffy, I’m going to try to get buy in from some of the cousins to do it with me and the rest of the extended family seeing it’s the annual family reunion.  We’ll see how that goes.

SUCK IT old man winter

I think I have done it.  I think I have done the dumbest thing to date since college.

Our sweet little state has not seen temperatures this cold in five years.  This morning at 5:00 am the temperature was -20 and the windchill was -40.

Some of our running group decided the night before to run, even though our normal cut off is -20 windchill.  I mean really, at what point does it even matter as long as you are dressed right?

So this morning we found out.  And we found out it was not too bad.  In fact, with the exception of the darkness, silence (except the wind) and overwhelming feeling of desolation (it would have been a great back drop for the movie The Road) it was great.

What do you wear in -40 windchill?

Here is what I decided on:

• winter hat
• 2 face masks
• Vaseline on my exposed eye skin
• tops: 1 thermal, 1 smart wool tank, 1 fleece jacket, 1 wind resistant jacket and Adam’s shell just in case
• bottoms:  wind shorts, tights and my sub zero pants
• 2 pairs of smart wool socks
• gloves: 1 pair thin wool and 1 pair heavy mittens
• running shoes

Take that winter.

Marathon Mania

Good luck to all of you running today:

Adam

Todd

Courtney

Paul

Lars

Mike

Megan

JJ

Whitney

Kathy

Lauren

Run swift & have fun.