Old Route

I was driving along Wible Run Road the other day, reminiscing about some of our past runs there. I always did like that route, but I'm not sure anyone else did.

Soliciting Donations

I had a vision last night that maybe I could petition some of our favorite running apparel stores & magazines to donate to the worthy cause of my Prenup Run. Well, some do not see it as such a worthy cause. See Patagonia's response:

Congratulations and thank you very much for contacting us about this opportunity, but I'm afraid that we will have to decline. Resources thatmight otherwise go to donations have been earmarked for another purpose:Patagonia has elected to donate its dollars and goods to non-profitgrassroots environmental organizations. These groups work to protect theenvironment and to educate people to reduce the daily impact that we have onthe earth. By donating to these groups, we are helping to promote andprotect the environment for everyone.

Don't get your hopes up for any free goods, I've also gotten negative responses from Adidas, Nike and Title IX.

People with Courage

Jen (Bain) Reilly relayed this story to me last night and I think it is hilarious! She is a third grade teacher and she had her kids working on a collage of "People with Courage." She brought in a bunch of old magazines from home (including an old Geedunk). Well, it happened to be the one we were featured in and one of her kids cut out the picture of us and Jen said, "That's a good choice - those people DEFINITELY have courage - they run marathons!"

How cool is that? We are hanging on the wall of a third grade classroom, included in a collage of "People with Courage!"

50 Marathons in 50 States in 50 Days...

Crazy daisies

Now - this is sheer craziness! Have you guys heard of this guy? Check it out....

http://www.endurance50.com/press/press10.html

Honorary Crazy Daisy Members

Congrats to Jeb & Lisa Schreiber on their completion of the Erie Marathon!

Running + Biking + Swimming = Triathlon

Hit by a Train (no, not really)

It was the coolest thing today - as I was running down 12th Street across the overpass to the tracks, a train came right at that moment. It was still dark out and the headlight was bearing down the tracks. I did a fun route - down Carson Street to the Smithfield Bridge, then up 2nd and back across the 10th Street Bridge and up the hill. Miss running with you girls!

Regent Square - Run Around the Square

http://www.runhigh.com/2006%20Results/2006%20Results%20A/R082606AF.html

Frigid Missoula

Running in Montana was fantastic. We (Nate, Katie, Mr. Troxell) started our run at a mere 48 degrees - how wonderfully chilling! We started on the far side of University of Montana's campus and ran along the Clark Fork River and back - this was scenery that makes Runner's World magazine frequently - a runner's dream run!

"I saw the reflectors on your shoes, but you should watch your back."

5:30 am, sun is just beginning to rise - I was running down Oporto Street, which is really more of legs just working against the force of gravity to keep yourself upright since it is such a steep hill, and at the bottom a jeep pulled up next to me and said, "I saw the reflectors on your shoes, but you should watch your back." I was on the SIDEWALK! So unless he normally drives on the sidewalk, I think I will probably be okay.

Covered for 2 sessions of snooze

I think this is the first time since I've moved into my new house that I have actually used my down comforter! This morning after my first alarm went off I pulled the covers up and enjoyed 2 delicious snooze sessions before getting out of bed for a Southside run with Nathan. We went on the trail down by the river, which was nice for the most part. There were some bugs and cobwebs to deal with, but other than that, it was a good morning for a run.

Back on Land

Back On Land

Well...just to let everyone know - I am back; just in time to save my plants and finally get some running in. Alaska was beautiful, but running on a boat while it is moving is not good for the stomach. I did manage to get a lot of stationary bike in (in between the 8,000 meals that are served a day), but treadmills just aren't my thing. There was an outdoor track around the top of the boat too, but the wind was so strong, I could barely walk up there! I guess they probably get more use out of that when they sail to the Caribbean.

One success however - David gave us some good swimming tips! We were pretty excited about the lap pool on board, but of course it broke the first day we were there, and was out of commission for the rest of the week. Oh well, I can't complain - I had a great time!

Forgotten undergarments

Yes, top and bottom both were forgotten today. Its a hazard of not having my house unpacked yet. I think I attempted to find those two items wherever they may have been packed, but somehow got distracted last night. Oh well, a tank w/ shelf bra and a reuse on the bottom had to suffice.

On another note - Kung Fu Fighting is stuck in my head!

Run home to the S'Side

Ran home from the office to my new place - 22 minutes! [Faster than the bus?]

Chicago 2007

Just put it on my calendar...in addition to all the great people we normally run with, I've got some others lined up to run it - Heather Lievens (my brother's girlfriend), Matt & Krystal Hawkins, maybe we can convince Carlynn and Erica to do it again??, AND Nathan????

Across the Stateline

I ran all the way to Lansing, IL today! (You may be thinking Lansing, MI, but no - that would be way across the stateline.) Sounds like a big feat, but it was only 15 minutes to get there, which was a perfect place to turn around to then complete my 30 minute tempo.

Actually, I take back the words I implied about it not really being a big feat...the heat and humidity makes anything outside of the comfort of A/C a VERY large feat!

10k Training Schedule

http://www.halhigdon.com/10ktraining/10kadv.htm

Alright - I think I need to get back on some type of schedule for running with a goal in mind because I've been pretty sporadic and quite wimpy in the runs I have done lately. I'm leaning towards this Hal Higdon one for the Great Race. It would start two weeks from now, so I may just do weeks 7 & 8 two times in a row. I'll be in Chicago/really Indiana next week, so it would be a hard commute to run w/ you guys, but hopefully when I get back I can jump into meeting up a few times a week. A swim in the river is sounding good today...

Rain definitely preferable

SO this morning I went for my first non-city of pittsburgh run. It was nice to be able to explore some new neighborhoods and be so close to the trails at Frick Park...but it was kinda lonely and not as much fun. ANd not to mention that it was one big hazy fog. It NEEDS to rain. It is getting VERY nasty outside.

Rain Preferable

Of the two days I ran out here in Indiana, both of them rained. I sort of planned the first day, but today was not planned. I didn't even realize it was raining until I saw a big flash of lightning and heard thunder rumbling in the distance as I was lacing up my shoes. I thought, eh, what the heck, it will be fine. I got outside and it was POURING down rain, so much so that my contacts were falling out of my eyes and I pretty much had to keep them closed. It was very refreshing though and it let up a little towards the end to where it was just a light shower.

I got back into the hotel and the guy at the front desk thought that it was hilarious that I would like running in the rain (which he assumed I did since I had done it two days that he saw). Gotta love the friendly Hampton employees!

Solidarity

Yesterday was the ultimate test. It was my first run in a LONG TIME in the city of Pittsburgh without Lisa or Megan! It was kind of hard, especially to get out of bed, but I did it. Now, the real test will be if I can do that on a regular basis. I miss not working out with you guys all the time. At least I did get to see Lisa Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. That helped. :) What will we do to fill the gap? Plan evening runs?

The 'burgh is hazy today and makes my hair a pouf ball. I look like a dead poodle! Sans the curl.

Talk to you chickadees later.