Sweating it off without doing a thing

I am a bit under the weather, but its just the sniffles, nothing major. I was going to attempt swimming tonight, though I couldn't remember the adage about whether you could exercise when you had symptoms above the neck. (You can - I just looked it up. If symptoms are above the neck - nasal, headache, etc. - you can still exercise, just slow it down. Below the neck - take the day off.) Even if it would have been okay, I wasn't sure how the breathing thing would work while swimming. If I'm stuffed up, can I still breath when I come up for air? Well, I used the excuse that I forgot my goggles (I think I actually lost them.) and nixed the swimming idea. I had read some things recently about the benefits of saunas and I had brought a book with me to do some leisurely reading, so I jumped right in. Its really quite awful - you sweat just sitting there - not a comfortable feeling for me. I think I'd rather run three miles. Apparently 15-20 minutes in the sauna burns 300 calories, which is equivalent to the calories burned in a one hour brisk walk.

My Fortune Cookie

My fortune cookie at lunch yesterday read, "Winners are those that forget they're in the race. They just love to run."

Turkey Trot

So...Turns out the course for the Turkey Trot is pretty fun! I am only reporting on second-hand information since (Long story short) I didn't end up running it after all due to baby duty and lots of family sleeping in the house at the time. It takes you over the Clemente bridge, past PNC, the Science Center, by the river, etc.

Grant, Rebecca, and Ruth all said it was lots of fun, and not to mention the crazy warm weather (63 degrees!) it was a great day to run. Too bad Miles didn't have the opportunity to make his first race debut, but soon. I promise.

Maybe if anyone is around next year we can plan on it!

Brings Back XC Memories

Nathan and I ran on the cross country course at Carlisle High School, which is also the course that Dickinson College uses, so I've run there a few times for races. It was cold and windy out on the course, but fun to run in the grass, which I hardly ever do anymore!

No Run Tonight

I was optimistic and packed running clothes for while I am staying out of town tonight (I'm starting to get the busy season vibe and its not even Thanksgiving yet), but alas, I don't think its going to happen. With visions of a long to-do list tonight, I think my eyes will be glued to the computer and I'll be frantically trying to get work done before the partner comes out tomorrow. Darn!

Saturday morning run

My wife made me get up and run with her this morning. It was a nice morning for a run. But, more importantly, I wore my Daisy Crazy shirt for the first time. Thanks to Lisa for helping me show my pride in style.

Thursday Rainy Run

Once again, I had to drag myself out of bed this morning to fit in one weekday run. Unfoturnately for me, the mild 50s and 60s that had been present all week had been replaced by a 41 degree rain. I set out planning to run to Forbes Avenue and back through the park...but since I could barely see the rivers and lakes at my feet on the lit streets, I decided that the dark rainy park was a bad idea. So I flipped around and went the flattest route possible past the Kane's...
As much as I'm slacking off due to no training program, I really enjoy having no set requirements. I wanted to do 30 minutes (so that I wouldn't have to rush for work...) but ended up doing an easy 40. Glad that I still have some level of endurance.

Megan and I are planning a reunion run on Saturday - nothing special, just the first time since Columbus!

D's Expanding

I forgot to mention the new Regent Square tenant that I discovered on my run yesterday. Yep - it's D's! They now also occupy the bakery and from the sign it looks like it will be a deli/sweet shop. Sounds good to me!

Sweetie Sweetie, the former bakery in Regent Square, has now moved into the corner shop right by my house. The stuff is good, but the selection is currently limited and somewhat overpriced (probably to help pay off the significant tax lien from the state....)

Happy eating one way or another!

I did it!

So I have had a tremendous internal struggle since the marathons are over to get up and run in the morning. It was especially bad this week as the wake up temps were in the low thirties. Well I knew that when I woke up an hour before I was supposed to get up, that I really had no choice. I'm bummed that I've lost most of my endurance and speed in two quicks weeks but I need have a delightful run as the sun was coming up - about 40 minutes in total. I would love to get a run in up in New Hampshire this weekend - but I don't forsee it fitting in to the driving schedule!
The worst part is we're not going to be around for the Steelers/Browns Game! (I guess it's better that Geoff lose in privacy...)

Casting My First Vote in the Ben Avon Precinct

Since I wasn't completely sure of where we were supposed to vote and how long the polls were open, I figured I would pose as a runner so that I wouldn't look like a fool wandering around like a first timer. Today was my first ear band & gloves run of the winter season! I also wore my Precip jacket - initally to break the wind, but by the end of the run it was drizzling (I could tell it really WANTED to snow!), so it was much appreciated. I found the polling place - the campaign signs out front helped - and fulfilled my civic duty, then it was off to finish the rest of the run.

Weird thing that happened - A guy pulled up next to me asking for directions to Washington, PA.

Its a Small World on the Web

Wow - Lisa, can't believe you saw my posts. [I am the only fool who accidentally posted mine twice...whoops.] Yeah, obviously we were up to try to catch it as well...very disappointing. I truly gave up and never got to see any of it. They had the highlights on NBC at 2 this afternoon, so I recorded that and just finished watching it. It was so amazing how well Ryan Hall finished. One of those runners who makes it look super easy. Considering it was a loop, I was surprised that there weren't more people there. I really think we should try to go to Boston!

Also - they have highlights of the NYC marathon tomorrow at 3 pm. Switch between that and football?

Men's Trials a Bust

I stayed up late with the Schreibers last night and set my alarm to catch the start of the Men's Marathon Trials. Much to my frustration (and everyone else's around the world), the streaming wasn't working due to too much traffic. I was reading through the angry bloggers when I happened across these comments:

Doesn't work for me in the US w/ a non-Mac computer either...guess I'm going to head out an enjoy a morning run instead.
MTroxell 11/03/07

Can't watch from my non-Mac computer in the US either. My husband and I are watching replays of old badminton matches...exciting. I think I'm headed out for a morning run.
MTroxell 11/03/07


Could it be true? Do I know this person??? Well, glad that you at least got your own run in. I hope mine will happen this afternoon in between laundry and a nap!


*********************

So, I finally connected in time to see the last ten miles. So dramatic! We definitely need to go see the women in person!

By Popular Demand

Just in case any of you thought I skipped the Chicago Marathon finish line extravaganza to go relax in a spa - here is proof that I actually spent some time in the famous County Hospital. And note that the medal only came off of my neck during the chest x-ray....

Fall Frolick

After an overly crazy last week and a pathetically sick weekend, I realized that 9 days after the half marathon, I had yet to exercise. period. that stinks. after months of training, am I willing to throw it all away!?!?!? Well, I didn't do a whole lot. But I was able to dash out for a quick three miles before it got dark. I was shocked at how cold it became once the sun was no longer direct. I dashed through Swisshelm Park and down into Frick Park where the leaves were holding on to the glorious colors of fall. It was a nice run, but reminded me that I definitely need to invest in a head lamp so I'm currently looking into lightweight options that will actually stay on my head. I'm not sure if I'll really like the headlamp since I don't even like wearing a hat, but we'll work on it.

60 Years of Marriage Earns One Night of Luxury [at the Palmer House Hilton]

In 1947, Larry and Mariam Orenstein honeymooned at Chicago's posh Palmer House hotel. They could never afford the current asking price for the hotel penthouse — $1,600 a night — but thanks to a long-standing hotel policy and their original 1947 receipt, the couple just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in the Palmer penthouse for $10...

Listen to their story.

Katie & Brian Set Their Wedding Date

Katie Troxell and Brian finally set their wedding date - no races to be planned the weekend of October 11, 2008!

[I had to do some weird math on figuring out how October 11 was a Saturday...Lisa got married on a Saturday, October 7 in 2006, so this year, October 6 was a Saturday. Next year, October 4 is a Saturday (its a leap year)...which means that October 11 is also a Saturday...]

Jessie Finishes the Frankfurt Marathon

Jessie Akpan finished the Frankfurt Marathon in 3:54:59! I couldn't tell much else about the race as most of the site was in German.

Columbus Photos

After the race - Lisa and Megan in their foil, posing with the lifesize picture of Lisa.

The National Guard Reserve brass band which was set up right near the finish line for extra support!

(I could only do really small pictures because I took them directly from the photos my mom posted on Snapfish.)

That 70's Jogging Craze

Just noticed that both the Chicago Marathon AND the Great Race celebrated their 30th anniversaries this year. Must of have been the jogging craze of the 70's that got these races up and going!

Volunteering at Boston & Other Olympic Time Trial Info

Amber - to fill you in - we are considering going to the Women's Olympic Time Trials in Boston and then volunteering to help with the actual Boston Marathon the next day. Would you be interested?

I found out that applications for volunteers aren't accepted until January 2008, so I have a reminder for us to look into it then.

For the Men's Time Trials in NYC, the Today show will broadcast the start, (7:35 am on EST) then stream the remainder of the race on its website nbcsports.com. You would think they might also want to broadcast the ending, but hey...brunch at the Troxells?