Cruisin' Jayhawk.

One might think that I mean I was cruisin' on my feet...running as fast as the wind...dashing here and there and everywhere...but ya know...it's too hot to run. And I indulged in rainbow sherbert instead.

So when you can't beat the heat, why not say "screw it," toss on your flip flops and a swimsuit, and order a slushy drink with a pretty pink umbrella in it?

Yup. That's right. This lil' Jayhawk and her hubby are goin' cruising. Not for a while, though...it'll be next August. We jumped on the reservation before the price increase (which is tomorrow).

We put down the deposit tonight...and we're headed out on Royal Caribbean's newest and largest ship, Freedom of the Seas.

Eat yer heart out, campers!!

In other news...tomorrow is August. I can hardly believe it. We're less than 3 months from the Chicago Marathon and less than 2 weeks until the Chicago Distance Classic. And of course, in true Barb fashion, I am freaking out. And this weather better freakin' start cooling off.

An open letter to Mother Nature.

Dear Mother Nature,

You suck.

Love always,
Barbara.


Because of Mother Nature's behavior as of late, this morning's 12-miler was UGLY. Absolutely, positively horrendous. Sauna-esque. Toasty. Blistering. Boiling. Scorcher of a doozy. Searing. Stifling 91-degrees. Schweddier than Pete's Schweddy balls. Humid. Sweltering sunshine. Sticky. Stale air. Dizzy-inducing. Steamy. Ice-melting. Hotter than hell. Miserable run.

I was done before I even started. See...I've learned that what you do on THURSDAY night will inevitably affect your run 2 days later. While it was brilliant at the time, drinking 3 bottles of pinot grigio with Mike and our friend Terri was a really stupid idea. Friday was "nurse your hangover" day...leaving me weak, head-achey and dehydrated all day long. You know...the previous pre-run 24 hours you're supposed to devote to consuming water and sodium and all of the fixins. Yah...I really boycotted all that. Whoops.

This morning's run started out okay but miles 2 and 3 went downhill very quickly. I started telling myself that I'd just do 6. When I met up with the coaches, Coach Joe had me pour water over my head. Oh man did it feel so good!!! The next six miles went fairly well...a lot less walking (less being the key word)...and every once in a while, when us runners got lucky, a nice little breeze would trickle on through. Then I thought, oh I'll round up and do 9. But I sucked it up, braved the blazing heat and continued on for the full distance. The final 3 miles were awful. The sun was beating down (and of course I didn't have my sunglasses)...my piriformis was bothering me and I was getting a tinge of pain in my right hip. I'll just leave it at the fact there was minimal running the last quarter of the distance. I just couldn't get my head into the game today. I couldn't hold a complete thought. And I couldn't push myself like I wanted to.

Ugh...it was just so hot, I easily consumed more than 60 ounces of water on the run...and didn't pee a lick of it out. Gross...but true (stop squeaming...you guys have told worse stories!!). So a bagel sandwich, an ice bath and a shower later...I'm just now starting to feel human again.

And if it's this flipping hot on August 13th...I'm going to seriously have to re-evaluate my goal with the Chicago Distance Classic. I'm hoping that today will be this training season's worst run weather-wise. I just can't deal with this awful, horrid weather.

As a result of the heat, the hangover, the hunger and the humidity, I was at a 14:40 pace (total time included water stops, conversations with coaches and a potty break). All together now...BOO!!!!!!!!

But in the meantime, I'd like to send a great big four-letter word to Mother Nature. I cannot wait for September to get here and things will start cooling off.

Speed Training...

I'll keep this short and simple for all y'all campers out there...

Work sucked. (but really, is that a surprise?) I was in a "blah" mood for the vast majority of the day.

Came home...changed...dashed off on the el to get some speed training work in.

1st warm up "jaunt"... 3/4 of a mile...8:16

followed by a myriad (ya know...I really like that word...it's a pretty, flowery, all "intellectual" not used in everyday verbiage kind of word)...where was I? oh yah....a myriad of form exercises that probably spanned another half mile mile or so.

followed by a timed mile. now it was SUPPOSED to be a timed 5k. but the weather was so wicked hot the coaches bumped it down to a mile. So in the blazing heat and nastiness, I did an 10:58 mile. Which for me, is GREAT!!! We weren't supposed to go balls to the wall or anything...just a comfortable pace. The coaches are going to use this time to help us make sure we're training at the right pace. One of these days I do want to go out and just go all out on a mile and see how fast I can get that sucker. But not any day in the near future, mind you.

Post-timed mile we did a cool down mile...I didn't set my watch. It felt nice to just relax and go slow.

And that was that. I was silently thankful today was not a fartlek day...that surely would've been the end of me.

So now I'm at home...raiding the cupboards for something to eat (which...there's nothing appealing, so I may go ahead and ruin ye olde nutritional diet and get myself one of those 59-cent cheeseburgers that McDonalds is doing today). Nothing says "hooray for speedwork" quite like scarfing down a big mac and fries (oh who am I kidding, I hate big macs).

What's new with you crazy kids?

Ooooh...before I forget...a buddy of mine in NYC decided that it's time he started blogging about his training (amid other debauchary). Go over and show ebg some love. He's good people and training for the NY Marathon.

Peace.

The Long Walk Home...a reminder to myself...(and the verdict of the tests)...

When you run...you only run against yourself. No one else. Clear your head and just run...for yourself.

Tune out to the surroundings...let the speed demons pass you by without noticing their swift pace and graceful form...let the voices in the back of your head slip away and just run. For yourself and no one else.

And if you have to go slow. That's okay. If the heat is so bad it makes you want to throw up...that's okay, too. Just go at your own pace. Listen to your body. And just do what you can without killing yourself. Cause well...if you kill yourself, then you really can't run. Now can you?

I had to remind myself of this tonight...the good ole John Bingham philosophy...

Tonight I made it all of 1.5 miles before having to stop. As a result, I really pissed my hubby off (sorry hun). :( The heat was really just getting to me (9 at night and it was still 87-degrees). Soooo we turned around and walked home. I think we have a silent understanding that I'll be running solo from here on out. And I'm okay with that. I mean, I'm not going to be running with anyone...and I'm only racing against myself...so why let myself get all worked up about not being fast?

Anyways...on the long walk home I turned up some Smashing Pumpkins on the good ole iPod and watched the city lights reflect up from the lake...and then my "anthem" came on and I sang to myself. I thought about Billy Corgan sitting in this great city, writing such great lyrics...

...everyone should have an anthem...you know, the song that just really represents who you are and you seem to be able to solve all the world's problems when you listen to it. The song that makes you feel better that reminds you of your roots and all the goodness stuffed in between the wrinkles. Here's mine...

Mayonaise - Smashing Pumpkins

fool enough to almost be it
cool enough to not quite see it...doomed
pick your pockets full of sorrow
and run away with me tomorrow...june

we'll try and ease the pain
but somehow we'll feel the same
well, no one knows
where our secrets go

i send a heart to all my dearies
when your life is so, so dreary...dream
i'm rumored to the straight and narrow
while the harlots of my perils...scream

and i fail
but when i can, i will
try to understand
that when i can, i will

mother weep the years i'm missing
all our time can't be given...back
shut my mouth and strike the demons
that cursed you and your reasons
out of hand and out of season
out of love and out of feeling
so bad

when i can, i will
words defy the plans
when i can, i will

fool enough to almost be it
and cool enough to not quite see it
and old enough to always feel this
always old, i'll always feel this

no more promise no more sorrow
no longer will i follow
can anybody hear me
i just want to be me
when i can, i will
try to understand
that when i can, i will


And the verdict is...
A big thanks to you guys for your thoughts and prayers and emails of encouragement. I had my follow up exam today and it was determined that I have a cyst in my right breast. Good news is, it's going down in size...it's about half of what it was before. I'm going back in a month for another follow up...if it's still there, the sucker will get drained (uhmm...can you say OW?!). So here's to hoping that it miraculously disappears on its own!

And the moral of today's story is...

Well campers...you have to remember to set your alarm for the right time if you want to do your long run with the group.

I, am officially, an idiot.

Eight miler to be made up tonight or tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned.

Okay...let me have it.

I haven't run since Saturday.

That's bad.

Really bad.

Bad in the sense that this type of continued behavior could mean that Barb will not run a 5:30 marathon...nor will she have a good half marathon next month. And apparently not running makes her talk in third person.

!?

There's no good excuse why I haven't run...I tried the pre-work 5am wake up to run a few miles earlier this week...but dozing in and out of sleep I decided that rest was more important. It's hot. It's rainy. It's humid. It's too soupy and sticky and sickening outside.

I just feel all...blugh...sluggish...not myself...and overall crabby.

And as a result...I haven't run. And I *know* the days where I don't want to run are the days I need to run the most. And for some reason, this week I just didn't care.

So I asked to be put in my place for bailing on a run...

well campers...let me have it.

In the meantime, I'm off to walk the dog and watch the Chicago Marathon promo reel. That typically seems to get my mind back in check...back in running mode...back where it needs to be.

Kansas by Picture...Part Deux.

Saturday, July 15th...

The 10 mile run with TNT went really well. It was more humid than an outdoor sauna in san diego. While running I longed to be on the lake front with the breeze flowing in...but all in all, Roe Park was a pretty sweet area (minus almost getting lost a few times). While confusing, the running path was nice and shaded with the exception of a few hundred yards. The only less than stellar part was the big ole mud pit we had to trek around...and of course, me...being as brilliant as I am, slipped and ended up with muddy shoes. Woohoo. Running in wet, muddy socks in super sucky humidity rocks, lemme tell ya. But dude...a 6am run?!? That's insane. Chicago meets at 7 and THAT's pushing it for me. So waking up by 4:50 was quite tough for this chick. But we get out there...meet up with Dice and I finally meet A. Maria and Kevin...they rock...take my word for it...and we're ready to start running. I didn't really take any photos while on the run (I know, Bad Barb!)...

Anyhoo...after the run, we head over to First Watch for some yummy breakfast eats. And Taylor was quite excited over the pancakes five times the size of her head...She got through most of it...











And talk about a sweet crew...Chicagoland and Kansas City RBFers...(Back) Kevin, me, A.Maria, KT (Front) Josh, Mike, Stephanie, and Taylor. (You might want to enlarge the picture...)

I'm excited because Steph is headed to Chicago in a few weeks to see Wicked! I promised her a lakefront run or two. FINALLY! Someone I can run with who is the same pace as me. Love ya, puke pal!!
And here she is, folks...the one and only Little Miss Runner Pants. She's an absolute riot. :)

The one. The only. Sabetha, Kansas.

Eventually we make our way to Sabetha, Kansas...a little town just south of Nebraska...in the middle of nowhere. No signal on our cell phones...no sign of life within 50 miles...it was like entering a totally different era...the town was so small, if you were to blink you'd miss it if you were driving through... :) The main drag consisted of a restaurant that doubled as a bar at night, the Sabetha Country Inn (where we stayed)...an Alco...Dairy Queen...Pizza Hut and a gas station. It was AWESOME.

Here's the welcome sign at the Sabetha Country Inn...I'm sure that Sabetha receives a lot of international tourism. :)

The wedding was beautiful and Mike and I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends. But I will admit...I was exhausted.

After the reception, everyone headed to Diecks steak house...the aforementioned restaurant that doubles as a bar at night. Since the rodeo was in town, the place was packed (and yes...you read that right...there was a rodeo...it was AWE.SOME.). I'll spare you the details...but I saw one 40-something year old woman flash her table (there's this thing called gravity...wear a bra!!)...too many drunk cowboys...and then I got told off by a local for taking his chair...which had been open for 30 minutes before I sat...and was sitting there for at least 20 before he decided he wanted to sit down again...let's just leave it at I got a leg of the chair kicked into my shin. No bueno. But apparently Sabetha has this unwritten rule that if you pass out in the bar with your shoes on, you're fair game to be written on. But if your shoes are off, then they can't touch you. It was definitely the highlight of the night. Poor guy...I wish I had been a fly on the wall the next morning when he first saw the damage.

But I'm glad to be back in Chicago...finally. After hour+ delays both directions, I am definitely wiped out.

I tried to get up and run this morning. I even remembered to set my alarm for 5am. But I couldn't drag myself away from the pillow. We've got a cubs game tonight, and clearly, a lot of catching up to do in my Mizunos.

Have a great day, everyone!!

Chicagoland Runners Unite! - CRU, take two!!

Hello, Hello, Hello!

Get excited, campers...the next Chicago-area bloggers dinner is coming up...THIS SUNDAY!

Here's the skinny...

Who? You, our fellow blogging, running friend.
What? Dinner...stir fry style. You pick and mix your favorite things into one tasty treat. So really...if you hate your meal, its your own damn fault. :) But it's something like $14 for all you can handle...so bring an empty stomach, campers!
Where? Flat Top Grill in Old Town...319 W. North Avenue (about a mile from Lake Shore Drive and 2 miles off of 90/94). Plenty of neighborhood parking on the side streets...there's also a pay lot and valet...plus it is about 2 blocks from the Sedgwick brown line stop. So really, there's no reason you shouldn't come...unless you think we're not cool enough for you. In that case, you are clearly wrong.
When? This Sunday...the 23rd...7:30pm...
Why? Because...we all agreed to this date last time around...ANNND because Running Rabbit is coming from a far away land to join us...how cool is that?

So as usual...be sure to let Leah or myself know (either by e-mail or blogger comment) that you'll be attending so we can make sure we have enough seats for all you crazy kids out there.

See you there!!

-B

Kansas by Picture...Part 1...

For some reason, blogger is being a butt head and not allowing me to upload more photos at this time. Hopefully Part 2 will be posted this afternoon...stay tuned...

Friday...July 14th...

Our trip to Lawrence...ahhhh...I love seeing Jayhawks all over the place on Mass. Street...



















We stopped by to say good-bye to The Crossing...a bar on the edge of campus that is being torn down to build a stupid office building. Stupid people from K-State. Destroy your own town ya Wildcat, not ours!










And of course, I had to poke around at my most favorite place in Lawrence...the Love Garden...the best damn vinyl shop in the country...(fun fact about Barb...I collect vinyl records!)

And before returning home, we stopped at Jeffersons (which all of the walls are covered in decorated dollar bills) for some fried pickles and beer.

Hooray!! For Great Runs!!

I don't have too much time to post, but I figured I'd try and squeeze it in before we take off for Sabetha for a wedding (yah...I know, we're still trying to figure out where Sabetha, KS is from us...around 112 miles according to Mapquest, and a quick hop away from Nebraska from the looks of it). But YAY! Things are finally getting better!! I am finally able to see through my bunk eye, swelling was down by this morning...my shins are doing much better...the cramps are going away (WHEE!!)...the car is still a sucky problem, but ya know I'm not letting myself worry about that right now...all in all, things are fabulous. We spent a great day in Lawrence yesterday, had a rockin 10 (ish) mile run this morning and a wonderful, tummy-filling breakfast with a handful of awesome RBFers after. Seriously...you kids rock.

I've got too much to take do before we leave in an hour...so I'm cutting this short.

10 (ish) Miles...and I say 'ish' because I think I might have cut it short be a half mile or so...my Garmin was cutting in and out....but 10ish miles done in 2:02...12:14 pace...in like a gajillion degrees with 24397842% humidity. Okay, that's a lie...but it was hot. Reaaaaaaaaally stinkin' hot...the heat slowed down this speed queen (hah...we all know i'm the abominable slowman...get it? hah.)

So yah...that's the abridged version. I'll post the extended version, with photos, when I have time next week in Chicago.

Kevin, KT, A.Maria, Stephanie, Dice...it was WONDERFUL meeting all of you (except Dice...it was great seeing you, as always)...you guys all rock and anytime you're in Chicago, let me know :) ...hope to see you again soon!

Peace out, campers.

Pity Party...Table for One...

Check, please!

I really don't like sitting here and whining...cause well, I'd rather not waste my time on mundane hullabalooey that most folks really couldn't care less about. But ya know...yesterday was so bad, that maybe...just maybe...my misery will brighten someone else's day. And if my terrible day can shed a ray of sunshine on yours...then I will have done my part to make the world a brighter place.

Oh come on, you know it's true...finding someone else out there with a worse day than you will inevitably make you feel better...you start thinking...Ooooh that sucks for her, maybe my day isn't so bad afterall! We've all done it...so no giving me pity er anything...just a pat on the back and a 'thanks for the uplift, barb' will suffice! :)

So here is my yesterday (and morning)...in a nutshell...I really should've had a box of tissues strapped to my hip...and I share this with you only because I'm trying to find the humor in the situation...(and by all means, if your day was worse, feel free to let me know...maybe your misfortunes could bring a smile to my face? ...just kidding...you know I wish nothing but fabulous, happy days to everyone...)

Barb's Bad Day.
I've been really crampy, crabby, crummy, and overall a PMS-y wench. Needless to say, I'm Barb's evil twin right now...not really Barb. And note, that Barb's Evil Twin this time of the month, blows everything out of proportion in her mind...cause well, she's hormonal...oh, and she's a big ole cry baby, too.

Morning at work...blah. It's morning. And it's work. It's morning...at work. Luckily, I wasn't sore from the 6-miler on Tuesday night. Need I really say anymore?

I had a dentist appointment at noon. Good News: wisdom teeth removal can indeed wait until AFTER the marathon. Bad News: You have a cavity...so lets stick this big sharp pointy painful thing into your tooth a few more times for good measure!! There? Does that hurt? DOES IT? I shall return in August to get the mofo filled.

Afternoon Work. I'm not even going to open up this can of worms. It was the day that would never end. I had a headache through most of it...and I totally felt like Michael Bolton from Office Space.

Generally, I'm beyond hormonal. To the point where someone looks at me wrong, I cry. Just ask Mike. I was a raving lunatic last night. Before he got home, a Hallmark commercial sent me into a sobbing frenzy. It was ugly.

I didn't get to run. On my way home from work I thought about going for a 3-miler. But since we leave for Kansas tonight, and our home was a pig sty, I decided to do some much needed cleaning. Cause well...I don't clean very often, and I thought it'd be a nice surprise for Mike since he had class from 8-7...so I clean...and clean...and clean...and sort laundry. No prob...I'll run in the morning...or so I thought.

Mike returns home. Bad news. The first car I ever owned, is dead. The car we're trying to sell...is dead. My car full of memories of stolen kisses and road trips and my friends' laughter...is dead. We have a flipping 98 Honda Civic as an effing paperweight. Looking like a couple grand to fix her up, too. What.The.Fizzuck. So my hormones kick in...and I'm just...hysterical. No...hysterical isn't even the right word for it. Had I not been pms-ing...I would've been frustrated...but because "the enemy" is in town...I was a flipping lunatic. Not so much crying about the car...but crying because life, as I knew it, was "spiraling out of my control" (I don't like not being in control--pardon the bad use of a double negative). I'm crying because I'm cramping, because things just haven't been going our way lately, because my eye randomly has started hurting (from crying so much?), because I can't stop crying, because my life feels no longer like *my* life...but the life of some unlucky sonofagun. And normally...I'm a REALLY LUCKY PERSON...just ask anyone in my family...(no seriously, I've won free trips to hawaii and stuff, I'm lucky! ...just not now)...but I'm crying because my lucky streak has ended...or so it seems. I'm crying because well...it's the only thing I can do at that exact moment. (see...i told you i'm ridiculous!!)

Finally, I pull myself together...make dinner...watch So You Think You Can Dance? cause well...those guys always seem to cheer me up...and it worked since Benji and Donyelle totally rocked the shit out of a Broadway routine to my favorite song from Hairspray...and that was arguably the highlight of my night.

Then I cry because the cat got sick (are you sensing a crying trend now? are you??) on the dog's bed.

We do laundry. Somehow, the gods smile down at me and decide not to shrink, fade, or bleed any of our clothes. We test out that new penguin wash for sports clothes...seems to have done the trick, but it kind of smells like Chlorine (there's your obligatory running-related highlight for the day--I tried the special sport laundry detergent).

We fold laundry...and then I go to take a bath...after I'm out...I'm rubbing my eye, cause it's sore and all...and then freak out cause I realized I haven't started packing...so here I go a-scurrying around the condo, looking for my bag and making sure I don't forget anything (which inevitably, I will). Looking back, I have no idea what's been packed. Hopefully clean underwear and at least one pair of running shorts.

My Right Eye. In the midst of my packing frenzy, it gets all swollen. The eyelid is bright red...and it's huge...massively puffy...and I feel like I have been punched...or walked into a door (which I didn't, I swear!!). I do warm compression for a bit, but nothing helps. It's swollen. And it sucks. And it makes me wanna cry some more, because I look absolutely absurd....but I don't...mostly because at this point it HURTS to cry. See? I told ya I'm a big ole baby. Normally, I'm not this bad during pms...but I guess I was due for a truly horrendous week.

I got to bed around 1:15am. By 1, I made the executive decision I wouldn't be running in the morning...because well...I'm in desperate need of sleep. Probably the biggest let down of the day. So the plan NOW...is for me to get up early tomorrow morning and run around my neighborhood in Kansas for 30-40 minutes. Which sucks, cause it's super hilly...and it'll be freak nasty hot. But whatever...I'll be a better runner for it. Right? Mileage this week to date is only 14. :/ No bueno. So I'm laying in bed, tossing and turning...and finally, somehow I pass out.

This morning I wake up...shower...and I've completely forgotten that I have to be at work by 8:30 for a conference call. So not only am I rushed....I look in the mirror and my right eye is completely swollen shut. It's hurting ten times worse than the night before...after some more compression, I can slightly open it. It seriously looks like I've had the shit beat outta me. I get into work and two of my co-workers are freaking out thinking I've scratched my cornea...I think it's a stye...but what the hell do I know about eyes? I'm hoping to get into my optomestrist before leaving for Kansas today. I'm really going to have a miserable trip if this doesn't sort itself out soon...cause ya know, seeing is somewhat essential.

...And honestly, I don't want to look like a one-eyed wonder clown when I meet Stephanie, KT and A.Maria this weekend (YES! DID I TELL YOU I GET TO MEET THOSE GIRLS?!? How excited is this chick!? *squeal* very.stinkin.excited.) So yeah...eye, you best start cooperating and get yo'self in check.

Which brings me up to now. A relatively insane morning...and an afternoon that is finally starting to slow down (sort of).

If anyone has some luck to share, I'll gladly take it. ...or some Midol. That'd work, too.

But ya know...I figure if all of this is the worst crap that happens to me this week...then I'm in damn good shape. Right?

See...there is a silver lining. Just took some good ole bitchin' and moanin' to get there.

Okay...so now that my pity party is OVER, I hope you have a good day...or at least a better than me, campers! I'll be back...when I'm in Kansas. :)

A Tiny Victory.

Okay campers...after sleeping in on Monday (because of aforementioned lack of alarm setting)...I decided that a Tuesday sleep in would be needed as well, since Mike and I were planning on going for a 5+ mile run that evening.

The work day, overall was pretty bad. I won't bore you with those mundane details though. So fast forward to around....8:30pm.

We toss on our running clothes, I grab Dave Grohl (that's what I named my shoes, remember?), slapped on the Garmin (which I'm on the verge of nicknaming P.O.S.), iPod and went out the door.

It was a rather warm, foggy, groggy, nasty, humid, soupy night here in Chicago. The entire skyline was glued together by one massive cloud. It gave the evening a rather, eerie, murkey feel. Almost like we were running directly into a scene from a cheesy horror flick...you know, where the dark monster of Lake Michigan crawls ashore to feed on the flesh of nighttime runners before returning to its seaweed lair.

But no dark lake monsters were seen last night. It was just a bunch of ass kicking running for me, and some "slower" running for Mike (cause, well...since he's such a sweet hubby, he goes my pace so I don't have to run alone....). Funny how ass kicking for some is slow for others. Ahh...the beauty of running and individual goals!

We headed north along the lake front, but decided to stay on the Lake-side portion of the path since it was lit better (or so we thought). A mile or two down we hit the Fullerton/Lake Shore Drive intersection and the path takes out out and around this game house type thing (I have no clue what it really was, so game house is my best guess)...where there are no lights on the path whatsoever for a half mile(ish). We zipped through that area pretty quickly, needless to say. It was about this time that I felt "the shift" and needed to find a bathroom stat. So we decide we'll run to St. Joe's hospital so I can relieve myself there.

St. Joe's ended up being exactly three miles. We run up to the door. Locked. ARGGGGGH!

No bueno for Barb. So we turn around and head back. I figure I'll use the beach bathroom 1.5 miles down. So we're back to running...through the Belmont Tunnel...into the darkness around Fullerton...back alongside the beach with the flesh-eating dark Lake Michigan Monster nowhere in sight...and we make it to the public restroom.

And despite all of my efforts...I got nothing. Frustrating...right? Yeah. I know.

We continue on our merry way and begin to wrap things up.

Shin spints were had through most of the run. They definitely eased up as I kept running...stopping to walk or get water made them ache with fire...so it was best to keep on' moving. It's always hard to get back into the groove after stopping when you have shin splints. Also, Mike said something about having a really tiny stride. I never noticed that before. So I'm hopefully going to try and focus on elongating my stride a little bit...and making it stronger overall. He showed me by walking next to me while I ran. Oof.

At any rate...here are our splits, according to Mike's watch (since, well...mine Garmin can't hold a signal for anything...said my total mileage was 4.16 or something ridiculous like that). So my splits may vary by a few seconds.
Mile 1: 10:54
Mile 2: 11:42
Mile 3: 11:24
Mile 4: 11:03
Mile 5: 10:51
Mile 6: 12:08 (this was where we were arguing about doing 6 vs. 7-8 miles...I went in with the mentality of 6...so I was spent).

So the fact that I did 6 miles, THAT WELL is a tiny victory in and of itself...the fact I punked out on that 7th mile...not so cool, but I honestly just didn't have it in me and was totally under the impression that we were only doing 6 miles (initially intended to be 2 Miles North, 2 Miles back to Start, 1 Mile South, 1 Mile back to Star for 6t...but instead, we did 3 North and 3 back to start). After we did our 6 miles from the North, he then still wanted to go South. I tried, but I was just dead. He ran on and I started to head back home.

But....LOOK AT THOSE TIMES, BABY!!! Two Sub-11 Minute Miles? Homie don't do that normally. I know it's because I had Mike pacing and pushing me. Which, while it was great for me, I know it drove him nuts. I feel bad that he has to go slower to stick with me.

I'm just exhausted right now though. I had a hard time falling asleep last night and I'm definitely dragging ass right now. It may be an early to be (and early rise?) night for me.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to run this evening since we have to pack and get everything ready since we leave for Kansas tomorrow night. Mike, Taylor and I have a 10-miler and post-run breakfast planned with Dice and a few other folks from the Kansas City area. Should be a grand ole time!

At any rate...I figure a bunch of tiny victories throughout training will lead to one big victory on Oct. 22nd...at least that's how it plays out in my head.

Boo hiss.

Well shit.

Getting up at 6 to run only works if you remember to set your alarm. I went to bed early last night only to rise by Mike's alarm. When I realized what happened, it was definitely too late to head out.

The intention was there. I swear!!

Let's hope I can pull a morning run off tomorrow. :sigh:

Boo hiss.

The Nomad.

Tonight I roamed the city like a nomad. It was almost an out of body experience...I was in a funk and wanted to get out of the condo...so I tossed on some flip flops and walked out the door. I just got lost in my thoughts and walked with no specific destination, turning down different streets without rhyme or reason. When I first started paying attention, I was at the River...I had intentions of heading back home.

The next thing I knew, I was at Oak Street Beach (which is about 3/4 of a mile beyond the condo). I slipped off my flip flops and sunk my feet in the sand and water. It felt really good. I ended up sitting at the very end of the Oak Street Beach stretch, nearing North Avenue. I sat for a good...20...30 minutes just getting absorbed in random thoughts...how ginormous the city was an how insignificant I am in the sea of skyscrappers...how i just want this whole lump bull shit ordeal over with, i just want it gone...i wondered if my nana and grandpa would be proud of what I've done with my life...i thought about how I should've just gone running instead of taking a walk...how i wish i had some close girlfriends of my own up here...and on and on and on...i wasn't so much sad as i was just all consumed with a myriad of thoughts.

I got a few smiles from random strangers and an adorable run up from a toddler who just had to tell me "hi." And from the way her parents reacted they must have thought I was going to kidnap her.

After that, I picked myself up and headed home. It's funny how the city seems to swallow you whole.

All things considered, today was a rough day. Working the hydration station this morning was a wonderful experience. You can tell that just about everyone along the running path appreciates the fact we woke up before the sun to help support them. I'd highly recommend volunteering in this capacity to everyone. Who knows...maybe we could make it an RBF event? But this morning was certainly the highlight of my day.

Later in the afternoon I took a bath to relax and I decided to pick up the book Sole Sisters (a book suggested by Party Runner about gals who run...I highly recommend it). So I'm soaking and I get to a chapter about a young woman who had breast cancer...and they're describing what she went through and the celebratory 5k her family ran in honor of her recovery...and I'm sitting there in the bathtub crying. Near hysterics. Stupid effing book. I guess this is what spiraled me into an even deeper funk and sparked the late night roam around the city.

Blah.

But my goal is to wake up early in the morning to get a 3-miler in before work. Let's hope it actually happens :)

Now that's more like it.

Today's 8-miler was certainly better than the last. While not super-fabulous or impressively great...I felt wonderful (but tired) when I was done.

1:42:17 for 8 miles. That's a 12:47 pace. And significantly faster than my previous 8-miler time. Because my Garmin was cutting in and out again...I don't have accurate split times again (argh). So.Stinkin.Frustrating.

Some runs are just better than others. And today's eight was great. I had shin splints the first 2-3 miles, but luckily it subsided fairly quickly. I started out with Lesley's 5:1 group, but it just felt slow today. So I broke away from the group and just pushed forward. I sorta nixed the whole even interval thing (not sure if that's a good thing or not?). But I ran when I felt good and walked 30-ish yards whenever I needed a break. Toward the final two miles I ended up with a handful of walking breaks partly because my piriformis was getting sore and tight and I was in the direct sunlight and boy did it get toasty. But I did my best to just get lost in the music and just keep on running.

But I ran into Jurgita along the running path which was a wonderful surprise (I haven't seen her in ages). I nearly caused a collision though...and some guy tried to lecture me about running path manners. But she was looking great and running strong. She will definitely kick some ass in the marathon.

Based on today's run...I'm hoping to complete the Chicago Distance Classic in 2:45 (a 12:35/mi). In a perfect world, I'll be faster...but I don't want to kill myself in the process. I know a 2:45 is "slow" for most....but it's a great, realistic goal for me. Now only if the weather will comply. :) If it's nasty and humid, then fuggadaboutit. I'll be lucky just to finish.

In other running news....Mike and I signed up for the Nike Run Hit Remix...should be a good time. It's the Thursday after our Half Marathon, too. It's expected to sell out really fast, so hop to it, campers!

And tomorrow morning, we'll be up with the sun to help work the Fleet Feet water station along the running path. Maybe we'll see some of you out there!

Happy Running!

Friday Ramble.

First and foremost...thank you to everyone for all of your kind words and thoughts. I truly do appreciate it the comments and e-mails. I'll keep you posted as the situation unfolds.

The initial plan yesterday was to run 6 miles. But when I got home from work...I joined Mike and the couch and the two of us passed the heck out. Lack of sleep is really starting to catch up on me. When we finally got moving by 7:30, I made dinner, watched our obligatory reality tv show of the night, and decided laundry had to be done.

By the time 10 rolls around I'm feeling super guilty for not bucking up and running, so I head down to the "gym" in our building (and I use gym loosely as we have a few weights and some older machines). I can't bring myself to run on the treadmill, since it typically makes me insane...so I did some upper body weight work and hopped on the stationary bike.

40 minutes and 14.5 miles later...I peeled off, showered and went to bed...happy that at least I went out and did SOMETHING, even though it wasn't running. I figure it still counts, right? (This is the part where I should be called out...I slacked...I bailed on a run...BAD BARB.)

For those of you planning on running on Sunday morning...we'll be helping out at the Fleet Feet water stop on the inner running path along the lakefront at Diversy. Come stop by and say "hi."

And a quick note for the Chicago-Bound folks...
October tickets to see WICKED went on sale this morning. You can pick up some really great seats for the Friday night 8pm show. If you haven't had the chance to see it yet, you definitely should. If you're coming to Chicago, you may as well make a fun weekend out of it...right?

-B

Debbie Downer.

Consider that my attempt to bring humor to this semi-serious post.

I'm going to try and keep this short and sweet. I questioned whether or not I should post about it, cause well...it's personal. But then I thought...I post about everything else...so...why not? Here goes nothing...

I had a lady doc appointment earlier today (okay guys, stop groaning...shut up already). And well...she found something...something big that shouldn't be there...in my right boob. Something I didn't catch, but totally should have.

Have you felt this before?
Hmm...no...I typically do my self exams in the shower, standing up...
You really should be doing these laying down. Here feel...
{OH.MY.FLIPPING.GAWD.THATS.EFFING.HUGE} Uuuhhhhhhh....whoa...

The next few minutes are sort of a blur now...something about thinking it's probably nothing...but we need to be certain...so I have to come back in in 2-3 weeks....and blah blah blah. All the while she's talking, I'm freaking out mentally. Visions of double mastectomies, reconstructive surgery, and things ten times worse were filling my head. And I want no part of any of that.

I nod...I'm sure it's nothing, too. And on July 25th...we'll find out. I'm going in for an ultrasound. And until then, I'm sure this damn lump is going to continue to consume every fiber of my being.

And it sucks.

And because this totally has taken a toll on my overall demeanor...I did my own mini-remedy. First I called my mom...because let's face face it...no matter how old I may get, my mother will inevitably always know best. And then I went shopping. I figured a few. new. books. might cheer me up. And while it brought me a few moments of happiness...I'm back to the couch. Just bummin'. I figure if I'm not in the mood to run right now, I can at least read about how to run better...and read a few motivational and inspirational chick running stories...or a novel by my favorite author (Jennifer Weiner).

I'll get over the funk. In due time. I just need to know that this unfathomable thing inhabiting my boob isn't really a thing...but nothing really at all.

So ladies, please make sure you're doing your self breast exams regularly. Laying down. You just might catch a thing or two that you may not have otherwise.

This "The More You Know" moment has been brought to you by Running Jayhawk's right boob.

Burping Barbara and the Bug.

...sounds like a children's novel by Roald Dahl, doesn't it?

But campers...it's not! It's the story of my run this evening!

By the time evening rolled around, Mike and I hadn't done anything but nap, shop, eat and nap some more on this relaxing fourth of July. So when I took the pooch out around 8pm, I was greeted by a beautiful, crisp, 68-degree breeze.

Ahhh...perfection.

I ran back upstairs, tossed on my running clothes and filled up my water bottles. Then Mike announced he was coming with me. Sweet! Ten minutes later we were out the door.

We walked .75 up to the lakefront path and waited for the Garmin's to calibrate (mine is still being stupid around thick trees...argh!). And before we knew it we were off. The first mile felt great. We had to stop a few times because Mike's Garmin was acting funky, but it eventually decided to cooperate.

Before we knew it we had covered over a mile. Hmm....this is going very well. Along the lake I could see families grilling and having a fourth of July bbq...kids running with sparklers and your random folks attempting to light roman candles. It was a great night for all to be out and about.

Just on the other side of the North Avenue Bridge...the acid reflux kicked in. Clearly, the strawberry spinich salad I had for dinner was not a good idea. And when I get acid reflux...I start burping. Loud enough to win a contest at a truck stop. It's obnoxious. And it hurts. Blech. I've done a decent job teaching myself how to burp on the run without losing my lunch...but tonight it slowed my down a bit.

As a result of said burping, we had to stop and walk...fairly frequently. Typically it was for less than a minute, but a few select stretches lasted up to 50-70 yards. I wasn't pleased, but I didn't let it stop me.

We turned around just past Fullerton and headed back downtown. And around 2.5...it happened.

I ran through a cloud of swarming bugs...and one flew right into my mouth.

And of course...I spazzed.

I'm cursing...and spitting...and coughing...and generally raving and running around like a mad woman, swatting away the rest of the bug's fleet away from any open holes on my body. It was an interesting sight to say the least. Mike said something about "do you know how many bugs you swallow in your lifetime..." and frankly, I didn't care.

It turns out, I didn't exactly swallow the bug. It sorta stayed in my mouth...to...uh...savor{?} if you will. It was quite nasty. After I've hacked up half my lung, we continue running...and I realize one of the bugs effing wings is stuck back in my mouth...

double ew. and the spitting continues.

It was really freaky nasty. Hopefully the rest of my runs this summer will be bug-free. Yuck.

After getting bugged...we ran some more...dealt with the inevitable acid reflux...and finished off strong (or at least as strong as I could go). I'm sure I got some odd looks letting out some of those serious belches along the running path. If you happen to have heard me, please accept my apologies.

But hey...if there's a burping contest in your hometown with a hefty prize purse...let me know. I could use the extra cash. I might even split it with ya.

...my man-burps could pretty much guarentee me a victory.

In the end, 4.2 miles in 51:25. A 12:14/mi pace. Followed by a .75 mile walk home cool done. Not bad. Not great. But sorta where I need to be for a 5:30 marathon. I blame the bug and the burps. That's what was slowing my down. So if anyone out there has problems with acid reflux when running, I'd love to hear your solutions.

Enough about burping...here's my attempt to redeem myself as a not so girly girl, wishing she was more girly...look at the cute dress I got today for some upcoming weddings!! (Stupid blogger isn't letting my post pics).

At any rate...it was a good 4-miler on the fourth. I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Independence Day!

Race Report in a nutshell...

Okay campers...

Race to Taste was this morning.

Garmin tuckered out on my at .31 miles in. Didn't pick back up until after mile 1. Mike's 205 worked perfectly the entire time. insert angry, ticked-off grunt here.

Rain on and off made the air beyond humid. Felt like I was running through soup, but fantastic when the rain was coming down. Temp was around 86-87 when we left the house at 7:30am...slightly higher at gun time.

Chocked on water...had to pull over for a nasty coughing fit for a few.

The course was rather uneventful. Just 1 water stop, but the volunteers were great. Lots of little kiddos on the course as part of the TRI-Masters group.

Final time was 35:56. Pacing 11:36/mi. Not too bad (but not good enough for me yet).

Today was just not my day...

But I'm okay with that. Just got to keep getting better.

Note to self for future races...stick around for the Kids Race...they're hilarious, especially the "crawlers" division. Saw Frank. And later saw Dawn. Yay for the CRU!

But yah...I'm really miffed about my garmin and the whole kerplunking thing. Soooo...any nice people out there (be it parental units or my wonderful hubby looking to give a surprise...) I would really...and I mean reaaaaaaaaaaally love a Garmin 205. In Red. Perhaps that way I could get actual split times?

Now there's a concept.