What a Bum!!!

I am only 2 weeks out from my next marathon and I have started my taper. So what do i do for a great run over the weekend? Nothing. Absolutely Nothing!

I woke up early Saturday morning to go on a 13 mile easy run but I was tired from the night before and still trying to get over this cold I got so I ended up laying back down and going back to sleep. I did do some form of exercise later that morning and afternoon though. I loaded 44 rolls of sod into my van (2 trips) and unloaded them at home. Then tool them in a wheelbarrow to the back yard and unrolled them in the dirt patch I have had since I moved in. I now have some nice looking grass there. I also now have soar hamstrings? Why the hamstrings? I have no idea but the are tight and sore. I will run and try to loosen them up on Monday.

I didn't even run today (Sunday) either. What a Bum!

For those of you heading to the upper Midwest for marathons this coming few weeks (Chicago? Lakefront? Twin Cities?), the weather is going to cool down starting tomorrow. Instead of highs in the 70's like we have had for a few weeks now, it will be a high of the mid 50's the next few days. I hope this will stay, at least though all the marathons. I know some of you are wishing and praying for cool temps and that will definitely help us all out.

I did get to go to a nice game on Friday evening. I was given some tickets to go see the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park. They were the best seats I have even had. 4th Row in the Diamond Box section which means I was in the 4th row from the field just behind the Phillies On Deck Circle. That was really cool being that close and seeing he players up close. Good News, The Brewers won the game. Bad News, still no foul balls.

Lights Out With AC/DC

It was a nice day today. Mid 60's, sunny, and breezy. I came home from work and decided to go for a 5 miler but this time I took my youngest princess with me. Katelynn usually likes it when we "go running" as she gets to see all around town. I bet the breeze in her face felt good as well.

We took off into the wind for about a mile before we hit the bike trail for another 2 miles. The last mile was back into the wind but we did well maintaining about a 8:50 pace. It is a lot of fun running with partner cheering you on. Well, maybe not cheering on, more like talking, talking, talking . . . Talked about puppies, cars, soccer players, other runners, bikers, clouds, etc. She was holding a small picture her sister drew the entire time looking at it, flapping it around, calling it her ticket. Well, sure enough, just after mile 4, "DADDY, MY TICKET!!!" We backtrack a little and find the drawing and finish our run without anymore issues. And then the great comments afterwards "Daddy, why are you all wet and sweaty?" Innocence.

Last night I went to the Milwaukee Brewers game for the second time this year. Brewers Won, YES! The best part of the game is the top of the 9th when the Brewers are up 3 or less runs. In comes Trevor Hoffman. If you don't know him, he is the all time MLB save leader though this is his first season as a Brewer. As they did in San Diego where he used to play, when he comes in, they dim the lights and the Bells begin from Hells Bells by AC/DC. It is his signature song and it totally gets the entire crowd into the game. They play it loud and the make it a great experience. It has got to really suck to be the opposing team and hear that music. Sure enough, Hoffman comes in a 3 players later, the game is over and the Brewers win. Hoffman's 7th save of the year (update, he got save #8 today).

I also picked the wrong sausage int eh sausage race yet again. Last game I had the Italian and it took last. This time I took Hot Dog and, yes, it took last. It may seem really stupid to all you around the country to see us cheering on sausages in a race, but it is actually quite fun.

Side note: I got my cell phone from my brother when we shared a family plan and I am not one to purchase ring tones so I use whatever he already had and so I use AC/DC's Hells Bells as my ring tone. It is funny that every time I hear that song, I get the feeling like I have a call. Not really, I rarely get calls on my phone nor do I make many calls. Maybe I should have it on more?!?!

This and That

I did a quick 5 1/2 miler after work today at a pace of 8:08. I tried a new route from home on some rural roads and it was a bit windy but it was a good run. It wasn't as easy feeling as yesterdays run but I am happy about it none-the-less.

For the first time this year, I watched American Idol tonight. Looks like Danny Gokey should make the final against Adam Lambert. It is obvious that I cannot judge singing talent. I did not think Adam Lambert sang well but the judges praised a lot. Let's hope Gokey makes the final. They really didn't show any scenes from the celebrations around Milwaukee that Gokey was at and sang at. Maybe that will be tomorrow. I really wanted to see how he show made Milwaukee look.

I will have to record the show tomorrow though as I am going to the Brewers game against the Marlins. Tickets were half price and I got 2 tickets in the first row of the 4th deck between home and first. It will be a high view but I think the seats are still pretty good. Probably not as good as the last game I went to but then again, seats here are cheaper. The Brewers won tonight so let's hope for 2 in a row.

Door County

I made a decision today. Nothing momentous or earth changing, but it is a running decision. I decided that I am going to run a half marathon this weekend. It is the Door County Half Marathon in Door County, WI. If you look at Wisconsin like as if it were a hand, Door County is the thumb. The peninsula jetting out into Lake Michigan. Door County is a wonderful place and many people call it the Cape Cod of the Midwest. I don't know what Cape Cod is like but is must be like Door County. Lots of little towns with lots of shops and lots of parks. This race will take place entirely in Peninsula State Park. I love this park and really love camping there. It will be a hilly race as there are many bluffs etc. Probably an elevation change of 250 feet of so but you go up and down it a couple times in the race. I don't really plan on racing it all out and I am not tapering for it at all, but on race day, most likely the competitive person inside me will let loose and I will try to get the best time I can. Most likely it will be around 1:43 to 1:45ish. That is a good 8:00 pace or slightly faster. Not sure what the hills will do to me.

Last night I ran 5 miles easy at 8:21 pace and then quickly cleaned up because Mike and I went to the Milwaukee Brewers game. We got there in the top of the 2nd and had really good seat. 1st row of the second deck in shallow right field. The game was good and tied going into the bottom of the 8th but the Brew Crew came out and scored 5 in the bottom of the 8th to pull ahead for good and won 10 to 5. I think I ate too many peanuts and I actually drank not one, but 2 beers. Mike was quite shocked. We had to walk back to the car in a light rain but since we parked so far away, we got a bit wet. I am quite frugal when it comes to things, so we parked on the street for free about 1 mile away and walked it instead of paying $12 to park 1/2 mile away in the parking lots.

Today I ate too much at lunch so I need to burn some of it off so I think I will do a slow easy 5 1/2 miles. It is beautiful outside today, a but cool at 50F but sunny. Art is up from Texas so I think i will bug him to see if you will hit a few miles with me.

Ka-rappy Weather

Good News, it didn't snow all that much yesterday. I woke up to no snow on the ground but it snow was coming down. They were big flakes but the ground was too warm and they all melted upon hitting. That was good since I am ready for no more snow for at least 6 months.

Yesterday though, was crappy weather through and through. It was cold, windy, and rainy. The hat trick of crappy weather. Did it stop me from running? Almost. After work, I looked outside and came very close to not going out. It was raining a little, it was windy, and it was about 39F as well. I knew I was not running on Wednesday (today) so I forced myself out in it for a 5 1/2 mile run. Once I stepped outside, I thought about going right back in as the wind and light rain hit me and it was cold. I made a conscience decision to just get going and so I did. After about a 1/2 mile, the rain stopped and it was bearable. then at about 3 miles, it started again. By the end, it was coming down somewhat good. I had planned on going easy but since I just wanted to get done, i ran it a bit faster and did it at an average of 8:15 per mile. It was all good.

My friend Mike and I are planning on going to a Milwaukee Brewers game next week. We can get half priced tickets and we try to go to at least one game per year. We missed out last year when we had tickets to a playoff game but could not attend as we were in Minneapolis for the Twin Cities Marathon. I am looking forward to the game as when we go, it is a good time of just talking and watching sports in a wonderful atmosphere. If you are ever in Milwaukee, I recommend a game at Miller Park. It is a very nice stadium and very comfortable to watch a game at. I just wish the Brewers were doing better this year. At least they won tonight.

Mike is a Graphic Artist and has created a logo for me for the Kids Marathon I am organizing. He just sent me the first draft and I must say, it looks pretty cool. I will share it with you all when we finalize it. It will be on all the forms we send out as well as on the Tshirts. I am not sure if I can get the logo on the medal we will present, but perhaps we can make it work.