What a group!

It must be a record! Today 10 people ran - at various stages - this morning! 10!!! Can you believe it? What a fun group! It makes it so much easier and enjoyable to roll out of bed on a Saturday morning to go for a run. Of course Jill and Sandy get the medal since they started at 5:30! Now we just need to get the new people to come and experience the joy!

It came to my attention this morning that a bit of clarification is needed regarding the purpose of this blog. I appreciate that others respect me SO much that they expect this to be a truth based, factual and unbiased account of all happenings connected to our runs. Fortunately for me, however, the Power is in the Pen! There will be no clarifications of the truth, apologizesfor errors in stories, redemption of those who actually did tell their wife where weekday morning runners meet. Got it people (Tom)!?!? I mean, you do want this to be a funny blog - right?

Organs - the musical kind!

We finally got to welcome Rhonda to the morning running group! A good run - no ice and just a dusting of snow! Off to register for Chicago, but first.....Apparently organs are now "cool", next the accordion will made a come back. It makes me hope that at our next church service we will hear something new!

I have great sympathy for this girl's parents. I can only imagine the dislike they now feel towards this song. Any parent who has a child learning piano can understand how excruciating it can be to listen to a song for the 1,000th time! And this song is 5 minutes long!

Be warned - you will not want to click on this rendition of "Carry On My Wayward Son" in places you don't want it to be heard... like work. However, someone may just think you brought a radio in.

So Sorry!

A break down in running club communication happened this morning! One of Three's Company was supposed to join us this morning for the first time, but true to Jack Tripper's style - messages got crossed! Poor Rhonda showed up at Ginny's instead of Walgreens this morning. We were wondering where she was. Personally I was shocked that she would open herself up to the ridicule of the group by missing her first morning. Of course this doesn't stop Sandy, Wendy or Jenny and occasionally Jill! She covered her tracks though, by leaving a note on Christy's car. Smart girl! She saved herself a day of vicious e-mails from Mike!

Although we do have to admit that we now have all become concerned about the state of Rhonda and Tom's marriage. How bad it must be that he can't tell her where we start in the morning! I know he was struggling with sharing his "running friends" with her, but come on Tom - be a bigger man!

It was warm this morning, but quite slippery. Quite a few colorful adjectives were coming out of Jill's mouth.

Warm but slushy

We welcomed back Sandy this morning!

Mixed blessing this morning - a balmy 34 degrees which made it feel like we were running on 6 inches of sand due to the softened snow covered streets. Sandy had the brilliant idea to walk for a little while. We all happily joined her.

No funnies this morning. I figured I needed to give you a break after this weekend's post.

trudge, trudge, trudge

Not an ideal day to run 2 hours given the 2 inches of freshly fallen snow. I prefer sub zero temperatures over 2 inches of snow. Oh well, such is life in Wisconsin.

I recently read that Green Bay has hit the big time. It has decided that instead of giving t-shirts to first time marathoners, it will provide the latest and most technologically advanced apparel. I was able to get a picture of it before it was released to the media! Don't worry - I am sure the model doesn't do it justice. Tom and Mike will make it shine!

Ode to the Cousins

After Jill and I ran in -9 temperatures, it made me realize how much the Cousins deserve a little something special in the blog this morning after running in -17 (or more) yesterday. So, my Ode to the Cousins:

Ode to the Cousins

Oh! On that frozen morn

Two cousins did clothes adorn.

For ahead of them they did see

5.5 miles of sheer stupidity.

The weatherman said 40 below!

The cousins said "We still will go!"

In Wisconsin it is never to cold

for these two cousins oh so bold!

So out they ran side by side

With only their frozen breath as their guide.

Cars passed with drivers gawking in wonder

As in to the cold these two did blunder.

As they returned to their abode

They said "Oh what a story to be told!"

The two knew this story would cajole!

Agreed it was - A better tale than the Ice Bowl!

So hats of to Christy and Mike

who showed us their running might!

The rest of us were snug in beds

Thinking "My! What boneheads!"

-9

Yes - a bit chilly AGAIN today! Luckily no wind.

We are hoping it will warm up a bit - soon!. Mike is threatening to take drastic measures. He said if it doesn't get above zero soon he will come dressed as one the Green Bay Packer Bikini Girls. THAT should convince Mother Nature that the cold weather is making us go a bit crazy. Don't worry - the rest of us won't be taken in by Mike's madness.

Notice all the smiles on the faces of the MEN around these girls. Then take a look at the woman's expression in the upper right hand corner. I have to say - I agree with her!

He Who Shall Not Be Named

The cousins and I enjoyed a nice snowy run today. It would be interesting to see who lives on Habhegger street - there must be SOME reason why that street never gets plowed!

We also saw 'He Who Shall Not Be Named'. He didn't run with us, so he doesn't get his name in the blog! Apparently his Ipod his friend enough for him on cold, snowy days. It will be interesting if his Ifriend is still so great when he is slogging through 26.2 miles! Plus technically his 'friend' is banned at USATF races. What kind of 'friend' is banned from races! Luckily for He Who Shall Not Be Named, GB doesn't enforce the rule.

School is on time... so better get going!

Definitions

"Something utterly foolish or unreasonable" is one of the definitions for 'insanity'. I am pretty sure that a couple of drivers were thinking that when they saw Tom (see - mentioned your name again!) Bryan, Jill and I running this morning. I know for sure that my husband did. I actually think the definition for crazy is more appropriate: "distracted with desire or excitement". We were so distracted by the excitement of running that we were utterly foolish and unreasonable and went running when the temperature was -14 without wind chill! My car thermometer actually read -19. How cold was it? My Garmin actually froze.

I am sure there are the skeptical out there. So to prove we ran, we had Christy take a picture of us!

By the way, Jill and I ran 7.5 miles. Tom and Bryan ran 20 minutes longer.

Welcome!

Sheri joined us this morning! Way to go! Especially when it was so cold! We are looking forward to many more runs with you!

It actually wasn't too bad this morning. No wind which helped a lot. Plus the roads were plowed well, so it wasn't like running in sand. The hard part was trying to talk over the loud squeaking of the snow!

Stretching Study. If you are interested in helping the world of science for the benefit of all us runners. Check out the Stretching Study I found on the USATF website (where I plot out new routes!)

The humor part of my brain is still defrosting.....

My readership has expanded!

Yes, that is right folks! Someone who does not live in our wonderful community nor in the state actually read this little ole blog! Crossn81 who is from Indiana let me know that the Twin Cities Marathon registration opens on April 18Th and the race is October 5. Thanks for the information fellow blogger!

I don't know how my fellow runners will be able to run along side my big head after this!

I enjoyed a nice NIGHT run with Jill, Amy and Dave. I thought more runners would be at running club, especially considering the weather that is on the horizon. Maybe Sheri let them know I was coming and everyone made other plans! It was nice to catch up with Amy and Dave. Having gone to the early rising group, I don't get to enjoy Dave's humor any more!

I decided to extend my run so I would get a long one in before the weather. So, I ran another 40 minutes - covering 10 miles. Slow, but considering the light dusting of snow, that was fine. I forgot how enjoyable it can be to run with some good tunes, especially ones from the 80's. "I wear my sunglasses at my night" shuffled through which was very fun - until I started to realized that the lyric "I wear my sunglasses at night" is pretty much the only thing he sings the whole song! I guess when you are a teenager you don't really care! I was somewhat bummed when my Ipod ran out of juice just at the beginning of Rock Lobster. Luckily the end of my run was near!

Well - Jill was demanding that I send out an e-mail about Saturday run - so I better get on it!

Midwest Marathons

A wonderful run with Larry and the Gals today. 6.87 miles. Sandy, Judy, Jenny and I. Christy put up with Larry all by herself earlier. Sheri and Al were smart and came later so they could have Judy all to their selves! Great to see Sheri back out again!

I log my miles on breakingthetape.com. It makes figuring out year end totals and how many miles I have on a pair of shoes very easy. One graph that is fun is the one that shows monthly totals. Go to 2007. Can you tell where I was fighting my injury?

Here is some information on registration for the "Big 3" Midwest Marathons that I thought you would find interesting, especially the change in Grandma's. Thanks to River City Running Club's newsletter.

OK, so what do you need to be watching for if your plans include one of the big three? First up on the calendar is Grandma's. Unlike in previous years when only regular mail entries were accepted and the prior year's entrants would be mailed an entry form a few days in advance, this year Grandma's has gone to on-line registration only. Registration begins at midnight on January 17. With this new system, I'm going to guess that the field will be filled in less than a week since out-of-state runners will not have to wait for the mailed entry form.

Although the Chicago Marathon won't be held until October, registration opens on February 1! And every year it fills earlier, and despite the problems that occurred with the heat in 2007, this race will likely fill in about a month or so in 2008.

If you're thinking about the Twin Cities Marathon, a date has not yet been set for registration to open, but it will probably be in early May as usual. Like Grandma's, this race is limited to about 9000 runners and will fill in about a week or so.

Patience!

I am sure Tom has been checking my blog every 5 minutes just waiting for me to post even though he said it has been a bit boring lately! I guess I am learning like all big stars do that fans can be quite demanding!

Although, Tom once made the mistake of telling me once how much he was bummed when he wasn't mentioned in my blog even when he ran with us. I truly think it was one of the few times he said something completely serious - or am I just being naive?

My posting was delayed because it took me a while to recover from my extra half hour of running with Mike. It wasn't the running - it was listening to Mike! Geesh!

At Larry and Judy's recent Christmas gathering, Larry inspired me (when doesn't he?) He was sporting his "flame" shirt and pants. No - not THAT kind of "flame" the fire kind. It inspired me to find a new Sparta "uniform" for GB this year. I found it! I think our fellow competitors would be overwhelmed at how "HOT" we look! Okay - maybe just Larry can pull this off!

On a some what related note which is 'drawing attention to yourself' The Complete Running Network has an article on 'Men in Tights". I know this can be an uncomfortable topic for men - no pun intended, but it is does offer men some great tips on choosing which tight works for them.

Was this post more exciting for you Tom?

10% rule being challenged?

I know, I know.... the title of this post should have had the words "Green Bay Packers" in it, but I am saving that until next Monday!

I brisk run this morning with the cousins and Jenny. The cold wind took me by surprise. I am not sure if it was the cold run or the lingering excitement from the Packer victory that made the pace faster than usual. (I can hear Jill thanking her lucky stars that she didn't roll out of bed and join us.)

I learned yesterday that I might have a slight addiction problem with Wii's Super Mario Galaxy game. Apparently, I was experiencing the need to satisfy some unrealized desires from my adolescence since my parents never got us an Atari or InteTelvision game. If you ever need to know how to get past the first Galaxy - I am your person!

Since the training season is quickly approaching, I thought you would find this article on whether or not the 10% rule works interesting. The 10 percent rule states you should increase your training mileage or intensity no more than 10 percent each week.