Where to start?

The Badgerrunner blog must be feeling very neglected, not to mention my 3 (count em'!) THREE followers (one of which is some kind of spammer - I think). My apologies to all 3 of you.

Anyway.... BIG NEWS! After at 4 years of maintaining a running blog (no wonder I am running out of things to say) and 5 years of a morning running group (maybe 6 - my memory is getting bad as a result of lack of sleep) we have FINALLY made the Sparta Herald - and a photo no less! It was a picture of 12 of us + 1 dog in our Halloween costumes. 15 of us (one late comer the name of KwikTrip Gal and 2 non costume runners) actually ran. Who would have thought 5 (or 6) years ago that we would have 15 people running at 6:30 AM on a Saturday morning. And the weather was PERFECT too!

So.. after so long of annoying morning drivers by running in the road (especially a woman in a white Taurus wagon who like to voice her opinion of us), how did we FINALLY make it into the paper? Well, I have two theories:

First - after the our Self Adoration Tour otherwise known as the Door County Fall 50 Relay, we decided that there just COULD NOT be enough pictures of us out in the world. So, we had to pay to publish one in the paper.

Second: One of our esteemed (and self loving) group has an uncle that is an editor at the paper. Once again proving that the all the political commercials we saw this election season were right - the power is in "Who You Know" NOT how fast you RUN.

More BIG NEWS: Beerhater is (FINALLY) running the New York Marathon this weekend! The weather looks like it is going to be PERFECT for her.... High of 50 and Sunny. No rain anywhere in the forecast! Can't wait to hear how it goes for her.

New Photos!

I just uploaded new photos from the Maple Leaf Half Marathon and Door County Fall 50. You can view them in the slide show at the top of the blog.

No worries Witches - no embarrassing pictures were posted. We were all very good witches, at least according to my camera!

For all the rest of you.... we LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Door County Fall 50. Very tough course, but BEST post race party EVER! And of course us witches casted a spell over the whole party!

Fall means

It has been BEAUTIFUL running weather the last week. However, it appears the cooler morning temperatures have made staying in warm beds a bit more harder to resist. This morning it was just Christy and I running. Even Bella didn't come! Quite a change from a few weeks ago when we had 10 runners. Christy was really happy though because it meant that she could run whatever pace she wanted. None of that fast running for her!

Wendy was signed up to run and I was looking forward to a mile by mile report of her Boston Qualifying performance at the Twin Cities Marathon. A great way to spend at least 26.2 minutes of the morning run and that doesn't include the detailing of all the different food available at the post race party. Alas, she didn't show.

I have never loved Nut Rolls as much as I did after the Twin Cities Marathon. I don't think I ever ate one before (unless I got one in my Halloween booty) or since. It ALMOST made up for the absence of beer. I just learned that Nut Rolls are made in St. Paul an are not made by one of the big candy companies. NOW I understand why they were at the Twin Cities Marathon. The bonus was that they were good too!

Sigh, I just hope that not too many of the summer runners go into winter hibernation.

Observation

Through a very scientific study with peer reviewed methodology I discovered the following equation:

Monday night Packer Game + 5:00 am running time = few, if any, running partners.

I am thinking about doing my doctoral thesis on it. I am sure it will make national headlines like the "Aliens have deactivated British and US nuclear missiles, say US military pilots" news story. I know it is true, because my 9 year old told me all about it and any news story that catches his attention must be true!

For Beerhater

This post is dedicated to Beerhater. We have missed you on our runs, especially Mike who wonders if you have a story that would top the picture below. And no, it is not from our local Wal-Mart.

Destiny

Today was DESTINY!

As I drove up the hill to our house I saw a woman running up it. As Jim is quick to point out to me - I notice anyone running in town, especially if I don't know them. Jim teases me that I am on the edge of demanding unknown runners show their 'running license'. Due to this and since he was with me when I drove back down the hill, I decided the perfect opportunity to embarrass/freak him out had presented itself (Mike would be proud). (Plus, Melissa has brought so many new runners to the group, I figured I better step up and find some too!)

So, as I neared her on her downward trot, I pulled over to her. I am sure Jim was thinking "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, (He really was praying) she is really going to do it, she is really going to ask her who she thinks she is running in town without making her presence known to the 'Morning Running Group".

Well, close. I asked if she ran in the mornings. She said she has, but it was hard getting herself up. Well! Did I have a deal for her! I briefly explained about the morning running group, the weekly poll etc. and of course asked for her e-mail address. Guess what it was????

MillerTime@******.com!!!

It was a little tough for me to spell, but I finally got it!

How great an e-mail address is that!?! She acted all embarrassed when we exclaimed over the GREAT e-mail address, which we, of course, pish pawed. We told her it was an EXCELLENT choice and proved, even beyond the fact that it was obvious she can run, that she would be PERFECT for the running group. No worries about being a beerhater!

Do I need to also point out the brand she chose to highlight? No, it has nothing to do with her last name which has its roots in German heritage and starts with an M, has an L in the middle and ends with an R. She assured us it was because it was such a great tasting beer. I think she told us that before we mentioned we were Miller Beer Distributors. What a nice gal with discerning taste!

Obviously she is perfect for our group! However, since she was on her run I didn't want to delay her to long, so I never got the chance to ask if she was a Packer or Vikings fan.

Keep your fingers crossed that she starts running with us! I am guessing she has a lot of great stories!

I found it!

I found it! I found a person who can rival Bryan when it comes to telling detailed stories.

This type of person is very handy to have on long runs, because you never have to worry the conversation lagging. Unfortunately, I don't think she lives in WI and something tells me she is not a runner. So Bryan doesn't have to worry about anything.

Good thing their Daddies taught them good!

See more funny videos and Funny Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Summer is OVER

A sure sign that summer is over - back to 5:00 am runs. BUMMER

I was really thinking it was going to be raining this morning - just to start life out right, but it wasn't. Of course, us morning runners know that when you WANT it to rain in the morning, it never does and when you aren't expecting it to rain (because if you are honest, you never really WANT to run at 5:00 am) it does.

AND the heat and the humidity was still present. BUMMER.

It seemed appropriate that on the first day of 5:00 running and the first day of school that we run the BEER route. Of course, God was also telling us something when a car decided to do a rolling stop just as we were crossing thru the intersection. Good thing our NYC runner Elyse wasn't with us, because he would have gotten a morning wake up call (shout) that he would never have forgotten and runners around the the world would have been forever safe from his careless driving.

However, the incident did remind us that we need to be wearing our reflective gear again!

Quite a few interesting news stories to talk about this morning. Christy seemed out of the loop so, I thought I would provide some links to broaden hers and others Current Event knowledge:

China's nine-day traffic jam stretches 100km

Chile miners face four-month wait for rescue

Let the school year begin!

Musings

It has been very hard for me to post this summer (I know, excuses are for LOSERS!). But after my morning runs I quick eat breakfast and then take Ollie out for what usually is an hour walk (tired puppies make happy owners). By the time that is all done (plus showering) it is time to shuttle the kids some where. Today, however, I realized that I have a few musing to share.

On Wednesday when a certain person whose name rhymes with Wednesday and actually all the letters of her name are in Wendysday, I mean Wednesday, didn't let me know that she changed her mind and would not be running hills with me, I ended up running with the 6:00 group. (Dear Grammar Police - I know that is a very long run on sentence, but it is my blog and I can do whatever I want to do. You should just be happy I am posting at all) Yes, I should really thank her since I didn't have to run hills, but I also missed out on an extra half hour of sleep. I am not sure if the good out weighs the bad.....

Anyway, since I wasn't doing hills I figured I should get some speed work in. So after the hilly part of our route was done (I am not THAT hard core), I started to pick up the pace. I had edged a block or two ahead of our group when I passed by a guy taking a cigarette break out side his place of employment. He put quite a grin on my face with his enthusiastic "You Go GIRL!" "Keep your Focus!", "Pick up the Pace!", "Run, Run, Run" which lasted much longer than I expected. Plus,he finished with the Rocky Theme. It kept me smiling for quite a while. When I came back to my fellow runners they said they got the same royal treatment. Nice!

Today I decided to run with the 5:00 and 6:00 groups so I could make sure I could get my long run in (11 miles). The forecast was threatening rain on Friday when I had planned to do it. I have done this in the past, but this time I was the only one running long. I was quite surprised when I returned to the parking lot with the 5:00 group. They essentially ran right up to their cars, jumped in and left. Hmm... okay.... well.... so much for a little post run chit chat. Obviously I need to return to my 5:00 running time to model how to have fun running and relax a little. Too much seriousness!

Tonight I saw my "Speed Work Doesn't Equal Speed" post appear on Facebook (my brother "Liked" it). So, I ended up reading it. Wow - lots of typos. Sorry about that, but I am usually in such a rush to just get something posted that I don't spend a lot of time proofing it. So, of course I had to go back and correct it.

I know I have reached the extent of your attention span, so it is time for a little humor. This weekend is the Runner Camping Weekend which I organized, but won't be there. Long story, but I will sum it up by simply saying "BRAIN FART". Also, one of the posts I got the most feedback on was the one with the video of the drunk guy trying to put on a flip flop. So, I found a video which combines the two - two drunk guys trying to put up a tent. For your enjoyment:

When speed work does not equal speed

I should have stayed in bed today like I wanted to.

I could have too.

No one was meeting me to do the track work out, so at least I slept until 6:00. I could have slept later, but I figured the longer I stayed in bed, the harder it would be to get out of it. Plus, I knew it would be hot and muggy and it was.

For those of you who don't know, our track work outs are what we used to call in high school swimming - "a ladder". We start with a lap warm up (I need much more than that), then a 400(one lap) followed by a lap of recovery (slow jog). Next a 800 (2 laps) followed by a recovery lap. We do that up to a 1600 and then come back down.

I knew I was in trouble during my warm up lap. I was hoping that it was just the normal pain and agony of getting my body warmed up, but it wasn't. My subsequent 400, 800 and 1200 were pretty pathetic. Slightly faster than my normal running pace. Then during my mile (1600) I got distracted by Ollie who decided that he would rather leave with Mr. Richgruber than stick around with me. I paused my watch with the full intent of finishing the mile, but when I started back I couldn't remember if I was finishing lap 2 or 3. And that was THAT. I was DONE.

Well, not quite. I decided that my body could handle some quick, short speed work, but was not up for the longer stuff. So, I did 10 x 100. I am not sure if that will really help me, but I figured it was better than nothing.

So, on a less depressing note:

I saw this elliptical bike at the street fair when I was Idaho. It might be something that would be good to give a try if I was injured. I also found a video of Dean Karnazes who uses it. Apparently he is going to do a couple of ultra bike events with it. I couldn't help but wonder why the guy in the red shirt doesn't match his bike like the other two. Did they decide it was too matchy-matchy?

I am always on the look out for a new Sparta running uniform. I have found the perfect one for the guys: I am sure it would eliminate chafing and bleeding nipples:

Are you a Beer Runner?

I saw this at BeerRunner and for some reason Christy came to mind.

You are a Beer Runner if you:

1. Fantasizing about the beer you’re going to drink when you’re done is what gets you through the final miles of a hard run or bike ride.

2. When planning a destination race, you take into account not only the views on the course, but whether or not FREE beer is offered at the post race party.

3. You judge a race director’s performance in part on the quality of beer he or she offers at the finish line. (Christy doesn't care what kind, just that it is FREE)

4. You’ve cured a hangover with a run.

5. You’re in way better shape than your drinking buddies (unless they’re also beer runners).

6. You consider hops part of carbo loading.

7. You’ve calculated your recommended daily beer allowance.

8. A certain Todd Sneider tune is the power song on your iPod.

9. You reserve a bottle of something extra special as reward for a PR. (in Christy's case this is a Budweiser instead of a Bud Light!)

found the secret

Apparently Mondays are turning into my tempo runs and my posting days.

It appears that I have found the secret to fast running. I am not sure I should share it since I am sure it will spread through the running community like wildfire and change running as we know it. But you know me... I can't help to share the newest and greatest thing for runners. Well, it is....

Snickers Blizzards.

Yep, I am SURE the fact that I had one last night is the reason that I was able to run an 8:28 pace this morning!!! Whew! It might be tough, but I may have to test my theory again next Sunday. I know you all will support me in my latest attempt to make running more enjoyable!

I hadn't really planned on running that fast, but poor Areanna (college cross country runner of our group) didn't have a fast running partner since Jenny pulled her hamstring. So, I decided to attempt to run faster. Now, 8:28 still is not fast for her, but I think it helped. I know I should be incorporating some of these pace runs into my training along with the dreaded track workouts, so this seemed like a good time. Surprisingly, it wasn't too bad.

Rainbows

Yes, I have been running - just not posting.

Today turned into a tempo run with Jenny. 8:38 pace. Whew! Good for me though. We did an extra 2+ miles, but slowed it down to the normal 9:00 pace. It is hard, but I need to do it if I want to meet or beat my half marathon time this fall. I think I have plenty of time, but I know it will come sooner than I think. Plus, no matter how much may wish it, the fact is that ONE speed work out will not make me faster.

So, I have been thinking about the below video for a few days. It is shows a guy's over the top reaction to seeing a double rainbow. At first I thought, 'Geez! This guy needs to get a life!" Then as I thought about it, I came to think that maybe I am a bit envious of him. What a great thing to get so excited and emotional over something as simply beautiful as a rainbow. Then I listened to the video again and realized, "Nope - the guy is just really stoned". BUT wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if we all could get so much joy from a simple, yet still magical thing?

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

One of those days

Today was one of those days that running sucked.

I didn't really want to go.

I was running later than normal. Which meant...

I was very hungry.

It was hot.

It was HUMID.

It was a hilly route.

I just really did not want to go, but I did.

And it DID suck while I was running, but I did give myself a break. I didn't worry (too much) about my pace. I walked up hills when I wanted to. And I told myself again and again and again, "It is just good that I am out running."

AND afterwards, in a nice cool shower, I was glad I did.