House of a runner

You know you are in a house of a runner when:

1. Body Glide is sitting out on the bathroom vanity, not hidden away in a cupboard

2. The charger to their Garmin is sitting right next to their cellphone charger.

3. They have a clothes drying rack set up permanently in their room/bathroom so running clothes can dry before going into the hamper or (having passed the smell test) are worn again ;-)

4. There are at least two pairs of running shoes sitting out.

5. A training plan for a half or full marathon is prominently displayed on their refrigerator.

6. A Running World magazine sits next to the toilet.

7. In case of world wide epidemic, Gu (or equivalent) can be found some where in the house.

8. A dresser drawer (maybe 2) is dedicated to just running clothes.

9. A reflective vest hangs on a hook by the door and in winter a pair of ice cleats s or Y aktrax.

10. Weather Channel is a favorite web page and Time & Temp is on speed dial.

New Year

I hope that how 2011 blew in is not a sign of the year to come!

I enjoyed a great 6 mile New Year's Day run with Kwik Trip gal. It would have been easy to cancel since the wind is just HOWLING outside and it is about 30 degrees colder than the balmy 36 degrees I ran in on Thursday! Ah - the whims of Wisconsin winters.

Runner's World magazine came at a perfect time yesterday. In it was an article about 3 friends running in cold sleet and ice. So, when I considered not going just because of wind, I felt quite wimpy. However, in the same edition they feature a Weather Channel guy who said he doesn't run outside if it is below 45 degrees! (He lives in Atlanta) If he does, he pulls out all the cold weather gear! Give me a break! Let's talk about running in -17!

I did pass my previous yearly mileage record of 1326.38 set in 2009! I ran 1356.52 in 2010! Not bad considering I only ran one marathon last year as compared to two in 2009. Since I don't plan on running any marathons in 2011, I doubt I will top my 2010 mileage, but you never know!

Happy New Years Everyone!

Two Highlights

Well, I have two highlights to end 2010.

First - For all of those who have been anxiously waiting to see if I beat my previous record for yearly mileage (particularly Bryan). YES I did! I know there were a lot of bets out there on this. I believe in Vegas the odds were in my favor. I actually passed my goal last week.... so if you were your bet was based on what day I did it (kinda like baby birth boards) you will have to agree to share half of your winnings with me before I tell you the day.

I still have a day or two of running left in 2010, so I can't post what my final mileage is yet.

Second - I was mentioned in Shut Up and Run's Blog!!! I feel like I have gotten my 15 minutes of running fame. Lord knows I will never get it by winning any race of any stature, so I will take it where I can get it!

Limits

Okay - I won't run when it is this cold:

-21

It was -21 degrees on our run this morning and honestly, it wasn't that bad. I would take -21 and calm winds over 2 inches of snow and a good breeze any day.

I must say that I am a little disheartened by my fellow native Wisconsinites. Dean, who has a southern accent, was out there today. No complaining either. I really don't think it was just because he was trying to make up for any faux pas he thinks he may have done under significant influence of adult beverages at Al and Sheri's party. He was actually just fine, but Mike wasn't going to let him off that easy. I did though, what more can you do to a guy who is running in -21 degrees????

You asked for it.

I know it will come as a surprise, but my fellows in the Morning Running Group (I think we have to come up with a catchier name) have been HOUNDING me, yes, HOUNDING me to come up with our own dance routine. I know it seems odd, but they seem to think it would be quite a "memorable moment" for us to get together and perform a dance routine after completing a race or even just a morning run - just for the heck of it! I think they are secretly hoping to top the Antwerp Station Flash Mob.

Then I had an idea! Giving the MRG (Morning Running Group for those of you who have not yet had your morning coffee) their own personal dance routine would be the PERFECT Christmas gift for the group. Now, I have a good sense of my personal abilities and know that I could not do any dance routine justice. Plus, I know that some people in the group might take a little longer than the rest to learn the routine. And there would be those who would LOVE it so much that they would want to watch it over and over again. So, I came up with a great routine - even threw in a couple of extra 'double dream hands' for Tom and Mike and a couple of 'cranks' for Christy and Jill. Then I hired a profession dancer and videographer to film it.

So, here it is MRG - your 2010 Christmas Gift. I expect to see it make it's debut at Al and Sheri's party! BIG smiles everyone!

See more funny videos and Music at Todays Big Thing.

Distrubing Trend

I have seen a disturbing trend crop up on the weekly running poll. I don’t feel I would be fulfilling my “Master of the Poll” (not Pole, Mike was kind enough explain this to his friends who were having visions of a stripper pole. Just goes to show you the type of people he hangs around with!) duties if I did not call it out and try to stop it dead in its tracks.

It all started with one of our hibernators, Wendy, who when the Wisconsin weather starts to get a little bit frosty inserts behind her name on the poll “If above 20 degrees”. I believe her intent is to indicate that she will not be running if it is below 20 degrees. I think she really means 20 degrees, plus another 10 on some days or plus a warm bed on others since there has been many days where the kind Time and Temp Lady indicated it was above 20 degrees.

On this week’s poll another of our runners, not a hibernator, indicated “if above 0”. Hmmmmm.
I felt my stomach churn a bit at that. I believe neither the Cousins nor I have ever put a disclaimer like that behind OUR names. (Sorry Jill, I don’t think I can include you in this prestigious list since I believe you did do this last winter – I am sure Mike remembers the exact week).

Having grown up here, the Cousins learned long ago that town is considered one of the coldest spots in the states. Yes, even compared to our much more northern neighbors. I, not being a native Spartan, am just a quick study. This “coldest spot in WI” is not just in our head’s either. Many times I have heard the local meteorologist state this fact. And as we all know, they are ALWAYS right.

So…. getting back to the poll. Those people (hopefully only one, since I am sure this post will stop any other people from violating this soon-to-be new poll rule) who put this temperature caveat are obviously trying to get out of running without looking like the wimps they really are. Really, how many days can it be above zero when you are the coldest spot in Wisconsin! I am sure they think that any reasonable person would completely understand this threshold of intolerance. But they forget; their fellow runners are not reasonable or they would not be running much less at 5:00 in the morning in the dark with snow and ice on the ground and sub-30 temps. Heck – some of us (not me Mom) don’t even wear reflective vests in the dark morning! AND some of us expect FREE beer after a race, no matter what the distance!

Thanksgiving Friends?

Normally running with friends is a good thing. Their mere existence tends to motivate you to get out there and run even when it is -17 degrees out. And it isn't even the fear of the endless teasing that you will have to endure from those you "stood up" when you chose to stay in bed. No, it is just the fact if they are running, you should be too. This morning I learned that the later is generally too, for MOST people unless they were unwise enough to put themselves on the running poll AND visited (for a very long time) the local tavern for some pre-Thanksgiving merry making.

That was the case for THREE of my running comrades. Oh sure, they chalked it up to the weather.... "It's going to be cold!" "It's going to be icy!" "You should cancel the run tomorrow morning!" There are two things you should note here. One - you will notice that they did not voice the REAL reason they wanted to cancel the run, "I am going to be hung over and just don't want to." Two - some how they felt this was MY problem since they wanted ME to cancel the run so they could lie in bed guilt free (but not hangover free). Oh to have the POWER to be able to cancel runs! Maybe on some "perfect running weather" day I should just cancel the run - just to PROVE I have the POWER. (On a side note - my youngest has been talking a lot recently about figuring out what his super powers are, I guess I just figured mine out.)

Now, it just so happens that the THREE runners who did not show this morning are semi new to the morning running group. (yes, yes, Al and Sheri - I know you have been running for a while, but not with the MORNING group). I realized that these 3 did not do the wise thing and watch the more veteran runners and take cues from them on how to handle the situation they put themselves in. There were two other morning runners in the tavern last night who not only did not sign themselves up to run the next morning, but they were wise enough to realize that they shouldn't even bring up the fact that they weren't running because that also opens themselves up for ridicule (wise wimps). So, given that today is Thanksgiving, I figured that I should embrace the day and give the three of them a little words of wisdom....

1. Coordinate your merry making and running schedule (in other words - Think ahead!)

2. If you don't do #2, don't badger the "keeper of the poll" to cancel the run.

3. If you don't do #1 or #2 then remember that the "keeper of the poll" is also the blogger and be prepared to be featured in the next poll. And being prepared means that you will take blog stardom with more grace and humbleness than you did when NOT following #2.

And yes, I did run this morning. A little cold, a little icy, BUT I STILL RAN.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I see her!

I saw BeerHater in this time lapse video of the NYC Marathon! Can you see find her too?

How Nice!

Today I got this e-mail from my running friend Bryan:

"Today I was reviewing your blog as I always do and it occurred to me that you are close to running the most miles that you have ever run in a year this very year. Yes at the ripe old of ??? you are on the brink of setting your all time record. A mere 150 miles will allow you to cross your proverbial finish line in first place. By my calculations you need to run approximately 2.87 miles per day for the rest of the year to accomplish this goal.

I am behind you 100%, GO FOR IT!!!"

AWWWW, How nice! Now, if Mike had sent this to me I would have been suspicious. Obviously, is intent would be to butter me up so that in the future I would not poke fun at him in my blog. He makes it so easy to do. But not Bryan. He is such a sincere guy!

Little does Bryan know that breaking my previous mileage is a goal of mine. It would be particularly great since that high mileage year was a year I trained (and ran) 2 marathons. This year I trained for and ran 1. However, this is kinda a sadistic goal since to beat it year after year I have to run more and more. Hmmmmm seems like a goal that is gonna become a problem in the not too distant future! But 2.87 miles/day seems very possible!

THANKS Bryan! I will defend you every time Christy says something bad about you......... until November 10th.

Some good clean laughs. Watch the Grandma on the right.

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

Record?

It is a record! And no, I am not talking about the fact that I have posted 2 times in 2 days!

There are 17 - SEVENTEEN people on this week's running poll!!!! Who would have thunk (yes, I know that is not a real word... just being funny for you literal people out there) 5 (or 6 or 4 years ago... we are not sure) when we started running in the morning that we would have 17 - SEVENTEEN people wanting to meet at the horrendous time of 5:00 AM to RUN! And in all weather except for rain. Oh - a new exception was added last week... 60 mph winds.

I am thinking that we are going to have to start issuing name tags. A new running gadget!

I am not sure if I am happy with this next realization or not.... It looks like people are taking 'ownership' in the poll. This week one of our members added to his name a little love note to his wifey who is long distance commuting. It appeared as this ... "Frank - (I love u honey;^)". Hmmmm. Even though this is extremely cute and makes all us wives green with envy, it makes me wonder if I now need to institute some rules on what is acceptable and not acceptable when filling out the poll. I thought dealing with the people who show up but don't fill out the poll was bad enough (It has been a while since I have thought about He Who Shall Not Be Named).

Anyway, I am going to focus on the happy feelings of 17 - SEVENTEEN people being on the poll! Plus the addition of a new runner! Dean has joined us THREE times!!! Another man who is not intimidated by all us women! So, another happy thought: We now have 4 - FOUR men who show they are well grounded in their manhood by running with us 13 women.

Life is good!

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!