A little help from friends

I was feeling quite sore this morning after two afternoons of skiing with the kids. I am feeling muscles I didn't know I had! Thankfully Jill and Mike were there to distract me from my aches and pains during the run. Plus some streets are still snow covered, which slowed the pace down.

We managed to piss off only one guy this morning. Apparently being in a nice warm car versus out running in 18 degrees wasn't enough to save him from feeling slighted that we were running on his side of the road and not in the hard crunch, ankle turning, slush. So, just to put us in our place, he gave us two loud blasts of his horn (definitely not the friendly peep, peep - way to go!). I am sure the people sleeping soundly in their beds in the surrounding houses were equally happy that he put us in our place! We were shaking in our boots after such scolding! Especially Jill. Come to think of it, it was probably one of her Worker Comp victims!

Well, unfortunately Mike was not out skiing yesterday afternoon - so I don't have any humorous stories to lighten up you day!

Running with Jill

An early morning run with Jill. Still slippery, but the depth of snow has gone down. I was a bit worried about how my legs would feel after skiing last night and a couple of knee twists - mainly due to awkward dismounts form the T-bar, not due to spectacular falls. Speaking of spectacular - ask Mike about his encounter with the T-bar. The judges scored it a 9.5!

Post Christmas Run

Christy, Jill and I enjoyed a nice post Christmas run today. It was especially nice since we ran at 6:00 instead of 5:00. The only annoying part was all the darn cars! It took me a while to figure out why there were so many more than usual!

I was watching some Chicago Marathon video this weekend and it was pretty exciting to watch! So many people. I have heard the registration will start Feb 1, instead of January 1. I will watch the website to make sure we don't miss it!

Larry and Judy

I enjoyed a nice 6.7 mile run with Larry and Judy this morning. In their honor, I was going to cast them in their very own Christmas Special (no - not the Nativity). However a glitch in production required me to cast additional players - so I decided to make it the Credit Union Movie.

p.s. sorry for the picture quality - it was a low budget film.

Challenged!

Well, apparently I have a challenger for the position of "Official Morning Sparta Running Club Blogger". I don't know if he has filed his papers yet, but Mike appears to be quickly building his blogging resume by putting out a ONE LINE blog. First - future voters - please be aware that sending out an e-mail saying it is a blog is actually NOT a blog! It is a true example of a candidate misrepresenting himself! I don't think I need to discuss the lack of quality a one line blog demonstrates. I know my constituents are smart enough to see that!

On a running note.... we missed Christy this morning! Hope all is well with you! It is very unusual for you not to show. We just hope this wasn't one of those times where you were reading the minute numbers on you clock as the hour number!

Lastly - We all have to come clean and admit there were a lot of comments this morning about the temperature threshold of a couple of runners! Come on! It was 38 degrees! Down right BALMY! You know, if you don't sign up - you can still show up1

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Just for you Sandy...

Since Sandy made an extra special effort to come this morning (We all know how hard it is to come when you have taken 3 weeks off!) I have SPECIAL TREAT for her and you other people too. You will notice that I am ignoring the fact that Jenny did not show as promised this morning. I even made sure I had my van between me and her potential entrance - just to be safe. We all know how she disregards all human life (especially early morning Walgreen shoppers) to make the 5:00 bewitching hour! Kudos to Christy, Sandy and Mike for being there!

p.s. Jill - sorry you are not included in the linked video montage. I couldn't find a photo of you.

the run goes on...

A nice morning run with Christy. I think she has learned that if she comes on Monday, she might be surprised with a new route. Of course, I admit - sometimes it is not an enjoyable experience. In my search to run roads not yet conquered, it sometimes feels like we are running a rat maze rather than a running route. Anyway - a somewhat new route this morning.


To put you in the Christmas spirit, I thought you would enjoy this performance by Barry Manilow's protege:

A new product for us all...

In my never ending search to find products that make our runs a bit more joyful, I stumbled upon one that I know the Sparta runners will fully embrace. I believe it also shows that the stars are perfectly aligned for Tom's and Mike's first marathon. Last year their shirts said, "It's all about the beer". This year they will prove it when they wear this for their hydration needs:

Marathoner's Beer Belt

It was a brisk run with Christy and Jill this morning, but we were out there and we did it!

You asked for it.....

I know that after several beers and glasses of wine the morning runners probably have forgotten that they sent me on an all important mission - to see if Jenny is the expert she claims to be. The fact is, she needs to send a certain Health Teacher a letter of apology. Yes, it is true, it is possible for fraternal twins to have different fathers. The phenomenon even has its own name - twinning! Jenny - I think you superiors need to reconsider their recent decision regarding your future at Viterbo! Here are the facts, because I know how you all love to doubt me!

For those of you who aren't morning runners - you will just have to wonder what you are missing. Maybe your curiosity will persuade you to join us in the morning!

On a running note - since this is a running blog - Mike and I enjoyed a warm morning run. It is nice when our local meteorologists are wrong. Instead of the single digits it was about 23. Hmmmm now I realize that it was above Wendy's magical 20 degree cut off. Hmmmmm.

Since Jill like the picture of the naked guy (and we know why!), I thought I would include another one.

More Snow

Another snowy morning, but Christy, Mike, Jill and I enjoyed a run anyway. Well, I am not sure if Jill did.

I think we might be getting a message via the Walgreen communication channel that we need to park some where else on snowy mornings. I think our cars are putting a crimp in the snow plowers schedule - although he has never given us a dirty look. At least I don't think so... it is pretty dark at 6:00 in the morning. I hope he just sees the silver lining and realizes it is a good time to enjoy his morning coffee!

I am sure we will get endless grief from Larry today. The forecast says -14 tomorrow morning so I think that we have cancelled the 6:15 run. I say THINK, but after Wednesday morning's run, where Jill actually wanted to run in 5 inches of snow, I know longer have faith in my running companion's sanity.

Another old Adidas ad:

Who are those crazy people?

That is what drivers were wondering today. My response was "Jill and Mike! That's who!" Yesterday with the prediction of snow on top of already icy conditions, I was all set to not run today. I queried Mike and Jill and expected (at least from my faithful companion Jill) hear "I agree! Let's NOT run". Instead winter insanity has set in 4 months early and they were determined to go! Ugh! So, of course, I felt obligated to go too.

And believe it or not, I should be thanking them (and my YakTrax) because it was a very nice run. Once again, the running goddess proved to me that you always feel good after running.

So - Thanks! (kills me to say it, but I can admit when I am wrong!)

We are runners

not really bright runners, but we are runners. Yes, Christy, Jenny and I braved the cold and icy conditions this morning! WE ARE RUNNERS! It was actually the icy, crunchy conditions that made the run hard, not the cold. So it was a good reminder that running in the cold isn't that bad. Really Wendy - you should try it!

We have run in colder and fortunately it was not a day that we ended the run looking like this:

minus the beard, of course!

Hello? Hello?

Anyone out there? I just wanted to encourage you guys to use the commenting feature at the bottom of each post. I would love this blog to be interactive and not just me talking out into cyber space. No obligation - I just wanted to know that your comments (nice ones, of course) are welcome.

MISSING IN ACTION. Again, I was SO excited - we had a full group signed up to run today and the temperature was NOT "below 15 degrees" (a magical number for a certain Disney Marathon runner amidst us), but yet only 4 lonely runners were sitting in their cars (to the tune of 5 little monkeys sitting on a tree). Hmmmmmm. That's all I'll say. (guilt, guilt, guilt)

Anyway... the Cousins, Sandy and I enjoyed a nice backwards run today. I realize now that I strategically goofed. Christy said we should run the "new" route backwards. I wasn't quite awake and throughout the run kept on bumping into her at corners - not knowing where we were going. I think she may have gotten frustrated which means that she will not be encouraged to take over the club position of "new route finder". Darn! I blew my chance!

I have updated my next goal and quote of the day. I know I have been avoiding updating these two areas of my blog, but I guess now I am committed to Chicago 2008!

8 miler - Relay Wendy

Wendy had many people helping her through her long run this morning. I think we are unconsciously training for one of those 100 mile relay events that we have talked about doing. I managed to get 8 miles in, ironically most without Wendy! It is the longest run I have done in quite awhile.

There has been a lot of talk about our next race. I found some pretty humorous old Adidas ads about running. This one reminds me of when I was training for Whistlestop with Judy, Jenny and Katie among others....