The future?

I need to share something. I have had a vision. I have seen what the Sparta Morning Running Group is going to be like in the future (probably within 5 years). Through an amazing breakthrough in technology, I was able to digitally record my vision in order to share it with the world.

Here it is. Prepare yourself.

Scary People

I guess the Sparta Running Group are scary people once you get to know us and for some we are just scary to begin with.

I came to the conclusion that we are 'scary once you get to know us' since Dean Martin (no, not this Dean Martin. He is dead after all and even though getting up to run at 5:00 am is quite amazing, we are not THAT amazing) has been a NO SHOW not once, but twice! We can excuse it once, after all we all have those mornings where we realize we forgot to set the alarm. But TWICE????? We are forgiving folk, but come on. Even Katie knew since when I mentioned Dean's lack of reliability she started singing, "He's going to be in the blog! He's going to be in the blog!". Her rendition took me back to my youthful playground days which I needed considering how my body was feeling running in the mushy snow pack. We had even gotten him talking about running his first marathon this spring. Oh, wait - maybe THAT is what scared him away.

Now, I also know we are scary before you get to know us, because there are several people on our running e-mail distribution list who have yet to show for a morning run. We are patiently waiting for you........ I am sure that distribution list keeps their finger in shape from clicking the delete button, but 2011 is all about "the WHOLE body" not the clicker finger. So, come on people! We are not that scary, or fast!

Needless to say Dean did not miss much this morning. Another miserable run with mushy snow pack on the road and more coming down. The only good thing was there wasn't a lot of the new stuff, unfortunately there will be for tomorrow morning. It ALMOST makes the treadmill appealing.

Before you were a runner

Thanks to Running is Funny for most of this, but I added a few of my own. You will have to guess which ones.

Before you were a runner there is no way you would have paid $90 for a pair of sneakers–every six months.

Before you were a runner you never did the "sniff test" before deciding to wear clothes a second (or third or fourth) time before washing.

Before you were a runner you thought 'Body Glide' was something you bought in an Adult Store.

Before you were a runner you thought people who were running just before a race were insane.

Before you were a runner you thought people who ran before dawn were insane.

Before you were a runner you thought people who ran after sunset were insane.

Before you were a runner you would have spit out the sugar water that you now drink every 10 minutes.

Before you were a runner you thought that Gu was a kids toy and Gel was for your hair.

Before you were a runner you thought women runners were too skinny.

Before you were a runner you would have called tapering “wearing out.”

Before you were a runner you had no idea how far 10K was.

Before you were a runner you never would have thought a weekend of "fun" would include running a marathon.

Before you were a runner you could have thought of a lot better ways of spending $90 to have the privilege of running 26.2 miles.

Before you were a runner you would not have told people you had foot blisters, black toenails and chafing in sensitive areas.

Before you were a runner you were afraid to go outside before dawn.

Before you were a runner you thought Keflezighi was a rare tropical disease.

Before you were a runner you made fun of people in tights or short shorts.

Before you were a runner you thought nutrition that came out of a squeeze tube was for astronauts.

Before you were a runner you didn’t how ketones smelled.

Before you were a runner you would have laughed hysterically at people doing lunges, strides or butt kicks.

Before you were a runner you never watched running on TV.

Before you were a runner your favorite website wasn’t Running Is Funny, it was this.

Welcome Dapperdame

I see I have a new "official" follower - Dapperdame. Yes, I know there are more than 4 people who follow this blog, but only four have signed up to "follow" me. You can do this if you have a Google, Twitter or Yahoo account just by clicking on the 'Follow" button above "followers". Hey, if my old, retired boss (I Love ya Tim!) can do it, so can you!

Talk is beginning about the 2011 season. Lots of newbies saying they are going to give the Green Bay Cellcom MARATHON a try! Gets me nervous (I was going to say excited, but I know where some of your minds will go) just thinking about it. And admittedly, a bit envious. The social butterfly in me just wants to burst out of my marathon boycott cocoon and flit along with them. My boycott of marathons until Disney in 2012 is self induced and I know in my hearts of hearts (and my feet, ankles and knees) that it is the right thing for me to do. But for some reason I get the marathon itch when I listen to nervous and excited (rightly so!) newbies talk about it. Although I also know what a good feeling it is to only have to run 1.5 hours when they are running 3! Not that I would ever rub it in!

What races are YOU thinking about running in 2011?

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.