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By kilax, July 31, 2011 8:56 pm

I am training for the Milwaukee Marathon on October 2nd.

Day 645 | July 25, 2011: rest

Day 646 | July 26, 2011: 5 m run

I learned two lessons during this run:

1. Don’t eat Red Robin (burger & fries) two hours before running
2. If you get any hint that you need to go to the bathroom while running, turn around immediately and head home

After going home at mile 2 to go to the bathroom and change my shorts (good thing I bought so many) this turned out to be a pleasant run. The temperatures were in the 70s and I felt like I was flying and with little effort. I love summer but boy, do I miss running in the cold!

Distance: 5.0 | Start Temp: 75° | End Temp: 73° | Time: 49:23 | Avg Pace: 9:52 | 1: 10:07 | 2: 9:38 | 3: 10:11 | 4: 9:42 | 5: 9:41

Day 647 | July 27, 2011: 5 m run

This run was much more successful than the 5-miler the day before, although it did involve stopping home at mile 1 to make sure I didn’t have to go to the bathroom, then subsequently taking Data on a short walk. Spoiled cat.

Distance: 5.0 | Start Temp: 79° | End Temp: 78° | Dew Point: 70° | Time: 49:01 | Avg Pace: 9:48 | 1: 10:07 | 2: 9:56 | 3: 9:41 | 4: 9:38 | 5: 9:35

Day 648 | July 28, 2011: 3.1 m run + strength + 20.15 m bike

I met five running club chicas (at what felt like) very early in the morning to run our clubs’ 5K course (in the rain) for fun. Later in the day (after a super long nap!) I attempted a kettlebell workout on my own, then went for a 20 mile bike ride. Whoa, was that bike ride difficult. I headed out on a crushed limestone trail, and because all of the rain we’ve had, I felt like my tires were sticking in the trail. Also, it was extremely humid outside. Needless to say, it was quite the slow ride! But at least it was a pretty ride. I explored the Fort Hill Trail – one I had never been on before!

Distance: 3.1 | Temp: 72° | Dew Point: 71° | Time: 30:53 | Avg Pace: 9:57 | 1: 10:07 | 2: 9:58 | 3: 9:50 | 4: 00:57
Bike Time: 1:58:51 | Distance: 20.15 | Average Speed: 10.2 mph

Day 649 | July 29, 2011: 12 m run

Long run with Bobbi! We met at 6:00 am to run in the Rollins Savanna (and check out a new portion of the trail!), but of course, it’s never early enough – it was so frickin’ humid!

After mile 8.5, we stopped at the cars to fill up our bottles and Bobbi said she wished she was one of those skinny girls who could run without a top on. I took my shirt off and said, “Let’s go for it!” So we did. We could both wring water out of our shirts. Gross!

It was a fun run, but jeez the heat takes it out of me! Usually I am a chatter box, but I was kind of quiet on this run.

Distance: 12.0 | Temp: 77° | Dew Point: 70° | Humidity: 80% | Time: 2:14:41 | Avg Pace: 11:13

Day 650 | July 30, 2011: 8 m run

I ran from my parent’s cabin in Guttenberg, IA to downtown Guttenberg for fun/to harass my grandma (who was working the farmers market).  My dad rode his bike with me again.

The run was interesting – when I woke up it was super foggy and you could barely see 100 feet in front of you. But then about an hour in the sun came out in full force. Yuck!!! (But awesome for being on the water later in the day!)

Distance: 8.0 | Time: 1:32:16 | Avg Pace: 11:31

Day 651 | July 31, 2011: rest

Week Summary: 33.1 miles

I really wanted to get a few more miles in today, because my monthly mileage is so close to my high – 141.1 vs. 145. But, this is supposed to be a cut back week, I don’t need to run 6 days in a row, I was up until after 1:00 on Saturday night, and it’s my birthday!

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By kilax, July 30, 2011 7:39 pm

If you saw something that you wanted sitting out in someone’s garbage (or near the road), would you grab it (would you be a garbage digger)?

I often make fun of my mom for grabbing stuff off the road that people throw out, but, she did score a pretty schweet patio set that way. And I think I can no longer make fun of her. My brother pointed out a weight bench sitting out with someone’s trash today and I made him turn around so we could check it out. I decided to grab it to show to Steven (after knocking on the people’s door to see if they were really getting rid of it).

If it can fit in my car I think we are taking it home. I guess I am now a garbage digger. Yay or nay?

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By kilax, July 29, 2011 10:45 am

The big box had a bike trainer in it! It’s from Steven’s dad and brother! What a surprise! Thanks guys!

I lusted after bike trainers last winter when it looked like this outside:

I can’t wait to use it. Steven thought I should use it while I am working from home. I think that sounds like a fun challenge (to bike and use a computer at the same time).

Steven also made me this awesome card (I made an animated gif of it):

My actual birthday isn’t until Sunday, but Steven wanted me to open some of my gifts early!

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By kilax, July 29, 2011 5:29 am

If there were crumbs found in your kitchen, what were they probably from?

Let’s get this straight – there are ALWAYS crumbs on our kitchen floor (and probably counter), because I suck at cleaning. Right now though, they are from the bagels we brought home from Queens*

and the bag of bulghar I spilled on the floor Wednesday night (yeah, that’s going to be getting stuck to our feet for awhile – I was not very successful at sweeping that all up).

*I didn’t check any bags and had my roller bag, messenger bag and bag of bagels to bring on the plane. Yeah, you are only supposed to have two carry ons and the ticket lady totally made me repack my bags. The funny thing is that they didn’t close after I repacked them so what’s the point? Another funny thing – when we landed in Milwaukee another passenger asked me what happened to my bagels. Ha! He was concerned about them for me. Aww.

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By kilax, July 27, 2011 3:23 pm

Apparently, my birthday present is in this big box. What do you think it is?

I am being good and not peeking.

I was so sad coming home from New York yesterday. Even though we got to spend a lot of time with our friends, it never feels like enough. And I kept thinking about how much bigger their son (Luca) is going to be when we return in November! We are going to miss out on so much by being so far away!

But, there is a chance they may come visit in October. Yay!

I feel so frickin’ lazy today. I must go for a run, NOW, before I waste the entire day!

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By kilax, July 25, 2011 7:46 am

The iTunes Giftcard Giveaway winners are:

Lauren @ Lauren Runs and RunningLaur! Please send me your mailing addresses, ladies, and I will put these in the mail.

Yesterday we spent the day in Long Island checking out a few towns on the water and seeing where Gina and Steve grew up. We’re having so much fun! I don’t want to go home! At least I know we will be back in November.

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By kilax, July 24, 2011 9:42 pm

I am training for the Milwaukee Marathon on October 2nd.

Day 638 | July 18, 2011: rest

A visit to Urgent Care thwarted my plan of running in the evening! Wah.

Day 639 | July 19, 2011: 5 m run

Even though we had a million-degree heat wave, I was itchin’ for a run and decided to get out on the Ohio River Greenway in Clarksville, IN.

Most of the run was in the sun on a levee with no shade:

I was dripping so much sweat it was coming off of my watch. But I kept going! Eventually I made it to the river and got a nice view of Louisville.

I didn’t know how far the trail went so I (stopped and) asked another runner who helped me out. I ran out to some bridges, stood in the shade a (long) bit then slugged my way back.

When I returned to the hotel, I immediately changed in to my swimsuit and got in the pool! Ahh!

Distance: 5.0 | Temp: 92° | Dew Point: 78° | Time: 54:54 | Avg Pace: 10:58 | 1: 10:24 | 2: 10:54 | 3: 11:19 | 4: 11:20 | 5: 10:53

Day 640 | July 20, 2011: rest

Day 641 | July 21, 2011: 8 m run

The running gods must have been looking over me for this run! It was 96° when I started, but the dew point was only 60° (I know. “only”). It felt so much cooler than it has, so I ventured out for eight miles and completed them all. Without stopping. Without walking. Almost without running out of water (took 32 oz). And my average pace was under 11:00 minute miles! I will call that a success my friends!!!

Distance: 8.0 |  Start Temp: 96° | End Temp: 89° | Dew Point: 60° | Time: 1:26:19 | Avg Pace: 10:47 | 1: 10:54 | 2: 10:44 | 3: 10:46 | 4: 10:41 | 5: 10:46 | 6: 10:56 | 7: 11:02 | 8: 10:26

Day 642 | July 22, 2011: 3 m run

I woke up to a thunderstorm, but was able to sneak in a 3 mile run before the bouts of pouring rain. The temps were lower, but it was humid!

Distance: 3.0 | Temp: 72° | Time: 30:23 | Avg Pace: 10:07 | 1: 10:42 | 2: 9:57 | 3: 9:41

Day 643 | July 23, 2011: 15 m run

I met Tracy in Central Park for one of the New York Road Runner’s organized long training runs. I am so happy I did this long run this way – it was one of the hottest days of the year, but the course was entirely supported – water tables every mile or so and a few misting stations. It was excellent! I’ve never been so perfectly hydrated during a run (I have NO idea how much water I drank, but I had my GUs at 4, 8 and 12)! I would like to do EVERY long run this way!

I had never run through Central Park before, and was surprised by how mostly shaded it is. And I knew it was going to be hilly, but I managed pretty well on the hills.

Tracy and I tried to take the first 6 miles nice and slow, but we kept speeding up by accident! That is what happens when I get all caught up in conversation. Not so good when you have more miles to go and it’s super hot! But at least I was having a lot of fun and the miles were flying by.

As we were nearing mile 5.5 (and the end of our first loop) another blogger named Tara called out to Tracy – she recognized her from her blog (how cool!). We ran the second loop with Tara (another 5 miles) and she just added to the fun (me, Tara and Tracy below). How cool that I got to meet another blogger by accident!

I loved running with these two and they got me through the first 11.5 miles easy! I finished the last 3.5 on my own, nice and slow, and took a long, smelly (me) subway ride home back to Queens to eat my bagel.

Distance: 15.0 | Temp: 90s? | Time: 2:54:10 | Avg Pace: 11:36

Day 644 | July 24, 2011: 3.25 m run

I went out for a quick run in the am to the river and back (in Queens). Boy, was it humid, but there were a lot of other runners out!

Distance: 3.25 | Temp: high 80s | Time: 33:40 | Avg Pace: 10:21 | 1: 11:11 | 2: 10:20 | 3: 9:50 | 4: 2:18

Week Summary: 34.25 miles

Ugh… not my most balanced week, but I got a lot of miles in!

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By kilax, July 23, 2011 2:43 pm

NYC BAGEL! After my long run in Central Park. The 15 miles were a success, but now I have the most awful chafing ever! EVER!

Baby Luca… I swear he likes me. Don’t I NOT look like a natural?

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By kilax, July 22, 2011 5:17 am

Did you have braces growing up (or as an adult)? Did you hate them or tolerate them? Were you happy with the results when they were taken off?

Braces were in my destiny – I had a severe under bite and a huge gap between my two front teeth.

Yikes! I think this photo below is actually from the day I got them put on in summer of 1999, before my sophomore year in high school –

I wore the braces until the summer of 2001 – the summer before my senior year.

(I thought it was really funny when I wore green braces to play Sneezy in the community playhouse production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – that is my sister on the left – I think she helped out with costumes).

I tolerated them. I never had much pain that I recall. It was annoying to clean stuff out of them though. I still ate all the stuff I wasn’t supposed to eat.

I was really happy when I got them off though. I loved my smile (still do!). It totally makes wearing the stupid things for almost two years worth it.

(This is the summer (one year) after I got them off, in Spain, with my dad).

It seems like ALL kids get braces these days. I don’t remember it being like that. Okay, sure, me and my two younger siblings had them, but I swear, a lot more kids have them than used to, and at a much younger age! I should let Steven tell his braces story, maybe in the comments…