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By kilax, September 21, 2011 5:10 am

I used to take my camera with me on nearly every run. I felt like documenting my runs visually encouraged me to keep running. After I joined the running club at the beginning of this year I rarely ran with my camera and got a little bit faster (probably because I wasn’t screwing around taking pictures).

But I still sometimes bring my camera! If I am running on a new trail, I figure there might be something I want to capture and remember. And when I don’t have my camera with me, I still take craptactular pictures with my phone camera (examples below).

What’s your opinion on taking photos while running – silly? Fun? Unnecessary?

For me, I don’t want to get home and think “I wish I would have taken a photo of that!” because I love to share photos. So to me, it’s normal. A lot of things are normal to me that shouldn’t be though…

Anyway, I ended up on an accidental trail run yesterday. I found a park with trails near my hotel (Lapping Park) and decided to check it out. It ended up being trail trails – not the crushed limestone ones I am used to! Okay, okay, they were not 100% technical the entire time, but there was a lot of careful maneuvering. And you know what? It was fun! It was exactly what I needed – some time alone in nature to zone out. I saw more deer than people on the trail, and still had a fun run despite not following the signage very well.

See my deer friend below?

Side Note: A lot of my middle toenail on my left foot came off last night. This is the second time I have lost a lot of toenail in Louisville (well, Indiana this time). I think it’s from wearing flats around all day.

Comments (19)

By kilax, September 20, 2011 5:33 am

On my drive to dinner last night I decided to take a little detour and check out (just drive by) this park I saw on a map. After doing that, I criss-crossed through some residential neighborhoods to get back to the commercial area. Well, the residential street I was on literally ended in a JCPenney parking lot. I took that as a sign.

I went in with the intention of seeing if they have any of the compression shorts I like, and was über excited when I saw there was a huge Xersion sale rack.

They had the shorts I wanted for super cheap ($11 each!) and I found a few other cute things to get. I couldn’t keep the cute all to myself so I bought a variety of things in different sizes to give away too! Please play close attention to the descriptions below and let me know in the comments which one you would like to try to win!

For someone who wears an XS/S…
Black Sleeveless Mesh Tank 

• size XS – the sizes run a bit “loose” – hence the recommendation for XS/S
• no bra shelf
• regular tank back (not racerback)
• polyester
• washable
• quick-dri technology

  

 

Comments (20)

By kilax, September 19, 2011 8:59 am

• Yay! I get to go to Louisville for another four-day trip. Sigh. I am happy to be out of the office but don’t feel quite up to making small talk all week (and I am not really sure I will feel like I am out of the office – I am getting bombarded at work).
• I found out my flight was delayed by two hours when I arrived at the airport. Oops. It gave me plenty of time to get through security (that’s the line to the security line in the picture below) then eat breakfast and do some work. Yay, productive morning.

• I’ve been meaning to ask this for awhile – do you prefer air hand dryers or paper towels in public restrooms? For me, it’s paper towels all the way (yeah, I know it’s not sustainable). I am too impatient to wait for air hand dryers, and am especially annoyed by those turbo/jet ones.

• I decided to make my own trail mix to bring with – by combining a seed/nut trail mix and a fruit mix. But first I had to take out the icky tree nuts. I do not care for tree nuts – the smell of them makes me feel sick (headaches) and I don’t like the way they taste.

  

• I might start reading Cycling Home from Siberia on the plane . My sister’s boyfriend loaned it to me.
• If I don’t read on the plane I will most surely be sleeping. All I wanted this weekend was a nap and I never got one.
• I got a text from my brother this am that he is going to be in the Chicagoland area all week. While I am gone. Great luck, I have!
• This post is boring – just a glimpse in to my week, ha ha. Obviously I feel kind of blah today, so please feel free to leave me comments with happy news/distractions.

Comments (13)

By kilax, September 18, 2011 3:06 pm

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

Day 694 | September 12, 2011: rest

Day 695 | September 13, 2011: 5 m run

Five miles in the dark. Wearing my headlamp and blinker reminded me of running in the dark during the Ragnar Relay. It was cool, but humid – a strange combination. The weird smoke drifting in to northern Illinois from Minnesota had cleared, but the breeze that took it away brought in a barnyard smell. Yummy.

I was all excited at the beginning of the week, thinking my PF was going away, so I didn’t wear my boot Monday night or Tuesday night… then woke up in the middle of the night Tuesday with a stabbing pain in my heel. Yay…

Distance: 6.0 | Start Temp: 62° | End Temp: 57° | Time: 48:14 | Avg Pace: 9:38 | 1: 10:09 | 2: 9:56 | 3: 9:41 | 4: 9:23 | 5: 9:03

Day 696 | September 14, 2011: 3 m run

Wow – I ran late at night when it was pretty cool (high 40s) and I forgot what it is like to run in the cool temps! It’s amazing! After you warm up, you’re good to go. I took it easy though, since my PF was bothering me all day.

Distance: 3.0 | Start Temp: 48° | End Temp: 46° | Time: 29:17 | Avg Pace: 9:44 | 1: 10:09 | 2: 9:42 | 3: 9:23

Day 697 | September 15, 2011: 8.24 m bike

Steven and I went out for a fun bike ride on the trail by our house then through the neighborhood. It was in the 50s and my hands were actually numb at the end of the ride! I should have worn gloves!

Bike Time: 1:09:46 | Distance: 8.24 | Avg Speed: 7.1

Day 698 | September 16, 2011: 10 m run + strength

I met Bobbi and Lupe (from our running club) at the Rollins Savanna for an easy 10-miler. It was in the 50s and I first I felt too hot in a t-shirt! But I felt fine for the last 5 miles. It was nice to run with Bobbi and Lupe. I haven’t done a run with three people in awhile. It’s nice because you can zone out while the other two talk… but I was actually blabbing a lot. Oops.

Distance: 10.0 | Temp: mid 50s | End Temp: 57° | Time: 1:48:39 | Avg Pace: 10:51

After my run I had my first strength training session with Brian (we took about a two month break). We just used hand weights and a step, but boy, was I out of it. My heart was racing and I felt dizzy and light-headed. Not sure if it was from running 10 before, being low on sugar levels, or just not keeping up with strength, but I hope next week is better!

Day 699 | September 17, 2011: 4 m run

I was so unbelievably sore from my workout with Brian on Saturday. I tried to run to shake it out. I mostly hurt in my butt (that’s never happened to me before) and upper back. I felt better after my run but it was really slow in the beginning!

Distance: 4.0 | Start Temp: 65° | Time: 45:06 | Avg Pace: 11:15 | 1: 11:51 | 2: 11:16 | 3: 11:14 | 4: 10:42

Day 670 | September 18, 2011: 16 m run

I met Erin at the Half Day Forest Preserve for our last >10 mile run for Milwaukee Training! Unfortunately, I was still sore from Friday’s workout, so I was lagging a bit. Sorry, Erin.

It was a good morning for a run though – overcast and on and off rainy. We had a chance to try out our new race shirts to make sure they felt good and don’t chafe (win and win). Also, it was quite cool out – maybe only 60 – and that was good practice weather (I HOPE!!!) for Milwaukee. I didn’t drink nearly as much water as I normally do (maybe only 60+ ounces) and felt good (except for the whole being so sore thing – seriously, it hurt to roll over in the bed Saturday night!).

It looks like fall is starting to hit the trail. Some of the leaves are changing color already. I love the trails during this time of year!

After our run we went to Deerfield’s Bakery and Erin told me about some neat Mount Everest books and documentaries she’s seen/read. I think that will be my next goal after NYC. Just kidding! Ha ha (Steven and I actually watched the Everest: IMAX movie later in the day on Netflix Instant Queue, and Steven decided Everest is not for him – I think it was the scary ladders they climb over to get over the deep ice ravines).

Only two more weeks until Milwaukee!!! Wee!!! I am ready for my taper now. Me tired.

Distance: 16.0 | Temp: 60ish | Time: 2:50:08 | Avg Pace: 10:37

Week Summary: 38.0 miles

Well, yeah. I totally set myself up for failure with my strength training on Friday – both by running before and being a slacker for weeks before. I am happy Brian and I can work out together again – because I apparently don’t get anything done without him.

Comments (17)

By kilax, September 18, 2011 12:57 pm

(That would be two Peanut Butter Oreo Fudge Creams with two Double Stuf Oreos in between (I ate the other part of the Double Stuf cookies))

Trick Question! The answer is ZERO, since I just ran 16 miles.

Ha ha, maybe this is why I am not losing any weight during marathon training? HA HA HA.

My brother-in-law brought these amazing Peanut Butter Oreo Fudge Creams to my home. I had had the mint ones, but whoa, these are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Steven thinks that Oreo may be purposefully going after the Girl Scout Market – these peanut butter ones taste just like the Tagalongs and the mint ones taste just like the Thin Mints. And then there’s the regular Oreos with the mint filling…

Can you tell I love Oreos?!

Comments (9)

By kilax, September 17, 2011 9:08 pm

Is there any outfit/article of clothing you wear that almost always gets you comments (good or bad, ha!)? What are the comments?

For some reason the Corn Maze 5K shirts seem to invite a lot of questions/comments. Steven wore his out tonight and three different people talked to us about it – asking where is it, saying it’s fun to do at night* (two people said that), being surprised it exists…

You know, I think I would ask if I saw someone with that shirt on too!

My brother-in-law and I are actually going to do the race again this year. It’s on October 16th** if anyone else local is looking for a funky “5K” (the course was half a mile short last year).

*That’s what she said.
**There is this site and a link to a MN corn maze – both called “The World’s Largest Corn Maze Run” – how can they both be the world’s largest?! World’s Largest Corn Maze Run in that state? Ha ha.

Comments (23)

By kilax, September 16, 2011 1:37 pm

Today’s the day… Judgement Day… the day I have to wear jeans for the first time after being free from them all summer long. The summer was too hot (in my opinion) for jeans, so I haven’t had them on since Erin* helped me pick out a pair in the beginning of May!

I am always nervous about putting jeans on for the first time in the fall. What if they don’t fit? I mean, I have gained a few pounds overall since May. But…

they fit!!! YAY! And they feel good! I love Eddie Bauer jeans.

Okay… am I the only one who worries if their jeans will fit after not wearing them all summer? It is somewhat possible that I am being completely bizarre right now.

And can I just say – I feel so cozy today with the cool weather. YAY fall-like weather!!!

*Yes, Erin has put together most of my wardrobe, including this oufit. What can I say? The girl’s got taste… and I sure don’t!

Comments (14)

By kilax, September 15, 2011 3:02 pm

Someone was kind of upset I did not include their costume idea in my earlier post. 

I am not even sure if I can explain it, because it is based on an inside joke that has made me and Steven say “cornbread costume” to each other anytime the other person leaves the lights on in the garage (don’t you wish you lived my life?!).

Is anyone else’s sense of humor based around inside jokes?I don’t think I can make a real joke to save my life. Okay, one that isn’t inappropriate! Ha!

So, we thought we should bring our inside joke (that only makes sense to us) alive this Halloween. Here is the Cornbread Costume and Chili photo that Steven made of himself and my sister’s boyfriend. He did a very nice job in photoshop:

What do you think? Should we go as that? And a pat of butter, a spoon, and a knife?

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If you vote yes, please let me know what you think the other people could go as.

Comments (16)

By kilax, September 15, 2011 12:32 pm

I’m not sure what Data thinks of the hat my sister brought me back from Florida.

My sister (Christina, in the picture below) gave me that hat at my nephew’s birthday party a few weeks ago. There was a really young toddler there who just stared at me the whole time I was wearing the hat (an hour or so). I would get on the floor and crawl around then sneak up on him. He really liked that. (No mom, I still don’t want to have kids)

Anyway, this post is not about that hat! Well, it’s about how I want to avoid that hat being my Halloween costume!

Last year Steven and I ended up being in my hometown for Halloween and we went out to the bars with all of my siblings, their significant others, my mom and another friend. We had a total blast. The only issue?! Our costumes were LAME! Mine and Steven’s, I mean (see below).

So this year we want to go back since we had so much fun, but have cool costumes… and since there are so many of us, I thought we could do some sort of group costumes!

My great idea was for us to go as a barrel of monkeys – two people can be barrels and the rest can be monkeys. I am not getting a great response on that idea though. And my mom keeps saying she wants to be that damn pumpkin again.

Do you have any group costume ideas for Halloween that won’t break the bank? Or how about a way to make a cool barrel of monkeys costume?

Comments (19)

By kilax, September 14, 2011 10:19 am

It’s good luck to get pooped on by a bird, right?

This is the second time it’s happened to me. The first time was in Rome in Spring of 2006. This time I was walking back to my office with my favorite coworker, so we got a really good laugh, especially because we both thought it was a raindrop and I wiped my fingers in it to “wipe the water off my head.” Ha ha ha.