Comments (11)

By kilax, September 30, 2012 2:50 pm

Highlight of the Week: Fitting five runs in with such a busy schedule (and a headache that lasted three days). I feel like we are “summer” busy… we have plans weekend after weekend, which is usually only a summer occurrence for us. 

Monday | September 24, 2012: rest
Tuesday | September 25, 2012: 6 m run
Loc: Home to Kohl’s, Temp: 70°/76°, Time: 1:00:24, Pace: 10:04 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: harder than it should’ve
Wednesday | September 26, 2012: strength class + 5 m run (w/Bobbi)
Strength: BOSU & bars, Difficulty: mostly easy, Felt: good
Loc: Grayslake, Temp: 53°/51°, Time: 50:40, Pace: 10:08 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: chatty
Thursday | September 27, 2012: rest
Friday | September 28, 2012: 3 m run
Loc: neighborhood, Temp: 56°/55°, Time: 26:59, Pace: 9:00, Difficulty: medium, Felt: fast & annoyed the garmin messed up
Saturday | September 29, 2012: 8 m run
Loc: Millenniun Trail to Nippersink FP, Temp: 46°/48°, Time: 1:25:08, Pace: 10:38 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: satisfied
Sunday | September 30, 2012: 15 m run
Loc: Around Round Lake, Temp: 56°/64°, Time: 2:53:56, Pace: 11:36 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: content (but sloooow)

Notes:

• I love running with my Nathan Vest. I feel like it balances me out and helps me run more upright. 
• I miss real trail running. There are a few places close to me that I can run the trails, but I have to drive there (and I usually run from home). 
• On every long run this summer (and now fall) I have had a pain high in my right butt cheek. Ugh. I wonder if a massage would help?!
• I’m scared of dogs. On my last two runs this week dogs came charging at me (unleashed) from their front yards. Luckily, they were trained to stay in the yard (and one time a person was there) but it scared me. 

I ♥ Fall!

• No/less chafing. 
• Less thirsty. 
• You can your run start later (since it doesn’t get as hot).
• Pretty trees!

Tell me about your awesome “I ♥ Fall” runs!

Comments (11)

By kilax, September 29, 2012 8:19 am

Are the leaves changing colors where you live?

They certainly are here. It seems to be all I talk about to Steven when we go outside – or I look out a window. I bet that isn’t annoying. 

But they sure do make for some beautiful runs, especially when paired with the eerie morning fog.

I love running through the fog. It kind of makes me feel like I am running in some mysterious, new place – everything looks and feels a bit different. 

Alright, enough cheesiness! I guess I just had a good run this  morning! Especially when I found out a new bridge on a trail by my house is passable! WOO HOO!

Comments (19)

By kilax, September 28, 2012 6:27 am

Do you use Groupon/Living Social/similar deals? Why or why not? What are the best deals you’ve purchased?

We have actually done a lot of cool things through Groupon: flight lesson,

Intro to Road-Racing Class through the DriveTech Racing School, Exotic Car Driving in Jersey (photo by Gina, and gift from Gina!),

kickboxing class… and we have an exciting upcoming Groupon we will use in October!

We’ve also gotten coupons for grocery stores ($10 for $20 worth of groceries), Starbucks (was that one $5 for $10) and so on.

But I try not to look at the Groupon emails too much. I get all these ideas of things I want to do and it makes me anxious to know I spent the money, and it’s just sitting there, waiting for me to do it. I know the money you spent is always good for that amount of money at the venue if you don’t use the Groupon in time, but I just feel so anxious knowing I have unused Groupons (more for activities then giftcards in stores)!

The Thriller in Schiller Giveaway winner is Queenie! Queenie, please email me (kilax@ilaxstudio.com) and I will send you the coupon code!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Like I said, I am not sure if I can make it since we might be out of town, but I think the bloggers who can should totally do a costume themed meetup!!! Registration is only $25 and you get a t-shirt and pint glass!

Comments (24)

By kilax, September 27, 2012 6:33 am

Or hose. Or nylons. Or whatever.

One of the reasons I’m happy I keep a blog – when I wake up with a headache, feel like crap, and don’t know what to wear, I can just look at old blog posts for ideas! The outfit I liked had tights in it. With it being in the 40s when I left my house, and a high in the low 60s, I thought, “Why not? It’s Tights Time!”

As I was putting on tights in my closet, still half asleep and out of it, I thought “I love tights!” and all the reasons why… Then I saw the ones I grabbed had a hole in them and thought, “Tights are a pain in the butt!” and all the reasons why… so here is my delirious, early am tights pro/con list:

Pros

• prevent me from scratching bug bites
• keep me warm
• but you can take them off when they get too hot (if your legs are shaved?)
• but you don’t have to shave your legs to wear them!
• keeps my skirt from riding up (apparently, not the one I wore today)
• the right color makes me look slimmer

• they look sexy paired with boots

Cons

• prevent me from wearing flip flops for the walk to the office

• random holes in them

• they don’t last very long
• the wrong color makes me look like a little kid on Easter Sunday

• they sometimes ride down throughout the day
• might not keep my skirt from riding up

TBD

• they may make wearing flats less painful (less rubbing on the back of the heel)

 Anything to add/take off my lists?

Comments (33)

By kilax, September 26, 2012 4:55 am

a purpose to get somewhere

Is it bad that I planned a running route to Kohl’s yesterday? Was it appropriate for me to shop after a run? I wasn’t trying on anything, I was looking for something specific (quick trip – no browsing), and didn’t get completely soaked in sweat since it’s a bit cooler out. That makes it okay, right?

Honestly, I don’t care. I just needed something to add purpose to my run. I have run circles in my neighborhood maybe two times in the past 30 days and that was enough for me – it’s a bit BORING. I like runs that get me somewhere (especially somewhere new!) and was inspired by Pam’s town-to-town 15-miler. Gotta save those boring, safe runs for the winter time.  

Do you ever run with the purpose of getting somewhere specific? Or run your errands?

Sort of related, Training Week posts for weeks 150, 152 and 153 are sitting in my drafts folder, unpublished. I did between 4-5 workouts those weeks, and didn’t really think that was worth posting… which is silly.  I struggle a lot with feeling like I get enough workouts in each week. I feel that I need to workout a lot, since I am heavy for my height. But I don’t need to. It’s not doing anything for me. What I need to do is eat less. 

I had to tell someone about this, because it bothered me so much. Last night, during my run, I was waiting at a busy intersection for the walk sign. A high school runner (he had a jersey on) from the other side ran through traffic. A car came very close to hitting him, and the car passenger yelled something offensive at him I wish I had not heard. Both the runner and the car were being stupid and it left me feeling very bothered. Why did the kid have to run across traffic when cars were barreling down the street? Why did the passenger in the car have to yell something so nasty at him, after the driver had honked? I got the feeling (based on the reaction of the other high school runner actually waiting for the walk sign) that this is some silly game they play, based on the smirks on their faces. And I know how the driver felt. I know I would be upset if someone ran out in front of my car!

Comments (18)

By kilax, September 25, 2012 3:35 pm

Ever since my trail 50K I have been itching to do some more trail races! I think it’s the low pressure/friendly atmosphere and challenging courses. I am signed up for a trail race in November and also have two more on the radar for October and December –

Thriller in Schiller (October 28) – a 5K trail race that will “take you over downed trees, through the woods, over creeks, and through mud”! There is a costume contest (it’s three days before Halloween, afterall!) and all participants receive a bib, race t-shirt, and a customized Thriller in Schiller pint glass… which you can fill with beer after the event! Registration is only $25 (!!!) and if you sign up for The Thriller in Schiller you get $5 off the…

Schiller Chiller 10K & 5K (December 1) – This one sounds so awesome I am just going to copy and paste from their site:

• The course will take you through the cold woods, onto the Des Plaines River Trail, over roots, trees, and rocks, and back to our festival area. The 10k and 5k courses will be nearly 75% different from each other. The courses are great for those new to trail running and challenging enough for even the most seasoned trail runner.

• All participants will receive a long sleeved race t-shirt, bib, and a Schiller Chiller coffee mug. All 10k participants will also receive a Schiller Chiller shot glass.

• After the race you can fill your mug with hot chocolate, “adult” hot chocolate, Irish Coffee, Hot Toddy, or grab a locally crafted beer. Post-race snacks will be provided and there will also be food available for purchase.

• Also only $25 for the 5K, $30 for the 10K (and they have group rates for 5 or more).

Ahh! They both sound so awesome! The sad news is that I might be out of town for both of them. And I was offered a free entry from Muddy Monk (the race organizer) for one of my choice. Sigh. I am hoping I can make at least one!

Not all is lost though…

I have one free entry to giveaway for the Thriller in Schiller!!!

Thriller in Schiller 5K Giveaway Rules

1. One reader will receive one free entry to the Thriller in Schiller 5K. 
2. Required to enter the giveaway: tell me – if you were going to dress up for the costume contest, what would your costume be?
3. For a bonus extra entry: “like” Muddy Monk on Facebook and let me know that you did!
4. This giveaway is open until 5:00 PM CST on Thursday, September 27.  I will announce the winner on Friday September 28. 
5. This giveaway is open to anyone who can make it to the race on Sunday October 28 at Schiller Woods Forest Preserve (near O’Hare airport).  

Comments (18)

By kilax, September 25, 2012 6:35 am

Why do we visit the same cities over and over?

Is it to see family?

Yes.

To do the activities we know and love in that area?

Yes.

(okay, this should say “to eat the things we love in that area”)

Or because the area offers so much to see and do, it requires multiple trips back?

Yes, yes, yes!

New York City definitely meets those three criteria! This weekend trip was my fourth time there this year, and I wonder if I can sneak in a holiday trip to see Gina & fam and do a bit of holiday shopping…

Which cities do you visit over and over again, and why?

Comments (17)

By kilax, September 21, 2012 6:09 am

Do you prefer a certain type of pillow? Or are you able to sleep on any kind?

Somewhere along the road, I developed a preference for big, fluffy pillows. But not the kind your head sinks down to the bed on – it has to hold my head up. And if it doesn’t, I put another pillow underneath it. I also like my head elevated a bit. 

I’ve thought about this a lot in the past few years, especially as I have traveled more and sometimes stayed in hotels with awful pillows. Whenever I can now, I bring my pillow with me for travel (a synthetic down one from Bed Bath & Beyond). 

First World Problem for sure! But it does really affect how well I sleep. We have a lot of pillows in our house, so that guests can choose the type they like… although I think everyone is usually so tired they just go to bed and use the ones on the guest bed.*

*And nearly everyone HATES our guest bed. Sigh. We can only fit a double in our guest bedroom. Yeah. It sucks. I know. I’m sorry, I truly am!

Comments (24)

By kilax, September 20, 2012 7:00 am

I love playing games. And all sorts of games! Board games, card games, wii games, sports games…

Here’s the problem though – I really have to limit myself to non competitive games, so, non-strategy board games, kids’ card games, wii games where I play with another person rather than against them, and no sports games…

BECAUSE I TURN IN TO A COMPETITIVE ASS.

This is the name Steven coined for me, oh, who knows how many years ago.* And it’s true. I turn in to a total competitive jerk ass when I am playing a game and want to win. And it usually doesn’t bode well for me. Examples:

• In my strength class last night we were doing jumping plank/pushup things, followed by a plank, then a plank walk to the center of the room to hit one of those Staples easy buttons. There were less buttons than people. So what did I do? I did all my stuff, then started my walk, then dove across the floor to hit a button. In the process, I tore up the scab on my left knee and had blood all over it the rest of the night. Smooth. 
• In college, I played a game of indoor soccer as a sub for another team once. I really wanted the ball so I did a slide tackle to do it. On indoor turf. An illegal move. An illegal move that tore up the entire side of my leg. Oops. I really wanted the ball. 
• We cannot play Phase 10 in my family because people gang up on one another, and other people get really pissed off… I won’t name any names, but I have been guilty of both. And it’s caused a few fights. 

*Apparently at least since 2009, since I mentioned it here and here. He probably thought of it when we started dating in 2002 though. 

Comments (39)

By kilax, September 19, 2012 6:32 am

… in running.

For some reason, I wasn’t expecting there to be photographers at the 50K on Saturday. But there were!

I love the photos they took. You can probably tell that is a sincere smile on my face – I was having that much fun… because I was running with Rachel and Kovas!

Rachel and I are already talking about our next 50K! I would love to try another one and see if I can train better and run a bit faster. Maybe next year?

Until then, I only have a few races in sight for the end of 2012:

The World’s Largest Corn Maze Run (10/14) – I’ve run this “5K” the previous two years (2011, 2010) with my brother-in-law, and we plan to do it again this year. It’s goofy and fun.

ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon (10/20) – This will be my first time running the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half, and as an ambassador! I cannot wait. A lot of blogger friends are doing it, and we plan to hang out all weekend. If you are still thinking about signing up (do it, do it!!!) you can use code GLAMB8 for $10 off the half and $5 off the full. Or maybe you can convince your best running friend to nominate you for a free entry here!

Run Walk and Roll for a Drug Free Community 5K (10/27) – I’ve run this 5K in Waterloo, IA the last two years (2011, 2010) with my brother. If we go back to Iowa that weekend, I will definitely be running it.

I’m also looking at a few short trail races and a 5K around Thanksgiving (to run with Gina!), but that’s it for the rest of the year, for me!

What races are left on your calendar?

Even though I don’t have much racing going on, I plan to continue to run as much as possible, because I love love love running in the fall!