We're Not Worthy!

Laura and Kari would like to send a profound and heartfelt runner's wave to our fellow bloggers: Minken, Simon, Rahul and rUntoNamAste whom we will faithfully (and literally) follow before and during the Paris Marathon, as well as our followers, especially the vocal ones: Beck, Badhippy, Keb, and Kris.

Bisous!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

I hope all of our faithful followers will stick with me as I attempt to re-design our blog. Kari and I both agree that we need a bit on inspiration in the form of a different layout. I am forced to abort my original attempt, as the little one is demanding my attention (darn sick kids - I think it is harder taking care of them than running a marathon - time will tell.)

OK - I think we are done constructing now - enjoy!!

Audience Poll: Which Pants are Jiggle Proof?

After a few days (it smarts to write that) of not running I went out last night for my first run since I’ve been home. I got new running pants I was eager to try out (did I mention how much I heart TJ Maxx??), those loose kind. I actually had a pair that I got the last time I went to the US, but they blew off my porch during a wind storm (you may know the BORA if you’ve been to these parts: freezing wind from Siberia or some other cold place that cracks your bones when it blows) because I hadn’t secured them with what we call clothes pins (doh!). Well with these new ones, what I immediately noticed was the freedom they gave parts of me that I didn’t know existed to jiggle (it was more like jiggle, BOOM. Jiggle, BOOM. Jiggle, BOOM). Ouch! So, although every step of my 7.1 run kind of hurt (The vacation eating and drinking did its part to add to the jiggle factor too, plus I never go this long in between runs), I finished three minutes faster than the last three times I’ve done this one. If you’ll remember the first time I did this route with my friend Marzio, I was sucking wind like I had some kind of asthma during a steep and prolonged incline at about the half-way mark. This time, I had so much more energy to tackle that hill, maybe because of those forced days off, that I ran up it like butter. I didn’t check my watch once because in my head I just wanted to take it nice and easy so that I wouldn’t overdo it and not want to run the next day, plus it was freezing rain and I didn’t want to slip. So when I got home and checked my watch, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know that a fast time could correlate with a run that didn’t feel particularly good or fast. Isn’t that weird? I mean, good weird.

As I was logging my workouts and feeling guilty about not getting a long run in this weekend I reminded myself that blogging really does keep you honest. I am behind on my mileage, so that means I have to work extra hard this week, but that’s okay. I promise to do my best, but not to overdo it. I’m so happy with my drive to run. I love it and don’t want it ever to become a chore that I dread. I feel strong and injury free and want to keep it that way. Today there is Bora and it’s much colder than yesterday but I’ll get my butt out there again this afternoon, take it nice and easy and remember to hang the new pants out on the clothesline with extra clothes pins!

I Got Heckled!!!

I was heckled yesterday by four 16-year-olds!!! What the heck is that? I ran my fanny off for five LONG miles, on the treadmill (I might add.) I posted a remarkable time, thank you! I am a sweater - when I tell you that I sweat, I mean it. So, when I come downstairs to find a nice place to cool down and relax a bit before jumping in the shower, you can imagine my frustration when these former students of mine began questioning me about why I was so sweaty. HELLO??? I JUST RAN FARTHER THAN YOU COULD WALK! When they found out that I ran 5 miles, they said "Oh, is that all? I could sprint that! Besides, running on the treadmill doesn't count! It's soooo easy!" I was about ready to throw down! Don't disrespect me! I could take em' - I really think I could!

I love being a teacher, but I hate that I have to live high-school each and every day. These kids exhaust me! Imagine how much better I would run if I didn't have all of my energy drained by them BEFORE my workouts.

So, I'm home today with a sick kid. I think I'll rest all day and think about what needs to be done in preparation for our trip. My husband finally applied for his passport - one less thing to hassle him about (poor guy.) Maybe I'll cruise the internet for music stuff for him to do while in Paris.....off I go -

New for 2009!

So here’s my New Year’s Resolution: run to work. And since all good New Year’s Resolutions require hardcore shopping, here’s what I acquired in order to meet this ambitious and noteworthy goal.

Underarmour face mask/head sleeve/gator in festive white--I guess this is to help make you look like someone actually fighting the cold instead of preparing to commit crime, but Sweetie has already started calling me Schummy because it makes me look like a Formula One Driver when I have it on. I wore it to help me unpack and think it is the perfect accessory for running to work. Good job!

Camelback backpack with 3-liter water bladder. Tried it last night. IT LEAKS! Phooey! Called Dick’s Sporting Goods last night to complain, stated that I live in Italy, this thing leaks, what can we do about, it. Answer “no problem. Just bring it back with the receipt...” So I guess I’ll have to patch it up with gum in the meantime or just throw a water bottle back there and unscrew the top like in the old days... but really, who drinks 3-liters while running to work? A. It’s not that far, and 2. Three liters is a lot of water, more than I typically sweat out, so NO BIG DEAL. The backpack is perfect for what I will need to get ready for the BEST WORK DAY after the Brisk UPHILL run from my house to work. Here’s what I will put in there: Microfiber towel for dabbing the sweat off my brow upon arrival, cell phone (to call for help if I break my butt in the woods, another reason I can live without the 3-liters of wa-wa. P.s. Did you know that 911 in Italy is 118?), pants, shirt, sweater. I will leave the hairdryer at work for when I dunk my head in the sink in the ladies room, and in case the clothes are still wet when it’s time to run back home at the end of the day.

Isn’t this a great plan? Let’s start next week. I briefly wanted to start today but thought better of it even before I went to bed. I love the idea of being one of those people who runs to work! Saturday I will test out the route with Sweetie (and take notes because there are a bunch of shortcuts that will keep me off the streets).

I tried the idea out, by the way, on my neighbors, who shot each other nervous looks that said “This girl is PAZZA!” Which reminds me that it’s better to be a woman of action than words, so forget I said anything until next week. OK? And if I don’t actually run to work, at least know that in my heart I am very, very green!

Cross Training

Ok... I wasn't that good. But that's what an 11-hour layover can do to you. If it happens to you, though, I really hope it's in Munich...

Good Girl!

So I did manage to bang out some miles while on vacation (wearing the tanktop that makes me feel dangerously fast and the shorts that make me look incredibly silly, but who cares, I wasn't going to see anyone on that boat ever again, and I have nothing to hide from you, dear readers, TAKE ME AS I AM!). Oh how I miss the sun, the gentle breeze, facial sweat that doesn't freeze...

Can I hear a Whoop Whoop???

Check out my milestone! - Laura's Milestone!

Not only did I have a great 3-mile run today, but look what I found when I synched my ipod!!!

I'm Back

Phyoo. I'm finally back in those freezing Wisconsin temperatures. Good thing, too. That sun and sea and awesome food get tiring after a few days (oh who am I kidding?! My SOUL IS CRYING!!!)

Quick update. I ran and ate as much as I could. There was a running deck on the ship which I used when I wasn't afraid of being blown overboard and on the last day we did a 1-mile walk for the cure with a bunch of nice and interesting and altruistic people on same. There was a treadmill for the other times, which I'm starting to like, since I never use one of those at home. It gives you lots of information that the snowy streets can't give you plus you can go really really fast on it!

I didn't get any really long runs in. My max was a 1.15.00 which was outside and probably about 7 miles. I feel great, though, so I will just call this a step-back week. I haven't even checked my training schedule, but I am assuming that the week I was gone was an increase week and this one would be a step back, so I am just going to switch them. This week I will do a 13-miler (Ugh. Jet lag. Ugh!) We fly back today. Chicago-Munich, 11-hour layover (Mmm Beer and sausages and I can walk around the airport a bunch of times for cross training), then home to Trieste. It's going to be a long 21 hours. 

GOT THE ROAD TO PARIS BUTTONS! I love them. I want to cover my coat with them! 

Thanks, Laura, for keeping things up while I was gone. Things should go towards normal this week. You kick asphalt!! (thanks Psychobabble...)

Thanks to our donators! You kick asphalt, too! 

Also, thanks for Yoda! I'm going to take him on the plane with me today. The young one who does flips...  

New Running Chip - New Personal Record

Quick and to the point today - had to replace my running chip in my shoe because the battery was getting low. For a small $20.00, you just replace the whole thing and away you go. I guess it lasts approximately 100 miles - because that is just about how far I've run since I first started using it.

Today, my husband convinced me to run on the treadmill - frown. Usually, I don't mind the treadmill, but with a scary 10 miles hunting me down, I was sure I would be BORED on that stupid gerbil wheel. He was the voice of reason, though, as he said that I have too much invested into this trip to Europe and the marathon to slip on some snow or ice out there in the western New York weather. He was and is right. Thank you, hon, for loading up my ipod with new and exciting music to keep me moving today. It was a great mix, really. As I put one foot in front of the other, my 10 miles became 7, then 5, then 2 then 400 meters....zero. The longest I've run so far - and here to tell about it. I think we are looking at another step-back week next week - always seem harder than the step-forward weeks - very strange. As I am reading other people's blogs, they seem to comment on the same phenomenon - don't quite know what that is all about.

I'm heading off skiing tomorrow - cross training, for sure! I get to be the ski club chaperone at work - as far as I am concerned, this is the best perk of the job!!! I think I'll take my camera and get some pictures of the slopes!!!

You keep reading and we'll keep running! (I assume Kari has been running, although she's been on a cruise for the past week. Let's hope we hear from her soon, her silence on the blog is beginning to get me a bit down....)