Brown Socks

Going to California...

Well, we survived the first 2 weeks of Kindergarten.  It was a bit rocky there for a few days and my stomach was in knots all day long at work, but Marcel is used to the new school and seems to be really enjoying it...now.

So, when was the last time I posted? A few weeks ago, huh? These past few months have been so busy! It's about to get busier, so I hope to try to make time to read everyone's blogs and post about my upcoming training (that starts next week!).

I'm heading out for vacation in a few hours (!), so I will post a few things that are on my mind right now:

• I just finished my "base-work" training and will be starting my Sunmart training next week.  After running all summer long by myself, I am looking forward to running with a group. Although it is possible that I won't run the same pace as others, it will be nice to know others out on the trails.  Still haven't decided on the 50K or the 50M...I'm about 75% for the 50M right now. Once I see the training schedule next week it may help me make my decision...
• I've been reading a bunch about the Appalachian Trail, and have been entertaining the idea of a section hike sometime in the next few years. I think I successfully roped my brother into doing it with me. I'm looking at Vermont, but if anyone has any recommendations for a week-long section hike on the Northeastern part of the AT, let me know!
• My run on Saturday was great- I actually felt a cool breeze at points during the run (at least in the first few hours).  I think I am over my summer slump (lack of motivation to run in 100 degree heat every darn day) and I am really looking forward to some cool early morning runs in the Fall! I ran at 5Am this morning and was thrilled when I opened the front door and it was actually chilly!

I'm off to San Diego!

Parking lot laps?

I'm traveling for work again- I got into Kansas City last night at about 8PM last night after getting to the Austin airport waaay too early, a 2-hour layover at Dallas Love Field, then an hour and a half flight to Kansas City.  I finally checked into the hotel tired and starving (Love Field has the CRAPPIEST food selection in the AA wing) with about 8 hours of travel under my belt.  My coworker and I made plans for dinner- she was going to call me when she was ready to go eat.

I got settled in my room, which upon first glance looked a little odd. As I was arranging my stuff, suddenly this strobe light starting flashing in the room and a jackhammer sound was coming from the walls. The phone was ringing. Instead of picking up the phone, I just stared at the strobe lights coming from a black box on the wall, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.  For a moment, I seriously imagined that it was some sort of phone alert for seriously drunk people who overindulged at the casino bar.  Hey, I was dehydrated, hungry, and tired- and my room was flashing and vibrating.  I finally picked up the phone and told my coworker about the ruckus, and asked her if she had a drunk person black box on her wall.  She did not.  Then it hit me, it was actually phone alert for people with impaired vision and hearing! The jackhammer sound was the bed vibrating against the wall.

And this morning, I got up to take a shower and had to try to figure out how things work in the bathroom. There are two shower heads (one  mounted and one detachable) and two knobs. I turned on the one closet to me and it shot water right into my face. It's pretty much a given that when given the choice between two things, I will always choose the wrong one. Not fun to get sprayed in the face with cold water at 6 in the morning.

So, on the running and traveling front-

I'm stressing because I am going to be here for a few days and the hotel does not have a fitness center.  Nor does it seem to have many places to run outside except for a giant parking lot.  I'm at a casino hotel...and apparently fitness isn't the focus of most guests.  The woman at the front desk verified that for me- I asked if anyone ever runs outside around the casino...she looked at me like I was insane and then laughed at me.  Great... I really don't want to be the crazy-tattooed- parking-lot-running-person at the conference.   So my coworker and I are planning to take a cab to a nearby gym tomorrow.  Geez.  I usually have a hard time motivating myself to run when I am traveling- but I usually don't have a problem finding a place to run!

And on another note- Zack ran the Maze 10K race yesterday- check out the photo:

Favorite Picture

Zack is back from his trip to see Taylor and Brandi in Colorado. He took this great photo of them (plus Keelee the dog) at Garden of the Gods, with Pikes Peak in the background. I love this picture and I am going to get it printed and framed asap.  I'm bummed that I didn't get to see the landscape in person, but all we plan to visit in August.  I've never been west of El Paso! (except to Las Vegas when we got married, which we flew to and barely saw anything but casinos, so that doesn't count....) Zack is feeling the Pikes Peak Marathon in 2007 also- so I know I will be seeing more of the Colorado mountains...

I don't do karaoke

It is probably safe to say, that after drinking wine and getting up on stage signing "Like a Virgin" with a group of complete strangers, wearing a feather boa and a strand of Mardi Gras beads- that I probably won't be getting up early to go run before the tomorrow's institute session...

Yeah- I'm still at UNC for the institute.  The karaoke was part of a networking activity- the wine was to get me through the horrifying experience.  I told Zack that I did karaoke this evening- he did not believe me. I don't do karaoke...except for when I am on a business trip with complete strangers, apparently. Ugh.

I'm deliriously tired and mentally exhausted! I'm happy that the institute ends tomorrow and will be in Texas by the evening.   

Fitting it in

Well, I got a chance to get a run in on the treadmill yesterday- THANKFULLY- because the institute that I am attending is feeding us well. A bit too well; I'm barely getting a chance to get hungry and more food appears!  We are working long days (8 AM til 7 or 8 PM) and making time for exercise is going to be tough, especially because the group that I am attending the institute with is so interesting....A glass of wine (or two) and a great conversation and debate with folks in my field is much more appealing then going to bed early to wake-up and run... I've got the alarm set for 6AM tomorrow and I will really try not to hit snooze until 7:30...