Catching up with March

Wow. It's already March 18. Where's the month gone? I'll give you a few bullet points to catch you up on what's been happening with me.

• It's been a pretty crazy, busy two weeks at work. Long nights. Long out of town training sessions. And because of that? There have been a few runs that have been missed. Probably more than I would have liked to miss. But I did.
•  It's March. Therefore, the madness has begun. Love watching all the late season college basketball, especially the late season run by the Badgers. And absolutely can't WAIT for the tournament to begin this week. Which reminds me, I really need to find some time to fill out my bracket.
• I leave for Raleigh, NC in less than a month! Vacation was officially approved today. Plane ticket has been purchased and I finally registered for the RunRaleigh Half Marathon tonight. Yes, yes. I know. I managed to screw up and missed the last price increase. Oops. But I'm still running it!
• I'll be the first to admit it. I've been missing too many long runs. I've apparently become a wimp and can't handle running outside in the cold, Wisconsin winter. I guess I got spoiled last year with the super mild winter, because the thought of running many miles outside in the cold, snow, ice and wind, it's just not appealing. Especially since I'd be running them sans running buddy. There have been some long runs done on the treadmill and a few on the indoor track at the YMCA, but this last weekend? I just couldn't do it. A long run will happen this upcoming weekend though. It has to. Race day in Raleigh is like four weeks away. Eek!
• Speaking of winter. The beginning of spring is on Wednesday. Today we got a fresh 4 inches of snow. And Wednesday's forecast? We'll be lucky if we hit 20 degrees. What the heck Mother Nature? I'm over winter. When will the spring weather arrive?

Farewell Andy Roddick

  Source: SI.com

Sigh.

I knew the day was coming. But it was still hard to see it. And yes, I may have almost shed a tear or two while sitting at my desk this afternoon, watching as Andy Roddick, my favorite tennis player during the last decade, lost the final games of his fourth round match at the U.S. Open today.

To see him fight until the end. Hear the crowd chanting "Let's go Andy." Watching him get up out of his chair during that final changeover and wipe his eyes with his towel as he walked back to receive serve from Juan Martin del Potro in what would be the final game he played.

Sigh.

Heartbreaking.

But Andy went out on his own terms. He announced it last week. Had a couple of inspiring, fun matches in the second and third rounds. The U.S. Open, the site of his only Grand Slam title, and a tournament that held a special place in his heart, was a fitting place for him to end his career.

"Since I was a kid, I've been coming to this tournament. I felt lucky just to sit where all of you are sitting today, to watch this game, to see the champions that have come and gone. I've loved every minute of it.'' - Andy Roddick

Heck, his whole farewell speech had me tearing up. Watch for yourselves.

 

Thank you Andy for all the matches over the years. You will be missed.

Four for Friday

Source: www.andyroddick.com

1. I love tennis. And I should be excited that the U.S. Open is on right now. But after hearing the news yesterday, I don't know if I want the tournament to end. On his 30th birthday, Andy Roddick announced late Thursday afternoon that the Open will be his final tournament. He's hanging up his racket and retiring. Sigh. I love watching Roddick play. He's fun to watch and he's done some great things for men's tennis in the United States. When I lived in Indiana in 2003, I got a chance to see him play in Indianapolis a few months before he won the U.S. Open, his only Grand Slam title. Needless to say I'll be parked in front of a TV tonight to watch him play his second round match at the Open under the lights. I like what what this SI writer had to say about Roddick's decision.

2. Speaking of sports. College football is back! I didn't watch the season's opening game last night, Vanderbilt versus South Carolina, but I'm counting down the minutes until the Badgers kick off their season Saturday against the University of Northern Iowa. And NFL football starts next week. This is what makes fall weekends so fun.

3. Running wise, it hasn't been the most stellar week. I spent a good chunk of time, about four days, battling a nasty migraine. I missed a 13-mile run over the weekend. I missed a short recovery run on Monday. I missed work on Tuesday and therefore speed work that night. I did get a short 3-mile run in on Wednesday and another 4.25 miles in on Thursday. Both of those runs felt pretty good, but I'll be interested to see how this weekend's long run goes.

4. I can't wait for the long holiday weekend. I don't think this statement needs any further explanation. Enjoy the weekend!

The end of summer approaches

For a lot of kids, it's the last week of summer vacation. One more week to cram in as much summer activity as they can before heading back to school.

Now, I'm not going to back to a classroom in a week. But it is almost the end of the summer. And I look at this blog and there's so much I haven't written about. Ragnar. A blistering hot Fourth of July 5K. The Madison Mini. Countless weeks of training for Fox Cities. Physical therapy for my cranky IT band.

So I'm taking on that mentality that thousands of kids around Wisconsin are having this week. Cram as much into this blog this week before summer is officially over.

There will be race recaps. And training recaps. And a look back on physical therapy and training. Let's see if I can get it all in before Labor Day weekend is gone.

Few things on Friday

1. Ragnar! One week! At this time next week I'll be in a van with five other fabulous ladies getting ready to run my first Ragnar leg. Can. Not. Wait.

2. It's amazing what running with a friend can do. Thursday night I wasn't in the mood to run. My knee was achy, I had a good book to read and it was kind of dreary out. But one text message from Peggy and an hour later I find myself enjoying a 4-mile run with her and her dog Belle along the  Fox River. Just what I needed.

3. After Ragnar is done next week, I've got seven months of the year free of races. Which means I've been thinking of what I want to tackle next. And my mind has been swirling ideas around.

11 Random Things

There's been a game going around the blogosphere. It's all about randomness. And I like randomness. Jess tagged me to play along and since I return to the working world tomorrow, I thought this was a good way to end my furlough.

The Rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the post you were tagged in.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog, FB page, or where you can grab their attention and inform them of their obligation to the blogosphere.

11 Random Things:

1. I've broken one bone in my life: My right wrist when I was in kindergarten and fell off a piece of playground equipment.
2. I lived in the state of Indiana for exactly 365 days. Not kidding. Moving truck pulled in on Halloween and left the next Halloween.
3. I will never like bananas. Don't like the smell. The texture. The taste.
4. I've played the violin and piano since third grade.
5. I get pretty freaked out during nasty storms if I'm alone. I love them when I'm with people, but if it's just me I get scared. I blame it on the summer I lived in Indiana when it was constant storm after storm with so much lightning during the night if felt like the middle of the afternoon. I had this fear I'd die or get hurt and nobody would know since I didn't know a ton of people.
6. I was supposed to be at Camp Randall in October 1998 the night Drew Brees threw for 400+ yards and "Jump Around" became a tradition. Instead I was at my brother's wedding. I spent most of the reception in the bar watching the game. And of course I still remind him about it.
7. It's kind of hard to get into prison, but I've been there more times than I can count. All for work purposes of course. :)
8. I never liked to run when I was younger. Dreaded the annual mile run. Makes me wonder what high school me would say when I find out I now run half marathons for fun.
9. My first concert was a Dave Matthews Band concert at the Kohl Center in Madison in 1998. The most recent concert I went to was Lady Gaga in Milwaukee in 2010. What? My Dad wanted to go.
10. I have a tendency to procrastinate. I always tell myself I work better at the last minute.
11. The only pet I've had was a Beta fish named Felipe my college roommates got me. Felipe was an unsocial fish, just stared at the wall. I didn't really want him to begin with, so there's a chance I "forgot" to feed him or clean his bowl. Stubborn little fish. He wouldn't die. So one night in March he got a new home in Lake Mendota.

Questions asked by Jess at Run with Jess:

I know you're a runner - but have you ever watched/cheered at a race?
I got a chance to spectate and cheer on a friend of mine at Ironman Wisconsin in September. It. Was. Amazing. My friend Jeff is a seasoned IM competitor, he's finished either 10 or 11, so getting the chance to stand along the road in the rural countryside west of Madison and cheer for the athletes and then bike around campus like crazy to cheer for Jeff during the marathon portion was a ton of fun. And watching the other athletes, especially those who were somewhere in the first loop of the marathon when the pain of the day started to set in but refused to give up? Totally inspiring.

Where's your favorite place to run?
It's a toss up between Menominee Park, where I can get a nice four-mile loop in through the park, out to the point and back along the water, or the Wiouwash Trail, where I can just zone out and run. I tend to lean towards the Wiouwash Trail.

Would you rather be able to run fast OR far?
Ideally both. But since I've got to choose, I'd rather be able to run far.

Name one bad habit that you want to break.
I admit it. I'm a nail biter. And when I'm stressed out? It gets worse. Someday I'll stop forever. Hopefully.

If you could trade lives with anyone for just one day, who would it be?
I think working PR for the U.S. Olympic Team would be pretty cool. Imagine all the stories that could be told about the (mostly) everyday athletes who have put in the work to make a dream a reality. And yes, it would probably need to be more than one day. :)

Your ideal workout would consist of...
A long run with friends. And make it in Madison, just because I wasn't really a runner in college and missed out on so many amazing running routes!

Name one food item that you'd like to magically make "healthy."
Pizza.

What's your favorite distance to run and why?
I like the half marathon distance. It's far enough that it's still a challenge to me, yet considering I've finished a number of them, I know I can cover the distance and still have fun.

What's the one thing about running that you DON'T like?
The battle scars I'm left with on those days when I forgot to use the Body Glide. Ouch.

What's your favorite cross-training exercise?
I like my bike.

What sports did you play in high school?
I played tennis. Hated having to do the half-mile warm lap around the school before practice. And now I run long distances.

Technically I'm supposed to come up with 11 questions of my own and tag a bunch of people. But this thing's been going around the blogosphere for a good chunk of time now. So instead, if you want to participate, tell me something random about yourself in the comments!

Please stand by

While I'm not dead, there's a chance my computer is nearing death.

It hasn't been working. I think it might have a virus, but I can't run my virus software because apparently my hard drive is essentially full, even though I've taken every document, photo and video off it and moved it onto an external hard drive.

Cross your fingers I can figure something out and hopefully I can get back to blogging soon.

Three Things Thursday

1. How is it already Thursday? Not that I'm complaining, but dang this week went fast. Granted maybe it has to do with that whole 4-day work week thing.


2. I've fallen off the push up wagon. At the beginning of June, I decided to start using the 100 push ups app for my Droid. And for the first 3 weeks I stuck to the plan religiously. I was doing some crazy push ups. By the time I finished my 5 sets, I had finished around 120 push ups. But then I missed a day. Which turned into 2. Then 3. I started the program for Week 4, but then missed a bunch of days again. It's been 9 days since I've done a push up. I need to get back on the push up wagon. Starting today. Or tomorrow.

3. Cars are expensive. And I'm not just talking about gas. Since mid-February I've paid my insurance deductible to get my car fixed after my accident, had to buy a set of 4 new tires and now just paid WAY too much for new shocks and struts.  Apparently the shocks and struts thing is very common for the Ford Focus once it hits 100,000 miles. Just a heads up to Focus owners. Needless to say I gave my little blue Focus a stern talking to and told it that it is not allowed to break again until at LEAST 2013. Hopefully it listens.

ABCs Badgergirl style

I've got nothing for you tonight. Except to admit I skipped my run. It was just a short 2-miler, but I got busy with work, a trip to the chiropractor to straighten out my still somewhat messed up back and a pit stop at my parents' house for dinner.

So instead of telling you how I almost died during Tuesday's hill repeat workout, I'll give you the ABC post that's been floating around blogland.

(A) Age: 31
(B) Bed Size: Queen
(C) Chore You Really Dislike: Cleaning the bathroom
(D) Dogs. None. But someday I'd like one. Of course that would require a job with a bit more normal hours. And maybe someone to help me.
(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Frosted Mini-Wheats. But no milk. I just eat them dry.
(F) Favorite Color: Blue. But I've got an awful lot of red in my closet as well. I wonder why?
(G) Gold or Silver? Silver
(H) Height: 5'5"
(I) Instruments You Play: Violin and piano
(J) Job Title: Officially it's Public Safety Report. I prefer to call it Crime and Grime.
(K) Kids: Nope
(L) Live: Oshkosh, WI
(M) Mom's Name: Kay
(N) Nicknames: The standard variations of Jennifer, J-Wo, and the one my Dad still calls me to this day: Bug.
(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? Twice: When I broke my arm in kindergarten after I fell off a piece of playground equipment and in May 2007 during the Great Neck Slicing
(P) Pet Peeve: Bad grammar
(Q) Quote from a Movie: "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." ~The Princess Bride
(R) Right or Left Handed? Right
(S) Siblings: An older brother
(T) Time You Wake Up? About 20 minutes after my alarm clock goes off
(U) Underwear: Yup
(V) Vegetable You Dislike: Honestly there are a lot. I'm trying my hardest to make myself like more vegetables. Not sure I'll ever be able to handle raw tomato though
(W) What Makes You Run Late: In the morning? My snooze button hitting problem
(X) X-Rays: Broken arm in kindergarten, the standard dental x-rays, pretty sure MRI's don't count but I've had too many of those to count
(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Lasagna
(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: Monkeys

Oh hello Furlough. Not so nice to see you again.

It's returned.

One of those week-long long vacations that my company forces me to take. And, oh yeah, they don't pay me for. The furlough. This is furlough No. 4 for me since January 2009. And let me tell you, yeah it's kind of nice to have a week off of work. But it's also getting a bit old. Because honestly, the state of Wisconsin? While they do let me claim unemployment, it's not the same as my paycheck.

So what have I been up to so far on my furlough?

First their was Sunday, an epic day in Wisconsin sports. The Badger men's basketball absolutely demolished Northwestern. And then the Packers? In case you've been living under a rock for the past few days, they beat up on the Chicago Bears and are going to the Super Bowl! And because who doesn't like watching a 338-pound man rumble into the end zone after his first career interception? Watch it. Trust me. The last minute is worth it.

I've kept it on the down low, but Monday was my birthday. And how'd I celebrate my 31st? Well, I didn't do a little dance in the end zone like BJ Raji. Nope. I cleaned my apartment. And thought about running. But didn't. Oh well. It was my birthday. I can use that excuse.

And on the official second day of my furlough (the weekend didn't count) I sat and waited for my car to get an oil change. And watched Race Across the Sky, the documentary film about the year Lance Armstrong won the Leadville 100 in record time. Good flick. Inspiring stuff. Which is why I immediately went into my parents' basement and pounded out a 4.25 mile run on the treadmill before I headed off to watch my Dad play pool.

Now it's time to settle in with a book for the night. Who knows what Furlough Day 3 will bring - if I'm lucky at some point this week I'll catch up on all the blogs I haven't been reading/commenting on!

Bunches of four on Friday

I like lists. But I usually don't fill out those e-mails that end up in my inbox that ask me answer a bunch of questions and send them to anybody and everybody. And sometimes I do the posts here where I'm tagged. But most of them I skip.

But I've got to do this one. My friend Jess tagged me. And Jess and I have had some good girl time. Discussing boys, vacations and goals while running or gossiping while sipping on margaritas or settling into theater seats and watching the epic Hood to Coast. So when Jess tagged me, I knew I had to comply.

Here it goes.

1. Four TV shows that I watch:
Glee
Wipeout
Days of Our Lives (What? It's a guilty pleasure dating back to middle school. Plus there's not much on at lunch)
If it's a football game or a college basketball game, I'm probably watching

2. Four things I'm passionate about:
Running
Reading and writing
My family
Cancer

Source

3. Four words/phrases I use a lot:
Really?
Umm
My head hurts.
I'm ready for the weekend.

Source

4. Four things I've learned in the past:
Don't ever change yourself just for a boy. It's not worth it.
I can do anything I want to if I just put my mind to it.
When given the choice, sometimes the right one will be the hardest one to choose.
When 80,000 people starting jumping during "Jump Around," Camp Randall Stadium will shake. But it won't fall down.

Source

5. Four places I would like to go:
Hawaii
Colorado
Italy
Australia

Source

6. Four things I did yesterday
Ran 6.3 miles on a treadmill.
Read a book
Thought about starting to take down my Christmas tree. Decided not to.
Sat in a courtroom for work.

Source

7. Four things I'm looking forward to:
An upcoming week off of work
Two spring half marathons
A Saturday featuring a double-header of Badger basketball and a Green Bay Packers playoff game
Someday getting the chance to run outdoors again.

Source

8. Four things I love about winter
A fresh snowfall
Holiday smells - cinnamon and vanilla are my favorites!
Sitting in the dark with only my Christmas tree lights on (maybe that's why I haven't taken it down yet)
Snowmen.

I'm supposed to tag four people. But I'm just going to open this up to anybody. Leave a comment if you decide to play along!
       

I'm ready for the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge. Are you?

Anyone up for a bootie busting challenge?

Then go over here. Because it's time for the 2010 Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge hosted by Run to the Finish. I had a chance to participate in last year's challenge and it was a great way to keep me on track during the crazy holiday season. I'm hoping it does the same this year and helps me avoid that spell of utter laziness I sometimes find myself in after a half marathon.

What are you waiting for? Come on and join the challenge! It'll be fun!

No excuses

Saw this on XT4's blog and I've used way too many of these excuses before. It's time to stop.