Complaining about Spring and National Running Day!!!

Welcome to June...FINALLY.  Talk about the most ill-defined transition from winter to summer EVER.  2011 has been a 'humdinger' thus far.  Last Tuesday night at T-Ball we were all freezing our rears off in the dugout, last night - not enough water to go around.  Somehow, we missed the transition to warm weather via the past known season as 'Spring'.  I remember it from my youth but have been struggling to find and witness it in recent years.  We have received ample amounts of rain this year that usually accompanies this mysterious season, but none of the transitional temperatures that we all NEED.  The reason I say 'Need' is because - seriously - I really NEED those temperatures.  As much as I'm a fan of super hot weather, we just don't know how to act or respond when it's literally just shoved in our face.

Example 1:  Yesterday I had my kids dress themselves for preschool.  They came out of their room in jeans and long sleeved shirts.  THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRESS FOR SPRING!  I told them it was 'super warm' and they needed shorts and t-shirts....they looked at me, cocked their head, and wondered what was I talking about.  So, we had to have a brief discussion about somehow God forgetting to bring us Spring....but guess what - Summer came early!  To that announcement, jubilee was heard around the neighborhood and they quickly asked, why are we still in school and why aren't we in the pool???

Example 2:  My garden.  I haven't posted some progress photos recently, but I will soon - I promise!  All is looking good - considering.  Last week we had temperatures dip to 40 degrees.  This has happened multiple times since May 1.  We've also had some huge temperature swings from day to day.  Needless to say my cucumbers have nearly sliced their own throats and my tomatoes are as ticked as can be.  We're all surviving...but COME ONE....Don't Tell Me I have to wait till June to plant my garden!

Example 3:  At lunch, I decided to go out for a 6 mile 'detox run' from the Memorial Day weekend frenzy.  Uh....hello - it was over 80 degrees!  To my luck I had also forgotten my ipod and found myself running with no music.  The 6 miles quickly was reduced as the only rhythm I fell into was the sound of my own near hyperventilation in the agonizing heat.  My body was not ready for this horrible transition and now it's revolting.  Needless to say, 6 miles quickly turned into 3.5

This morning I woke up and looked at the weather forecast for the rest of the week:  H O T

So....guess it's here to stay.  I'm also starting my marathon training program soon for the 2011 Chicago Marathon in October and wondering WTF was I thinking signing up for summer training marathon!?!  I know...I know....I grumble every spring while training for a spring race in the snow....but 80-90 degree runs are even worse, believe me!

To help me with this mental transition, I'm going to do my best to take it in stride....as the holiday that it is!  How better to handle the stress of running and easily wanting to NOT run due to the weather and instead drink wine and eat cheese after work....than celebrate this National Holiday!

June 1st is National Running Day!

You may run alone, but on National Running Day, we celebrate together! On this day, runners everywhere share their passion for a lifestyle that is one of the best, and simplest, ways to stay fit—and so much more. You can head out solo to clear your mind, gab with your regular running buddies, or turn an unsuspecting friend into a running fiend. This day is for us!



So....this bodes the option quite well:  Stay in and complain about the heat and lack of spring...or EMBRACE IT!

We've all waiting for June for months to get here.  It's finally here and we need to relish in it!  What will you do today?

I am working downtown Chicago today.  I also have to mow my yard when I get home.  AFTER all of that...and feeding my family....I plan to hit the suburban streets.  Depending on how late it is, I may only get in a half hour of miles...but that's ok.  Something is better than nothing and I plan to celebrate and just be thankful that I CAN RUN!

Tornadoes and Parenting.... and the 'Crazies'

So....I'm tackling a 'current event'....and even put this post on the local online Newspaper: HF Patch.  I'm tackling my current parenting conundrum... Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.  Seriously - when did parenting get to be so hard?

I can't even comprehend this devastation.  Click below to read the article in full:

Weekend Running Views...and Some Great FOOD to Cancel Out the Miles!

This past Friday - Sunday resulted in 3 entirely different running experiences!  One - at a local forest preserve.  Two, run number 43 with my twins (and my hubby joined in!) in our neighborhood.  Three:  The country roads in Fayette County, IL.  All told - 11 miles covered. 


1.  Izaak Walton Forest Preserve is located in Homewood, IL and supplies great trail running and fabulous scenes...just a little over 1.4 miles from my house.  The current 3.6  mile loop is under construction due to a new waterway at MM 1.7ish that causes a slight detour to the unmarked path.  But all in all, a wonderful way to start your day...whether you are running, biking, or walking your dog. 

2.  Saturday morning all of us ran the Apollo 5k in Homewood.  This race is part of the 3-race circuit in the H-F running community.  We are never able to complete the full circuit since race #2 is always over The Fourth of July - so we always try and do this one for sure, along with the Flossmoor 5k mid September.  We ran it in approximately 29 minutes and felt great.  The twins were great spectators in their stroller - and only told us twice to 'pick up the pace'!.  Anyway, this was race #43 that I have pushed them in!

3.  Sunday morning I stepped outside to not only a warm day - but a WINDY one at that.  It was one of those runs where you don't realize how windy it really is, until you turn around at the half way point and head home.  My time for the first 2 miles was very fast and I felt pretty proud.  But guess what - I quickly realized that HELLO - that's the result of a great tail wind :)  So, the way back to the farm took me quite a bit longer than the way out, but considering those sustained gusts, I was just glad to finally make it back and not have to call the house for a ride back.  I was also pretty bummed that there was no random farm dogs to run with today.  Yep, usually you run past a farm house and the greatest old farm dog joins along and really - it is great company (except for the random stops and cutoffs right in front of you)... But heck, it keeps you on your toes!

'Why' might you ask did I decide to run 3 days in a row - particularly in such windy conditions.  Well, the night before my father-in-law hosted a 'Blooming Luau Party'....yep, lots of good food, beer, and wine.  And guess what, my mother-in-law made homemade fried banana fritters!  I was able to steer clear of them for about a half hour - until someone twisted my arm for a quick try.  Well, 30 minutes later I had consumed five of them....and felt like my stomach was becoming a lunar mass.  So, Sunday morning running really seemed like a requirement after this 'incident'.

Homemade banana fritters:  Think Banana Bread and Funnel Cake all in one!

After a good long weekend of some great mileage, I'm really excited about some nice warm weather running this summer.  Only more good times ahead!

Stress Relief At Its Best....Why I Run...

The WARM WEATHER running season is just upon us!  I was pretty excited this week to use that as my motivation to get others to MOVE.  Running is a great way - but really - just to get out and DO SOMETHING!  So, this week I'm a guest 'blogger' on the Homewood Flossmoor Patch (http://homewood-flossmoor.patch.com/) - our local community website for 'All Things Homewood-Flossmoor.  If you haven't checked it out yet - DO IT!  Or - check out their Facebook Page and 'like it' Here. 

Anyway, check out my article HERE - and yes, I hope to see you at the 5k on Saturday - with my co-runner hubby and our little training partners in tow!

Destination Run: Pittsburgh Style!

As mentioned before HERE, running while on work trips is my necessity.  I love to see the 'new city sites' this way...and also attempt to balance out the unending free food and booze that seems to necessitate any work travel.  I spent 5 full days in the 'Burgh' and found 3 times to run.  When I first arrived in Pittsburgh, the concept of running slightly frightened me - HELLO - MORE HILLS!  But then I found this beautiful thing:  The Allegheny River!  Yes....rivers aren't on hills and what does that mean to me? - seek them out!  Usually in any major city there is some type of body of water, with a nice path/sidewalk/road that runs along it.  Luckily I stumbled upon a true running path here via a small park that connects all the sites along the river: PNC Park, Heinz Field, the Casino, The Science Museum, and of course....entrances to all the beautiful bridges that span the Allegheny as they approach this area known as the golden triangle. (Here Pittsburgh is nested between two rivers:  the Allegheny and the Monongahela rivers - which combined to form the start of the Ohio river that then runs south west towards good ole' southern Illinois!). 

Foodie Indulgence: The Pittsburgh Attack!

After spending five straight days in Pittsburgh, PA, on the company dime and eating out every single meal, I came to a few quick conclusions on Day 1:

• I was going to experience tons of amazing food
• All amazing food is only just as good with great amazing wine and beer
• When you're with good friends and it's not your dime, zero accountability with eating 'right' ever enters the course of decision making.
• Any weight loss I had achieved via winter and spring marathon training would soon be lost

So...5 days later, how did it all pan out?  Well, all four major points were achieved.  Success?!?  Well, let's just say I can call this rather 'Predicatable!'.  Item 4 was somewhat curbed by the fact I did run 15 miles while in town, but anyone who has ever been gone on a week for a work trip can attest to the fact that no amount of miles can undue 5 days or 15 meals of eating like crap.  Nope....can't do it.  At least it kept me active and not at the buffet or bar longer than I really needed to be there.  And no, I haven't stepped on a scale to really see 'how much' the damage is.  I'm slightly scared right now and will only step on once I've had a couple of good days back in the office where I'm pretty regimented in my frozen lunches and clementines again :)

So, in order to not just feel sorry for myself, but to truly enjoy all the great good and beverage, I decided to instead, indulge in my 'Inner Foodie' and just enjoy it!  Below are some wonderful samplings of my week in Pittsburgh....and what I have coined to myself as the unhealthiest work trip of my existence.  Cheers!

The "Pittsburgh-er or the Primanti"

It had cappicola and salami with melted provolone, french fries, cole slaw and tomato on pugliese bread (yes, cole slaw and french fries actually inside of the sandwich).  But seriously....who ever imagined french fries on a sandwich - PURE GENIUS!!!

A wonderful ballpark hot dog with caramelized balsamic onions on top!

Potatoes with blue cheese and bacon!

Sliders...need I say more?  :)

Gyros!  $5 after the bars....2:30am.  Great on the waist!

All in all - this week will be my detox.  Yes, fruit, vegetables, and dairy will once again enter my diet.  Exercise will ramp up, and I am beginning my first day in one week with no beer or wine.  Please be leery of talking/working/socializing with me.  To help get thru this transition, I am considering a slow drip IV of beer and beef filet grease to help me get thru the next couple days.  Please say a prayer that I make it :)

Baseball Night in the Burgh :)

Tonight our staff enjoyed a great night out tonight in Pittsburgh....at a Pirates baseball game.  As appropriate for any strong Cardinals fan, I wore my shirt - eventhough they were playing the Dodgers...ya know, gotta root against my central division competitors.  But...the bonus of a poor team with poot community support on a Tuesaday  night: Amazing seats in perfect weather! 
We walked here from our hotel....and hello - the bridges here are amazing.  My husband will be oozing with jealousy when I tell him about it. 
So....I'm enjoying some Bud Light and having a great time....and a little sad I missed my T-ball Salukis tonight.  But, again- nachos and beer and baseball makes it all better!!!