Thursday Thoughts

I don't think I've mentioned that Dave and I are headed to Italy (and Switzerland) in a week. We will be visiting Milan (only one day), Venice, Rome, Florence, and Zermatt.

If you were going to these places what would you want to see? Or if you have been to any of these places, what was the things you enjoyed seeing?

District Champs!

A Little More Lighthearted

On my Life List I have a task to visit all major league ballparks. Currently I am at five--Angel's Stadium, Wrigley Field, Great American Ballpark, Jacob's Field, and Fenway. Each of these visits has filled me with special memories. I saw a double-header sitting in the outfield at Wrigley behind Sammy Sosa and I got to hear Harry Carey sing the Seventh Inning Stretch. The first time I went to Fenway I saw Nomar Garciaparra hit a homerun in the 9th inning to win the game. He's still one of my favorite players. And the first time I went to Jacob's Field I saw Jim Thome hit a huge homerun. To this day, I still totally in love with Jim Thome.

In Columbus we don't have major league baseball, but we do have a AAA minor league team. For the last several years it has been the farm team for the Yankees (boo!), but this year we are the farm team for the Nationals. Two nights ago we went to the Clipper vs. Charlotte game where Jim Thome was rehabbing with Charlotte. And Dave totally got my picture with Jim Thome.



In addition, he hit a three run double.

Thursday Thoughts

I think this is the question on everyone's minds.

With gas prices sky high, what are you doing to pinch pennies/reduce your dependency on your car?

This is why I coach

Seriously, it's only fiction

What is my problem?!

I get so wrapped up in TV shows sometimes I have to remind myself it's only fiction. Last week I watched Luka and Abby get married on ER. I have watched every ER for 13 years. The wedding was an emotional moment for me. They've been together for 7 seasons. Yes, I cried.

Then there was last night. I had a total emotion breakdown. Next week is the Series Finale of Gilmore Girls. And that to me is very sad. What a terrific, wholesome show and now it will be no more. How am I ever going to go on?

Flying Pig Splits

Here are the splits from the marathon. I am a slow starter and the hills were mostly at the beginning.

Mile 1 - 9:34
Mile 2 - 8:44
Mile 3 - 8:27
Mile 4/5 - 16:13
Mile 6 - 8:23
Mile 7 - 8:32
Mile 8 - 8:28
Mile 9 - 8:02
Mile 10 - 7:54
Mile 11 - 7:53
Mile 12 - 7:58
Mile 13 - 7:59
Mile 14 - 8:05
Mile 15 - 8:05
Mile 16 - 7:54
Mile 17 - 8:06
Mile 18 - 7:55
Mile 19 - 7:59
Mile 20 - 8:14
Mile 21 - 8:10
Mile 22 - 8:35
Mile 23 - 8:48
Mile 24 - 9:00
Mile 25 - 9:20
Mile 26.2 - 10:07

Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon 2007

I ran the Flying Pig Marathon this year because I wussed out and didn’t run Boston because of the weather. I was quite nervous about the Pig since I hadn’t done a long run since before Boston—a good 5-6 weeks ago. In addition, we had a very noisy room in our hotel which included noisy neighbors (not only were they talking loud, I heard them having sex!), loud talking housekeeping staff (their maintenance closet was right across from our room) and people who desperately needed ice at all hours of the night (the ice machine was also across from our room). In total, I got about four hours of sleep. Because of the sleeplessness and the nerves, I had a hard time eating before the race. I ate about a quarter of a bagel. My stomach was just not feeling well. And I didn’t have time at the race start to hit the port-o-johns one last time.



I have run the Pig before, in 2002, but the course was a lot different this time. All the hills were at the beginning and I thought they were just as tough as anything in Boston. The hills were shorter, but a lot steeper. And there were several tough climbs all before mile 8. I did not feel good in the race until mile 9 when things leveled out and I felt like I could get into my race pace.



Unfortunately I might have pushed the pace a little too much. By mile 20 I was feeling dead and needed to start walking. It was disheartening too because I was on a 3:35 pace and I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I walked through all but one of the water stops from 20 to the finish. My official time was 3:38:37. It’s my second fastest time and I’m okay with that.



Some final thoughts…
It was really hot on the course with little shade. Three miles of it—17, 18, 19—were on a freeway where there was no crowd support and no shade. By the end, I was finding any shade I could.

I got chafed in the strangest places. My stomach got chafed from my number as my jersey was riding up. I got chafed on my ankle from my anklet I wear that holds my chip. And I got chafed on my inner right calf from my left shoe’s lace nub. How weird is that one?
The race had great technical shirts (separate girls and guys—mine was pink!) including in the race packet along with a sling backpack.

Surprise!

Did I mention I'm running the Flying Pig Marathon this weekend?

Thursday Thoughts

About a month ago I TiVOed Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me and absolutely loved it. I love really well done documentaries (not the crap that Michael Moore calls a documentary). I immediately went to the library and checked out the first season of 30 Days and loved it.

I've decided to do my own 30 Days. Starting on Monday I will become a vegetarian for a month. This is going to be really hard for me as I love me some cheeseburgers and steaks and sausage and pretty much just meat!

So, if you could, what would be your 30 Days?