Running*

Today I ran in shorts. Shorts! We hit 68° here today. By the time I was home from dissertation workshop and ready to head out, it was looking ready to storm, so I threw a long-sleeved shirt over my tank top. The rain held off, though, and I didn't need the extra shirt at all. In fact, I sweated. This weather is kind of freaking me out.

It's also great, though, because I really needed the run. I hadn't run since the Monster Dash, and was starting to feel crazy. I know they make drugs for this sort of thing, and I support their use, but I also know that a few miles spent getting my heart rate up does wonders for my mental state and doesn't require any troublesome prescriptions or appointments. Unfortunately, it's not side-effect free; my foot is pretty sore at the moment, and I've been hungry all night.

Hungry I can handle--and appreciate!--but the foot is troubling. How am I going to outrun the crazies on a broken foot?

*The title of the post reminds me of a costume I saw at the Monster Half: a refrigerator!

Dashing

Things I have done to prepare for tomorrow's Monster Dash Half Marathon:
1. Purchased rainbow-striped thigh-high socks
2. Purchased rainbow-striped fingerless gloves/arm warmers
3. Purchased rainbow-striped hats (though, sadly, they only shipped one of them)
4. Attended the race expo and picked up my chip and shirt
5. Made cinnamon rolls for eating afterward

I haven't actually run since the Twin Cities Marathon (unless you count a dash to the Asian grocery store earlier this week; I did put on running shoes and run there--and back, carrying cans of coconut milk). I've been... conserving my energy. Resting up. Carb loading!

Anyway, when a friend who had also run TCM this year (after running her very first marathon with me two years ago) told me that she had the perfect costume idea for the Monster Dash and that we had to do it, I couldn't resist. We're going as a Double Rainbow! So intense!

10-10-10

Obviously, I have been a blogging failure of late, of which my mom specifically called yesterday to remind me (hi Mom!).

I've been distracted by any number of wonderful things, about which I'll hopefully post--probably when I'm sufficiently interested in avoiding non-wonderful things, such as the piles of midterm exams my students are taking on Tuesday.

In the meantime: Marathon! I ran my fourth Twin Cities Marathon last Sunday. I did the first 17 miles with my very speedy running buddy, who was doing her first ever marathon, before I couldn't keep up. I ended up finishing in 4:37, which I just realized (thanks to the wonder of the Internet) is actually my second fastest marathon time. Speedy finished about half an hour before me, which is sort of heartbreaking, but she's so amazing I can't be bitter.

I think this is the link to the album of pictures I posted on FaceBook.

Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger...

On Saturday, I ran my first Gopher to Badger Half Marathon (so called because it starts in Minnesota and finishes in Wisconsin; friendly rivalry and all that). It was a pretty brutal run, unfortunately--hot, humid, and hilly, with a 70°/94% humidity start at 8:00 and a finish nearly 10° warmer and almost as humid. Worse, the water stops were few, far between, and unprepared; at one, runners were dipping their own cups into open pitchers of water!

Still, I finished--10 minutes slower than my hoped-for time, completely exhausted, and a teensy bit sunburned, but glad to be done with another long run. The weekend before that, I ran my 15 by myself, around the lakes, with about as much water access (from fountains) as a girl could want. (It was also significantly cooler, since I started approximately an hour and a half earlier!) Next weekend, therefore, I'm forgoing the organized race (though there is one in town--the inaugural 13.1 series race, which looks like a Rock 'n' Roll knock-off) for a quiet tour of the lakes with my running buddy.

This is easily the best running city I've ever lived in. I love that from my place I can run through varied residential and commercial territory to Lake of the Isles, around it and Lake Calhoun, around Lake Harriet, and back, along the Greenway, for a perfect 13 miles. For longer or shorter distances, I can just add or subtract a lake, or spend a bit more time on the Greenway. There are even fountains and restrooms conveniently located around the lakes. And if I feel like mixing it up, there are also always the trails along either side of the Mississippi.

Granted, there's generally snow on the ground 6-7 months out of the year here... but they do plow the trails!

Montréal

So I'm in Montréal this week, where tomorrow, if all goes as planned, I'll get to experience the two artworks I've been trying to see for more than a year! I got here Monday evening, and took today to explore part of the city.

I did a 15-mile training run on Saturday, and rode Urban Assault the next day, so I was already pretty sore before I decided to hoof it around town. I started out (after a walk to the studio where I have my appointment tomorrow) with a climb up Mont Royal, the highest point in the city and conveniently located in its own massive park across from my hotel. If I'd been smart enough to stay on the nicely graveled trails, it would have been a slightly longer, but certainly less strenuous hike; instead, I somehow ended up scrambling straight up a good chunk of the wooded hillside, on "trails" that petered out into nothing but rocks and mud. I was both a sweaty mess, and terribly relieved, when I hit the proper path again near the summit, and stayed on it for the rest of my time in the park.

I ended up going down the opposite side of the mountain, heading through downtown and touring the Musée des Beaux-Arts on my way back to my hotel. I have lots of pictures that I'll try to share here (though sadly I can't get them to upload on David's little lappy). I also have lots of Urban Assault pix, which those of you on Facebook may already have discovered, but at the moment I am thoroughly exhausted. I don't know how many miles I walked and hiked today, but it felt considerable on my sore legs and feet.

Tomorrow's the big day for seeing the artwork, so I'm off to bed!

Accessories

I finally bought a belt for that half marathon medal that was actually a belt buckle! I opened the package and wrapped it around my waist while still wearing four layers of clothing, one of them my thick wool jacket, and was disappointed at how small it was. Thankfully, it fits fine when I wear it under my coat. If you're in the market for a buckle-less belt, I suggest this Etsy seller.

Also on display in this picture is the ring made me for me by the lovely and talented Becca. I call it my Big Rock.

2009 in Review

This little questionnaire has become sort of a year-end tradition here in the Kitchen, so I present now 2009:

1) Where did you begin 2009?
In Seattle with good friends and family! Highlights were Abraham's CD release party, Casuelita's Caribbean Cafe, fireworks at the Space Needle, and a kiss.

2) What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Officially dating my sweetie, who flew to Mpls that weekend.

3) Did you travel?
Ohmygoodness, yes. I drove from Palm Springs to Phoenix with my parents for the marathon in January and then flew back to Mpls. I drove to a conference in Milwauke, flew to one in New Orleans, and then flew to a third in Portland in May. The latter launched the first of two epic roadtrips across the country. In November, David and I flew to Portland and drove to Hermiston for Thanksgiving. In December, I flew to Vegas to run a half marathon, and then to Seattle for the holidays. Phew!

4) Did you lose someone or something you love?
Not that I can recall. I feel very fortunate in that.

5) Did you have to go to the hospital?
Nope!

6) Did you have any encounters with the police?
Nope!

7) Did you start dating someone new?
Yes, I did, and he has been one of the most excellent parts of 2009!

8) What did you purchase that was over $1000?
Not a single object--but the usual school fees, rent, and travel.

9) Did you know anybody who got married?
My neighbor got married; that was the only wedding I attended this year, and the only one I can think of.

10) Did you get in any car accidents?
Not a one. Here's to a year and a half of car-less living!

11) Did you attend any sporting events?
Two marathons and three half marathons, if those count. Oh, also, the rodeo!

12) Did you move anywhere?
I moved to Walla Walla for the summer, and then back to Mpls.

13) Did you keep your new year's resolution?
It was another year in which I didn't make any.

14) What concerts/shows did you go to?
The Nutracker, Rodrigo y Gabriela, The Santaland Diaries, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Importance of Being Earnest (Bros Before Hos Remix), Abraham, Andrew Bird (x2), the Decemberists, U2(!!)...

15) What movies did you go see in the theater?
Including ones at my beloved second-run theater: Up in the Air, Up, King Corn and Big River, Revolutionary Road, The Soloist, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Angels and Demons, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (it was with my little cousin! Also, somehow, despite its extreme loudness, I managed to fall asleep...), Public Enemies, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, (500) Days of Summer, The Informant!, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Valkyrie, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Milk (this time with help from this site)

16) Did your hair color change?
Only from the disappointing Feria permanent back to my natural colors.

17) Did you get any taller?
At the doctor's office, they told me I was a little over 5'7", which would mean I had grown--but I think it was just the thick socks.

18) Describe your birthday?
I spent it in the desert with David and my parents. We ate a lot of delicious food, and enjoyed the sunshine and some antiquing. Later, David and I celebrated again when we saw U2 in Chicago--his big birthday gift to me!

19) Did you get any new pets?
None.

20) What has been your favorite moment?
Favorite moment, in a year this epic? I seriously couldn't begin to choose.

21) What's something you learned about yourself?
I can much more easily survive a Mpls winter with good company.

22) What has been your biggest worry?
That I might not finish this accursed dissertation, and my degree, and thus disappoint myself, my advisor, and everyone around me.

23) What was your best month?
Oh boy. May was pretty fantastic... but so were June, July, August... and January... and September, October, November, December...

24) What music will you remember 2009 by?
Abraham, Andrew Bird, the Decemberists, U2 and weirdly, maybe even Lady Gaga.

25) Who has been your best drinking buddy?
E&A, L, and D.

26) Have you had to call the police on anyone?
Nope!

27) Have you gone skiing?
Sadly, it was another slopeless year.

28) Did you miss work due to illness?
Not work, as far as I can recall.

29) Any like/love interests?
I know this comes as a huge surprise to Alert Readers, but I'm pretty taken with my current beau.

30) Get anything new?
Shiny red electronics! A phone, lappy, and Nano. Oh, and that beau!

Leaving Las Vegas

I am in the Las Vegas airport, where I managed, thanks to a miraculous absence of lines at the taxi queue, the ticketing counter, and security--as well, less happily, as a 40-minute flight delay--to arrive approximately two hours in advance of my departure. I would like more than anything to be in my own bed in Mpls (though I'm informed they're experiencing their first real Winter Storm of the year), but instead I have a red-eye to Atlanta. Yay!

The good news is that I'm ready to fall asleep right here at my computer (though the time in front of it would be more productively spent on my submission for writing workshop, due tomorrow...) and will hopefully get at least a few hours of snoozing in on the flight. I'm thoroughly exhausted from yesterday's race, the subsequent hoofing up and down the Strip, and last night's late show.

Everything is so big here, and so consistently-bafflingly far apart! The hotel/casinos themselves are emphatically labyrinthine, and although the distance between the Luxor (where we stayed) and the Venetian (to which we walked to claim our Blue Man Group tickets) is ostensibly only two miles, the peripatetics required to actually navigate the space (including dodging myriad meandering tourists and card-flipping solicitors, and unavoidable bazaar-esque roundabouts) makes it feel at least twice that. The blistered feet, tight calves, and sore quads did little to help!

The race itself was a pretty good time. It had been a long time since I'd run an entire race with a friend, and running with my sister (and much of the time with my brother-in-law) was definitely a highlight. We finished in 2:01:48, a bit faster than my Monster Dash time and quite a bit faster than my Lacamas Lake. It was very cold at the pre-dawn start, and had actually only warmed up to around 40° by the time we finished, but the sun did come out and the course was nice and flat, with good bands and entertaining scenery.

We forwent the after-race concert (has anyone even heard of Donavon Frankenreiter--?), but did get tickets to the 10pm Blue Man Group. Thankfully, it was more than entertaining enough to stave off our race-induced sleepy stupor--a really amazing show! I could throw some words at you to try to explain it, but I highly suggest seeing them whenever you can. Maybe I'll try to write more later. I definitely have more pictures to post.

At the moment, I'm thinking I'll remove my contacts for my upcoming flight, in hopes of getting as much rest as absolutely possible after quite the full and fantastic, but rather exhausting, weekend.

More Vegas!

Thankfully, Vegas--or at least my experience of it!--has improved vastly in the past 24 hours. Last night a friend from high school who lives in town picked me up and we went to dinner at a nice little Indian place. The food was pretty decent, and the atmosphere was lovely, but I can't decide whether the highlight was our great conversation (he let me pick his brain about this very strange city, and it was fascinating)--or SEEING ANDRE AGASSI!

So I'm sitting there, and I keep staring over M's shoulder at the next table. "I'm sorry," I apologize for my distractedness, "but that guy just looks just like Andre Agassi!" He's there with an attractive blonde woman, another big dude, and like five kids. Another half hour or so passes (filled with enough engaging conversation, thankfully, to keep me from doing too much staring) and I notice that they're getting up to leave--and that Andre is posing for pictures with the hugely smiling Indian waiters. M finally turns around, and confirms that it's him, all right, and that the blonde woman is Steffi Graf. Andre is the last to leave, after the picture taking, and walks quietly out, exuding cool. Completely awesome.

This morning I met up with Seester and Chris at the Luxor, where we checked into our room and grabbed some food before heading to the expo madness next door at Mandalay Bay. We fought crowds there for a while, picked up our stuff, and strolled a bit on the strip before calling it an early night. Now I'm going to sleep as much as I can; the race starts at 6:15!

Travelin'

Happy December, all!

It's extra happy here today, because David was offered a position at what amounts to sort of his dream job. It's a controller position, so he won't have the pesky tax season he's dealt with for the past several years in public accounting. His office is also in the Warehouse District of downtown, which, in addition to being generally awesome, is only a few miles north of my house and forms a neat little triangle with my East Bank office. (Yes, I've already become a total pansy this winter as far as biking is concerned--but it's so hard to turn down free rides, and when I don't have to bike I get to wear nice clothes!) Needless to say, after three months of rather daunting unemployment (curse this economy--as I told him this evening, he's a frikkin' accountant, after all, not a beat poet!), this is a huge relief. To terminate his unemployment with such an exciting prospect and great people feels extra fantastic.

We just got back from the west coast last night, after driving back through the gorge and flying out of PDX. David and I didn't get to sit together on the plane, but we did both have window seats, and it was one of my most memorable flights in recent memory. It was a gloriously clear day, and the view of Hood was spectacular. I was wishing I could identify all the peaks (Adams? Jefferson? Three Sisters?) when it occurred to me that as I could see clear across Oregon to the south, I might be able to see Rainier to the north. I actually gasped when I turned and saw it, larger than life and perfectly framed in the windows across the aisle. Amazing! It was especially interesting to follow our path east along the gorge, having just come the opposite way that morning. I recognized the dams and phalanxes of wind turbines (visible in the full-sized version of the photo), and even thought I could see Multnomah Falls, where we'd stopped briefly on our way in.

Tomorrow I board another plane, this one bound for Las Vegas. I get in late and then have Friday by myself before meeting up with April and Chris Saturday morning. We run early (6:15 a.m.! the pain!) Sunday, and if you feel like tracking us, you can find details about that here. I had thought at one point about running the full marathon, and I am very glad that I talked myself out of that rash plan and registered, along with the other two, for the half. I'm already feeling so much less stressed! My usual race voodoo--what I can and can't eat, what I wear, how I sleep, etc.--is significantly calmed when I know I'm running 13.1 miles, instead of 26.2. I'm not too inspired at the moment, having been on the ground in my home timezone for only slightly more than 24 hours and not particularly anxious to leave again, but I'm sure I'll be excited soon enough.

One inspiration: AirTran (for all their other, significant flaws [i.e. I fly through Atlanta on my way from MSP to LAS]) now has wifi on all their flights! It's not free (yet), but still--we're living in the future.

Looking Forward

A week from today, David and I will be in the Northwest to celebrate Thanksgiving! I am completely unreasonably excited about this.

Two weeks from today, I'll be in Las Vegas, preparing to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon there with my sister and brother-in-law. I'm slightly less excited about this, but probably mostly because Thanksgiving is looming larger and I find it difficult to anticipate too much at once.

Oh, but! I am also already looking forward to June, because we're going to see U2 again, this time here in Mpls! Woo-hoo!

"There's not a lot of things that she'll take back..."

As those of you on Facebook already know, tonight I saw They Might Be Giants at First Ave! My ears still feel a little fuzzy, and I'm hoarse from singing along, which, in short, means I had a fantastic time.

I hadn't heard anything about the show, and would have missed it completely had David not spotted it and let me know this morning. I love TMBG's album Flood and the songs "Cowtown" and "Ana Ng" (the latter both, I believe, thanks to Ellen), but know next to nothing about what they've been up to for the past 19 years,* despite the fact that I only started listening to them about 10 years ago. However, as luck would have it, tonight was one of a few Flood shows on their tour, so we called the box office for tickets. At 10 a.m. they had only sold about 1000 of 1500 tickets, and said we'd be fine getting tickets right before the show. We were, and it's such a great venue that even though we were near the back (having left after picking up our tickets to grab some Thai food), the views and sound were great.

So. Have I mentioned that I love living in the city, and having David keep me apprised of the cultural happenings? Awesome.

And now, briefly, on to the rest of Halloween!

I recently inherited my mom's 1976 Kitchenaid stand mixer,** which is pretty much the coolest heirloom of all time. Not only do I now have a Real Grownup piece of working kitchen equipment that has the added benefit of keeping the cookie dough in the bowl and off the walls, it brings back all sorts of delightful memories from my childhood (which the friend who repaired it for my mom, after it broke and she bought herself a new one, tells me is actually the smell of ozone).

Anyway, my awesome new mixer (thanks again, Mom!) means that I can now attempt recipes like my mom's amazing cinnamon rolls, which, I immodestly warn the fortunate friends who get to try them, will forever ruin them for other, lesser, imitations. I had never made the cinnamon rolls before, but armed with my mom's recipe, the Kitchenaid, and an irrational and undeserved faith in my baking skills, I went ahead and invited people over for cinnamon rolls after the race.

I only had to call my mom three or four times to have her help me with the recipe. Thankfully, she claimed not to mind, and even more thankfully, she walked me through turning my sad, shrunken, pallid little spirals of dough into delicious cinnamon rolls in a matter of minutes. In fact, four of us ate at least 12 of them at breakfast, and only two of us had run a half marathon. I didn't get any pictures of the baking process, or of the full pan, but this is what they looked like after we had wreaked our breakfast havoc.

After the friends left, I spent most of the afternoon working on my costume for the evening's party, which involved cutting the sleeves and collar off of, taking in, and sewing trim onto, a size 2X thriftstore dress; painting on a plastic clip-on earring to make it a cameo brooch; and straightening my hair. Sadly, this was all at the expense of a nap, which meant that I couldn't even last until midnight at the party, and ultimately spent as long on the costume as in it. Still, I'm really pleased with how it turned out! (Click for larger images)

I did wear the jeans under my dress, although I tucked them into my tall boots. David wore his boots, too.

Oh, and yes, we definitely practiced our pose before we headed out.

Here's a friend's picture of us at the party, which may also offer a closer look at my hair and the brooch (and David's excellent glasses, which were sunglasses until he poked the lenses out).

Oh, and here's one more David snapped with his phone; we actually only got into character for proper photos!


*They actually played "Theme from Flood," and the line "It's a brand new record, for 1990" got a big laugh.

**I Googled it just now to try to find a link, and was unsuccessful, but am further convinced that the 70s model is way cooler-looking than the current ones with that weird, thick base. And where are the arms to hold the bowl??

Halloween

So this year, I joined a friend to run the Monster Dash Half Marathon bright and early Halloween morning. I had considered various costume options (for a while, 80s cheerleader was the forerunner), but ultimately decided that I was too cheap and the weather too cold for anything fancy. I did at least go for colorful, thanks to last-minute striped legwarmers, an orange scarf a friend crocheted for me in college, and a bright green beanie.

Lots of other people had gotten crazy and creative with their costumes, including team ones--a pack of running bananas, several crayons, and a ketchup and mustard duo (the former of whom I ran close to for a mile or so, and who, when passersby shouted, "Mustard's up ahead!" would reply, "I'm trying to catch up!").

I'd considered running this race for several years, and had even driven my neighbor and friends to the start line year before last, but had always been somewhat daunted by its proximity to the TCM and had wondered whether I'd be able to run again so soon. As it turns out, I think it probably was a bit soon; I didn't feel quite the energy reserves on the course that I wanted to, and I've been moaning so much over my sore muscles that David has declared that I am not to run any more marathons or half marathons, ever. However, it was definitely a fun time, and although I could only keep up with my fast friend for about three miles (she ended up finishing with a 7:55 pace, while mine was 9:24), I did enjoy myself.

...So much that I just registered to run the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on December 5 with my sister and brother-in-law. Woo-hoo!

Here are photos David took during the morning (as always, click to view the album and larger pictures):


In the last picture, after the race, I'm wearing my medal. It's on this weird yellow lace-thing, but the best part is that it is a belt buckle! I think this is pretty much the greatest idea ever. Now I just need to find a belt I can put it on.

I was going to write about our adventures after the race, but find myself too tired. So, see you here tomorrow!

NaBloPoMadness

Hello, Blog Friends!

It is November again, and that means NaBloPoMo. Last year I remember it being quite a bit harder than I would have anticipated, so this year I'm expecting another challenge. The good news, I suppose, is that I have all sorts of stories and pictures that I haven't posted here, including more or less the entire roadtrip back to Minneapolis (in August). Maybe the obligation to post every day will get me caught up on that.

In the meantime, I'll start with something a bit more recent. Today was relatively mild and sunny, and as I had completed and sent off a highly stressful fellowship application on Friday, and had run a half marathon on Saturday, I figured it'd be okay to take today off. Thus, David and I headed to Stillwater, a charming touristy little burg about 30 miles east of here, and spent the afternoon eating, poking around stores, and enjoying the scenic views. We were there probably about two weeks too late for really beautiful fall colors, but there was still some color left.

Tomorrow, I'll post about yesterday!

Pictures

I took these pictures of my office (and out the window that consistently fascinates me) yesterday with my camera phone. They appear to be a little smeary, but do sort of capture the permeating feel of the light. As always, click for larger images.

My desk:

Window, with Pillsbury Hall:

More Pillsbury:

Bookshelf and radiator:

Sink(!):

Closet:

My open office door, from the hallway:

And here are a few more random shots from the phone...

Unnecessary quotation marks in a Lincoln City Doughnut Shop:

Unnecessary quotation marks in the downtown post office:

My favorite nuns on the TCM course:

Band on the TCM course (picture for Teri):

Rockstars:

Happenin's

Or, Things I've Been Doing to Avoid Writing My Dissertation

Internets, I've been remiss, about many things, but I apologize to you, in any case, for my lack of blogging. Exciting (or at least vaguely interesting) things have been happening here--I just haven't been posting about them! So, to hit a few highlights...

I ran that marathon. The next morning, I had my first chiropractic appointment--that expo deal--and totally got the royal treatment (electrical muscle stimulation with heat, massage, ultrasound, cool lasers, and a [cracking!] adjustment). I left feeling fantastic, and although I was feeling pretty sore and awful by the end of the day, I think it really improved my recovery time. By Thursday of that week, I wasn't sore at all. He also lasered and re-taped my blisters, and even though they had been huge, they didn't bother me at all and had completely healed within about 10 days. More of David's pictures are here, if you're interested.

I took my turn presenting at the weekly Fellows' Luncheon. Approximately one third of the group was out with the flu or traveling or whatever, so it was a small crowd but went pretty well. I'm glad it's over.

Abraham came to town! The rockstars arrived Saturday night, in time to join us for a smashing dinner party, and then got my patented Nerd Tour of Mpls (including the theater, library, and post office) Sunday before playing a small show that evening in my apartment. Thanks to various factors conspiring against us, the turnout was very small, but we had a fantastic time and made merry until way too late for a school night. The rockstars left the next morning (which was snowy: thanks, Mpls) to continue their tour eastward; check out their upcoming appearances at their website. Here are some of David's pictures; be sure to view the full album for a few videos:


I sort of started running again, and registered for another half marathon. David took this picture because he thought it was funny that I looked like I was flipping him off. The subsequent run, my first since the marathon, was blessed with Wintry Mix and an awesome attack of cold-induced hives. Oh, yes. But yesterday, I ran a sunny six around the lakes with the friend I'm running the half with, and it was balmy--nearly 50°! The race is on Halloween, so I'm thinking about running in costume. The current front-runner is 80s cheerleader.

I made a lampshade. I don't actually remember why I was first inspired to do this, although this beautiful lamp in the window of the Uptown DWR didn't help. I think I'll write a little tutorial at some point, because we took a bunch of pictures, but for the moment here it is on David's head.

We got out. Last night, David and I saw Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Pantages Theater. It was the most amazing guitar playing I've ever seen live, and I have seen some impressive playing. Really an amazing show; if you ever have the opportunity to see them, DO! Tonight we saw The Importance of Being Earnest: Bros Before Hos Remix at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. Friday I took David to the French Meadow for the first time, and Saturday morning we discovered Isles Bun & Coffee together (despite passing the out-the-door line multiple times on my weekend lakes runs, I had never actually been in!). It's nice to live in the city.

After

Internets, I am so tired that I am the slimmest of margins away from pulling on my ears (and squealing) à la Baby V. I thought I was tired last week, after the Urban Assault Ride, but of course that was child's play compared to 26.2 miles on my (even ninja-taped) feet.

I did finish the race in 4:49:39, which is no speed record, even for me, but which I did think was totally respectable for the meager amount of training I'd put in. (The longest run I did this summer was the Lacamas half, which, as you may recall, kicked my butt--and that was two months ago.)

The weather was chilly, but we only had a few raindrops, although the sky was looking pretty ominous by the end. A few sunbreaks even illuminated the autumnal colors as we ran, and the course lived up to its tagline of being the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon. (It really is a pretty beautiful course; it's hard to beat four lakes and a river, as well as two downtown skylines!)

Unfortunately, the ninja taping rubbed its own blister on one toe and didn't protect another spot I would ordinarily have bandaged prophylactically. The joints, however, feel pretty good, and aside from some wicked tight calves and general fatigue, I'm feeling pretty swell!

Various members of my awesome Minneapolis crew were present at the start line and four other spots along the course. The whole group was there for the finish line, and then two more friends joined us for celebratory greasy food afterward. I am one fortunate girl.

More pictures coming!

Before

Today at the Expo I had my feet taped up like a ninja!

I didn't go in with that intention, but that's what happened. I was lured by the sign that promised a free chiropractic consult and $29 first treatment when I signed up at the expo. I asked the guy if they could fix my feet, which have been bothering me--the first joint of the big toes, alternating from one foot to the other. He examined them and explained that it was probably tightness in my shin muscles actually lifting my toes up, and taped them so that they weren't pulling up quite so much.

It felt, and continues to feel, really good, so I'm hoping that my feet do well for tomorrow's race. I also have an appointment for Monday morning, which excites me because they do that awesome ART thing and I'm sure I'll be in need of some magic.

And now, because I told everyone at the party we left early that I was going home to sleep, I'm going to get into bed. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep or not, but--8 a.m. gun time! Woo!

UAR x2

Because I am a sucker for punishment, today, exactly one week before the Twin Cities Marathon, I rode in my second Urban Assault Ride. Last year, my partner and I had both been doing a respectable amount of biking (it helped that I'd actually been using my bike as my primary means of transportation, whereas recently I've become woefully spoiled by David's car!), but this year neither of us had really biked at all all summer.

Still, we had a great time (though I'm rather tender, and will doubtless be all sorts of sore tomorrow), and made it to all but one of our check-points (an improvement over last year!). Unfortunately, like last year, I did run into some mechanical troubles. It wasn't a spike through the tire, thankfully, but I did manage to bend my front fender when I stopped suddenly and caught it on my foot. That caused it to rub on the tire, which meant it felt like I was gently braking for most of our ride out(/uphill) to REI. Thankfully, on the way back I found a gas station garage that let me borrow their pliers so that I could remove and toss the offending fender, and had a much more pleasant ride thereafter.

This year, whether because the course was arranged better, because we'd actually completed the quiz and ended up in the first wave, or because the check-points were better equipped to handle large numbers of people, we spent hardly any time waiting in line for the activities (which included a toss/catch game involving wet sponges and a laundry basket that rested on one partner's shoulders [with a hole for the head!] and the "plunger paddle" where both partners sat on a longboard and paddled to stations using a toilet plunger).

Afterward, David and I went to a gamelan concert in St. Paul and then to Pancho Villa with my UAR teammate for burritos.

Oh, also! For the race, we made shirts. I couldn't find a "Ciao Ciao" graphic online, so I recreated one using the classic Coke logo. I thought they turned out really well. We're working our way up slowly; next year we'll make all the checkpoints and wear all-out costumes!

David's pictures (plus some of my partner's) are here:

Blog

This is the first and only text message my mom has ever sent me, a missive so elegantly simple and direct that it could not be ignored:

So, here I am, trying to blog. The sheer volume of the things I could write about the past few weeks--not to mention the photos I could post--would be daunting enough, even without school and my shiny new fellowship starting; unpacking and reclaiming my apartment after the summer; finishing the online course design project I was working on this summer; and getting the website for Abraham up and running (it's still sort of in beta--the Paypal for the CD is still under my account, for example--and there's much more coming, but feel free to check it out!).

The brief version of everything is that David and I left Walla Walla on August 23 (after helping to throw what I think was a pretty fabulous surprise birthday party for Hathor) and drove back to Minneapolis--via southern California and the Southwest National Parks. I started school on Tuesday the 8th, and we left again on Thursday, hitting eastern Indiana on our way to Chicago for my birthday present from David--tickets to U2's first show of the U.S. leg of their 360° Tour! We were back in time for school on Monday.

I'll try to add a few details, and photos, to that skeletal report, but now you're more or less caught up.

I'll leave you with a photo of my awesome office, which David's camera phone doesn't do justice, although it does show my two big mostly south-facing windows. What it doesn't show is my big closet and sink, complete with medicine cabinet and used razor depository (!). I'm in a fabulous old (1936) brick building that used to be a dorm (apparently a few of the offices even have bathtubs!) as well as an educational center. I'm hoping that some of the venerable learning that must undoubtedly have seeped into the walls goes ahead and seeps into my brain. In any case, I'll try to post more pictures.

But now I'm going to bed, because, did I mention? I'm also training for a marathon.