Fall(s)

The past several days have been on the cool and wet side, so when the sun came out today, I decided to play hooky after my dissertation workshop and enjoy the glorious fall afternoon. I persuaded David that we should go to Minnehaha Falls, which neither of us had seen in its unfrozen form (which, needless to say, is a far sadder reflection on me than on him) to take full advantage of it.

It was almost 50 degrees warmer than the last time we'd been there, although still crisp enough to make our noses run. The trees have just begun changing, and the colors were beautiful; these are for those of you in more seasonless climes:

Lest you find yourself jealous, however, I remind you that this is coming (and the radio says we may have snow--accumulating--this weekend).

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!

Sixthly and Lastly

Tonight a friend and I saw Much Ado About Nothing at the eponymous Theater in the Round. It had only been a couple of months since I'd last seen Shakespeare, but quite a lot longer since I'd seen theater performed in the round (I'm thinking the Virginia "we do it with the lights on" Shakespeare Company performances I saw in Lincoln were the closest in recent memory). This was the first time I'd seen Much Ado live, although I do have the fondest of memories of the film. I've seen a fair amount of Shakespeare performed--though I've read shockingly little--and think that Much Ado is definitely one of my favorite of his plays. Although Claudio and Hero always seemed a bit on the labile and weepy side to me, I much prefer the witty Beatrice to the "shrewish" Kate, and the requisite mistaken-identity bits don't seem too overdone.

Before we went, we had dinner at my house: cilantro pesto summer squash feta pizza; margherita pizza; spring greens salads with apples, pecans, dried cranberries, and feta; and a fantastic warm apple cobbler that she brought. The menu for next weekend's dinner party is a bit more seasonally-appropriate--including hearty soup and homemade bread--but despite the autumnal weather we've been experiencing (veritably Northwestern in its seep-into-your-bones chill wetness) I seem to still be getting the last of the summer menus out of my system.

I'm also still hoping for a last gasp or two of that weather--especially, if at all possible, for Sunday's run.

Cute Overload

I just rediscovered this video that David shot the weekend before we left Walla Walla. It makes me very happy, but sad at the same time. My pedestrian academic existence here in (currently cool and rainy) Mpls pales in the glow of the epic summer!