That's how I felt on Monday night after spending over two hours on a treadmill. I successfully completed a half marathon! I ran about 12 miles at a pace of 9:22/mile. After that, I slowed down the treadmill to a steady walk for a couple of minutes to regain enough strength to complete the rest of the distance (13.1 miles total). I haven't run since then, but I'll probably do a few miles sometime tomorrow.
Things are looking good for me to continue training and run a marathon sometime in October. The Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon is on Sunday, October 2, and the Chicago Marathon is on Sunday, October 9. There's also one in Portland around the same time.
MILWAUKEE
Pro: Not too many people.
Con: Not super-exciting.
CHICAGO
Pro: Lots of excitement and tons of people cheering you on.
Con: Tons of people running alongside you.
PORTLAND
Pro: Amazing scenery.
Con: Lots of hills.
Right now, I'm leaning towards the Milwaukee Marathon because it's the closest. We'll see if my opinion changes in the next few weeks. Feel free to share your thoughts as well!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Thursday, February 17, 2005
If I Could Turn Back Time
Jenelle here..
We live in a pretty quiet complex that is literally filled to the brim with old people (And not cool old people like my grandma, just boring old people hooked on bingo) so when we find out that new people move in, we typically are pretty eager to learn more about them. And to spy in their windows to see how they've decorated their kitchen. But that's beside the point...
Our newest neighbors came in the form of a car lot. One day we had a beautiful forested lot to gaze out upon, and the next day nothing but rows and rows of Hyundais. (Did I mention it is currently a GM Sell-abration at our other neighboring car lot?)
That's right -- now we have car lots to the north and east, a national guard base and maximum security prison to our south, and public storage to the west. We're a realtor's dream.
I don't really mind the car lot(s) next door. I'm perfectly comfortable wandering around the house naked knowing that only a 2005 Elantra will be looking back at me. The thing that intrigues me most about the dealership is their choice of music. It's always of the elevator music variety, never anything top 40, and always really loud.
As I pulled into the driveway after work today, Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" wafted over. And I started thinking about what an ironic song that was for a car dealership.
If I Could Turn Back Time... cars wouldn't lose half their value the second they're driven off the lot
If I Could Turn Back Time... Nobody would buy a Hyundai.
If I Could Turn Back Time.. all these pre-owned cars would be shiny and new
If I Could Turn Back Time .. I would have bought this lot and preserved the beauty of the forest. Or at least built something useful. Like a Starbucks.
We live in a pretty quiet complex that is literally filled to the brim with old people (And not cool old people like my grandma, just boring old people hooked on bingo) so when we find out that new people move in, we typically are pretty eager to learn more about them. And to spy in their windows to see how they've decorated their kitchen. But that's beside the point...
Our newest neighbors came in the form of a car lot. One day we had a beautiful forested lot to gaze out upon, and the next day nothing but rows and rows of Hyundais. (Did I mention it is currently a GM Sell-abration at our other neighboring car lot?)
That's right -- now we have car lots to the north and east, a national guard base and maximum security prison to our south, and public storage to the west. We're a realtor's dream.
I don't really mind the car lot(s) next door. I'm perfectly comfortable wandering around the house naked knowing that only a 2005 Elantra will be looking back at me. The thing that intrigues me most about the dealership is their choice of music. It's always of the elevator music variety, never anything top 40, and always really loud.
As I pulled into the driveway after work today, Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" wafted over. And I started thinking about what an ironic song that was for a car dealership.
If I Could Turn Back Time... cars wouldn't lose half their value the second they're driven off the lot
If I Could Turn Back Time... Nobody would buy a Hyundai.
If I Could Turn Back Time.. all these pre-owned cars would be shiny and new
If I Could Turn Back Time .. I would have bought this lot and preserved the beauty of the forest. Or at least built something useful. Like a Starbucks.
Technical Foul Explained
No, it wasn't my middle finger that caused the referee to give me a technical foul -- it was my RING finger. Even though I've worn my wedding ring during every game I've attended this season, it's apparently against the rules to do so. However, that rule seems to be open to interpretation, because at the previous week's game, my uncle was told by a referee that though necklaces, earrings, etc. are not allowed, wedding rings are okay. Whatever. I'm going to take steps to make sure I don't get "T"-ed up again.
And yes, snow day fans, you'll soon hear about the snowball that my cousin Eric threw so perfectly that it was literally the throw to end all throws. And I've also scanned a few pictures. They're on the way -- really!
And yes, snow day fans, you'll soon hear about the snowball that my cousin Eric threw so perfectly that it was literally the throw to end all throws. And I've also scanned a few pictures. They're on the way -- really!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Benjamin C... Rodman?
The basketball game tonight was a lot of fun. We only lost by two points. And I was whistled for a technical foul. That's right, a technical foul. I'll share that story in a few days, but for now, I'd like to have a little guessing game. In the comments entry, post what *you* think is the reason why a technical foul was called on me. Good luck!
And make sure to read the first two parts of the snow day story below -- part three coming soon!
And make sure to read the first two parts of the snow day story below -- part three coming soon!
Snow Day, Part 2
Make sure you read part one, which is just below this entry.
Okay, so we've built a pretty nice snowman, and my father has taken the standard Isaacson family photographs. What now? The weather is still absolutely wonderful, so there's no real rush to get inside.
I almost forgot -- we found two tree branches and made them into arms for the snowman. You'll understand why I mentioned this later on in our story.
For whatever reason, we quickly realized that packy snow makes great snowmen AND great snowballs. We certainly didn't want to get into a fight with each other, especially with three year-old Hunter around. Our search for a target led us right back to our beautiful snowman. Our first goal -- knock the hat off. Uncle Dan and I began packing together ammunition and firing. Our focus quickly turned back to Hunter as we made snowballs for him so that he could successfully hit the target. After a few tries, he did it. We were all very excited.
As the game continued, the snowman took some battle damage. We continued to aim for the hat, but a few shots were a little low. When packed snow hits packed snow, there's often a little explosion of sorts. After every hit, we all went "Ohhhhhhhh!". One thing led to another, and we soon found ourselves firing at the snowman instead of his hat. We had set up our firing station on the driveway, because you can throw better with a hard surface on which to plant your feet. By this time, others had joined us. Now outside were myself, Uncle Dan, my dad, Hunter, and my cousin Eric. Grandpa Milt, Jeri, Jenelle, and Gina (Eric's wife) could often be seen watching from the living room window. Aunt Gail unfortunately had to head back to Madison.
As the pelting of our poor snowman continued, here's a few other "subplots" to share --
Sled Time!
I had some fun pulling Hunter around on a plastic blue sled. It reminded me of when Andrew and I used to push each other all over the yard -- except pulling Hunter was a little easier. After circumnavigating the house a few times, Hunter asked me to get in the sled so he could pull me around. Though I have lost weight, I was still a bit too heavy for him. But he still got an "A" for effort. He actually managed to pull me about ten feet before I got too worried about him hurting himself. We have a picture of him pulling me -- that's one a gem.
Crashing the Party
At one point, Jenelle and Gina sneaked up on the firing squad and threw a few snowballs at us before retreating back into the house. I *just* missed Jenelle as she ran in the back door. Later on, the two of them joined us as allies in battle with the snowman (who never received a name).
In part three, I'll be writing descriptions of each of the most well-thrown snowballs. I guarantee you'll enjoy them -- especially the throw to end all throws.
Okay, so we've built a pretty nice snowman, and my father has taken the standard Isaacson family photographs. What now? The weather is still absolutely wonderful, so there's no real rush to get inside.
I almost forgot -- we found two tree branches and made them into arms for the snowman. You'll understand why I mentioned this later on in our story.
For whatever reason, we quickly realized that packy snow makes great snowmen AND great snowballs. We certainly didn't want to get into a fight with each other, especially with three year-old Hunter around. Our search for a target led us right back to our beautiful snowman. Our first goal -- knock the hat off. Uncle Dan and I began packing together ammunition and firing. Our focus quickly turned back to Hunter as we made snowballs for him so that he could successfully hit the target. After a few tries, he did it. We were all very excited.
As the game continued, the snowman took some battle damage. We continued to aim for the hat, but a few shots were a little low. When packed snow hits packed snow, there's often a little explosion of sorts. After every hit, we all went "Ohhhhhhhh!". One thing led to another, and we soon found ourselves firing at the snowman instead of his hat. We had set up our firing station on the driveway, because you can throw better with a hard surface on which to plant your feet. By this time, others had joined us. Now outside were myself, Uncle Dan, my dad, Hunter, and my cousin Eric. Grandpa Milt, Jeri, Jenelle, and Gina (Eric's wife) could often be seen watching from the living room window. Aunt Gail unfortunately had to head back to Madison.
As the pelting of our poor snowman continued, here's a few other "subplots" to share --
Sled Time!
I had some fun pulling Hunter around on a plastic blue sled. It reminded me of when Andrew and I used to push each other all over the yard -- except pulling Hunter was a little easier. After circumnavigating the house a few times, Hunter asked me to get in the sled so he could pull me around. Though I have lost weight, I was still a bit too heavy for him. But he still got an "A" for effort. He actually managed to pull me about ten feet before I got too worried about him hurting himself. We have a picture of him pulling me -- that's one a gem.
Crashing the Party
At one point, Jenelle and Gina sneaked up on the firing squad and threw a few snowballs at us before retreating back into the house. I *just* missed Jenelle as she ran in the back door. Later on, the two of them joined us as allies in battle with the snowman (who never received a name).
In part three, I'll be writing descriptions of each of the most well-thrown snowballs. I guarantee you'll enjoy them -- especially the throw to end all throws.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Snow Day, Part 1
It was unseasonably mild on Saturday. After some errands and running a few miles outside in the morning, Jenelle and I ventured to my parents' house for a big family meal. The occasion? My uncle Dan was in town from Ohio for the weekend. I think there were about 12 of us gathered. The food was great (it was like Thanksgiving), and we all had fun chatting and catching up on each other's lives -- but we had the MOST fun playing in the front yard.
Because the weather was so great, we decided that now was a perfect time to take our three year-old "nephew" Hunter outside and build a snowman (nephew is in quotes because he's actually my first cousin once-removed, but he feels like a nephew). The wet snow was incredibly packy, so Uncle Dan and I had no problem rolling the first snowball for the bottom. We were a bit overzealous on the mid-section, as we were barely able to lift it on top of the base -- I've heard reports that Uncle Dan may have hurt himself during our efforts to lift it, but there were no signs of it at the time. In any case, Hunter helped us make the head, and we had ourselves a pretty decent snowman in no time.
We secured the following items for the finishing touches: two eyes made of coal, a carrot nose, a red hat from the front hall closet, a mouth of pine branches, and wood chips for buttons on the mid-section. My aunt Gail, who drove in from the Madison area, helped with this part. My dad took a few pictures, but I don't have them yet. I'll work on getting those up.
Little did I know that our day in the snow was just beginning...
Because the weather was so great, we decided that now was a perfect time to take our three year-old "nephew" Hunter outside and build a snowman (nephew is in quotes because he's actually my first cousin once-removed, but he feels like a nephew). The wet snow was incredibly packy, so Uncle Dan and I had no problem rolling the first snowball for the bottom. We were a bit overzealous on the mid-section, as we were barely able to lift it on top of the base -- I've heard reports that Uncle Dan may have hurt himself during our efforts to lift it, but there were no signs of it at the time. In any case, Hunter helped us make the head, and we had ourselves a pretty decent snowman in no time.
We secured the following items for the finishing touches: two eyes made of coal, a carrot nose, a red hat from the front hall closet, a mouth of pine branches, and wood chips for buttons on the mid-section. My aunt Gail, who drove in from the Madison area, helped with this part. My dad took a few pictures, but I don't have them yet. I'll work on getting those up.
Little did I know that our day in the snow was just beginning...
Friday, February 04, 2005
That's right, woodchuck-chuckers, it's
GROUNDHOG DAY! Well, it WAS Groundhog Day two days ago. Jenelle and I snuggled up and watched the Groundhog Day Special Edition DVD once again. Did you know that the movie was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois, which is less than two hours away from where we live? Every year, they have their own Groundhog Day celebration, complete with a walking tour of filming sites. We might make the trip next year -- we considered going this year, but our weeks were both crazy-go-nuts.
In other news -- after almost six months of typo-free powerpoint slides during Wednesday night services at Our Savior's, I made a small mistake at the service this week. The song was "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (#731 in your blue book). The correct line was, "I am tired, I am weak, I am worn", and I accidentally put "I am tired, I am weak, I am worm". Oops.
I'm currently sitting in a room at a training center in Downers Grove, Illinois, learning all about SAP Smart Forms. Normally, classes like this aren't very exciting, but we have a very good instructor. And class is about to resume...
In other news -- after almost six months of typo-free powerpoint slides during Wednesday night services at Our Savior's, I made a small mistake at the service this week. The song was "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (#731 in your blue book). The correct line was, "I am tired, I am weak, I am worn", and I accidentally put "I am tired, I am weak, I am worm". Oops.
I'm currently sitting in a room at a training center in Downers Grove, Illinois, learning all about SAP Smart Forms. Normally, classes like this aren't very exciting, but we have a very good instructor. And class is about to resume...
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