90 Seconds to This

"So," I turned my attention to Erin, "you're a runner, right?"

It was the last day of school and we all sat sipping our Zuppa Tuscana or Minnestrone, dipping breadsticks, and eating salad. As the conversation turned to running, excitement grew like creeping Charlie until it covered all of us. By the end of the conversation seven had committed to training for a 10 mile race in October. One would become pregnant within a month and another would get the wild idea that running causes varicose veins (it doesn't) and drop out. Five of us continued.

A few short weeks later we found out that we didn't make it into the 10 mile race that we were hoping for. Well, what the heck, we thought, let's sign up for a half-marathon.

The first time that I started running, I could barely last 90 seconds. Somehow I kept going and worked up to going seven minutes straight. I was elated, but nervous, after finishing my first 5K.
I allowed myself to sign up for a 10K by assuring myself that I could walk part of it if I needed to. It ended up that I ran the whole thing. I signed up for a 10 mile thinking that it would be a remarkable milestone. If I can make it through the ten mile, I thought, then I know that I can do the half-marathon. The ten mile race was an especially pivotal event because it was held a week earlier than the original ten mile that we couldn't get into.

Finishing the ten mile was a great accomplishment for me. I went from 90 seconds to this! My goal was to finish the entire thing in 100 minutes--averaging a ten minute mile. I actually finished in 1 hr. 37 minutes--averaging a 9 minute 40 second mile. I have to say, though, that I was definitely ready to be done after the ten miles were up. I'm glad there are a few weeks left until the half-marathon because it'll take me a while to build up to that.

One other bonus was that this was the first race that Aaron, Caeden, Avery & my dad were at. I kept looking for them all along the way. At about mile 7 I ran past Aaron & Caeden (Avery was sleeping). Seeing them energized me so much that I think I ran the next mile and a half with a smile on my face. I saw my dad at the finish line.

Here's to accomplishing goals!


Here's the pic that Aaron took right around mile 7...it's a bit blurry because I had to enlarge it.


And here's one from fotojack...

Bubble Brigade

A Quiz:

Where can you find larger than life plastic fish hanging from the ceiling?

Where can you drive a city bus without having a permit?

Where can you hear hundreds of squealing tots as they dress up like a doctor, slide down a slide, play on a rooftop garden, or make their own bubbles?

The Children's Museum!

We've gone to the Children's Museum for a while now and every time there are more things for Caeden to do. This was the first time that Avery was able to play too. Her favorite spot was the "Habitot," a free-play area where kids can crawl, climb, slide, and bounce without getting hurt. She also liked playing in the water at Caeden's favorite spot.

The people at the Children's Museum sure know their stuff. Caeden was trying to balance his whole body by laying on a big ball. He lost his balance, bonked his head, and started crying. No sooner had he shed his first tear when a worker zoomed over and started blowing bubbles to distract him. A few seconds later, Caeden was ready to try it again.

FYI

The link that I previously posted used to be the Tina Fey impersonation of Sarah Palin. However, the link changes on a daily basis. So I'm not sure what the link is to anymore.

In case you missed it

http://entertainment.msn.com/video/playern/?pid=2HLU_6evr__HBxqGVi6GzXEVAFNFvEq0&GT1=42003

Thank you St. Paul

Oh St. Paul, why do I love thee? It is because you so generously set out running stations for all of the folks that take a jaunt down Summit Avenue. Do you receive anything in return? Do you require anything? No, you simply strategically place water coolers, jolly ranchers and jelly bellies along the way for any runner who happens by needing to stop & refuel.

Today I was one such runner. I hit a wall toward the end of my run and thought for the briefest of moments that I wasn't going to make it. As I was getting mired down in doubt, I happened to look up. What did I see, but a construction-orange colored water cooler, a stack of plastic cups, a bag of jolly ranchers and a bag of jelly bellies--an oasis. It was all I needed to get over the hump and finish the run.

Love Lockdown

Thanks to Sarah for showing me this video. Does anyone else think it looks a lot like Beaches meets the opening ceremonies of the Olympics?

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1593809&vid=272698

10K

Isn't there a saying that goes, "If the porta-potty is a rockin'....."?

I began my 10K race with a stop at the porta-potties. I was in line about 50 people deep with 10 minutes to race time. When I finally reached the bathroom mecca, aka a green-colored porta-potty, I was in a big time hurry. Closing the door securely behind me, I tried to quickly do my business, but found that the entire structure was rocking back and forth. In order to not make a mess of myself, I had to rock back and forth with it. After that balancing act, I was ready to go.

There were two parts to this race--a 10K and a 20 miler. The toned leg muscles, matching running outfits, and rubber belts lined with small water bottles let me know that I was in a different league than the 5K that I did in July. These were Runners--capital R. To help me get in the Running mindset, I slammed some kind of exercise-specific Jelly Bellies. They were delish and the energy started coursing through my veins right away.

I wasn't at the starting line for very long before the bullhorn sounded and I was off. The beginning part was an interesting mess of jockeying for position; changing speed to get around someone, moving to the outside lane, then cutting someone off. After a while, though, I found a pace that I could stick with and the crowd started to thin out.

Every time I hit a mile marker I thought to myself, "I feel great...must be the Jelly Bellies." Before the race started I gave myself permission to stop and walk any time that I needed to. As I was running, though, it didn't even occur to me to stop. I just kept going.

I passed people, I was passed. The finish line came quicker than I expected and I was glad to see my ending time of 58 min. 44 sec. That put me at about a 9 min 30 sec pace for the whole race--a personal best. Although I wasn't doing the race for the sake of competition, just for the sake of completion, I was still pleased with how it went. The official results aren't out yet--I'll update when they are posted.

Pics to follow....

Differences

There are a few differences in being the 2nd child. It's not that the second one is any less loved, it's just that you've grown a lot more relaxed and realistic. For example:


Caeden

• Had his bedroom painted and ready before he was born.

Avery

• Just finished converting the office into a makeshift bedroom.

Caeden

• Had his crib ready, with sheets, bumper, and blankets picked out especially for him.

Avery

• Just moved out of the pack & play into Caeden's old crib. She gets his old sheets handed down.

Caeden

• Researched the best car seats just in case-gasp-an accident occurred and they would be needed. Spent about $250 for two carseats.

Avery

• Researched Craig's List and found two carseats for $30. Griped about driving down to Eagan to pick them up.

Caeden

• Made homemade baby food, wouldn't even think about giving him whole milk until he was a year old.

Avery

• Gerbers and she finds and drinks Caeden's sippy cup--usually has sour milk in it by the time she gets a hold of it.

Caeden

• Kept a meticulous baby book documenting which teeth came in what order and when.

Avery

• Haven't touched the baby book since she was about a month old. Still have the hospital id bracelet to put in there.

Now, for all of you second or third (or later) children out there, don't think that we don't love you. Don't think that you deserve second best. It's just that we've been broken in.