Um, it's effing hot.

Inspired by p-loop's ambitious endeavor and also being a little scared about what awaits me on Sunday at the crack of 8:20 a.m., I went for a run this morning. After many great runs this spring, I would often say to my running partner (err, that's you p), "This is the kind of day that makes you glad to be alive" since the weather was just right, not too hot or humid but the sun was still shining, you were out and getting exercise, etc. etc.

This morning though? Mmmm, not so much. My appreciative thoughts were more along the lines of, "It makes me glad I'll be in air-conditioned bliss as soon as I'm done". It's hot and muggy making it a bit stifling to run, or rather try to run, especially when you're barely making it a once a week event. I ended up walking parts of it because I was so out of it. I know K has been feeling the heat down in Houston for awhile already but for those of us still in Ann Arbor, this seems like the really 1st hot day of the year...ugh. So glad I'll just be running the 5K on Sunday!

what was i thinking?

eek -

i pulled the trigger. what have i gotten myself into?

ayudame por favor!

running in east jibip

took an impromptu trip to columbus, ohio this weekend to visit some friends (who sadly, won't be around when i move there). anywho, it also happened to be the weekend of the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure. i've run this race several times down in New Orleans, but the one in Columbus so much bigger. there were over 30,000 runners/walker and no race chip - wtf? so, i don't think the official results will be very accurate but unofficially (km read: in my head) i had a p.b.

columbus itself was much nicer in the spring compared to the cold and grey that i experienced back in january. and i am encouraged by the shopping scene!

we rounded out the day with dinner at this japanese restaurant not-so-cleverly called "haiku." among the favorite 5 - 7- 5 combinations was this one:

i was in ann arbor
on my way to east jibip
columbus, save me!

the other haikus we authored are not suitable for our young readers.

taurus r us

the great thing about this time of year is that there are birthdays galore between us and our friends. sadly, we won't be here next year to celebrate. oh wait, i lied. we will all come back next year to walk (definitely not run) together, right?

anyway, today marks the end of spring bday sweeps w/ km - happy birthday! hope you had a great one and that the zing's bread doesn't get mold-over too quickly down there in houston.

and thanks again to the aars for the fabulous gc to bellanina. i used it for a much needed massage and i loved it!

race season reality check

First, let me state that I really hate blogger.com's special feature of deleting everything you typed when you try to spell check it. So if things are misspelled, take it up with the $%@! website because I'm not losing these gems again.

Don't worry, though - my original entry was actually about running. I ran the Burns Park 5K run yesterday. It was the 4th consecutive year I've run it, but the 1st year I've run it alone. Well, that's not entirely true - there were approximately 20,000 screaming enthusiastic 5-18 year olds and their supportive parents running, too, but no AARS...sniff sniff.

And let me tell you, it's lonely at the bottom. Although I soundly defeated all the kindergarteners and 1st grade runners (in your FACE!!), eight 2nd/3rd graders beat me, and it gradually gets worse as you creep up the grades. I can't blame it all on the young whippersnappers, though, since the overall female runner was 36 years old...and running 6:05 minute miles!! Even the female masters winner at the tender age of 44 years young (BTW, at what age does masters kick in? Am I really that close to qualifying? Sheesh, another thing to celebrate) kicked ass with a 6:31 pace. And don't even get me started on the GRAND masters female winner's pace of 7:53. Did I mention she reported her age as 99 years old? Seriously, is that a typo?

Despite the humbling experience, year after year, I really do love this run. The weather is great, the neighborhood is beautiful, the runners are friendly (except for the occasional father screaming at his 8 year old daughter to "RUN THROUGH IT!!" as tears stream down her under-achieving face) tasty treats afterwards (including home made muffins and Zingerman's bagels), and lots of dogs begging for said tasty treats to boot.