I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

These were slow miles indeed.  I missed my swim lessons run because I had to go in to school in the morning, and since we had plans tonight, I ran at about 2:15.  It was sunny, but surprisingly not too terrible.  Temps were in the high 70s/low 80s, and I stuck to the shade and carried water.  I also went a little longer than I have been lately.  Not sure why.  Just sorta felt like it.

I got one of my yesterday problems solved.  My family is not going to Michigan after all, so I am running in the 5K tomorrow and then leaving for Chicago on Saturday.  I might do a 5K on Sunday, but only if my brother runs.  I don't think I'll race this one either.

Then this evening, we went to a gathering at the new principal's house.  My husband is the oldest of all the administrators, which surprised me a little.  Two of the assistants are younger than me.

We arrived at the race more than an hour before it started.  Don't know why.  I did a mile warm up out of sheer boredom and to get out of the sun a little.

We started on one of the base runways.  I'm sure this wasn't planned, but the start of the race was delayed a few minutes while a plane touched down.  Then we were off.

I gave my watch to Brendan because he was eying it and I thought it would be more helpful to him.  So I was surprised when my first mile was right around 8.  I was more shooting for 8:30 or so, because I just wanted to take it easy.  At the first mile, I was right behind Sue, the PE teacher at St. Mal.

So I've been thinking all this time that I don't have a competitive drive, but I guess I do.  I really didn't want Sue to beat me.  I ran with her and a 6th grader for a half mile or so and we were trying to get the girl to keep our pace.  She stuck it out, but then fell behind.  I kept going with Sue just a little behind me.  She asked what my goal was and I said "under 26."  So she said she'd keep with me.  Right after the girl dropped back, one of my former students, Clark (who also mows my lawn) ran by.  He had never done a 5K before and I didn't want to be shamed.  So Sue and I picked up the pace.  Our second mile was 7:40.  Pace on the last 1.1 was 7:25.  We passed a lot of people together (but we never did catch Clark) and really raced to the end.  Normally I probably would have let her go ahead when she surged, but like I said, I didn't want her to beat me.  So I got her in the end, but we both got 1st in our age division. That's part of the reason why I didn't want her to beat me.  She's at least 15 years older than me and I didn't want to be shamed again :)

 So that's not bad for what wasn't going to be a race.  And I haven't really been putting a lot of effort into running, either, lately.  The rest of the night I sat around in my own stink and enjoyed watching the kids play and seeing the fireworks.  I forgot how cool fireworks were.  They are so much better when you've got a kid oohing and ahing on your lap. 

Now it's off to Chicago.  I hope I can get a run today.

The kids and I took the el downtown to Millenium park.  Even though we didn't wear our suits, I let the kids play in the water sculptures for a bit.  Compared to all the other kids, my kids were glowing white (I make them wear swimshirts to protect that blinding white skin).

I liked this one because at first glance Eli looks like he doesn't have a leg.

Then we took some other pictures, including some of our reflections in the bean. I look tired, but I think it's just the shadows.

My dad is the one wearing the Sox hat that he got for free in 1989.  I don't know why it's yellow, but you can't see that it says "Vienna Beef" on the side.

A nice and easy 3 in the mid morning heat.  It seems like it is going to be hotter and more humid this week.  Boo hoo.

Another morning run at my mom's.  It was sweaty, but felt better than yesterday.  I ran a little faster too.  Then it was off to the zoo for some zoo "fun" with the kids and the neighbor kid. 

I hate the zoo.

Yesterday I went to visit a dear friend with the kids while my brother and husband celebrated their love for one another and for roller coasters at their annual Great America trip.  It was a pretty fun day for everyone.  The kids and I swam and played all day.  Chuck and Greg enjoyed waiting in huge lines for rides that lasted 1 minute.  Then when we got home we ordered the best pizza ever, Dr. Pizza.  I didn't go running because there was a surprise party going on for one of my mom's neighbors and I chose to hang out there instead.

So I'm back at home for this run.  I ran alone for 3.8 miles in a roundabout way to my sister in law's.  Then the kids ran with me back while Chuck followed behind.  The kids ran the first 1/4 mile, then we all walked for a 1/2 mile, and then we raced the last 1/4 mile home.  I let Caleb win.

I ran before a late dinner.  Stayed in the neighborhood and ran 3.3 by myself.  Then the kids wanted to run with me, so we ran around the block.  Caleb's pants kept falling down, so it was basically me running to the corner with Eli following not too far behind, and then a small wait while Caleb caught up.

Today we spent the whole day cleaning and organizing.  There is nothing like a clean, neat house.

Too bad it will last until approximately 10 tomorrow morning.  I give it about an hour after we come home from church before it is destroyed by our little monkeys...

This run was uneventful.  I went slow and enjoyed the run.

JURY DUTY!

Man was that a long day of nothing!  And then I had to drive 1.5 hours to class as soon as that was over.  The angel and the devil sat on my shoulder and argued over whether I should run when I got back (at 9 pm).  I'm not sure which one won, but I didn't run :)

I had to report for jury duty again this morning.  Spent the morning in a courtroom--didn't get called for questioning.  But I did not have to stay for the afternoon.  Have to go in again tomorrow...

It rained this morning, so it was a little cooler today, but still in the 80s.  I ran slow.  It wasn't bad.

I had to show up to jury duty again, but after 1.5 hours they sent us home, as the case we were called in for was settled.  I'm done now with jury duty. 

And this is in response to Joe's comment from yesterday:  call me crazy, but I'd rather do jury duty over the summer. I hate missing work--subs never do lessons the way I want them done, and inevitably I have some "cleaning up" to do when I get back.  Plus I can't get grading done at home, so I get behind in my grading if I miss.  I was originally summoned last October, but I was able to reschedule because it was the week of sectionals.  So I chose the summer.  I am glad, though, that I wasn't chosen for a jury.

I kept checking the weather in the evening, and it kept saying "Feels like 105."  "Feels like 107."  So I waited till dark to run.  

Treadmill run while the kids played in the hotel pool.  I was eager to be done so I could get in and play too!

Another treadmill run while the kids were in the pool.  Worked out with my niece, Courtney.

I've been away, so now I'm catching up on entries.  We were in Wisconsin this weekend visiting family.  We had a lot of fun.

Sat. I ran outside after 2 days of treadmills.  My garmin died on me partway out, but I'm sure I ran at least 3 miles.  It was warm.  I ran in the a.m., but it was still over 80.  The previous two days were almost 100.

In the afternoon we had our family reunion at a park in Fon Du Lac.  The kids and I had fun doing kid stuff.  We went out in a paddle boat on the channels that lead to Lake Winnebago.  Since they were no help I had to recruit their Uncle Shannon to go with us.

I'm behind on everyone's blogs and I'll catch up just in time to go on vacation again on Friday.  We usually travel during the summer, but this summer our traveling has been more than normal.  Next week's vacation is the last before Chuck starts work again and I start doing my practicum.  Summer's almost over :(

It rained, so we experienced a pretty nice temperature drop.  Ahhhh...

It rained again today on and off.  The kids and I played outside forever this morning because it was so wonderfully cool.  Usually we don't have that kind of stamina.  We even played outside in the rain--it wasn't pouring, just a nice cool rain.

I took advantage of the cooler temps and ran in the afternoon.  It was still in the high 70s, but it was cloudy so it didn't feel nearly as hot.  It started to rain the last 1.5 miles and it felt wonderful.

I'm here.  I'm running in new shoes (yay) and in ungodly heat (boo).  I will catch up on blogs when I return on Aug. 1.  I feel like a bad blogger.