Busy Day/Week...

This week will be kind of busy, but especially today. We have laundry intermixed with fixing meals and getting things ready for our trip. We are planning a trip to the Ozark Mountains so that I can get some mountain training in. The "hills" here in central Illinois just aren't cutting it. Okay, so me getting hill training isn't the main reason we are going to the Ozark Mountains, but I am looking forward to the side benefits of getting to tackle hills to the like you would never see here.

We are actually going to see family and introduce B-Town to his Great-Grandparents, as well as, have a shower and enjoy some "real" Mexican food. The Mexican food is one thing G has missed immensely since leaving the area. I am convinced it is her form of comfort food.

This will be our first big trip with B-Town. This makes me nervous about how he will do in the car for an extended period of time. Personally, I compare it to the short 10 to 15 minute car rides around town and think "oh he'll do fine." Like our trips in town are comparable to 6 hours on the road. Some how I don't think they will be comparable at all, but I remain hesitantly optimistic.

As is usually the case whenever I travel, I try to pick out routes that I can run at my destination and, if need be, utilize Map My Run to make my own routes. I usually end up doing the same route once or twice while there and probably need to branch out a little and switch my route. My main route has an ascent/descent of 476 feet, which, will be good for one or two runs, but would kill me if I tried more than that.

Another thing I do when I travel is look for races that will be in the area around the time we will be there. The only races I found would be in Spgfld on a Saturday morning when we will probably be wanting to finish the trip down to her parents. This makes it a plausible idea for me, but realistically, it probably isn't meant to be. Since we will be near her parents during the week, I just confirmed there were no races during the week, which, there hardly ever are (in case you were wondering) and called it good.

It will be a nice week off of work visiting family and running hills

Company Run Volunteer...

This morning was my first time volunteering for the season. It was a company sponsored 5k/1Mile/Kids fun run event. It is actually the third year in a row I have helped with this race and I keep coming back because it is so much fun. I must say I love running in races, but volunteering is where you really get to interact with people have a good time.

Specifically, I helped with the finish line. I helped setup the big clock over the chute for people to run under and setup the ropes to keep people going in the right direction after they have finished. The whole time we are giving each other a hard time about everything. During the actual race, as in years past, I was designated to run the Time Machine. No, not that kind of time machine (but that would be cool). It is a machine that records the times of people by having the user (me in this case) type in the runners bib number and hit enter. I know what you are thinking, what if there is a group of people? In that case just hitting enter will record a time and the number will be entered in later from the bib tab that is ripped off of the bottom of each runners bib. I ran the "machine" for both the 5k and the 1 mile runs.

I slipped out a little before the kids fun run so that I could spend some more time with B-Town and because I knew that G was probably ready for some down time. On the way home I stopped at our local grocery store and purchased some sausage, eggs, and biscuits. Obviously, I made biscuits and gravy with eggs, and yes, they were awesome.

Tomorrow I am looking at a long run with a side of mowing the lawn post-run. Should be a good day, especially if B-Town sleeps well tonight. Speaking of which...Good Night!

Nipple Stand...

Considering how everyone who reads my blog loves it when I talk about taping nipples, I thought I would share some more...and...let the hilarity ensue...

Baby I was born to run...

As many of my vast readership (2 or 3 people) know, I am a new dad as of May 12, 2009 at 11:15 p.m. I can't believe how much it changes the way I look at things. To know that I am now responsible for another human being, is the scariest thing in the world. Additionally, no matter how he turns out I know it is, at least partially, my fault.

For the purposes of this blog I will call him B-town

Being a new father also has influenced my running. For instance on my first run after B-town's birth every thing and every person made me think of him. For instance I saw a mother with her kids on bikes. Obviously, some day I envisioned myself in that lady's shoes. Later, on my way back I saw a baby rabbit frolicking or running. This made me think of him running some day. This is a lead into an email response I got from a running friend. She asked if I had registered B-town for the Kids Run for Fun event on Friday nights. Obviously, I hadn't, but I am guessing this will be one of the first ways in which I share my love of running and I am looking forward to it.