I Heart Tiger Balm

Today was the Downers Grove 10 miler—and I rocked!!

Of course I was slower than most, but I didn’t get lapped until Mile 4…not bad! I finished the race in 2:05: ish (will update when times are posted). That’s a 12:30 mile pace. I was just happy to finish! But when I saw the finish clock, I was so happy with my time! This is the farthest distance I’ve ever run!

It was a course with some rolling hills. Some of them I needed to walk up (along with the water stops), but for the most part, I ran the majority of the race. Really, the biggest problem was the squished cicadas making parts of the course slippery... and the grossness of one hitting me in the face while I was running (EW!--pay no attention, to that earlier post, I've seen 'em--they can go away now!)

This race really makes me feel better about the half marathon. I just need to keep up with my training and I’m feeling pretty confidant I won’t embarrass myself!

And now, I’m so ready for next year’s Soldier Field 10 Mile! I want to do it because it finishes on the 50 yard line of my beloved Bears Stadium…I guarantee you, after I cross that finish line I’ll be making grass angels on the field! :)

Thanks, Barb for the countless pep-talks and awesome Running Mix!! I couldn’t have done it with out you! And thanks to Mom and Jack for waiting at the finish line to cheer me on…it got a little lonely out there!! And of course to Tiger Balm…for making my legs just a little less achy.

Up in my grill!

It’s a sad day in my world…I’ve had to say goodbye to an old friend…my grill died. I’ve had it for at least eight years, and it’s been faithful through many a party and Superbowl. It was a hand-me down grill, that had quite a long life. Sure, it’s been slow the last couple of years (on life support, if you will) but it’s finally gone to that big barbeque in the sky…

A moment of silence please.

Life goes on, and I still crave grilled meat…so I headed to the ‘Po (Home Depot, for those of you non-native Bethie speakers) for a new back yard friend. So many to choose from, but I finally decided on a four-burner, silver Char-Broil with side burner.

Some assembly is required...

Ok, a LOT of assembly…

They sent this “castor wrench” which totally sucked. Thank God I have my own tools…which are much superior.

And my drill made assembly go all the quicker!

What’s this Spider Warning?!?! You know I have issues with things with more than four legs! My grill needs to be spider free!

Here she is, in all her glory!!

Thanks to Becca for my new Chicago Bears Grilling utensils…check out that flipper with the etched bear face!!

Mmmm…Burgers! (Check out those grill marks!)

They were eventually cheeseburgers, but they didn’t last long enough to photograph.

Yeah, bad ass new grill!

Up One

Periodically I get updates on my Season Ticket Status. Basicly, it's the letter that says, 'Sorry, chump, you still gotta wait!' I always get so excited when I see it because I think I must have moved up in the last few months. This time, I didn't move up quite so much...I went from 2572 to.... (drumroll please)...2571.

Thank you, Chicago Bears for keeping me in the loop.

((sigh)) Someday, those tickets will be mine. Oh yes, they will be mine!

Where are they?

It's been 17 year since they've made their last apperance, and yet I haven't seen even one. It's the year of the Cicada. I haven't heard or seen one of those little buggers. With all the hype, I have to say, I'm a little disappointed! I hear in other areas of the city they're quite the problem...shoveling them off driveways, gulls investing neighborhoods looking for a tasty treat...my area? NOTHING.

Anyone have any good cicada stories? 'Cuz, I don't!

More things I do...

On Sunday, I completed my first 10K... I discovered what people mean when they say they hit the wall...that was between miles 4 and 5 for me. Anywho, I finished!! 1:21:33 which was a sad 13:10 mile spit, but for the record I wasn't in last place even for my age group. (close, but not dead last!)

And now, I've done something stupid...you've heard me say this before, and this time it's more stupid. I registered for the Chicago Distance Classic. It's a half marathon downtown. EEK! It's just 10 weeks away... Training plan...need to find a training plan...

Barb, what have you done to me?!!

Spider Bitten

I was logging on to check my e-mail when I noticed this article on MSN. It’s about the Chilean equivalent of the black widow spider. Apparently, while the bite can be fatal to children and the elderly, the spider’s venom also causes erections that can last for several days. Authorities are looking in to the obvious uses for this as a competition to Viagra and Cialias.

This is so bizarre! Granted I’m freaked out by anything with more than four legs, I can’t imagine relying on an arachnid to ensure sexual function. I get the whole “better living through chemistry” thing, and I realize that most medicines are derived from natural compounds, but spider venom?--sounds too voodoo to me.

Furthermore, thinking about the black market potential sounds awful! Currently, people head to Canada for cheaper prescription drugs, how much more weird is it going to be when I hear Grandpa say that he’s hopping on a bus to Chile! And what about dealers…walking around with jars with wholes punched in them with the actually spider inside—Ick! Or even worse, having a bogus spider in the jar that would either kill you or do nothing (I’m not a man, so I can’t weigh in as to which is worse.).

On the other hand, the marketing potential is amazing! If Ditka is the spokes man for Cialias, this drug would have to use your friendly neighborhood Spider Man. Imagine the connotations behind getting webbed! And the obvious choice for a nemesis in this case would be Sandman, due to the sands of time image with things just “slipping away”(I know Barb’s picturing the “Melty Man” from Coupling).

I’m not sure how I feel about this whole thing. I guess if I needed the drug and it worked and didn’t know where it came from… Maybe this could convince male lawmakers to help save the rainforests…it’s certainly an interesting angle (Save the Rainforests and Save your Erection!). I guess it’s proof that you never know where new drugs could be discovered!