tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30818722318551222102024-03-19T02:18:05.823-05:00Out and AboutWhere life takes me in my running shoes and beyond.emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.comBlogger530125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-85506332730044626162017-04-05T13:40:00.000-05:002017-04-05T13:40:35.248-05:00Saturday Night SneakeasyLife has been pure madness over the last few weeks. On top of me hitting the 22-week mark in my pregnancy last weekend, Adam and I recently bought a new residence while simultaneously selling our current one. We are now preparing to move to a new neighborhood next month. And since life always hurls everything at you all at once, we've both also been slammed with work while having to deal with a plethora of other rising "adventures." Hence, why blogging has taken a backseat for me yet again these days.<br />
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On a most positive note, my pregnancy has been progressing smoothly, which has been an enormous relief. More on that later. For now, my gratitude is growing for any moments when I can take a deep breath!<br />
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Let's shift gears and talk about some running soirees. Nike Chicago has a history of hosting some of the most amazing events I've ever experienced (e.g. the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/08/nike-unlimited-chicago-decathlon-recap.html">Nike Unlimited Decathlon</a>, <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2014/07/meeting-rita-jeptoo.html">getting to meet an elite marathoner</a>, and an <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2012/11/an-nfl-inspired-workout-at-soldier-field.html">NFL-inspired workout at Soldier Field</a>). Whenever the word comes out that they've got something up their sleeves, they always get my full and undivided attention.<br />
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Two weekends ago, I learned through the Windy City Bloggers Collective that Nike Chicago was hosting a Sneakeasy party (clever name, eh?). The occasion was to commemorate the launch of Nike's new Air VaporMax running shoe. I was intrigued that the festivities were scheduled to start at 9:30 PM on a Saturday night. It had to be a blockbuster event for a timeslot like that, right?<br />
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I arrived at Nike Bucktown that Saturday night to see hordes of runners gathered around socializing amidst a deejay blasting music. It already felt like a party.<br />
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The group would be going on a 2-mile fun-run to an as-yet undisclosed location, where a post-run party would be taking place. All the attendees were given the opportunity to wear-test the new Air VaporMax shoes, so I definitely took advantage.<br />
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Check out the soles on these babies:<br />
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Nike's Air shoe series were previously designed with midsole between the air and your foot, as well as a sole underneath the air pockets. In this new design, the midsole and protective bottom sole have both been removed so the shoe is all Air. (Who comes up with these concepts!?!?!?)<br />
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As we were waiting to depart, lots of runners were taking photos in front of this tongue-in-cheek backdrop. I joined in:<br />
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Admittedly, I had been hesitant about participating in the run due to being pregnant and having barely logged 10 miles during 2017. To put it bluntly, I no longer felt like a true runner. Being surrounded by that crowd made me feel like a complete and total fraud. But since I was dressed in full running gear and runners come in all shapes and sizes, I tried to remind myself that nobody could pick me out as a laggard.<br />
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While the group was filing out into the street, I still considered surreptitiously breaking away and either taking public transit or riding a Divvy bike to the post-run party. But ultimately I got swept up in the excitement of the crowd. I genuinely did want to test the new shoes, and I figured I could probably handle two miles. So I gave in and joined the forces, albeit nervously.<br />
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The group of runners hit the streets in a big way. We drew lots of stares as we passed countless Saturday night revelers. Lots of cars honked their horns at us, and many folks yelled, "Run, Forrest, run!" or other similar sentiments at us. It was comical and everyone took the comments in stride (literally).<br />
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I won't kid you, at the outset, the running felt awful to me. Almost immediately my out-of-rhythm body was screaming at me for putting it through the now-foreign exertion. Normally during a run, I get frustrated when I have to keep stopping for traffic or red lights. This night, I was grateful for every break I could get to catch my breath.<br />
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I didn't talk to anyone during the run because I was too out of breath. But I did listen to the runner-chatter surrounding me, mostly about upcoming and past races. Again, it made me feel like an outsider. I had been worried about being the slowest runner in the pack, so I was glad the group spanned a wide range of running capabilities. I never found my rhythm during the entire two-mile run, which seemed to take forever. Thankfully I did start feeling a little better after the first mile. As I've said before, running while pregnant is truly no joke.<br />
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All of my running imperfections aside - the Air VaporMax shoes were fun to wear! They felt very light and springy. The upper was very form-fitting, and were as close to wearing socks as I've ever experienced in a pair of running shoes. The design would take some getting used to since it's so different from what I currently wear, but I loved the cushioning. You are literally running on air.<br />
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I had gear-checked my own running shoes in exchange for the wear-test pair. Since the new shoes were so fun, I will admit the thought crossed my mind to just nonchalantly walk out in them and leave my old shoes behind. ;-) But of course, I did reluctantly give the Nikes back.<br />
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The post-run party took place at a venue in West Town named Event Creative. The space featured running-inspired designs and art from local designers. Here are some of my favorites:<br />
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Being that this was a Nike-hosted event, there were lots of product displays and photo/shopping ops:<br />
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When I say party, I should really describe the event as a nightclub. There was an open bar, plus passed drinks and hors d'oeuvres. (Obviously I didn't partake in any of the alcohol, but when it came to the food I stuffed myself!) There was also a stage with live entertainment.<br />
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Many other folks who hadn't run with the group were lined up outside the venue waiting to get in. I saw groups of them coming in, and they were all dressed to the nines in their Saturday night club attire. The place was so packed that it became challenging to walk around.<br />
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Nike Chicago really knows how to throw a party for a new product launch! They obviously have quite the loyal following to draw such an enormous crowd on a Saturday night. Many thanks to them for hosting yet another incredible event and treating all the attendees like VIPs. I am already looking forward to their next event (and hopefully next time I'll feel more like my old self)!emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-75793548674351241082017-03-13T18:07:00.001-05:002017-03-13T18:18:33.900-05:00Life lately - 19 weeks pregnantI hit the 19-week mark of my pregnancy yesterday. Many pregnancy resources describe the baby as now being the size of a mango.<br />
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As I mentioned previously, I do not intend to turn this blog into a baby blog. I certainly understand not everyone wants to read about it. Today, however, please humor me as I wanted to share a few details on my experience so far.<br />
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<b>How have you been feeling?</b><br />
Over the last month or two, I've been feeling really good. Many times I feel so normal that I forget I'm pregnant! I do get tired more easily, though. I've been sleeping longer hours and taking more naps than usual. I have occasionally experienced increased shortness of breath during physical activity - most notably when I am climbing stairs.<br />
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<b>Did you have any morning sickness?</b><br />
No nausea or vomiting, thankfully. However, between Weeks 6-9 I had major loss of appetite, which is extremely atypical for me. I also had a heightened sense of smell, upper body soreness, and got a little lightheaded if I had to stand up too quickly or for too long. I was happy when all of these symptoms started dissipating around Week 10.<br />
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<b>Are you showing yet?</b><br />
I would say no, or at least not to the untrained eye. My pants are feeling tighter but I can still fit into all of my clothes. So far my total weight gain has been about 7 pounds. I've consistently been at the low end of the recommended weekly weight gain ranges (note that this has NOT been for lack of eating, especially after Week 10).<br />
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<b>Are you still running/working out? Do you plan to run throughout your pregnancy?</b><br />
I'm trying to stay as active as possible, and have been working out in some capacity at least 4-5 days a week. I've been walking, lifting (lighter weights than before), stationary biking, and doing yoga, Zumba, and barre classes.<br />
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Running has become a no-go. It feels like too much for my body right now. One exception was a few weeks ago when the weather was VERY unseasonably warm. The nearly summer-like temperatures motivated me to break a then-5-week running drought. I ran 3 extremely slow miles (i.e. at a pace between 90-120 seconds per mile slower than my pre-pregnancy pace). It was truly all I could handle. I haven't tried again ever since. I am doubtful about trying again until after I deliver.<br />
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Kudos to all of you who continue running during your pregnancies. It really is no joke.<br />
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<b>Do you have any food cravings? Do you miss anything?</b><br />
I've gone through phases of craving watermelon, cream cheese, chips and hummus, lemon, and pizza (although, pizza is nothing unusual). There was a time period during which I couldn't get enough bread or pasta - yet that has surprisingly waned. I'd like to believe my body is naturally regulating my carb intake since I'm not running these days. But who am I kidding - my historic dietary patterns strongly suggest otherwise. ;-P<br />
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I really miss eating sushi. Every time I walk by my favorite neighborhood sushi restaurant, I feel wistful. I've had to be careful about the cold deli meats whenever my office brings sandwiches in for lunch. Recently, I've had several instances where I unhappily avoided poached eggs.<br />
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<b>Are you feeling any movement?</b><br />
Yes!!! I feel lots of little flutters and twinges. They are most noticeable when I'm sitting at my desk or on the couch, or when I'm lying in bed at night. When I put my hand on my belly, I've caught some little kicks against my palm. Adam has managed to catch a few of them, too. It's exciting! And since my belly hasn't grown much, the movements are also very reassuring that things are happening in there. =)<br />
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<b>What are you looking forward to right now?</b><br />
Adam and I are heading out soon for a babymoon! Plus, I am anxiously awaiting my next ultrasound in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to see how much progress has occurred since our last "look-in" around Week 13!emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-57537940972985590372017-03-02T13:22:00.000-06:002017-03-02T16:49:13.871-06:00Museum HacksBefore I get started today, thank you to everyone for the wonderful comments and responses to <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-wheel-in-sky-keeps-on-turning.html">my pregnancy news</a>! I am humbled and grateful for all of your heartwarming support!<br />
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I had full intentions of getting back to at least a semi-regular blogging schedule, but that obviously hasn't happened yet. I have been slammed with work and various baby-related preparations, among other things. But I'll talk more about all of that another time.</div>
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Today, let's talk about some cool city explorations! Two weekends ago, my friend Helen was in town from Seoul, and came to visit. We had a great time scurrying around town amidst some unseasonably warm weather.<br />
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One of the weekend's adventures included attending a Museum Hack tour at the Art Institute of Chicago. The tour was an incredibly fun and unique experience and I have been wanting to talk about it ever since!</div>
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The <a href="https://museumhack.com/">Museum Hack website</a> describes the tours as "<i>...not your grandmother's museum tour</i>" and "<i>Museum tours... for people who don't like museums</i>." Excellent descriptions. I would also describe the tour as an expertly thought-out blend of history/culture, interactive/improv games, and discovery.</div>
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The tour groups are limited to a maximum of nine people per tour guide. In my opinion, this is the perfect size. It's small enough to allow personal group interaction without being overwhelmed, but not so small that you feel like you are under a microscope. Here's a picture of our group as we were getting underway:</div>
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Our guide, Mark, is the gentleman just to the right of center wearing the dark jacket and glasses. Mark is an improv artist in Chicago (incidentally, he and I know several of the same folks who perform at ComedySportz and Second City!) His demeanor was perfect for the festivities - he was energetic, humorous, knowledgeable, engaging, understanding, and enthusiastic.<br />
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Mark began by describing how there were thousands of underground or background stories behind the museum's artwork displays. He had spent countless hours researching and learning these stories, and would be sharing a few of them with us.<br />
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For example, these pieces generated stories about the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright:<br />
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We learned about how Wright's home was destroyed by not one, but two fires, one resulting in the death of his mistress and two of her children.<br />
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As another example, we learned about how the images conveyed in this piece inspired actor Bill Murray to forgo a planned suicide attempt (!!!!!!):<br />
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All of the stories were very interesting, of course. However, I was thinking the entire 2-hour tour would consist of us going from painting to painting just listening to different stories. Admittedly, I wasn't sure I had that long of an attention span. Being pregnant, I was also concerned about being able to keep up with all the walking, stair-climbing, and standing involved.<br />
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MARK TO THE RESCUE!!!<br />
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The tour went WAY beyond listening to stories. We started having fun group discussions and playing a variety of interactive and interpretive games. There were way too many to describe here, so I'll share just a few examples.<br />
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In one gallery, Mark had everyone pick out our favorite character depictions in a painting, then try to physically copy them as a group. The gallery was packed, but he told us not to worry because the crowds would eventually move aside and let us pose together. He was right! Here's our masterpiece:<br />
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In a quieter display wing, we were asked to look at painting titles, then come up with a dance to illustrate a title of our choice. I chose a painting entitled "Head" (unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it). My illustration was a personal reprise of the SNL Roxbury Guys dancing to "What is Love." E.g.:<br />
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<i>(Do you all remember those skits? I had forgotten how hysterically funny they were and still are!!!)</i><br />
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The rest of the group came up with similarly comical moves and we took turns demonstrating and duplicating each other using some quietly-played music from Mark's phone. (A security guard in charge of that wing saw us, of course, but didn't say anything. We noted she was clearly trying to hold back her laughter. =D )<br />
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We found a creepy statue and humorously theorized on all of its elements, what it represented, and what precipitated the artist to come up with the design. We also noted the statue bore an eerily similar likeness to Mark:<br />
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One last example - we went into a wing of statues which Mark entitled "the goddess wing." We were each asked to find the statue that most spoke to us, then pose with it. Here are the pictures that both Helen and I took with our respective choices:<br />
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Again, there were so many other examples of fun activities we did using the museum's displays that I'm not sharing here for sake of brevity - but you get the idea on how interactive it was!<br />
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Mark told us, <i>"This is YOUR museum. When you hack a museum, YOU control the experience you have inside and the fun you want to have. You make it out to be whatever you want it to be!" </i>You got it, buddy. Truer words have never been spoken. =)<br />
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After our tour, Helen and I went back to a couple of the places we discovered as part of the tour group. For example, the group had visited the Ando gallery, which is a dark room with 16 columns as a traditional element of Japanese architecture. This gallery is intended to be a transitional space to help visitors relax:<br />
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Mark mentioned many visitors bypass this gallery, but those that do find it tend to go back multiple times. True to his word, Helen and I both wanted to enjoy the quietness of this gallery in more detail the second time.<br />
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Of course, Helen and I couldn't resist popping into a few other exhibits, too, like the paperweights exhibit (who comes up with ideas for these types of exhibits!?!?!?) Here's a shot of us in front of one of the display cases:<br />
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All in all, the Museum Hack tour was a blast! I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I thoroughly enjoyed being able to visit and enjoy a museum in a whole new way. I've mentioned many times how much I love exploring the depths of my hometown Chicago, and this tour was exactly the type of local, get-under-the-surface, off-the-beaten-path experience that I am always looking for.<br />
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Many thanks to Museum Hack for such an awesome experience! Big cheers to learning that museums do NOT have to be boring or stuffy if you know what approach to take! I'll never visit a museum the same way ever again. =)</div>
emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-34113944407322342942017-02-20T10:12:00.000-06:002017-02-20T10:55:26.800-06:00The wheel in the sky keeps on turningHello, friends!<br />
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It's been a long time since I last published a blog post - almost 11 weeks, to be exact. Today I am finally back and ready to explain my nearly 3-month absence from the blogosphere. Are you all ready for a boatload of lame excuses and the awards that come along with those lame excuses?<br />
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I'll just cut to the chase.<br />
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I am pregnant. Adam and I are going to be first-time parents this summer.<br />
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Many times it's hard for me to believe it. I am feeling a lot of emotions, but most predominately I am an ever-changing mixture of extremely excited and eye-poppingly terrified.<br />
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When I've shared the news with folks in person, here are the first questions I've usually been asked (along with my responses):<br />
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<b>How far along are you?</b><br />
As of yesterday, I was 16 weeks. The time has gone by both quickly and slowly for me, depending how I think about it.<br />
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<b>When is your due date?</b><br />
August 6, 2017. Hurray for summer babies! (Incidentally, I have the exact same due date as <a href="http://gettogoal-amanda.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a> - how cool is that!?!?!?! We've already been sharing and comparing notes. =) )<br />
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<b>Do you know the baby's gender and/or are you going to find out?</b><br />
Adam and I just found out a few weeks ago that the baby has a Y-chromosome. Translation: There will be a lot of blue in the near future because...<br />
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<i><b>Going back to the early weeks...</b></i><br />
The pregnancy came as a TOTALLY unexpected surprise. I found out in early December and was in complete shock for several days. The reality didn't truly hit me until Adam and I went to our first ob-gyn prenatal check-up and saw the live, moving image on the ultrasound.<br />
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The body's ability to create life is amazing. My entire perspective on life has now changed.<br />
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<i><b>About my blog silence...</b></i><br />
I wanted to follow suit with the common practice of keeping quiet until reaching the second trimester. Needless to say, it was difficult. There was and is so much to think about how drastically the baby is going to change our lives. It will impact family, friends, health, career, finances, where we're living, etc., etc., etc. I couldn't bring myself to blog without talking about any of these things - it felt so disingenuous. Therefore, I opted to step away for awhile.<br />
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I once heard a friend say that anytime someone is unusually quiet on social media, it's always because they are trying to hide something. Yes, this was true for me.<br />
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In any event - I am happy to finally share the news with all of you! It is not my intention to turn this blog into a baby blog, but I will definitely share some updates here and there.<br />
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On that note - in the past several of you have previously undergone and blogged about your pregnancy journeys, and at the time I always skimmed through those posts. NOW I have been going back and rereading all of your pregnancy posts in enraptured delight! =) Funny how life changes, eh?<br />
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Much more to come!!!emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-48081847770349440682016-12-05T23:06:00.000-06:002016-12-05T23:06:00.752-06:002016 PNC YMCA Turkey Trot race recapThis year marked my fifth consecutive running of the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot in Pittsburgh. It has become an annual Thanksgiving Day tradition.<br />
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Admittedly, I came close to breaking the streak this year. I didn't arrive in Pittsburgh until very late the night before. I considered not even signing up due to the quick logistical turnaround required. Then, the meteorologists predicted rain on race morning, which made me consider DNSing. However, I've always enjoyed this race and I think it sets a good tone for the day- so ultimately I followed through.<br />
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The festivities include a 1-miler, a 5K, and a 5-miler. I did the 5-miler only.<br />
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On race day, Adam and I arrived just as the 5K was getting underway. It was fun to watch. Unfortunately, I eventually had to Frogger my way through the running masses since I needed to do race-day packet pickup.<br />
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Packet pickup was a breeze, and there were no lines at the portapotties. Excellent.<br />
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As I was waiting for the 5-miler to start, I noticed the organizers were blasting fantastic 80s music over the loudspeakers. It helped energize me. When this old classic came on, I shamelessly broke into the best Wahlberg-esque moves I could muster:<br />
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Next, I got a couple of pre-race photos:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the ever-iconic bridges</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mazeroski">Bill Mazeroski</a> statue</td></tr>
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Time to start. Shortly after I got underway, I saw Adam stationed at the side of the road with his phone. This was an opportunity for a <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/05/nobody-asked-me-but.html">jumping pose</a>. Yeah!!!<br />
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The result wasn't <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/runfessions-race-photo-edition.html">horrible</a>. But again it didn't come out <i>quite</i> the way I hoped:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I look like I'm doing Wahlberg-type moves while on the run?</td></tr>
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Ah well.<br />
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Having run this Turkey Trot so many times, I knew the course well. I elected to run without my phone, which felt surprisingly invigorating. It enabled me to focus entirely on all the sights and sounds without thinking about photo opps, text messages, etc.<br />
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This was the first running I'd done since the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/rock-n-roll-las-vegas-half-marathon.html">Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half</a>, so I wasn't sure what the paces would feel like. At the very least, I wanted to break 50 minutes.<br />
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Within the first half-mile, my Garmin said my pace was around a 9-minute mile. The idea momentarily crossed my mind that if I kept the pace up, I could attempt a sub-45. Then, a 9:00 pacer blew by me, which immediately brought me back down to reality. He passed with so much alacrity, it reminded me of this:<br />
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Either the pacer was going way too fast, or my Garmin was off-kilter. Either way, it was an easy decision to slow down and refocus on enjoying the course atmosphere.<br />
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My favorite parts of the course, as always, were the bridges. In previous Turkey Trot renditions, I've felt the bridge inclines quite acutely. With this in mind, I braced myself each time I approached. What a pleasant surprise to find the inclines didn't bother me at all. The <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-hills-are-alive.html">hill training</a> I did earlier this year apparently had stronger staying power than anticipated, woo hoo!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JtejdJV3WeA/Vyf8YH0F9SI/AAAAAAAANuE/zrNlx0M2xt00XKGSt5EIRhnIh3CTbENgwCPcB/s1600/Yinz%2BRun%2BLike%2BJagoffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JtejdJV3WeA/Vyf8YH0F9SI/AAAAAAAANuE/zrNlx0M2xt00XKGSt5EIRhnIh3CTbENgwCPcB/s320/Yinz%2BRun%2BLike%2BJagoffs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Pittsburghese, as seen on several runners' shirts, just seemed appropriate to say here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Around Mile 3, I spotted Molly and Julie on the course and shouted a hello. I saw them a second time around 4.25, and shouted another hello. Always so uplifting to see friends on the course!<br />
<br />
With about a half-mile to go, I saw Adam again. Time to attempt another jumping pose. Check out the action stream he captured:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm0BTZ4Tzgg/WEXNxDFH41I/AAAAAAAAP1E/kOu4MyqnJDQNMIj2s5paloeHV0MpkRBfgCLcB/s1600/Turkey%2BTrot%2Breel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nm0BTZ4Tzgg/WEXNxDFH41I/AAAAAAAAP1E/kOu4MyqnJDQNMIj2s5paloeHV0MpkRBfgCLcB/s640/Turkey%2BTrot%2Breel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Still not quite there yet, but getting much closer - especially with #3!!! =D<br />
<br />
With less than a quarter mile to go, I saw a man ahead of me wearing a banana suit. I instantly decided I didn't want to be beaten by the banana. I turned on the jets as best as I could and did manage to pass him shortly before crossing the finish line. It's funny what kinds of random encounters end up motivating you, eh?<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QISvA5xwTVs/WAp3mvZw48I/AAAAAAAAPag/BUPCGiWnXtI-13-Zq6DCNqjLxIWsJNvpQCPcB/s1600/165968661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QISvA5xwTVs/WAp3mvZw48I/AAAAAAAAPag/BUPCGiWnXtI-13-Zq6DCNqjLxIWsJNvpQCPcB/s200/165968661.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
My official finishing time was <b>48:01</b>. Had I known how close I was to 48 minutes flat, I would have pushed a little harder to break 48. Even so, my time ended up being a course record for me by exactly 30 seconds. More importantly, my legs and lungs both felt really good throughout the duration. That was a nice morale boost.<br />
<br />
Adam and I ran into several friends afterwards, including our friend Jared (who we didn't even know was running!) It was wonderful to catch up.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0gcdNCi5YY/WEXRgsNeppI/AAAAAAAAP1M/RBxO5N3joYcNlWohhCMaTH1VkqBpcPbIgCLcB/s1600/Turkey%2BTrot%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0gcdNCi5YY/WEXRgsNeppI/AAAAAAAAP1M/RBxO5N3joYcNlWohhCMaTH1VkqBpcPbIgCLcB/s400/Turkey%2BTrot%2B8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R: Adam, me, and Jared<br />
Jared actually finished just a few seconds after I did, but surprisingly we never saw each other on the course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHB5LFNuOa4/WEXRmjlqm6I/AAAAAAAAP1Q/gdEDWlT46xU0UtKit30elElcXCUjvR4YACLcB/s1600/IMG_7040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHB5LFNuOa4/WEXRmjlqm6I/AAAAAAAAP1Q/gdEDWlT46xU0UtKit30elElcXCUjvR4YACLcB/s400/IMG_7040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian, Laurel, Julie, Adam, Hudson, me, Molly, Jacob</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In summary, I was very happy to run this race again. I love the festivity, the atmosphere, and the backdrop. It was a great way to close out my 2016 racing season. Let's get the streak to six next year!<br />
<br />
<b><i>With that... I now have exactly zero races on the future calendar! Let's see how long this lasts...!</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>--</i><br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://www.marciashealthyslice.com/">Marcia</a>, <a href="http://noguiltlife.com/">Patti</a>, and <a href="http://mcmmamaruns.com/">Erika</a> for Tuesdays on the Run.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-10016843447783414782016-12-04T13:47:00.000-06:002016-12-04T19:01:28.662-06:00Holiday festivities, Nov 21 - Dec 4 training, TV bingingHi friends! I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.<br />
<br />
I've been thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the winter holidays in Chicago. For example, earlier this week after work, I stopped by the Christkindlmarket, which I adore. I was walking around like a wide-eyed child in a winter wonderland.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hc4qNyGNCs/WERSmM494CI/AAAAAAAAPzY/t1oNPUoT5_8rONMy7NDRjwg-9Tk4qV8HwCLcB/s1600/Christkindlmarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Hc4qNyGNCs/WERSmM494CI/AAAAAAAAPzY/t1oNPUoT5_8rONMy7NDRjwg-9Tk4qV8HwCLcB/s400/Christkindlmarket.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.christkindlmarket.com/">Source</a></td></tr>
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Seeing all the German and Austria vendors reminded me of <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/09/waltzing-in-vienna.html">visiting Vienna</a> a few months ago. So much nostalgia! I even saw a vendor selling apfelstrudel, which was my favorite dish in Austria. I didn't buy any (not enough time), but you better believe I'll be back soon to indulge. Maybe multiple times!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN2lW8pZ92Y/V96dLaSdbnI/AAAAAAAAPGo/soCC1_nFIVESGvF8eXsfjawWxDOw4eUuACPcB/s1600/IMG_5741%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN2lW8pZ92Y/V96dLaSdbnI/AAAAAAAAPGo/soCC1_nFIVESGvF8eXsfjawWxDOw4eUuACPcB/s400/IMG_5741%255B1%255D.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flashback from the Naschmarkt in Vienna</td></tr>
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Also coming soon - I want to go ice skating at one of Chicago's outdoor rinks, see Lincoln Park Zoolights, visit the Holidays Around the World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, and go window shopping on Michigan Avenue. Time to make a list and check it twice... ;-)<br />
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Once again I am behind a week in recapping my workouts, so here are the last two weeks:<br />
<br />
<u><i><b>Nov 21 - Nov 27</b></i></u><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Yoga class, 30 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 30 minutes stationary cycling<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 40 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - PNC YMCA Turkey Trot (recap still to come)<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SUNDAY - </b>30 minutes stationary cycling<br />
<br />
<b><u><i>Nov 28 - Dec 4</i></u></b><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Rest (lots of walking in DC)<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 40 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Zumba class, Mobility 101 class<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 40 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Yoga class<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - Run 3 miles on treadmill<br />
<b>SUNDAY - </b>30 minutes stationary cycling<br />
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Last night was Adam's company's holiday party. The celebration was a blast. His colleagues are really good people and his company really knows how to rock out the night! The party was a much different atmosphere than what we were both accustomed to after working at accounting firms for a combined 25+ years.<br />
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Here is a picture of us:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUsk6Yms_eE/WERQYms3aYI/AAAAAAAAPzQ/uwcQcqfe4HwjgUpH2F7LJ1PC-goTg5nfgCLcB/s1600/Holiday%2Bparty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUsk6Yms_eE/WERQYms3aYI/AAAAAAAAPzQ/uwcQcqfe4HwjgUpH2F7LJ1PC-goTg5nfgCLcB/s400/Holiday%2Bparty.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are a few fun "photobooth" shots from the night:<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XgfgZxKG-7s/WERxeGzmFUI/AAAAAAAAP0I/RpADVB6g8nU9OuMlPjI9ip62eVcH7TkdACLcB/s1600/Rise%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XgfgZxKG-7s/WERxeGzmFUI/AAAAAAAAP0I/RpADVB6g8nU9OuMlPjI9ip62eVcH7TkdACLcB/s640/Rise%2Bcollage.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
The party venue was just a few blocks from where we live, so we had some of Adam's colleagues over beforehand for pre-party festivities. It was then that someone suggested we do a mannequin challenge. Yours truly volunteered to do the camerawork.<br />
<br />
If I do say so myself, I think the video turned out pretty decently. Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to present my triumphant debut as a mannequin challenge film director!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dWKJq8gN9ME/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dWKJq8gN9ME?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Thank you, thank you, please hold applause. =D<br />
<br />
Speaking of excellent videos - Adam's colleague, Deepthi, mentioned that the NBC show "This is Us" was fantastic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZwPOJvWUSM/WERaor1qqlI/AAAAAAAAPzo/PBqtOwJTB7MsQWV0_v6a47hiMx5eHpBeACLcB/s1600/NBC-This-Is-Us-AboutImage-1920x1080-KO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZwPOJvWUSM/WERaor1qqlI/AAAAAAAAPzo/PBqtOwJTB7MsQWV0_v6a47hiMx5eHpBeACLcB/s400/NBC-This-Is-Us-AboutImage-1920x1080-KO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nbc.com/">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The only thing I'd heard about the show was that it was devoid of the overscripted drama, violence, or action scenes that have become typical. Sounds good to me.<br />
<br />
On Friday night, Adam and I pulled up what was originally supposed to be a single episode via On Demand. It quickly degenerated into us binge-watching four episodes.<br />
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I think there are five more episodes before we are caught up. I fully anticipate getting through all remaining episodes by tomorrow at the very latest, and very possibly before tonight. It's so addictive!<br />
<br />
Who else is watching "This Is Us"? If so, please let me know so we can talk about it!<br />
<br />
<i>--</i><br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap, and with <a href="http://marathonsandmotivation.com/">Angela</a> and <a href="http://www.ilkasblog.com/">Ilka</a> for the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-65736568238168163752016-12-02T15:18:00.003-06:002016-12-04T10:43:57.823-06:00Coffee Talk - December editionHappy Friday, everyone! My calendar got hit by a bulldozer this past week so I'm playing catch-up on blogging yet again.<br />
<br />
I am linking up with <a href="http://www.fairytalesandfitness.com/">Fairytales and Fitness</a> and <a href="http://www.runningonhappy.com/">Running on Happy</a> for the Friday Five, and will be linking up with <a href="http://got2run4me.com/">Coco</a> and <a href="http://confessionsofamotherrunner.com/">Deborah</a> for the December edition of the Ultimate Coffee Date.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcgR3vHew18/WApgR6m5aSI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/YICLaC73QE8-Wvi5CPcv-Ha44TMIrDRfwCPcB/s1600/FriFive2.png"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcgR3vHew18/WApgR6m5aSI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/YICLaC73QE8-Wvi5CPcv-Ha44TMIrDRfwCPcB/s200/FriFive2.png" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVgo5qJm6Vw/V8YKAzelIwI/AAAAAAAAO4A/acaAExsdFGgjiskjPHQx1KorgUHdKXThACLcB/s1600/The-Ultimate-Coffee-Date2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVgo5qJm6Vw/V8YKAzelIwI/AAAAAAAAO4A/acaAExsdFGgjiskjPHQx1KorgUHdKXThACLcB/s200/The-Ultimate-Coffee-Date2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The Ultimate Coffee Date link-up asks, <i>"If we were having [insert choice of beverage here] together, I would tell you..."</i><br />
<br />
Here are five things I would share:<br />
<br />
<b>1) You are who your Facebook pictures say you are </b><br />
I enjoyed attending one of Adam's high school reunions with him last Friday night in Pittsburgh. At the event, the organizers had old yearbooks on hand to peruse. They also showed original video footage from senior prom, etc. It was a hoot to see how different the styles were back then! To sum it up in a single word:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>MULLETS!!!!!!!!</i></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8zswdbxY8E4/WEGnPmuUlPI/AAAAAAAAPxs/7NMD1fZIxpwydExdaooFMbMwbsq8PuPAgCLcB/s1600/Mullet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8zswdbxY8E4/WEGnPmuUlPI/AAAAAAAAPxs/7NMD1fZIxpwydExdaooFMbMwbsq8PuPAgCLcB/s320/Mullet.JPG" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaromir Jagr had a fantastic mullet!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mullets aside - Adam has told me a lot of stories about his classmates, so it was great to put faces to names. On the opposite side, when I would introduce myself to others, I received a very consistent response. Almost all of Adam's old classmates would invariably say to me, "I've seen pictures of you on Facebook - you're a runner!"<br />
<br />
WOW! I'm not sure which photos they all saw??? Obviously some are worse than others, <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/runfessions-race-photo-edition.html">as we already discussed</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHr1qazIvn4/WDXRtiWDGqI/AAAAAAAAPxI/JxlGDZjE8wUjO76_IuuDO57Qg_KNKnICQCPcB/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHr1qazIvn4/WDXRtiWDGqI/AAAAAAAAPxI/JxlGDZjE8wUjO76_IuuDO57Qg_KNKnICQCPcB/s400/RnR%2BVegas%2B2.JPG" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YEAH BABY!!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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The good news was that nobody ran away screaming and/or laughing (at least, not to my knowledge). So that was a relief. =)<br />
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<br />
In any event, I was both surprised and flattered at the consistency of the responses. I like being a runner, of course. (Incidentally, sometimes I like the <i>idea</i> of being a runner more than I actually like running - but that's a whole other story.) Through the magic of Facebook, I am happy to portray that image and be identified as such!<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>2) Weddings are fun</b></div>
<div>
Last Sunday, Adam and I attended the wedding of his cousin, Matthew, to Matthew's long-time girlfriend Teresa. It was my first time meeting Teresa in person, and she is very sweet. She and Matthew are perfect together. I am very happy for them!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The wedding festivities took place at Adam's aunt/uncle's house in Maryland. Everything was a blast. It was the first time I'd ever attended a wedding and reception at someone's home, and I loved how personal it felt.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Here are some snapshots:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgxbSY6iKog/WEGtnDiHxHI/AAAAAAAAPx4/F0LiW45EwskAdbt8IOsa8OEsd3F5IUC7ACLcB/s1600/IMG_7048.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LgxbSY6iKog/WEGtnDiHxHI/AAAAAAAAPx4/F0LiW45EwskAdbt8IOsa8OEsd3F5IUC7ACLcB/s400/IMG_7048.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ceremony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nxaFtAn4lkI/WEGtnP1GgNI/AAAAAAAAPx8/JmV1L24qz-4LDfFR2BBp18gQ9copZjhXwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7052.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nxaFtAn4lkI/WEGtnP1GgNI/AAAAAAAAPx8/JmV1L24qz-4LDfFR2BBp18gQ9copZjhXwCLcB/s400/IMG_7052.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridal party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekTheWF2uk0/WEGtnA-P-aI/AAAAAAAAPyA/7v2FbziHl70uSwAMzmKda1Rcr9EjgTcewCLcB/s1600/IMG_7053.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekTheWF2uk0/WEGtnA-P-aI/AAAAAAAAPyA/7v2FbziHl70uSwAMzmKda1Rcr9EjgTcewCLcB/s400/IMG_7053.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8c-b_lkzYO8/WEGttQQmoMI/AAAAAAAAPyE/kTluIDFsDWES1o8JdofBsMpPyHEA2Q9yQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7056.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8c-b_lkzYO8/WEGttQQmoMI/AAAAAAAAPyE/kTluIDFsDWES1o8JdofBsMpPyHEA2Q9yQCLcB/s400/IMG_7056.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the happy couple</td></tr>
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Congratulations and Mazel Tov to Matthew and Teresa!!!!!</div>
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<b>3) It's time to bake the doughnuts</b></div>
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I love doughnuts but rarely eat them since they are typically fried and not healthy. However, <a href="https://noodletotherescue.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a> has talked a few times about making homemade baked doughnuts, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amykuhs/">Amy</a> brought homemade baked doughnuts to book club last summer. All looked amazing!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rde4Xym2GfI/WEHVA1EOGaI/AAAAAAAAPyk/TudLTYzCsiM_LM4nucMcx4FOz78wCVP4QCLcB/s1600/donuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rde4Xym2GfI/WEHVA1EOGaI/AAAAAAAAPyk/TudLTYzCsiM_LM4nucMcx4FOz78wCVP4QCLcB/s400/donuts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My ears perked up at the concept of being able to control the ingredients and bake instead of frying. Therefore, yours truly has invested in a doughnut baking pan!!! It arrived in the mail earlier this week. I hope to test it out over the weekend.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbRw_eStPAw/WEG0RMA0diI/AAAAAAAAPyU/mgmkLwQC8v4SMY4Rzsvgl_YevYJT4I5QACLcB/s1600/Doughnut%2Bpan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbRw_eStPAw/WEG0RMA0diI/AAAAAAAAPyU/mgmkLwQC8v4SMY4Rzsvgl_YevYJT4I5QACLcB/s400/Doughnut%2Bpan.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Nonstick-6-Cavity-Donut-Pan/dp/B004CYELOQ">This</a> is the one I bought</td></tr>
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Homemade doughnut baking aficionados - if you have any recipes, suggestions, or tips, please share!</div>
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<b>4) All points, all the time</b></div>
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Recently, some coworkers talked about taking nice vacations by opening credit cards to obtain new-account specials. For example, one colleague said she received two free nights at a 5-star resort during peak season just for opening up a hotel-branded credit card.</div>
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I was intrigued by the stories. I asked how they found out about these deals. The answer: Reading blogs that are specifically focused on them.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cK7QIHGHrZw/WEHUjriroEI/AAAAAAAAPyg/0IfKZyP5Ojo23PpQdkD8qMkM_-WkAF4wACLcB/s1600/The%2BMore%2BYou%2BKnow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cK7QIHGHrZw/WEHUjriroEI/AAAAAAAAPyg/0IfKZyP5Ojo23PpQdkD8qMkM_-WkAF4wACLcB/s320/The%2BMore%2BYou%2BKnow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since then, I started reading <a href="http://www.thepointsguy.com/">The Points Guy</a>. I am a big fan! It keeps me up to speed on so many travel deals, and has taught me a lot about maximizing loyalty programs. Even for folks who don't travel a lot, it can be a real game changer! I really wish blogs like this existed back in the old days when I used to do a lot of business travel.</div>
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<b>5) Next year</b></div>
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I am completely, thoroughly, 1000% enjoying not having to train for any races right now. I got a Groupon for another barre studio membership deal which I plan to redeem next spring. I also want to continue rolling with my strength-training momentum, which has made me extremely happy. Beyond that, I've got no specific fitness plans or goals for next year - and it's the best feeling.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RqDKf-055do/VqVEFBCRheI/AAAAAAAANKU/i1JhitxZTN0ggZO-zyypYelKXdKCGHOPgCPcB/s1600/Feel-Good450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RqDKf-055do/VqVEFBCRheI/AAAAAAAANKU/i1JhitxZTN0ggZO-zyypYelKXdKCGHOPgCPcB/s320/Feel-Good450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Similarly, my race calendar is still a completely blank slate for 2017. I truly believe next year is going to be very much more about quality versus quantity (which is what I've long wanted to do but have repeatedly had trouble executing). I am considering trying to hit some more Rock N Roll destinations, maybe doing the Soldier Field 10 again since I will be in town over Memorial Day Weekend, and in a dream world running something in Hawaii. It'll be fun to see what ends up standing out!</div>
emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-84611085954270949802016-11-25T05:00:00.000-06:002016-11-25T05:00:04.231-06:00Runfessions - race photo editionI hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I enjoyed spending the time with family and friends yesterday, including running my fifth consecutive rendition of the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot. More on the race to come.<br />
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I am linking up with <a href="http://www.marciashealthyslice.com/">Marcia</a> for Runfessions, as well as with <a href="http://www.fairytalesandfitness.com/">Fairytales and Fitness</a> and <a href="http://www.runningonhappy.com/">Running on Happy</a> for the Friday Five.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKcevUxEI4w/VPI1nMlS0kI/AAAAAAAAJV4/V9MfRmOd0EA/s1600/Runfessions-300x294.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKcevUxEI4w/VPI1nMlS0kI/AAAAAAAAJV4/V9MfRmOd0EA/s200/Runfessions-300x294.jpg" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcgR3vHew18/WApgR6m5aSI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/YICLaC73QE8-Wvi5CPcv-Ha44TMIrDRfwCPcB/s1600/FriFive2.png"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcgR3vHew18/WApgR6m5aSI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/YICLaC73QE8-Wvi5CPcv-Ha44TMIrDRfwCPcB/s200/FriFive2.png" /></a></div>
Today we are doing a special race photo edition of Runfessions.<br />
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As I previously mentioned <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/05/nobody-asked-me-but.html">here</a>, I have been trying to up my <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2013/04/race-photo-body-spasms.html">race photo body spasm</a> game. My recent focus has been to achieve a cool jumping pose, e.g.:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3P9rhkTNxYA/WDXPj3WQgPI/AAAAAAAAPws/29PfKcs9kaE0M0Q4Xz7jpDXXEzFePc55wCLcB/s1600/Jumping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3P9rhkTNxYA/WDXPj3WQgPI/AAAAAAAAPws/29PfKcs9kaE0M0Q4Xz7jpDXXEzFePc55wCLcB/s400/Jumping.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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At the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/rock-n-roll-las-vegas-half-marathon.html">Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon</a> two weekends ago, I made some valiant attempts. Any time I passed a photographer on course, I hurled myself into the air with as much energy, effort, and gusto as I could possibly muster! </div>
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We all do these things on a random basis, right?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHqjMlnMpVs/WDXa2hUaB3I/AAAAAAAAPxY/4YxSY69ci60E8yb5RPS_-asyMwL0Nk6mACLcB/s1600/Jumping%2BBread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RHqjMlnMpVs/WDXa2hUaB3I/AAAAAAAAPxY/4YxSY69ci60E8yb5RPS_-asyMwL0Nk6mACLcB/s400/Jumping%2BBread.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, Chicago Blackhawks fans, this is Artemi Panarin during his KHL days!<br />
I only wish I knew the story behind this snapshot...</td></tr>
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Today I went to look at the results of my race photo poses. I runfess that in summary, things didn't turn out quite the way I hoped. </div>
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Here are five examples:</div>
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<b>1) Stumbling on the dismount</b></div>
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This photo was taken immediately post-jump just as I was landing. Unfortunately, it looks more like I am stumbling forward and about to fall flat onto my face. (Feel free to reference the runner next to me for a postural comparison.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxjmcVC_eSM/WDXRwmc_RvI/AAAAAAAAPxA/KU2q-VNyhm8kKkxekgytJl-DEbFOpORJgCEw/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SxjmcVC_eSM/WDXRwmc_RvI/AAAAAAAAPxA/KU2q-VNyhm8kKkxekgytJl-DEbFOpORJgCEw/s400/RnR%2BVegas%2B1.JPG" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DERP!!!</td></tr>
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<b>2) Winding up</b><br />
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I think this one was taken right as I was awkwardly preparing to jump. The closed eyes make it look even worse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHr1qazIvn4/WDXRtiWDGqI/AAAAAAAAPw4/ya4YqPqGQ5YW2Mm-IEtzxfTSBZCCgHy8gCLcB/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHr1qazIvn4/WDXRtiWDGqI/AAAAAAAAPw4/ya4YqPqGQ5YW2Mm-IEtzxfTSBZCCgHy8gCLcB/s400/RnR%2BVegas%2B2.JPG" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DERP!!!</td></tr>
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<b>3) To jump or not to jump???</b></div>
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That is the question. I'm not sure what I was focused on, but the facial expression definitely doesn't match everything else.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7-FZ2F_Fg8/WDXXSMTgsCI/AAAAAAAAPxQ/u4o5LFr-oPgAAoIYEmP-UH8BTL3NYw4qgCLcB/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7-FZ2F_Fg8/WDXXSMTgsCI/AAAAAAAAPxQ/u4o5LFr-oPgAAoIYEmP-UH8BTL3NYw4qgCLcB/s400/RnR%2BVegas%2B5.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
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<b>4) Uncategorized</b></div>
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Yeah, I honestly don't even know where to go with this one.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhDEdKZWzww/WDXRn5pJRLI/AAAAAAAAPw0/QuWkHGJvv0Ek7p0cby6vV-OE1-PHV-7dQCEw/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhDEdKZWzww/WDXRn5pJRLI/AAAAAAAAPw0/QuWkHGJvv0Ek7p0cby6vV-OE1-PHV-7dQCEw/s400/RnR%2BVegas%2B3.JPG" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TOTAL DERP!!!</td></tr>
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<b>5) </b><b>I'm a maniac, maniac on the floor...</b></div>
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... and I'm posing like I've never posed before!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ygF565RqIhU/WDXRtlGb11I/AAAAAAAAPw8/i90sz-1zt3khZHNmJ7eicdw5IjIV4FHBQCEw/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ygF565RqIhU/WDXRtlGb11I/AAAAAAAAPw8/i90sz-1zt3khZHNmJ7eicdw5IjIV4FHBQCEw/s400/RnR%2BVegas%2B4.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i>(Extra credit to those of you who recognized the musical reference! 🎶)</i></td></tr>
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<b><i>In summary...</i></b></div>
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Clearly I have an uphill battle to fight with my jumping poses! </div>
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<i>To paraquote all the star athletes:</i> It's time for me to get back to the drawing board and focus on working hard, simplifying the poses, and just taking it one jump at a time. ;-P</div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-17570149995090774612016-11-22T14:34:00.000-06:002016-11-23T11:00:13.350-06:00Alaskan weekend - Part IIIToday I am finally getting around to recapping the rest of my weekend visiting Vanitha in Alaska last month! I am continuing from <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaskan-long-run.html">here</a> and <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center.html">here</a>.<br />
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To kick things off on a somewhat random note, Vanitha observed that Alaska has a lot of hilarious license plates. I got a nice laugh from seeing this one in downtown Anchorage:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fufsXqJrFlw/WDR4f7HzKNI/AAAAAAAAPtc/zNx8bryTHq4g-4_ZKu8ueaFimEmlXg3ywCLcB/s1600/IMG_6370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fufsXqJrFlw/WDR4f7HzKNI/AAAAAAAAPtc/zNx8bryTHq4g-4_ZKu8ueaFimEmlXg3ywCLcB/s400/IMG_6370.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Were Forrest Gump and/or Bubba hanging out in Anchorage, too?</td></tr>
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<b><u>DAY 1</u></b><br />
<b><i>Alaska Native Villages lecture</i></b><br />
My first night in Anchorage, Vanitha and I went to the University of Alaska Anchorage to attend a lecture. The speaker, Barrett Ristroph, spoke on how Alaska native villages are adapting to climate change and how the law helps or hinders.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YD5xFN6n9Xg/WDR6lZgGldI/AAAAAAAAPtk/g0NPgS-KW0srly2TUZda_FHYzxYP_rQSACLcB/s1600/IMG_6357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YD5xFN6n9Xg/WDR6lZgGldI/AAAAAAAAPtk/g0NPgS-KW0srly2TUZda_FHYzxYP_rQSACLcB/s400/IMG_6357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Incidentally, this subject is exactly what Vanitha is working on during her time in Alaska. During audience questions, Vanitha was even asked to share some of her own expertise a few times - and she nailed everything. I loved seeing how stunningly professional and knowledgeable she is! It made me very proud to be her friend.<br />
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In general, the subject matter was very eye-opening and informative to me, as I had no prior awareness of the ongoing challenges. It made me realize what a different completely life we live in the Lower 48.<br />
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<b><i>Orso</i></b><br />
Following the lecture, Vanitha and I went to dinner at Orso. This is a local "farm-to-table" restaurant in downtown Anchorage that features Alaskan ingredients and dishes. I loved the warm, rustic interior:<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tKjluuS5MDE/WDR78zLjggI/AAAAAAAAPts/ltc7fw8S4dMnqIMM7imSYE5bMDgHMlaTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tKjluuS5MDE/WDR78zLjggI/AAAAAAAAPts/ltc7fw8S4dMnqIMM7imSYE5bMDgHMlaTQCLcB/s400/IMG_6366.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The food was terrific, too:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LhlkFae9be4/WDR_Jo_TGcI/AAAAAAAAPt4/BRs8c0b1QrMql2-MkTmDZgwZZge4Q0k-ACLcB/s1600/Orso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LhlkFae9be4/WDR_Jo_TGcI/AAAAAAAAPt4/BRs8c0b1QrMql2-MkTmDZgwZZge4Q0k-ACLcB/s400/Orso.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper L: King crab corn dogs<br />
Upper R: Rockfish with red quinoa salad<br />
Lower L: Alaskan sockeye salmon niçoise<br />
Lower R: Guittard chocolate, espresso, and vanilla cream custard</td></tr>
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<b><u>DAY 2</u></b><br />
The first thing I did was head out for my <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaskan-long-run.html">long run on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail</a>.<br />
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<b><i>Anchorage Museum</i></b><br />
After my long run, I went to visit the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. My favorite exhibit was the Alaska Native Cultures, which features hundreds of indigenous artifacts from various tribes. I was surprised to learn there are over 200 federally recognized Alaskan tribes.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ4jItuN-20/WDSGHLi8wTI/AAAAAAAAPuQ/Ypm7GCeJfn0Ke2jI9_gwGESRZu4bGvGUQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FJ4jItuN-20/WDSGHLi8wTI/AAAAAAAAPuQ/Ypm7GCeJfn0Ke2jI9_gwGESRZu4bGvGUQCLcB/s400/IMG_6379.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hj0naM29PpI/WDSGHDJpUSI/AAAAAAAAPuM/fm4QOtlIbKQJ6ouxTztpeltwSFZjT7mKACLcB/s1600/IMG_6398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hj0naM29PpI/WDSGHDJpUSI/AAAAAAAAPuM/fm4QOtlIbKQJ6ouxTztpeltwSFZjT7mKACLcB/s400/IMG_6398.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying "welcome" in various tribal languages and dialects</td></tr>
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Here are a few of my favorite pictures from some of the other Anchorage Museum exhibits:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRlojD1nH-0/WDSIjSN9Z9I/AAAAAAAAPug/_0G3RrIZdMowNkpKEJzWm6x2XWHQvFEjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6385.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRlojD1nH-0/WDSIjSN9Z9I/AAAAAAAAPug/_0G3RrIZdMowNkpKEJzWm6x2XWHQvFEjgCLcB/s400/IMG_6385.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alaskan street art</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original newspaper announcing Alaska being voted in as the 49th of the United States in 1959.<br />
It's a little scary to realize my parents are older than Alaska's statehood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alaskan king crab</td></tr>
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<b><u>DAY 3</u></b><br />
<b><i>Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center</i></b><br />
Vanitha and I went to the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center.html">Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center</a><b> </b>in Girdwood<b> </b>for our first of two weekend visits. Since I already covered it in detail separately, I won't rehash it here other than to share this adorable pajama set from the gift shop:<br />
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and to share another of my favorite wildlife close-ups:<br />
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<b><i>Scenic Drives</i></b><br />
Here are some of the stunning landscapes we saw during our drives in between Anchorage and Girdwood (NOTE: these sights weren't limited to Day 2, we saw them all throughout). The pictures so do not do the majestic scenery justice.<br />
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<b><i>Girdwood Hotel</i></b><br />
On our way back from the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, we stopped by the beautiful Girdwood Hotel. In my opinion, it is the type of winter lodge that ski resort dreams are made of. Look at the views from the lobby:<br />
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<b><i>Moose's Tooth</i></b><br />
For dinner that night, Vanitha and I went to a local Anchorage favorite called Moose's Tooth.<br />
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Moose's Tooth is extremely popular for its pizza - and it was easy to see why! They have the most creative, delicious selections of pizzas I've ever seen. There were a zillion ways to mix-and-match and customize your own pizza. The food was outstanding.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper L: Mexican squash soup<br />
Upper R: Half Solstice, half Veggie Delight pizza<br />
Lower L: Half Amazing Apricot (I think), half Spicy Thai pizza<br />
Lower R: Lemon Love cake</td></tr>
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They even had themed plates:<br />
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When/if I ever go back to Anchorage, Moose's Tooth will be a must-visit for me again!!!<br />
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<b><u>DAY 4</u></b><br />
This was my last day in Alaska. Vanitha and I went to the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center.html">Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center</a> for the second of our two visits. Afterwards, we did some more exploration on the way back, including browsing at a few local shops, plus stopping at the...<br />
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<b><i>Girdwood Picnic Club</i></b><br />
This is a super cute little restaurant nestled in downtown Girdwood with a cozy, artistic flair.<br />
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As was the case with every restaurant we visited in Alaska, the food was delicious:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0XRiAcn0Gbg/WDSTA_mB3iI/AAAAAAAAPvk/Mw3qJZFY4oMduI6sbvKwqz2Huc0TWuWpwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0XRiAcn0Gbg/WDSTA_mB3iI/AAAAAAAAPvk/Mw3qJZFY4oMduI6sbvKwqz2Huc0TWuWpwCLcB/s400/IMG_6549.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood chowder</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamale platter</td></tr>
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<b><i>Indian Valley Meats</i></b></div>
I wanted to try to find some smoked Alaskan salmon to take home. Vanitha had heard of this place as a great destination for local products, so we stopped by.<br />
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Wow - talk about getting the local experience. This place was a completely full-service shop for hunters and fishers. Here's a picture of the shop area (as opposed to the window where folks could make drop-offs to be processed).<br />
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I bought some salmon jerky, which I'd never seen in stores before.<br />
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<b><i>Alaska Native Heritage Center</i></b><br />
The Alaska Native Heritage Center was closed for the season. However, since it was near Halloween, the center was hosting a special fall festival with entertainment, shopping, and food; with trick-or-treating and story-telling options for kids.<br />
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It was cool to see the replicas of Alaskan abodes:<br />
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Vanitha and I got a picture amidst some whale bones (?!?!?!?):<br />
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We enjoyed some local performances:<br />
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and perused the center's cultural exhibits:<br />
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That concluded my visit to Vanitha in Alaska! I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and I left with a much deeper appreciation for Alaska's pristine beauty, culture, history, and people.<br />
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It goes without saying that I am tremendously grateful to Vanitha for being the most wonderful hostess for the weekend, and for being the best friend anyone could ever ask for. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the incredibly valuable time we had to catch up, laugh, share stories, and talk in full detail about everything that life was throwing our ways. I am already looking forward to the next time Vanitha and I can get together, whenever and wherever it may be.<br />
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Cheers to lifelong friends sharing travel adventures!<br />
<br />
--<br />
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<i>I will be linking up with <a href="http://www.laurenonlocation.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.snowintromso.com/">Van</a>, <a href="http://www.thesunnysideofthis.com/">Isabel</a> and <a href="http://www.whatawonderfulworld.co/">Marcella</a> for Wanderful Wednesday; with </i><i><a href="http://www.abritandasoutherner.com/">Chris and Heather</a>, <a href="http://justinpluslauren.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.asoutherngypsy.com/">Ashley</a>, <a href="http://eatworktravel.com/">Amanda and Brian</a>, and <a href="http://www.onemoderncouple.com/">Carolann and Macrae</a> for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/weekendwanderlust/">Weekend Wanderlust</a>; and with <a href="http://www.arnieandjoareonthego.com/">Arnie and Jo</a>, <a href="http://toddlersontour.com.au/">Sally-Ann</a>, <a href="http://www.travelnotesandbeyond.com/">Anda</a>, and <a href="http://www.twotravelingtexans.com/">Anisa and Katherine</a> for The Weekly Postcard. </i></div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-40741560715984666662016-11-21T12:10:00.000-06:002016-11-23T08:23:49.659-06:00Weddings and mermaidsI had a very nice, relaxing weekend this past weekend. After a hectic few weeks, with more craziness to come over the next couple of months, it felt really good to get organized. I watched lots of TV, knocked out a few house projects, and whirled through at least five loads of laundry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was me prior to the weekend.</td></tr>
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I realized I'm behind one week again on sharing my workouts, so here are the last two weeks:<br />
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<u><i><b>Week of November 7 - 13</b></i></u><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Run 11 miles (5 with <a href="http://www.looplooks.net/">Erin</a> and Chewie; 6 on the treadmill)<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - Duo Dash prep<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Zumba class, Mobility 101 class<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 30 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Run 3.2 miles (to/from Rock N Roll Las Vegas race expo)<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 20 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/rock-n-roll-las-vegas-half-marathon.html">Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon</a><br />
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<u><i><b>Week of November 14 - 20</b></i></u><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/duo-dash.html">Duo Dash</a><br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - Strength Max class<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Yoga class<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - AquaMermaid Chicago class<br />
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In addition to all the cleaning and organizing fun, I attended two fun really events this past weekend.<br />
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On Friday night, Adam and I went to Tony and Tina's Wedding. If you're not familiar, it's an off-Broadway event based on a traditional (stereotypical) Italian-American wedding and reception. The audience members are the wedding guests and are treated as though everyone has known each other for years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam and me with Tony and Tina</td></tr>
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When Adam and I arrived, we gave our names and Adam introduced himself as "Emily's husband." Throughout the rest of the evening, the wedding party jovially called Adam "Emily's husband" without missing a beat. At some point, they shortened it to the initials and began calling him "EH" (pronounced "<i>Ay</i>", rhyming with "hey"). It was hilarious!!!<br />
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Many years ago, I had attended a production of Tony and Tina's wedding when both the ceremony and reception were held in Piper's Alley. Now, the ceremony takes place at a real church, with the reception held a few blocks away at a banquet hall, complete with food and drinks. The venues really added to the authenticity of the event!<br />
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From the ceremony:<br />
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From the reception:<br />
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At a lot of weddings, the guests might be shy about getting out onto the dance floor. Not this night! Almost everyone was rocking it out to the chicken dance, the YMCA, the conga line, you name it. </div>
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I had a blast at the event, had so much fun interacting with the wedding party, and couldn't stop laughing at all the attention to details. One of my favorites was a wedding party family member who was sporting a tattoo that said, "He loved me first." Too funny. What a great celebration!!! </div>
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I told Adam afterwards that I had a sudden yearning to watch <i>The Godfather</i> so I could see all the Italian correlations. =)</div>
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<i>And speaking of fantasmic immersions... </i></div>
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Yesterday, I attended an AquaMermaid Chicago swimming class with Erin. As the name implies, this is a class where you learn how to swim like a fish using both legs as a fish tail and using your core muscles to propel forward.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish tail bottom was actually quite comfortable to wear.</td></tr>
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I wasn't sure what to expect from the class. However, I've been starting to tire of my usual running, lifting/yoga routine, so the mermaid swimming ended up being a really unique and surprisingly fun challenge. It was a great way to shake up the routine (both literally and figuratively!)</div>
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During class, we learned how to swim forwards and backwards, practiced swimming through hoops, attempted forward/backwards somersaults both individually and in tandem, and did handstands (tailstands?), tail high-fives, and tail waves. It was quite a workout for both the core and the arms! It was also fun to watch my fellow students doing their moves - the somersaults look really graceful and beautiful with the tail.</div>
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The instructors took some underwater photos of everyone which aren't yet available for me to share. In the meantime, here is another photo of Erin and me goofing off on the deck:</div>
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In the future I am going to pay more attention to the swimming technique of dolphins and other fish! If I ever watch <i>The Little Mermaid </i>again, I'm also going to take note of Ariel's skills. =)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've even got a drawer full of dinglehoppers ready to go!!!</td></tr>
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<b><i>Coming up this week...</i> </b></div>
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I'm looking forward to a short workweek and three quiet days in the office. On Wednesday night, Adam and I are headed to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving. I'm running the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, which is my final race of the year (thank goodness!) </div>
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I'll be attending one of Adam's high school reunions with him on Friday night. Then next weekend, we'll be jaunting to Maryland to attend the wedding of Adam's cousin, Matthew. (Unlike Tony and Tina's wedding, Matthew's wedding will not be a comedic theatrical production =) ).</div>
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<b><i>How about you? How was your weekend and what plans do you have for the upcoming week?</i></b></div>
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--<i>--</i><br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-85354068637117539612016-11-17T14:00:00.000-06:002016-11-18T16:08:32.824-06:00Duo DashThe awesome staff at my workplace's fitness facility is always coming up with creative new ways to challenge us. For example, I did my first-ever <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2015/03/tri-newbie.html">indoor triathlon</a> and <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2015/09/ninja-warrior-fitness-competition.html">ninja warrior competition</a> based on their event planning.<br />
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This week, the staff hosted the inaugural Duo Dash. I partnered up with my friend and colleague, Rob, to participate yesterday.<br />
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Here is a picture of Rob and me just prior to beginning the Duo Dash. Little did we know what was to come next!<br />
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The Duo Dash was a timed competition where we had to complete the following 8 obstacles in the listed order:<br />
<ol>
<li>1000 meter row</li>
<li>1-mile treadmill run</li>
<li>100 medicine ball squat overhead throws</li>
<li>100 sit-ups</li>
<li>100 TRX rows</li>
<li>100 push-ups (to toes)</li>
<li>100 squat jumps</li>
<li>500 jump rope jumps</li>
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The row and the treadmill could either be done entirely by one person, or split in half. All remaining obstacles could be split up between the two partners however we wished, but only one of us could be exercising at a time.</div>
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A few weeks ago, Rob and I went to the gym to compile a strategy that maximized each other's strengths. For example, I'm terrible at rowing and Rob has much more rowing experience than me, so we decided he would do the entire row. I'm comfortable with sit-ups but could use some work with push-ups. Comparatively, Rob is the other way around - so we planned accordingly. We also decided we would do several rotations in each obstacle to ensure intermittent rest periods.<br />
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This is what the strategy looked like:</div>
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On event day, the fitness staff was on hand to monitor/time our progress, count all of our reps for us, and guide us through the transitions. I also asked them to take photos. Thank you to Heather and Stefanie for all the action shots!</div>
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I was nervous but it was time to get to work. Rob got started on the rowing machine:</div>
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While he was tearing it up on the rowing, I was permitted to do a simultaneous warm up jog on the treadmill. As soon as he finished, my run would begin to "count." When he approached the end, I began speeding up my pace. I started out at an 8-minute mile pace. It felt too easy for a half-mile semi-sprint, so I quickly began upping the speed more and more while trying not to go too fast too early. I finished at a 6-minute pace. </div>
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As I was approaching the end of my half-mile distance, Rob jumped onto the treadmill next to me and got himself going in preparation for taking over. Here is a picture of me finishing (gulping water) and him starting:</div>
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After that, the pre-planned strategy pretty much went out the window. Rob and I took turns on each obstacle where we each simply pushed ourselves to the max reps we could, then communicated at what point we wanted the other to take over. It was a game of give or take because the more reps one of us could handle at once, the more the other person could rest - but at the same time pacing was important to avoid too much overexertion.</div>
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Here's a snapshot of me doing the medicine ball throw while Rob was recovering:</div>
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This is an action shot of us "changing the guards" during the sit-up sequence:</div>
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Heather and Stefanie didn't get any photos during the TRX row or push-ups, which is probably a good thing. In my opinion, those two were the hardest of all the day's obstacles, especially when done consecutively. Rob and I had planned to do sets ranging anywhere from 15-35 reps of both. We ended up getting so fatigued that towards the ends of each, we could only manage sets of 5-10 before having to switch. </div>
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For me, the push-ups were the hardest and worst obstacle. My arms and chest were both screaming bloody murder, and my form was disastrous. During my rest intervals, I had no energy to do anything but lay face-down on the ground and contemplate dying.</div>
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I was happy to move on to the jump squats. In comparison to all the arm work, I didn't think the squats were too bad. It was nice to use a different set of muscles. Even so, the squats still took a lot of effort, especially at that point in the challenge.</div>
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When it came to jump rope time, I really didn't think I could do it. I have never more seriously thought about throwing in the towel and quitting right there. If it wasn't for Rob, I think I would have quit. 500 jumps sounded completely insurmountable.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yn6DTiG5lcg/WC369jVZIGI/AAAAAAAAPqY/jjwxM_eQHN0UedWo_dWc5xk5hAZIAEx5wCLcB/s1600/IMG_6940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yn6DTiG5lcg/WC369jVZIGI/AAAAAAAAPqY/jjwxM_eQHN0UedWo_dWc5xk5hAZIAEx5wCLcB/s400/IMG_6940.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
At that point, Rob and I didn't bother verbally communicating estimated transitions anymore. It all became based on visual cues. When one person stopped, the other person would start. I spent each of my rest intervals hunched over with my hands on my knees, gasping for breath. I was grateful that Rob took on a higher load of jumps than I did. His work enabled me to actually pick up a little bit of speed during my final couple of jump sets. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was an ENORMOUS relief once we finished. See how relieved?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fo3NO9eHgBw/WC3-YpXKSqI/AAAAAAAAPqo/4ySkCaiXO2Mfjhn87J-5M1rcq9iqiISCwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fo3NO9eHgBw/WC3-YpXKSqI/AAAAAAAAPqo/4ySkCaiXO2Mfjhn87J-5M1rcq9iqiISCwCLcB/s400/IMG_6941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks like it could have been staged, but I assure you it wasn't!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Here's our official post-challenge finisher photo:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl539SPO7dQ/WC3-n6t2_zI/AAAAAAAAPqs/Jq-d8ckb4FIzBpdyiVjIA4s6tJJJGJ1-QCLcB/s1600/IMG_6946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl539SPO7dQ/WC3-n6t2_zI/AAAAAAAAPqs/Jq-d8ckb4FIzBpdyiVjIA4s6tJJJGJ1-QCLcB/s400/IMG_6946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
Don't let my smile fool you. At that moment, and for several minutes afterwards, my body was giving me warning signals of potentially forthcoming vomit. I couldn't even make it to the locker room before the nausea made me sit down. When I got to the locker room, I had to sit on a bench for a few more minutes to let the nausea pass. Needless to say, it was a fun rest of the day in the office afterwards, LOL!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I type this the next day, I am sore all over. My neck hurts, my back hurts, my arms hurt, my quads hurt, you name it and it hurts. Before event day, Rob and I had talked about doing a practice run of the Duo Dash. I told him yesterday that I'm glad we hadn't - otherwise I wouldn't have wanted to do it again!<br />
<br />
As they say...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XXeKDF6xMD4/WC4L5B71FqI/AAAAAAAAPrI/pIaZYDJUsWcNcr9W6YmA_a-zvn_KV4IGACLcB/s1600/Ignorance%2Bis%2BBliss%2B1%2Bquarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XXeKDF6xMD4/WC4L5B71FqI/AAAAAAAAPrI/pIaZYDJUsWcNcr9W6YmA_a-zvn_KV4IGACLcB/s320/Ignorance%2Bis%2BBliss%2B1%2Bquarter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Many thanks to Rob for being my Duo Dash partner! This was truly a fitness challenge for the ages. <i>Whew!!!</i></div>
<div>
<br />
And to all of those other partner teams who are competing in the Duo Dash yet today, my sincere thoughts and prayers go out to you. ;-)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
--</div>
<div>
<i>I am belatedly linking up with <a href="http://www.thefitfoodiemama.com/">Annmarie</a>, <a href="http://fitfulfocus.com/">Nicole</a>, <a href="http://fruitionfitness.com/">Michelle</a>, and <a href="http://prettylittlegrub.com/">Jen</a> for Wild Workout Wednesday.</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mhY4kJevks/WC4GV75v-WI/AAAAAAAAPq8/fvhH34S-eAUliHlvWmHUEWckST804XHlwCLcB/s1600/Wild%2BWorkout%2BWednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mhY4kJevks/WC4GV75v-WI/AAAAAAAAPq8/fvhH34S-eAUliHlvWmHUEWckST804XHlwCLcB/s200/Wild%2BWorkout%2BWednesday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-53694508387792167112016-11-15T17:06:00.001-06:002016-11-15T18:04:39.789-06:00Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon race recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love Las Vegas. In my opinion, there is no more welcoming sign in the world than this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brrZtHuv-1g/WCtMoHw6tRI/AAAAAAAAPmA/Rf8mszDgsaQC3kAdUI_nHbtudReeUEu6ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6862.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brrZtHuv-1g/WCtMoHw6tRI/AAAAAAAAPmA/Rf8mszDgsaQC3kAdUI_nHbtudReeUEu6ACLcB/s400/IMG_6862.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the first mile of the half marathon course</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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This past weekend was my fourth time visiting Vegas and I had a total blast. It was my best experience there to date. Needless to say, it was tough to come home last night, and even tougher facing reality back at the office today! Sigh.</div>
<div>
<br />
I'll talk more about Vegas itself later, but today let's talk about the race. The Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon goes into the books as my 29th half marathon completed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MaD6y3BnCSQ/WCtO2oH9WZI/AAAAAAAAPmM/DTzc2Gn-748uDQEhuix6reoenNs8GyZYQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6860.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MaD6y3BnCSQ/WCtO2oH9WZI/AAAAAAAAPmM/DTzc2Gn-748uDQEhuix6reoenNs8GyZYQCLcB/s400/IMG_6860.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The starting line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let's start by recapping with "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" format. I'll follow with an onslaught of photos. Ready?<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Good</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Way beyond "good," it is <b><i>AWESOME</i></b> to run the famous Las Vegas Strip and through downtown Las Vegas. I've heard the Strip only gets closed down twice a year - once for New Year's Eve, and once for the Rock N Roll Las Vegas race series. This experience is a privilege!</li>
<li>The race expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center was enormous. There were dozens and dozens of vendor offerings. I got this fun picture there:</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRnLJBpq9IA/WCs_yZ21F-I/AAAAAAAAPlk/NmRzKS31QZEV_FEl-xmwdnBnUzFtTEL9QCEw/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2Bexpo%2Bpicture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yRnLJBpq9IA/WCs_yZ21F-I/AAAAAAAAPlk/NmRzKS31QZEV_FEl-xmwdnBnUzFtTEL9QCEw/s320/RnR%2BVegas%2Bexpo%2Bpicture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>I got to meet <a href="http://www.run-hike-play.com/">Sharon</a> in person! It was great to talk to her and to have her company pre-race. I was dealing with pre-race jitters, and Sharon has a wonderfully calming demeanor which helped me relax. Thanks Sharon!</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9DsInc3fzc/WCtHaWVMU3I/AAAAAAAAPl4/lZ0sxlVVx40jEP5FhhoBn7Fm-UPdbQmDQCEw/s1600/Sharon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9DsInc3fzc/WCtHaWVMU3I/AAAAAAAAPl4/lZ0sxlVVx40jEP5FhhoBn7Fm-UPdbQmDQCEw/s320/Sharon.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon and me in the starting corrals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>The starting festival had an entire village of portapotties. I heard this race draws about 45,000 runners, yet I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes for a portapotty. Score!</li>
<li>Thank you, Mother Nature and the weather gods for smiling on us this weekend! The conditions were perfect. Temperatures were in the 60s, the skies were as clear as could be, and there was no wind. We even got to run in the backdrop of the supermoon! I wish I'd gotten a picture of it.</li>
<li>The course was well-supported with enthusiastic, friendly police and volunteers. Not surprisingly, there were a lot of spectators on the Strip.</li>
<li>As is typical with all Rock N Roll races, the swag was very nice. Here's the medal, which spins like the Wheel of Fortune:</li>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgIW9oryilU/WCs5UG2NLYI/AAAAAAAAPlY/Lg6T2WFiLQ0XSSYEn-4T5gspq_TUzouFACEw/s1600/RnR%2BVegas%2Bmedal.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgIW9oryilU/WCs5UG2NLYI/AAAAAAAAPlY/Lg6T2WFiLQ0XSSYEn-4T5gspq_TUzouFACEw/s320/RnR%2BVegas%2Bmedal.JPG" /></a></div>
<li>I got to fulfill my wish to refuel post-race at a Las Vegas buffet. Living the dream! =)</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><u>The Bad</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>The evening start time meant I had the entire day to think about the race and get progressively more and more nervous. My last two long runs hadn't gone well, which was marring my confidence. Further, I was feeling random aches and pains in my back, hips, knees, shins, and heels. I realized they were probably phantom, but they still scared me.</li>
<li>The signage at the starting festival could have been better, in my opinion. There were hordes of people all wandering around trying to figure out where things were.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9MvB1qU1CM/WCtbBFB4kMI/AAAAAAAAPm4/KHgMyg7bBmgevY-0kDpfSZJfKm0tV3hegCLcB/s1600/IMG_6851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9MvB1qU1CM/WCtbBFB4kMI/AAAAAAAAPm4/KHgMyg7bBmgevY-0kDpfSZJfKm0tV3hegCLcB/s400/IMG_6851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Runners wandering around the starting festival with the Strip in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Many folks advised that gear check involved more hassle than it was worth, and to avoid using it. Additionally, gear check closed at 4:05, while my wave started at 5:00. That's a really long gap, so I did make do without checking anything. This meant I was, for example, putting on BodyGlide literally hours in advance of the race, which I wasn't thrilled about doing (see further explanation on pre-race logistics below under "Ugly"). But the timing would have been even worse for the wave that started at 5:30 PM.</li>
<li>Officials were enforcing the starting waves, but the starting corrals were a free-for-all. Mass numbers of folks were trying to squeeze through to the front of the line.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2x5xwtGIzS0/WCta0nEbrEI/AAAAAAAAPmw/ZMHwuBZlo88Ob3ElLNI9UHJVJMLmwr6OQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2x5xwtGIzS0/WCta0nEbrEI/AAAAAAAAPmw/ZMHwuBZlo88Ob3ElLNI9UHJVJMLmwr6OQCLcB/s400/IMG_6858.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mobbed starting corrals with Mandalay Bay in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>The course was crowded with many folks running or walking in tandem. This is to be expected considering this race draws a lot of inexperienced runners and/or folks who were participating just for fun. I heard several folks talking about how little sleep they'd gotten and/or how much alcohol they'd been drinking that day. When in Vegas, right? Even so, WOW.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLJTlbLehm0/WCtXvV09P4I/AAAAAAAAPmg/I9Nv6jzuOek5iE8uguaf-rMHMBfEEAOLgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLJTlbLehm0/WCtXvV09P4I/AAAAAAAAPmg/I9Nv6jzuOek5iE8uguaf-rMHMBfEEAOLgCLcB/s400/IMG_6864.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of brides along the course!<br />
There was a run-through wedding at Mile 3, which I imagine must have been quite the sight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li>The first half of the course ran through the Strip. Comparatively, the second half primarily covered large stretches of pawn shops, motels, and wedding chapels enroute to downtown Las Vegas. Other than a brief stretch downtown, there were few spectators in the second half.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S4Wq0cAVjoA/WCtTUR5bF4I/AAAAAAAAPmY/lMHcsOaGAGoriV8l0PG_uqciAisGVK-VQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6891.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S4Wq0cAVjoA/WCtTUR5bF4I/AAAAAAAAPmY/lMHcsOaGAGoriV8l0PG_uqciAisGVK-VQCLcB/s400/IMG_6891.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical scenery during the second half of the course</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>I started getting mentally tired around Mile 9, which is early for me. Physical fatigue started creeping in shortly thereafter. Admittedly I had barely trained for this race, but I was already running such a slow pace and making lots of photo stops. It was dismaying. </li>
<li>My mental fatigue was made worse by the Strip resorts creating optical distance illusions. Everything looked much closer than it really was. We could see landmarks easily in the horizon, but in reality they were several miles away.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b><u>The Ugly</u></b></div>
<div>
To summarize, the logistics of this race were a complete and total nightmare. <br />
<ul>
<li>I had mentioned previously that I was considering just running the 2.5 miles from where I was staying (the Mirage) to the starting festival. The Monorail had been recommended, and on race day I could see why. The Strip streets were barricaded off so nobody could access them. The walkways were packed, plus they all wound through overpasses and through hotel lobbies. Traveling the length of the Strip on foot would have been an extremely lengthy and painful journey. Not to mention that the starting line was still another 0.3 miles from the starting festival.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, the Monorail was an unmitigated disaster, as well. I couldn't access the nearest Monorail stop because of the street barricades, so I had to walk about 20 minutes to the next access point. Once I got to the station, I waited nearly 40 minutes amidst a sea of people to board a Monorail. Once I got on, it was so packed that I couldn't even take a deep breath. This is what it felt like (and it didn't look too different):</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOH0cbgWRpw/WCtjYw7mjTI/AAAAAAAAPnM/Rkwa41DKA0kHKS22zjV7hmpXXUdsztM0gCLcB/s1600/Packed%2Btrain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fOH0cbgWRpw/WCtjYw7mjTI/AAAAAAAAPnM/Rkwa41DKA0kHKS22zjV7hmpXXUdsztM0gCLcB/s400/Packed%2Btrain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2014-06/11/content_17578095_4.htm">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>Once the Monorail arrived at the MGM Grand stop, everyone still had to walk about 20 minutes to get the start village. The signage wasn't very good and a lot of runners were simply following crowds, only to realize they were headed the wrong direction.</li>
<li>In total, it took me approximately 90 minutes to travel the 2.5 miles from the Mirage to the starting festival. Good lord. I had opted not to take an Uber/Lyft/cab because of all the street closures and the expected cost. In retrospect I have to believe it would have been a better option - especially if I had found others with whom to share the ride. (Yes, Adam, you were absolutely right about this.)</li>
<li>I had purposely selected staying at the Mirage since the race finishes right in front of it. Unfortunately, the finishing chute didn't actually let runners exit until we reached Caesar's Palace almost a half-mile later. Gear check was even further down, in front of the Bellagio. For no apparent reason, the chute barricades were in place well beyond all the refreshment/medal/photo tables. A lot of runners were openly expressing their frustration at being trapped inside.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7d6DyzxOvE/WCtiqOFYeXI/AAAAAAAAPnI/4gyPxd1JaacqaKiDk0d4GkMfeSHK-rilgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7d6DyzxOvE/WCtiqOFYeXI/AAAAAAAAPnI/4gyPxd1JaacqaKiDk0d4GkMfeSHK-rilgCLcB/s400/IMG_6903.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finisher chute continuing into seeming oblivion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>Even after finally exiting the finishing chute, there were other fences and barricades hemming in some of the walkways. Some of the runners who had had enough, myself included, took to precariously climbing over the fences. All in all, it took me about 40 minutes from the time I crossed the finish line to backtrack to the Mirage. (NOTE: If anyone is considering trying to stay near the finishing area in the future, it would make more sense to stay at Caesar's, Bally's, or the Flamingo. If you use gear check, then Bellagio or Paris might work.)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><i>
OK! Now that we've got the good, bad, and ugly out of the way, it's picture time! Here is a sampling of my snapshots from running the Strip at night:</i></b></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uac86B7HNLg/WCtoubuk8ZI/AAAAAAAAPnc/t2YypfZWQiQdp-XW_GsyQjR-I4j_uMgYQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6863.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uac86B7HNLg/WCtoubuk8ZI/AAAAAAAAPnc/t2YypfZWQiQdp-XW_GsyQjR-I4j_uMgYQCLcB/s400/IMG_6863.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Mandalay Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vABkf-dlQ60/WCtounhBcFI/AAAAAAAAPnk/8tFTVVxPt4Qqflgk5DctkaSOOymQGVPlwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6866.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vABkf-dlQ60/WCtounhBcFI/AAAAAAAAPnk/8tFTVVxPt4Qqflgk5DctkaSOOymQGVPlwCLcB/s400/IMG_6866.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gu9Dl7-mG2w/WCtoupx7kqI/AAAAAAAAPng/sonB5_ff_YkRnfnafzbnLmebIxrzDzDcQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6870.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gu9Dl7-mG2w/WCtoupx7kqI/AAAAAAAAPng/sonB5_ff_YkRnfnafzbnLmebIxrzDzDcQCLcB/s400/IMG_6870.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excalibur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAPSTcilIzs/WCtou8JGPoI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/5UdhWMgvSmE2sba3RlCISZbbBRxlLj5EwCPcB/s1600/IMG_6871.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAPSTcilIzs/WCtou8JGPoI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/5UdhWMgvSmE2sba3RlCISZbbBRxlLj5EwCPcB/s400/IMG_6871.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New York, New York</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lKoxZf9dUq4/WCuN81nUZJI/AAAAAAAAPpE/JUnkfGnAuEYu-lhf5rUp1aLVH_s5a17RQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6869.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lKoxZf9dUq4/WCuN81nUZJI/AAAAAAAAPpE/JUnkfGnAuEYu-lhf5rUp1aLVH_s5a17RQCLcB/s400/IMG_6869.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropicana with Robert Irvine looking buff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3my2CT0qkyY/WCuN85U47GI/AAAAAAAAPpI/6onkHs4HH-ougpJNsJoT_t5UeAfK1p21gCLcB/s1600/IMG_6872.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3my2CT0qkyY/WCuN85U47GI/AAAAAAAAPpI/6onkHs4HH-ougpJNsJoT_t5UeAfK1p21gCLcB/s400/IMG_6872.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MGM Grand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjQStSC86yY/WCtq8K5XaMI/AAAAAAAAPn0/UEHdkEE6-gAXZIUtX5cmaVdVXhnn7W3UwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6876.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjQStSC86yY/WCtq8K5XaMI/AAAAAAAAPn0/UEHdkEE6-gAXZIUtX5cmaVdVXhnn7W3UwCLcB/s400/IMG_6876.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aria and Planet Hollywood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtK-v3JK244/WCtrOkHjZJI/AAAAAAAAPoU/bXXwayAXD7QR3REyhbzCEkQsP7EQH7hywCLcB/s400/IMG_6878.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSCpZ0os4yE/WCtq8fdsshI/AAAAAAAAPn8/_-wXAstl2oQSMYRk22mo7iA194MFoMhPgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6880.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tSCpZ0os4yE/WCtq8fdsshI/AAAAAAAAPn8/_-wXAstl2oQSMYRk22mo7iA194MFoMhPgCLcB/s400/IMG_6880.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bellagio with a band performing in the foreground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esDtb7vr0uM/WCtq8p0oo2I/AAAAAAAAPoA/bgTm_6exjEIZxjj3NkAQhRHJ7Njyz0tQwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6883.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esDtb7vr0uM/WCtq8p0oo2I/AAAAAAAAPoA/bgTm_6exjEIZxjj3NkAQhRHJ7Njyz0tQwCLcB/s400/IMG_6883.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caesar's the Mirage, the Linq, Harrah's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-748Cb1ROL-c/WCtq8y7olKI/AAAAAAAAPoI/mt_riXyVt1c0-lAdnFu0PsDvRCCn7lKywCLcB/s1600/IMG_6886.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-748Cb1ROL-c/WCtq8y7olKI/AAAAAAAAPoI/mt_riXyVt1c0-lAdnFu0PsDvRCCn7lKywCLcB/s400/IMG_6886.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Palazzo and the Venetian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BhVGZ6SyWhU/WCtq8jiuohI/AAAAAAAAPoE/poyVJgjliBI63DEN7c1KOamZGhnSB6RJACLcB/s1600/IMG_6888.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BhVGZ6SyWhU/WCtq8jiuohI/AAAAAAAAPoE/poyVJgjliBI63DEN7c1KOamZGhnSB6RJACLcB/s400/IMG_6888.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Encore and Wynn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAxfj1PFrYE/WCtq89zM6bI/AAAAAAAAPoM/z59Oi7yUhZoM0JqWgU_dEEQRV5AFrhBXgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6889.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAxfj1PFrYE/WCtq89zM6bI/AAAAAAAAPoM/z59Oi7yUhZoM0JqWgU_dEEQRV5AFrhBXgCLcB/s400/IMG_6889.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool fountains in front of the Wynn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWEphSRw4Ww/WCttPTFzfXI/AAAAAAAAPok/nrhSqulGSTQwJelB3vcsxCr8lIb2SsWwACLcB/s1600/IMG_6890.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWEphSRw4Ww/WCttPTFzfXI/AAAAAAAAPok/nrhSqulGSTQwJelB3vcsxCr8lIb2SsWwACLcB/s400/IMG_6890.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circus Circus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1TNrCcnP2OE/WCttPezxDXI/AAAAAAAAPog/PsA3wUbywI8r4IZguw9CxARdVmSuPQMvACLcB/s1600/IMG_6892.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1TNrCcnP2OE/WCttPezxDXI/AAAAAAAAPog/PsA3wUbywI8r4IZguw9CxARdVmSuPQMvACLcB/s400/IMG_6892.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neon Elvis cheering us on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm7EitRAOTo/WCttPWi6RxI/AAAAAAAAPoc/ZZI8gzP7IgoTvvDA51mulZYBB7CSUKm3ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6894.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm7EitRAOTo/WCttPWi6RxI/AAAAAAAAPoc/ZZI8gzP7IgoTvvDA51mulZYBB7CSUKm3ACLcB/s400/IMG_6894.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abbey Road in downtown Las Vegas<br />
Notice the Beatles images on the bottom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gix9zcUkhwY/WCttP6SkklI/AAAAAAAAPow/-0w4Wl5xb2UfuTTtYstwi830P5NwsL83QCLcB/s1600/IMG_6895.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gix9zcUkhwY/WCttP6SkklI/AAAAAAAAPow/-0w4Wl5xb2UfuTTtYstwi830P5NwsL83QCLcB/s400/IMG_6895.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Las Vegas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-keciHH-gpqw/WCttPwHwtxI/AAAAAAAAPos/VJUqJlDR6P0ekAS9lyouANI5myJcgVnkgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6897.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-keciHH-gpqw/WCttPwHwtxI/AAAAAAAAPos/VJUqJlDR6P0ekAS9lyouANI5myJcgVnkgCLcB/s400/IMG_6897.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stratosphere<br />
It looks so close, yet it was still a few miles away at this point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EeFX72ZGb0M/WCttP6l1IFI/AAAAAAAAPoo/nTxMh2D_EhgUvC8DItDDJfacCHTw55-8ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6900.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EeFX72ZGb0M/WCttP6l1IFI/AAAAAAAAPoo/nTxMh2D_EhgUvC8DItDDJfacCHTw55-8ACLcB/s400/IMG_6900.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treasure Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1oQkwkp1NuE/WCttQE8ct7I/AAAAAAAAPo0/WidJfLa3MC823WuWYdQ4rNIkbpsSmzgPACLcB/s1600/IMG_6901.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1oQkwkp1NuE/WCttQE8ct7I/AAAAAAAAPo0/WidJfLa3MC823WuWYdQ4rNIkbpsSmzgPACLcB/s400/IMG_6901.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the finish line in front of the Mirage, with the Mirage volcano exploding.<br />
In case you are wondering why the street looks empty, it's because it's the marathon finishing chute.<br />
The full and half marathoners had different chutes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In summary, I am happy to have run the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon. It was awesome to experience the Strip in such a unique way. Based on the logistical challenges I experienced, I initially decided this was a one-and-done race for me. But as I'm typing this almost two days later, I now think I would be open to doing this race again someday <b><i>after</i></b> implementing my lessons learned (and also training more appropriately). Funny how that mentality works, eh? =)<br />
<br />
Viva Las Vegas!!!<br />
<br />
--<i>--</i><br />
<i>Belatedly linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap, and linking up with <a href="http://www.marciashealthyslice.com/">Marcia</a>, <a href="http://noguiltlife.com/">Patti</a>, and <a href="http://mcmmamaruns.com/">Erika</a> for Tuesdays on the Run.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-82005001400849743022016-11-07T12:46:00.000-06:002016-11-07T14:13:18.382-06:00Oct 24-Nov 6 training, saying hello to my alma materHappy Monday, my friends!<br />
<br />
Thank goodness for Daylight Saving Time ending yesterday. I've been feeling a little run down, so the extra hour couldn't have come at a better time. Currently I'm also fighting a headache that started yesterday afternoon and is stubbornly lingering today. Blugh!<br />
<br />
I am linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8tslHfWYXU/VcfTyX9lp8I/AAAAAAAAK6o/zz4TKTOhcOc/s1600/WeeklyWrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x8tslHfWYXU/VcfTyX9lp8I/AAAAAAAAK6o/zz4TKTOhcOc/s200/WeeklyWrap.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I never got around to recapping the week before last, so here are my workouts from the last two weeks:<br />
<b><u><i><br /></i></u></b>
<b><u><i>Oct 24-30</i></u></b><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Yoga class, 45 minutes strength training<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 35 minutes stationary biking<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Run 3.1 miles in Alaska<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaskan-long-run.html">Run 10 miles in Alaska</a><br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - Rest (sightseeing in Alaska, read about one part <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/alaska-wildlife-conservation-center.html">here</a>)<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b><u><i><br /></i></u></b>
<b><u><i>Oct 31-Nov 6</i></u></b><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Yoga video<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 50 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Mobility 101 class, run 3 miles on treadmill<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - Strength Max class<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Yoga class<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<br />
I intended to do an 11-miler yesterday morning, but due to other commitments I didn't have enough time. My Plan B is to run 11 tonight after work. At this very moment my head is not in any mental or physical condition to do a long run, so I'm hoping the headache dissipates by then. If not, then I'll be looking at doing the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon on a single 10-mile training run 2.5 weeks ago. Real smart, eh?<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjTT8sHwi7I/UZFNKwoONbI/AAAAAAAAFzk/HPmt3pC9E4MnCqrMjrooi0rWMvl8p_tMACPcB/s1600/Wile%2BE%2BCoyote%2Bgenius.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjTT8sHwi7I/UZFNKwoONbI/AAAAAAAAFzk/HPmt3pC9E4MnCqrMjrooi0rWMvl8p_tMACPcB/s320/Wile%2BE%2BCoyote%2Bgenius.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><i>Let's switch gears now to talk about a MUCH more pleasant topic!</i></b><br />
<br />
Last Saturday, I went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with Adam and my brother-in-law, Marc, to visit my nephew Reid for Dad's Day Weekend. Yay!!!<br />
<br />
As I have mentioned many times before, I am a proud Illinois alum. It's a huge treat any time the opportunity arises to visit my dear alma mater.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHn5CO_CAI0/WCCqJcNFEZI/AAAAAAAAPjg/RGbyfnX53PY7Eqzhpn8EGvYRqr7YgIOjQCLcB/s1600/Go%2BIllini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHn5CO_CAI0/WCCqJcNFEZI/AAAAAAAAPjg/RGbyfnX53PY7Eqzhpn8EGvYRqr7YgIOjQCLcB/s320/Go%2BIllini.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As part of the Dad's Day Weekend festivities, we went to the Illinois-MSU football game. It was awesome to be surrounded by the orange and blue again! I was home. =)<br />
<br />
Up until just a few years ago, I didn't understand football at all. I went to games in college having no understanding of what was happening on the field. Thanks to watching so much football with Adam since then, now I know how to follow the strategies. It was great! Not to mention that the weather was unseasonably warm and beautiful. It added even more atmosphere to an already very exciting game.<br />
<br />
Here are a few pictures:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei5_4gEnRhk/WCC3ejOc8BI/AAAAAAAAPjs/VqbpE5dl5qk-ISb2HMhLUnbK0kcQLsdBQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ei5_4gEnRhk/WCC3ejOc8BI/AAAAAAAAPjs/VqbpE5dl5qk-ISb2HMhLUnbK0kcQLsdBQCLcB/s400/IMG_6647.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, Adam (who is a Penn State alum) dressed "neutrally" for the game ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KvJWDpZVty4/WCC76v6a3JI/AAAAAAAAPkY/jT5i40_pcUsH-zfN3RVOPJ3H9xcoOkG2gCLcB/s1600/Illinois%2Bfootball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KvJWDpZVty4/WCC76v6a3JI/AAAAAAAAPkY/jT5i40_pcUsH-zfN3RVOPJ3H9xcoOkG2gCLcB/s400/Illinois%2Bfootball.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In game snapshot!<br />
From L to R: Marc, Reid, Adam, and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Both teams gathered on their sidelines just prior to the end of the second quarter:</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qX4aaVP-V7c/WCC3fFkT3PI/AAAAAAAAPj0/LTmV3n4vdB8k7E6ky0asXRFHU15IbLVKwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qX4aaVP-V7c/WCC3fFkT3PI/AAAAAAAAPj0/LTmV3n4vdB8k7E6ky0asXRFHU15IbLVKwCLcB/s400/IMG_6654.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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If anyone has ever seen the movie <i>Coming to America</i>, there's a funny moment when Akeem proclaims halftime as his favorite part of the game. All joking aside, I absolutely love the Marching Illini performances during halftime of Illinois football games. My favorite is the famous 3-in-1 (Pride of the Illini, March of the Illini, and Hail to the Orange). This isn't the actual performance from Saturday, but here's a video of what it looks like:</div>
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I get tears in my eyes every time I hear/see the 3-in-1!</div>
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Illinois dads doing the biggest and most hilarious Rockette-style kickline you've ever seen:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ee7zvtMO3s/WCDGd-BVeLI/AAAAAAAAPk4/YXVEw5A7hQEYx6LBLdeKVFIra6FmftXOgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ee7zvtMO3s/WCDGd-BVeLI/AAAAAAAAPk4/YXVEw5A7hQEYx6LBLdeKVFIra6FmftXOgCLcB/s400/IMG_6667.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Coming back out onto the field to start the second half:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QieTYgOHUvQ/WCC3fI-vfrI/AAAAAAAAPjw/gYjHYf2_YPwiFZvulYZwnFf-dE_GUddHwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QieTYgOHUvQ/WCC3fI-vfrI/AAAAAAAAPjw/gYjHYf2_YPwiFZvulYZwnFf-dE_GUddHwCLcB/s400/IMG_6669.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Post-game celebration:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TPi7Nz7kkEk/WCC3fxPdO2I/AAAAAAAAPj4/DbVsvuhfCiYdWNbdDL76ZJjv3hMG6SNswCLcB/s1600/IMG_6674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TPi7Nz7kkEk/WCC3fxPdO2I/AAAAAAAAPj4/DbVsvuhfCiYdWNbdDL76ZJjv3hMG6SNswCLcB/s400/IMG_6674.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victory tradition:<br />
Everyone links arms to sing the Illinois alma mater</td></tr>
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As we were leaving the stadium area, we passed Snyder Hall. I lived in Snyder during my freshman and sophomore years, and I have so many good memories from my time there. A picture was absolutely necessary:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-lsrLBp9ZU/WCC7dZMvQvI/AAAAAAAAPkQ/Yt9LLlIvogkFrNYfW0It4hYZ1YpSufWRwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-lsrLBp9ZU/WCC7dZMvQvI/AAAAAAAAPkQ/Yt9LLlIvogkFrNYfW0It4hYZ1YpSufWRwCLcB/s400/IMG_6676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
We headed back to Reid's fraternity house where we got some food, toured the house, saw Reid's room, and hung out for a bit. It was so much fun to be chilling on campus again amongst all the students!<br />
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Later, we went to the Illini Union Bookstore where I fulfilled my critical mission to load up on Illinois gear. (At one point, I showed Adam two Illinois shirts and asked which one he thought was better. He didn't even blink before saying, "Get them both." Now that is when you know it's all about piling it on! LOL.)<br />
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Another critical mission was to get pictures at the Illinois alma mater. What a wonderful surprise to run into my old friends Jennifer, Faye, and Tina there! I can't even remember the last time I saw each of them. It was so appropriate for the four of us to get a reunion photo with the statue:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-Lrv-FdX9s/WCC_ZViCLGI/AAAAAAAAPkk/YvbQXQcw6XYlAFXWlCT0Ysu0SKyo_K_8gCLcB/s1600/IMG_6696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3-Lrv-FdX9s/WCC_ZViCLGI/AAAAAAAAPkk/YvbQXQcw6XYlAFXWlCT0Ysu0SKyo_K_8gCLcB/s400/IMG_6696.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From L to R: Faye, Jennifer, Alma Mater, Tina, and me</td></tr>
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As I'd mentioned <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/11/spontaneous-combustion-et-al.html">here</a>, my friend Nhan, who is an MSU alum, also journeyed down to campus to watch the Illinois-MSU game. As luck would have it, he happened to pass by at that very moment. Perfect timing to get a photo with Nhan, too!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pxw4V-MATzU/WCDAMXu6fbI/AAAAAAAAPko/lApaO_ETiAEcKO9KdqJwt0w_8P_7Hc5MgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pxw4V-MATzU/WCDAMXu6fbI/AAAAAAAAPko/lApaO_ETiAEcKO9KdqJwt0w_8P_7Hc5MgCLcB/s400/IMG_6697.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
I took Adam around campus to reminisce about some of my old stomping grounds. I have long been inspired by <a href="http://www.takinglongwayhome.com/">Wendy</a> and <a href="http://workrunhikerepeat.blogspot.com/">Ana</a>'s yoga pose pictures, so I decided to do my own version on the quad:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56hBErkbDtE/WCDB5zhxsOI/AAAAAAAAPkw/03aelopLShoNMnk9h2vA7xAzD2qJ0HmnwCLcB/s1600/Quad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56hBErkbDtE/WCDB5zhxsOI/AAAAAAAAPkw/03aelopLShoNMnk9h2vA7xAzD2qJ0HmnwCLcB/s400/Quad.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree pose with Foellinger Auditorium in the background!</td></tr>
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We went back to Reid's fraternity house where they were hosting a whiskey tasting (!!!). I didn't try any, but lots of families were there enjoying themselves. Later, Marc, Adam, Reid, and I went out and had a very nice dinner. Really fun times! Afterwards, it was time to (reluctantly) head back.<br />
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I'm already looking forward to my next opportunity to visit campus again. Many thanks to Marc and Reid for allowing Adam and me to tag along for the festivities!<br />
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Go Illini!!!emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-15645929001103080032016-11-04T14:35:00.000-05:002016-11-04T16:09:42.171-05:00Five Things About MeLinking up with <a href="http://www.fairytalesandfitness.com/">Fairytales and Fitness</a> and <a href="http://www.runningonhappy.com/">Running on Happy</a> for the Friday Five.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcgR3vHew18/WApgR6m5aSI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/YICLaC73QE8-Wvi5CPcv-Ha44TMIrDRfwCPcB/s1600/FriFive2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcgR3vHew18/WApgR6m5aSI/AAAAAAAAPZ4/YICLaC73QE8-Wvi5CPcv-Ha44TMIrDRfwCPcB/s200/FriFive2.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Today's topic is <b><i>"5 things about you."</i></b><br />
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I've already shared a lot of things about myself in my <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/p/100-things-about-me.html">100 things about me</a> and the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-abcs-of-me.html">ABCs of me</a>, plus the various random quizzes I've done over the years. Here are five things about me that I don't think I've ever mentioned in the past:<br />
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<b>1) I used to hate running.</b><br />
I saw <a href="http://inlesleyscorner.blogspot.com/">Lesley</a> mentioned this for herself today, and remembered it is true for me, too. Growing up, I remember having to run a timed mile in gym class every year, which I completely dreaded. I had nightmares about it. Some of my classmates would cheat by only running three laps around the track instead of four. I was tempted to cheat, too, but ultimately I did always unhappily push through the entire distance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBsrbPzGQhE/WByy9Li8JAI/AAAAAAAAPiU/-M4MMnfOSS03lSyXqPXQBEfVav4Wf_atgCLcB/s1600/Gym%2Bclass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBsrbPzGQhE/WByy9Li8JAI/AAAAAAAAPiU/-M4MMnfOSS03lSyXqPXQBEfVav4Wf_atgCLcB/s400/Gym%2Bclass.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dramatization of that horrible day in gym class each year when we had to run a timed mile</td></tr>
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There was one year when several of my classmates and I decided to just walk the entire mile together since our gym teacher allowed it. It was an enormous weight off of my shoulders!<br />
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<b>2) I take notice of open cabinet/closet/locker doors.</b><br />
If I go into, say, a locker room and see a single empty locker hanging open, I instinctively want to close it. For example:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cDrCA3Sf0jU/WBy9P0PiOsI/AAAAAAAAPi0/RChEso4uyaoo8Q2a7zlHNi2m89Klp-rTwCLcB/s1600/Locker%2Broom%2Bdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cDrCA3Sf0jU/WBy9P0PiOsI/AAAAAAAAPi0/RChEso4uyaoo8Q2a7zlHNi2m89Klp-rTwCLcB/s400/Locker%2Broom%2Bdoor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>3) I haven't gotten into the winter holiday spirit in ages.</b><br />
When I was in college, we had winter final exams leading right up until the holidays. Since we were all cramming, none of us had time to put up decorations, shop for gifts, attend holiday events, anything. Ever since then, I've never gotten into the holiday spirit.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zTFBC9B11Ps/WBy8pNrIa4I/AAAAAAAAPiw/F17ehwPMeyMkpvbbr_vn44ihnxP5wC7QgCLcB/s1600/Holiday%2Bspirit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zTFBC9B11Ps/WBy8pNrIa4I/AAAAAAAAPiw/F17ehwPMeyMkpvbbr_vn44ihnxP5wC7QgCLcB/s320/Holiday%2Bspirit.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
Over the past few years, I've put forth some moderate attempts. Unfortunately, I've only had marginal success. This year I want to try again more intentionally. <i>Must. Bake. Cookies.</i><br />
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<b>4) I frequently get teary-eyed.</b><br />
I saw <a href="http://workrunhikerepeat.blogspot.com/">Ana</a> mention this for herself, and it is true for me, too. I cry at movies. Sentimental commercials or music bring tears to my eyes. When I'm not feeling well or if I get very emotional/angry/frustrated, especially in public situations, I'm frequently struggling not to cry. Thank goodness for bathrooms.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl37s6fGVNg/WBzdgmRqfAI/AAAAAAAAPjQ/8WdOzFg0ragO0awNfuRZVsgUayUDKT19wCLcB/s1600/funny%2Bbaby%2Bface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl37s6fGVNg/WBzdgmRqfAI/AAAAAAAAPjQ/8WdOzFg0ragO0awNfuRZVsgUayUDKT19wCLcB/s320/funny%2Bbaby%2Bface.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the type of face I might make when I'm trying to hold back the tears.<br />
Nice and nonchalant, yes?</td></tr>
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<b>5) I'll do power poses.</b><br />
I strongly believe in the mind-body connection. It seems to be widely acknowledged that the mind can control the body, but I believe the body's control over the mind is just as powerful. Along those lines, I was fascinated to learn about power posing from <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en">Amy Cuddy's TED talk</a> a few years ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XboRE8ImMNY/WBzaNb4xJPI/AAAAAAAAPjE/PElM55MEuEQkUeO-p-Gt1c7MvI5fYE5EACLcB/s1600/super-woman-pose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XboRE8ImMNY/WBzaNb4xJPI/AAAAAAAAPjE/PElM55MEuEQkUeO-p-Gt1c7MvI5fYE5EACLcB/s1600/super-woman-pose.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonder Woman doing the original power pose</td></tr>
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The power pose strategy has been a game changer for me. If you haven't seen the video, I highly recommend watching. I think the subject matter is fascinating.<br />
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<i><b>Your turn! Do you have any previously unknown facts about yourself you'd like to share???</b></i></div>
emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-66056665628838765022016-11-03T13:05:00.000-05:002016-11-03T15:11:42.797-05:00Spontaneous combustion, et al<i>Taking a break from the Alaska travel recaps to talk about some random buzz in Chicago today.</i><br />
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<b>Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series!</b> A 108-year championship drought has been broken, just like that! They made it look easy, right? ;-) It's hard for me to comprehend the magnitude of what just happened. I am very happy for the team, the city, and all the fans who thought they might never see this day, including the millions that never did.<br />
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I can only imagine the partying that is surely still going on as I type this more than 12 hours after the final out. This guy's face just says it all:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qOdtfOcwDk/WBtSQsiwCJI/AAAAAAAAPgs/N4tNfAwfNy4pvjKPRwPreBFstwSYoirgACLcB/s1600/IMG_6602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qOdtfOcwDk/WBtSQsiwCJI/AAAAAAAAPgs/N4tNfAwfNy4pvjKPRwPreBFstwSYoirgACLcB/s400/IMG_6602.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!<br />
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In all seriousness, it was like Independence Day in Chicago last night. Car horns were blaring, people were cheering at the top of their lungs, fireworks were lighting up the sky in every direction (even the south side, which is traditionally White Sox territory!) One of my colleagues lives a mile away from Wrigley Field and she said folks were spontaneously firing M80s. That'll get the temporary hearing loss going for sure.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MeTU8c8B3wc/WBtTufmwCZI/AAAAAAAAPg4/Jn49-H5GXyIDQH2Y61DJFMpCjY1UFKDQACLcB/s1600/Temporary%2Bloss%2Bof%2Bhearing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MeTU8c8B3wc/WBtTufmwCZI/AAAAAAAAPg4/Jn49-H5GXyIDQH2Y61DJFMpCjY1UFKDQACLcB/s400/Temporary%2Bloss%2Bof%2Bhearing.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I just learned the championship parade will occur tomorrow, very appropriately. The rest of this workweek is pretty much already shot anyways. Might as well keep the celebration going to kick off the weekend in style, right?<br />
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<i>Speaking of the weekend...</i><br />
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<b>ILL-INI!!!</b><br />
This Saturday, I'm headed down to my dear alma mater (the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) with Adam and my brother-in-law, Marc. My nephew, Reid, is a junior on campus and this weekend is Dad's Day Weekend.<br />
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I haven't been back to campus in two and a half years so I am very excited for this day! The weather forecast looks absolutely perfect for an early-November game. I'm already scheming to load up on Illinois gear, and to go take photos at various iconic spots on campus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8RsmVDNHQ-8/WBteB2vQJfI/AAAAAAAAPhU/M2tUziWVFrskZvGBSQdCkK0s5DvauhJ-wCLcB/s1600/Illinois%2Balma%2Bmater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8RsmVDNHQ-8/WBteB2vQJfI/AAAAAAAAPhU/M2tUziWVFrskZvGBSQdCkK0s5DvauhJ-wCLcB/s400/Illinois%2Balma%2Bmater.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illinois Alma Mater</td></tr>
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Adam and I are planning to catch the Illinois-MSU football game.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MXVZE0bcrA/WBtauSS8iRI/AAAAAAAAPhI/BPaD-NW_6koAhr6LKZlRmuIYumJfTh0BQCLcB/s1600/Illinois%2Bfootball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MXVZE0bcrA/WBtauSS8iRI/AAAAAAAAPhI/BPaD-NW_6koAhr6LKZlRmuIYumJfTh0BQCLcB/s400/Illinois%2Bfootball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Afterwards, we'll join the gang for a Dad's Day gathering at Reid's fraternity house. Ahhh yes, this means I'll be on campus partying on a Saturday night!!!! ;-P Obviously it won't be the same as when I was a student, but it'll be fun to evoke some of the old memories.<br />
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<b><i>Side note:</i></b> My friend Nhan is an MSU alum and diehard fan. He's also journeying to UIllinois on Saturday for the game. Traveling MSU fans are typically extremely passionate, so I requested he not go overboard with his Spartan shenanigans on my old campus. His [edited] response was basically, "Have a camera ready!" </div>
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<i>Oh boy... </i>Here we go.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qN_gx21dLrI/WBtwH-iNZVI/AAAAAAAAPiE/oifHKHS0DpcQx61ngYc4pVBIHAKNXStqwCLcB/s1600/Crazy%2Bfans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qN_gx21dLrI/WBtwH-iNZVI/AAAAAAAAPiE/oifHKHS0DpcQx61ngYc4pVBIHAKNXStqwCLcB/s400/Crazy%2Bfans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which of these headshots is worthy of potential replacement with Nhan's photo?<br />
<a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/photos/college-craziest-fans-cheering-florida-georgia-lsu-byu-oklahoma-miami-nebraska/3f5ntj7pwevt1fpjqhv3o7kb3">Source</a></td></tr>
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<i>Speaking of photoworthy opportunities...</i></div>
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<b>America's Playground</b></div>
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Rock N Roll Las Vegas is next weekend! I've been looking forward to this race for months, and it's finally almost here! Plans are slowly starting to shape up for the weekend's dining and entertainment choices.</div>
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My flight is on Thursday night, and of course my calendar is a complete disaster that afternoon. It'll be quite the mad dash leading up to departure.</div>
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I'm starting to research all the logistics of getting to/from the race expo, the start line, and the finish line. I'm trying not to get stressed since this is supposed to be fun, but the transit process is going to be lengthy and cumbersome. Hopefully nothing explodes or catches on fire, etc.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xCo8d26FfI/WBtl-HleO6I/AAAAAAAAPhk/dcMy-d64w2crg8oDFutlN8ZTRUKpd5o5wCLcB/s1600/Mirage%2BVolcano.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xCo8d26FfI/WBtl-HleO6I/AAAAAAAAPhk/dcMy-d64w2crg8oDFutlN8ZTRUKpd5o5wCLcB/s400/Mirage%2BVolcano.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mirage volcano erupts on demand!</td></tr>
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From where I'm staying at the Mirage, it's about 2.5 miles to the start line south of Mandalay Bay. I know the Strip is notoriously difficult to walk because of all the bridge crossings that lead into casinos, et al. Everyone is recommending using the monorail, but it's still a long walk just to get to the monorail. Then, the word on the street is that it's about a 1-mile walk from the monorail at MGM to the starting line. Plus, I hear the monorail gets jam-packed during the pre-race rush, so you have to allow a LOT of time.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dhpixzDPBk/WBtsHCZII4I/AAAAAAAAPh4/SjGY2m7gnDkfTZUtTxhBDvmu9CcRpfzJQCLcB/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2Bmonorail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dhpixzDPBk/WBtsHCZII4I/AAAAAAAAPh4/SjGY2m7gnDkfTZUtTxhBDvmu9CcRpfzJQCLcB/s400/Las%2BVegas%2Bmonorail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monorails don't have very large passenger capacity</td></tr>
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To make matters worse, gear check closes almost an hour before my wave is scheduled to start. If the weather isn't bad, this won't be a big issue - but if it gets cold, that's a long time to be standing around waiting. Looks like I need to pull together some throwaway clothes, plus bring along some food/drink. All in all it sounds like the pre-race process could end up being an adventure all by itself.</div>
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Viva Las Vegas!</div>
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<i>What plans do you have for the upcoming weekend? </i><i>Favorite parades? </i><i>Any races in the horizon? Las Vegas tips or suggestions?</i></div>
emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-40136758056133927322016-10-31T17:24:00.000-05:002016-10-31T18:16:37.537-05:00Alaska Wildlife Conservation CenterI hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I got back from Anchorage yesterday morning (and am now in catch-up mode on blogging). I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Vanitha over the past few days. It was such a wonderful treat to be able to spend so much time with her and to really catch up.<br />
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Alaska really touched my heart. I'd been there in the past on a cruise, but thanks to Vanitha I was able to explore more below the surface this time. It was off-tourist season and I loved being able to experience life there from a more local perspective. I found the Anchorage area to be an amazing, stunningly beautiful destination with some of the friendliest people I've ever met in my life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yaVTlh2ayLA/WBekLPgUTbI/AAAAAAAAPeE/ZGpFxlJUM9MuXOy5l8US45a4cCSXHZesACLcB/s1600/IMG_6355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yaVTlh2ayLA/WBekLPgUTbI/AAAAAAAAPeE/ZGpFxlJUM9MuXOy5l8US45a4cCSXHZesACLcB/s400/IMG_6355.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the window as my flight was approaching Anchorage's airport</td></tr>
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I have a lot to share about the weekend, so I'm going to break things up into a few more-manageable posts. We'll start by talking about the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bcu120JdU_Q/WBemZieBCNI/AAAAAAAAPeM/v3T7-ldMwGIexSSweMMckIdDU0WXGzB1QCLcB/s1600/AWCC_logo-PK-100px.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bcu120JdU_Q/WBemZieBCNI/AAAAAAAAPeM/v3T7-ldMwGIexSSweMMckIdDU0WXGzB1QCLcB/s320/AWCC_logo-PK-100px.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaskawildlife.org/">Source</a></td></tr>
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Vanitha and I spent a lot of time there over the weekend and it was my favorite of all the things we did.<br />
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From <a href="https://www.alaskawildlife.org/">their website</a>:<br />
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<i>The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife through conservation, education, and quality animal care.</i></div>
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The center maintains large land spaces to house and take care of animals that are orphaned, injured, or displaced. When the animals cannot be released back into the wild, the center gives them a permanent home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ipnlRjJMjI/WBeq3tW4ozI/AAAAAAAAPes/O7gir4HQ8NMqWudONZG5BZ3cbr2UnBKowCLcB/s1600/Wood%2Bbison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ipnlRjJMjI/WBeq3tW4ozI/AAAAAAAAPes/O7gir4HQ8NMqWudONZG5BZ3cbr2UnBKowCLcB/s400/Wood%2Bbison.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The AWCC currently cares for the only active herd of wood bison in the United States.<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/akwildlife/photos/">Source</a></td></tr>
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Vanitha and I are both animal lovers so we both consider the AWCC a very special place.<br />
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The center does different animal feedings once an hour, which were really fun to watch. Here are the feedings we got to see:<br />
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<b><u>Adult black/grizzly bears</u></b><br />
The staff explained that they always try to mimic the bears' natural diets. During warmer seasons, the bears are fed meat. However, at this time of year, bears in the wild are either hibernating or getting ready to hibernate, which means their diets naturally get sparser, too. Accordingly, that day the staff fed the bears a mixture of apples, plus some dog food for nutrition.<br />
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The staff threw the food over the wire fences and the bears would sniff around and find everything. They mentioned that bears have an extremely acute sense of smell which is seven times greater than a bloodhound's.<br />
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The pictures don't show size scale very well, but the bears are enormous. I think someone said they weigh around 900 pounds. Check out the bear claws!<br />
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One of the staff threw an apple over the fence that accidentally hit one of the bears. The crowd gasped, but the bear barely reacted. It was a comical moment!<br />
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Here are two of the bears sniffing around.<br />
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At one point, one of the bears plopped itself right behind the wire fence and gazed around at the crowd. It was so close you could read the expression on its face.<br />
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A few minutes later, the bear wandered back a few feet before plopping onto its behind to observe the crowd again:<br />
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I've heard some native Alaskan tribes consider bears to have human-like spirits, and now I understand why. It was really fun watching the bears interacting in such a relateable way.<br />
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<b><u>Lynxes</u></b><br />
I grew up with pet cats, so I have a special affinity for felines such as lynxes.<br />
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We learned about the history of the two lynxes living at the center. One had been rescued from a wildfire, and the other one had been rescued from an illegal domestication attempt.<br />
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You can see both lynxes here:<br />
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The one in front was much more sociable than the other. The staff said this one was considered the "alpha" lynx, plus the other lynx was shy after having negative experiences with humans in the past.<br />
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Both were fed pieces of chicken, and both were quite tentative about eating.<br />
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We learned the "alpha" lynx was getting old, so she had some arthritis and was developing a cataract in her eye. True to form, we witnessed her slip while trying to climb up one of the tree branches. That made me sad. The staff said they would be keeping an eye on her to make sure the slip didn't hurt her.</div>
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Here she is crouching under one of the trees afterwards. She is a beautiful creature.</div>
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<b><u>Porcupine</u></b><br />
I wasn't expecting to be charmed by a porcupine, but found Kit Kat the porcupine to be surprisingly endearing. (I remember his name in particular because there is another porcupine on site named Snickers. Clever names, yes?) Kit Kat was brought to the center after being found wandering with a snare caught on one leg, which eventually had to be amputated. Thankfully, Kit Kat looks very happy and healthy in his new home.<br />
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We learned that porcupines are vegetarians with very few natural predators, and we learned about the characteristics of their quills and how they defend themselves. We also learned that porcupines are surprisingly intelligent and respond well to training. The staff frequently takes the porcupines out to schools and other places for educational visits, et al.<br />
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Here is Kit Kat chomping away at a sugar snap pea from a staffer:<br />
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He was an eager little fellow!<br />
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After a few minutes, the staffperson gave Kit Kat the bowl, which was filled with peapods, berries, and some vegetable fiber. The staff told us that Kit Kat didn't like broccoli or brussel sprouts, which made me laugh.<br />
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Kit Kat was so excited at the contents of his bowl that he soon buried his entire head inside and stayed that way for at least 5-10 minutes. The staff tried to push the bowl back down to the ground but Kit Kat wouldn't budge. It was the cutest thing ever.<br />
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From now on, any time I need something to make me smile, I am going to look back at the pictures of Kit Kat with his head in the bowl. =)<br />
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<b><u>Baby Bear</u></b><br />
The center has a baby bear which is currently kept separate from the adult bears until it is old enough to interact with them. It was extremely energetic and playful.<br />
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The baby bear was small enough that the staff could still go into its enclosure to interact with it directly. They said they worked with the baby at least three times a day, and that it was very receptive to training and interaction.<br />
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Sure enough, the baby bear acted very similar to a puppy:<br />
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Super adorable!<br />
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We had a funny moment where the baby bear was sniffing the ground and a bird flew up behind it. The baby bear turned around and literally jumped in terror at the sight of the bird. Based on the reaction, you would never have guessed that the bear is literally about a million times bigger and heavier than the bird. It was hilarious.<br />
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<i><b>Moving on from the feedings...</b></i><br />
Unfortunately we weren't able to see every type of animal onsite get fed, but we did get to see plenty of the other animals going about their normal days. Here are a few:<br />
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<b><u>Caribou</u></b><br />
To me, this scene was quintessential Alaska:<br />
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Those antlers are no joke! At one point, we even saw two of the caribou briefly locking antlers with each other. The drama! I can imagine things can get ugly when this happens in the wild.<br />
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Here's a close-up. It must be tough to maneuver with those antlers in wooded areas. Also, it's not visible here, but we got to see this guy answering nature's call. It doesn't get any more real than that, yes? =D<br />
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<b><u>Musk Oxen</u></b><br />
I wasn't familiar with musk oxen, but enjoyed watching them sniffing around and finding ridges in the grass to plop down and make themselves comfortable.<br />
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Vanitha told me that musk oxen have extremely warm hair, which natives use to make winter clothing and other garments. She said there is a musk oxen farm near Anchorage, which I would have liked to visit with her if time had permitted! Next time. =)<br />
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<b><u>Deer</u></b><br />
There were a few different types of deer onsite. They were very graceful and reminded me a lot of the deer I see back home.<br />
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<b><u>Bison</u></b><br />
When I saw these, the lyrics to <i>Home on the Range</i> immediately started running through my head. There were a few baby bison amongst the herd, and you could see the others being careful to keep the babies a bit more protected.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V and I attempted a selfie with the bison in the background</td></tr>
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<b><u>Foxes</u></b><br />
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It's a little hard to see in the picture, but there are two foxes - one on the ground, and one hiding on the ledge in the corner:<br />
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The fox, which had a really beautiful fluffy tail, was very active trotting around.<br />
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<b><u>Seen But Not Pictured Here...</u></b><br />
Wolves, an owl, and an eagle.<br />
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The wolves looked so much like domesticated dogs that Vanitha and I asked a staffperson how to tell them apart. We learned it can be quite difficult to distinguish the two, to the point that it may require genetic testing. Wow.<br />
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<b><u><i>In conclusion...</i></u></b><br />
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center was an incredibly heartwarming destination. I loved seeing all the animal interactions in such a natural environment. The staff members are all extremely knowledgeable. They clearly love what they do and it is obvious the animals are very well cared-for. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again and again, if given the opportunity. If I lived in the area, I would love to volunteer there.<br />
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To anyone traveling Anchorage or the surrounding areas, this center is a must-visit!<br />
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--<br />
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<i>I will be linking up with <a href="http://www.laurenonlocation.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.snowintromso.com/">Van</a>, <a href="http://www.thesunnysideofthis.com/">Isabel</a> and <a href="http://www.whatawonderfulworld.co/">Marcella</a> for Wanderful Wednesday; with </i><i><a href="http://www.abritandasoutherner.com/">Chris and Heather</a>, <a href="http://justinpluslauren.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.asoutherngypsy.com/">Ashley</a>, <a href="http://eatworktravel.com/">Amanda and Brian</a>, and <a href="http://www.onemoderncouple.com/">Carolann and Macrae</a> for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/weekendwanderlust/">Weekend Wanderlust</a>; and with <a href="http://www.arnieandjoareonthego.com/">Arnie and Jo</a>, <a href="http://toddlersontour.com.au/">Sally-Ann</a>, <a href="http://www.travelnotesandbeyond.com/">Anda</a>, and <a href="http://www.twotravelingtexans.com/">Anisa and Katherine</a> for The Weekly Postcard. </i></div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-40966499050188884852016-10-28T17:03:00.000-05:002016-10-29T10:15:06.504-05:00Alaskan long runGreetings from Anchorage! Here is a sampling of the scenery during my plane ride in:<br />
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I'll talk a lot more later about the travels up here, but first I want to talk running shop. Yesterday, I did a 10-mile long run, mostly on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This is an 11-mile trail that runs along the Knik Arm and Cook Inlet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaska.org/">Source</a></td></tr>
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<em><strong>First, some trail preparation:</strong></em><br />
I'd heard stories about wildlife encounters along the path, so I asked Vanitha for advice on what to do if it happened. She said I might run into moose or bears. With moose, she said you could probably just slink away quietly. With bears you should either play dead or fight back with everything you've got, depending on the type of bear. She also mentioned that the animals might act more defensively if they had their children with them, and that bears may "bluff charge" to try to scare you.<br />
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Vanitha said she thought bears would be an unlikely sight, since most of them are already in hibernation. That certainly made sense, as winter has definitely already arrived here. Daytime high temperatures have been in the 20s and 30s, and there is snow and ice on the ground.<br />
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Then, Vanitha said she had a bear bell, which helps warn bears of your presence in advance. She suggested I carry it around with me on the path. I found the concept of a bear bell humorous, but apparently they are readily available in grocery stores and all kinds of places here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanitha's bear bell</td></tr>
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The bear bell is a pretty cheery looking contraption, no? Maybe Santa and his reindeer are actually wearing bear bells. =D</div>
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<strong><em>Local conditions:</em></strong></div>
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Sunrise is already pretty late here - yesterday, it rose around 9:15 AM. Overnight, temperatures were in the teens. While living in Chicago my whole life means I am definitely used to cold weather, I still didn't want to go out in conditions THAT cold. I waited until about 11:00 when the temperatures were in the mid-20s, then finally bundled up and headed out. While it was very chilly, the sun was shining brightly and thankfully there was no wind.</div>
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<strong><em>On the trail:</em></strong></div>
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The scenery was beautiful. I can imagine in the summertime it must be even more spectacular. This was a small inland lake:</div>
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This was the view of the ocean. If you look closely, you can see mountains in the far distance:</div>
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There were a lot of spots with benches facing out towards the water. During warmer weather, it must be heavenly to sit in those spots and enjoy the view.</div>
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Some parts of the path were clearer than others. Certain areas were icy and/or had a lot of drifting snow, so I had to be careful of my footing.</div>
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Part of the trail was closed for bridge construction, so I was only able to run about 3 miles before the trail took a detour into town via sidewalk. I followed the detour for about a mile, but some of the surfaces hadn't been plowed. Therefore, I opted to come back to the path and do some out-and-backs to get myself to 10 miles.</div>
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<strong><em>How it felt:</em></strong></div>
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Beautiful scenery aside, I didn't feel great during this run. My body wasn't acclimated to the cold and it was tough. By Mile 3 I was already feeling the exertion so I used every mental trick I could think of to get myself through. I've heard cold can mask dehydration. Sure enough, I never felt thirsty, but forced myself to drink from my handheld water bottle. Obviously the contents got icier and icier as I progressed. At Mile 5, I took a GU, but the cold had hardened it to the point it was difficult to squeeze out of the packet.</div>
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It was an enormous relief once I finally did finish! I was so happy to come back to the warmth of Vanitha's apartment, take a hot shower, and pass out on the couch like a cat hogging the sunshine. =)</div>
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<em>More on Alaska to come!!!</em></div>
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<em>--</em></div>
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<i>Linking up with <a href="http://www.laurenonlocation.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.snowintromso.com/">Van</a>, <a href="http://www.thesunnysideofthis.com/">Isabel</a> and <a href="http://www.whatawonderfulworld.co/">Marcella</a> for Wanderful Wednesday; with </i><i><a href="http://www.abritandasoutherner.com/">Chris and Heather</a>, <a href="http://justinpluslauren.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.asoutherngypsy.com/">Ashley</a>, <a href="http://eatworktravel.com/">Amanda and Brian</a>, and <a href="http://www.onemoderncouple.com/">Carolann and Macrae</a> for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/weekendwanderlust/">Weekend Wanderlust</a>; and with <a href="http://www.arnieandjoareonthego.com/">Arnie and Jo</a>, <a href="http://toddlersontour.com.au/">Sally-Ann</a>, <a href="http://www.travelnotesandbeyond.com/">Anda</a>, and <a href="http://www.twotravelingtexans.com/">Anisa and Katherine</a> for The Weekly Postcard. </i></div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-2691403418364962052016-10-25T16:54:00.000-05:002016-10-25T17:14:28.425-05:00Oct 17-23 training week recap, race do-overQuick post today. I've been in scramble mode over the past few days (hence also the delayed nature of this post!) Over the weekend, I had family in town from Maryland, and tomorrow morning, I'm off to visit Vanitha in Alaska. Since I'll be out of the office the rest of the week, I've been trying to get as much done in advance as possible.<br />
<br />
Normally I'm pretty organized when it comes to packing and preparing in advance, but last night saw me up at midnight stuffing things into a suitcase (!!!).<br />
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<i><b>Side note:</b></i><br />
I'm sure a lot of folks are either sick of hearing about the Chicago Cubs in the World Series starting tonight, or can't hear enough about them. I'm not a diehard fan, but in general I have a knack for being out of town when my teams of interest are late in the playoffs or finals. Sigh.<br />
<br />
In short, my best hope is that the Cubs take the series in five. If so, they'd close out in Chicago and I'd be home in time to watch it!<br />
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Here are my workouts from the week:<br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Yoga class, 20 minutes strength work (biceps, triceps, core, lower back, squats)<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary cycling, 35 minutes strength work (upper back, shoulders, chest, quads, hamstrings, core)<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Zumba class, Mobility 101 class<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - Strength Max class<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Yoga class, 3.3 miles of speedwork on the treadmill (warm up 10 minutes, 2:1 tempo/recovery interval ratio at 7.5/3.0 MPH, repeat 8 times)<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - 35 minutes stationary cycling<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<br />
My speedwork surprisingly went very well this week, and I was happy to be able to strength-train on 3 days. It also felt really good to get in a pure cycling workout on Saturday. These days I usually treat the stationary bike just as a warm-up machine, but I might have to revisit using it more consistently.<br />
<br />
Switching gears now. This week's Tuesdays on the Run topic asks: <i>"What race do you want a do-over on? Either to train/race differently or to relive the awesome."</i><br />
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Easy answer. I'd want to re-do my one and only marathon, the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2012/10/chicago-marathon-race-recap.html">2012 Chicago Marathon</a>. Reasons:<br />
<ul>
<li>At the time, I was dealing with various injuries which resulted in horrific groin pain and very wonky hips and knees. Over the past few years, I've done a lot of strength work which has significantly alleviated those issues.</li>
<li>I'm at least 12 pounds lighter now than I was back then, quite possibly even more.</li>
<li>Experience has taught me a lot more about proper pacing, fueling, and nutrition.</li>
<li>At the time, I did minimal cross-training, yoga, or speed/hillwork, and I probably did my long runs at a faster pace than necessary. I feel like I'd know how to train smarter and more effectively now.</li>
<li>I am more familiar with the course now and would know better how to tackle it.</li>
<li>Running gear continues to improve all around in the marketplace.</li>
</ul>
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<b><i>What about you? What race(s) would you like to do over and why?</i></b></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>--</i><br />
<i>Belatedly linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap, and linking up with <a href="http://www.marciashealthyslice.com/">Marcia</a>, <a href="http://noguiltlife.com/">Patti</a>, and <a href="http://mcmmamaruns.com/">Erika</a> for Tuesdays on the Run.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-26574371965320856282016-10-21T15:25:00.000-05:002016-10-21T22:33:47.624-05:00Five Things FridayWhen I learned <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/">Cynthia</a> were discontinuing their Friday Five linkup, I was bummed as it is one of my favorites. What a thrill to learn today that <a href="http://www.fairytalesandfitness.com/">Fairytales and Fitness</a> and <a href="http://www.runningonhappy.com/">Running on Happy</a> started a Friday Five 2.0!<br />
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<i>Let's kick off the inaugural 2.0 linkup!!!</i><br />
<br />
<b>1) Gift card that keeps on giving</b><br />
Six weeks ago, I received a $50 gift card to Roti, one of my favorite quick-service restaurants. Each time I go, my order totals around $9. Obviously that means I can use the certificate for about 5.5 orders. I've been using the card once per week.<br />
<br />
Today I went to use the card for the sixth time, and had my credit card ready to cover any unpaid balance. Much to my surprise, they told me no balance was due.<br />
<br />
REALLY?<br />
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You better believe I didn't question it! I just said thank you and immediately headed out the door. =D<br />
<br />
Back at my desk, I tried to look up my gift card balance/activity. The result? Error messages that the gift card number cannot be found. To quote Alice in Wonderland, "Curiouser and curiouser!"<br />
<br />
I wonder if I somehow stumbled into a "bottomless" gift card? That would basically be the equivalent of hitting the lunchtime jackpot, in my opinion. Or maybe their system was just down? Who knows.<br />
<br />
Either way, I've already eaten the evidence. =)<br />
<br />
<b>2) Going bananas</b><br />
At yoga class today, our instructor had us do a new-to-us pose that she called the banana pose. It looks very similar to this:<br />
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You can see the resemblance:<br />
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The banana pose made me want to giggle. It reminded me of a friend who was born outside of the US, and thinks the expression "going bananas" is a weird idiom. (Taken literally, I think we can all understand why, yes?)<br />
<br />
Let's just say it's really hard to do yoga when you are trying not to laugh!<br />
<br />
<b>3) Hey L.A., whadya say?</b><br />
This past Tuesday, Adam's colleague Reid gave us two tickets to that night's Blackhawks vs Flyers game at the United Center. Thank you, Reid!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot of Marian Hossa tossing one of the pucks into the stands for a fan souvenir during warm-ups.<br />
Congratulations to Big Hoss on scoring his 500th NHL goal that night!</td></tr>
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For the second consecutive time, we got to watch the Cubs game on the United Center scoreboard in between periods. Always really cool.<br />
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Reid has a known history of undergoing very last-minute travel to see our teams on the road. E.g., last year, he flew to Anaheim to watch Blackhawks-Ducks Western Conference Finals Game 7. I jokingly said to Adam, "Maybe the reason Reid is giving away his tickets is because he's in Los Angeles watching the Cubs?"<br />
<br />
I found out later that Reid did not attend Tuesday's game. He DID, however, fly out to LA yesterday afternoon to watch last night's game! Apparently his flight landed at LAX around 3:00 PM, and the Cubs-Dodgers game started at 5:08 PM. Wow. Just wow.<br />
<br />
That, my friends, is living on the edge!<br />
<br />
<b>4) I get a good feeling</b><br />
The latest addition to my workout playlist is "Levels" by Avicii. I've heard it at seemingly every single race start line over the last year. It's also one of the songs that might get played at the UC when the Blackhawks are warming up.<br />
<br />
Today I watched the video for the first time. The first half is really funny! It reminded me a little of the <i>Office Space</i> movie. Check it out:<br />
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<b>5) Alaskan frontiers</b><br />
Next Wednesday, I am headed up to Alaska to visit my best friend Vanitha. <span style="text-align: center;">I am very excited to catch up with her!</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">This trip has really snuck up on me. I haven't done as much preparation as I would have liked. Thankfully, V is filled with great recommendations on things to see and do.</span><br />
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Also sneaking up on me is the Rock N Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon on November 13. Ideally I'd do two more double-digit long runs in preparation. The weekend of November 6 is a gimmee, and then I can choose either between this coming weekend or next weekend. From a planning standpoint, I've got family in town this weekend from Maryland, and next weekend I'll be in Alaska.<br />
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I'd really love to be able to do my long run in Alaska, but I know the wilderness and wildlife there is no joke. Essentially, I need to make a decision and prepare quickly, either way.<br />
<br />
<i>Happy Friday, everyone!</i>emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-44132295494223577692016-10-19T17:59:00.002-05:002016-10-19T19:51:09.050-05:00Open House ChicagoLast weekend was my third consecutive year participating in Open House Chicago. For those of you unfamiliar, this is an event organized by the Chicago Architectural Foundation where over 200 buildings across Chicago provide free behind-the-scenes access. I love being a hometown tourist, and tremendously enjoy any chances to explore the city beneath the surface. This is one of my favorite weekends of the year!<br />
<br />
The picture opportunities are always phenomenal. Here are some flashbacks to a few of my all-time favorite snapshots; these are from 2014 when Adam and I visited City Hall:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presiding over Chicago City Council</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking charge at the Aldermanic Offices</td></tr>
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In case you were wondering, Adam took a slightly different approach to both of those photo opps:<br />
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<i>Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!</i><br />
<br />
Now fast-forwarding back to 2016. I went to sites on both Saturday and Sunday, so let's talk about each day's visits.<br />
<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b><br />
In the last two years, I've focused on downtown sites. This year, I wanted to branch out a bit. I had seen some breathtaking snapshots taken from the Ukrainian Village, so this neighborhood was on the top of my list. Here's what I saw:<br />
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<b><u><i>Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral</i></u></b><br />
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During my visit, I learned this is one of just two churches designed by Louis Sullivan, and is the oldest Orthodox parish in Chicago. I also learned that construction was partly financed by a donation from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Very cool!<br />
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Of course, hearing this made me wonder whether my favorite Blackhawks player, Artemi Panarin, has ever been there. He is Russian and known to be quite religious, so it would seem to be the perfect fit, yes???<br />
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<b><u><i>Saint Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral</i></u></b><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUA6OLcQVLg/WAfiK_01LxI/AAAAAAAAPXo/vG2o_r3tCEAMt2ppGbQdp9ItYmtCW8LWACEw/s1600/IMG_6104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IUA6OLcQVLg/WAfiK_01LxI/AAAAAAAAPXo/vG2o_r3tCEAMt2ppGbQdp9ItYmtCW8LWACEw/s400/IMG_6104.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Onsite, I learned this is a remodeled German Lutheran church. It is intriguing to me when houses of worship are redesigned for different audiences, so to speak. I loved the multidimensional ceiling with the beautiful artwork.</div>
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<b><u><i>Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral</i></u></b></div>
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I was stunned by the beautiful domes, paintings, stained glass, and blue ceilings adorned with what reminded me of a starry sky. I learned this building was modeled after St. Sophia Cathedral in the Ukraine.</div>
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<b><u><i>Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church</i></u></b></div>
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Apparently St. Volodymyr is very prominent since the Ukrainian Village has two houses of worship that bear his name. Once again, I was awestruck by the lush blue and gold hues, the enormous and ornate chandelier, and the intricate artwork.</div>
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<i>To conclude Saturday: </i>The Ukrainian Village is a neighborhood in which I haven't done much exploring, but seeing these four spectacular churches definitely piqued my interest to spend more time there!</div>
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<b>SUNDAY</b></div>
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Today, it was back to the downtown area to see some sights closer to home. After seeing the four churches the day before, I was looking forward to mixing things up on Day 2. Adam joined me for the first four sites of the day. Together we saw:</div>
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<u><i><b>The Chicago Board of Trade</b> </i></u></div>
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Being a finance major, I was hoping to see the trading floor. I had been plotting out photo ops where I would be pretending to buy and sell futures and options. =D Unfortunately, we learned upon arrival that the floor is generally closed to the public. Bummer!</div>
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Nevertheless, we got to go into the CBOT's enormous vault. This was the vault door:</div>
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No messing around with this vault! It reminded me of the scenes from <i>Ocean's Eleven</i>. When I walked in, I had Basher's voice in my head saying, <i>"Oh, leave it out. You tossers! You had one job to do!"</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean's Eleven aficionados, you all recognize this scene, yes?</td></tr>
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Here are some of the lockboxes inside the vault:</div>
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<b><u><i>Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture</i></u></b></div>
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This is a penthouse architecture office. I am guessing it is a very high-powered firm.</div>
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Based on what I've heard about architecture firms in general, I can imagine a lot of feverish late nights have been worked in these areas.</div>
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The space had fabulous city views and amenities, such as this little courtyard inlet:</div>
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I would enjoy eating lunch out there when the weather is nice! It'd be a great miniature escape from the computer.</div>
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<b><u><i>MediaScience</i></u></b></div>
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From the <a href="http://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/mediascience/#controls">Open House Chicago website</a>:</div>
<i>This innovative firm specializes in consumer neuroscience research. As people watch TV or view content on computer screens, state-of-the-art tools measure biometrics, facial muscle movement, eye gaze, reaction times and more. These metrics have become critical resources for many of the largest brands in the entertainment industry and beyond. </i><br />
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Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take photos, so here is a photo from the Open House site:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/mediascience/#controls">Source</a></td></tr>
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I got to try a biometric analysis using a computer that measured my facial expressions and eye movements. It was scary to witness how accurately the machines could detect what I was doing. Very sci-fi!</div>
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During our visit, we learned MediaScience was recruiting folks to participate in paid research studies using their systems. I signed up. =)</div>
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<b><u><i>Loop Synagogue</i></u></b></div>
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Adam and I both used to work less than a block away from the Loop Synagogue. During that time, I've probably walked past it a few thousand times, but never noticed it was there.</div>
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On the first floor, there was a smaller worship room of which I didn't take pictures. This room had a divider for traditional Orthodox Jewish practices, in which men and women did not sit together. From what I understand, such practices are not common in our current day and age, so this was a bit of a surprising discovery.</div>
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On the second floor was a much larger worship area, complete with stadium seats (Adam said this is since services can be quite lengthy):</div>
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Check out the gorgeous full-length stained-glass wall:</div>
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I loved the designs and can imagine how stunning the backdrop must be during worship.</div>
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At this point, Adam headed home to take care of a few things while I continued on to two more sites.</div>
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<b><u><i>Joffrey Tower</i></u></b></div>
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Many years ago, I worked for a firm who was a strong supporter of the Joffrey Ballet. The firm loaned staff to the Joffrey Ballet on a rotational basis, so I got to work in the Joffrey Ballet's development team for a few months. It was a really fun experience and it was unique to witness the operations behind the scenes. At the time, the Joffrey Ballet was located in a different building, so this was my first time seeing their new home.</div>
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Visitors saw a sampling of some of the stage costumes, and learned about the enormous amount of time and expense invested in the dancers' shoes and outfits:</div>
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Then we got to see one of the practice facilities, which had breathtaking city views:</div>
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It was interesting to learn about all the considerations that went into designing the practice studio. E.g., The ceiling were very high to accommodate jumps/throws; the floor featured softer landing surfaces to be easier on the joints; and each studio included sound-proofing such that multiple practice studios could operate simultaneously without side disturbance.</div>
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<b><u><i>Marquee at Block 37</i></u></b></div>
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This was my final site visit. I thought this was an office, so I was surprised to discover it is a luxury residential building. Visitors got to see a studio and a one-bedroom apartment.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the view of the colorful building artwork visible outside the window</td></tr>
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Staff even showed us the rental prices. They were high, but the downtown location obviously commands a very high premium. Further, the building has resort-like amenities. This picture of the pool deck definitely does not do it justice:</div>
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One of the best parts: The building had a perfect view of Daley Plaza. You could see the Picasso statue as well as the Daley Plaza fountains, which are dyed blue for the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs:</div>
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Pretty cool, eh?</div>
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That concluded my 2016 Open House Chicago site visits! I managed to see a total of ten sites over two days, which is an Open House PR for me. The two days were such a fun experience. I am already looking forward to next year's Open House Chicago weekend!</div>
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<i>--</i><br />
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<i>Linking up with <a href="http://www.laurenonlocation.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.snowintromso.com/">Van</a>, <a href="http://www.thesunnysideofthis.com/">Isabel</a> and <a href="http://www.whatawonderfulworld.co/">Marcella</a> for Wanderful Wednesday; with </i><i><a href="http://www.abritandasoutherner.com/">Chris and Heather</a>, <a href="http://justinpluslauren.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.asoutherngypsy.com/">Ashley</a>, <a href="http://eatworktravel.com/">Amanda and Brian</a>, and <a href="http://www.onemoderncouple.com/">Carolann and Macrae</a> for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/weekendwanderlust/">Weekend Wanderlust</a>; and with <a href="http://www.aholeinmyshoe.com/">Lyn</a>, <a href="http://www.arnieandjoareonthego.com/">Arnie and Jo</a>, <a href="http://toddlersontour.com.au/">Sally-Ann</a>, <a href="http://www.travelnotesandbeyond.com/">Anda</a>, and <a href="http://www.twotravelingtexans.com/">Anisa and Katherine</a> for The Weekly Postcard. </i></div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-6894461657917109172016-10-16T17:23:00.003-05:002016-10-18T14:27:53.875-05:00Weekly recap - October 10-16Last week I had an extremely rough stretch in the office. Thankfully, it was balanced out by some cool after-work events and one of the most fun weekends I've had in recent memory. God taketh away and God giveth!!!<br />
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<b><u>Friday Five</u></b><br />
First things first, check out <a href="http://www.windycitybloggers.com/friday-five-92/">my Friday Five on the Windy City Bloggers Collective</a> last week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My headshot for my WCBC Friday Five post</td></tr>
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My guest post features <a href="http://www.ericafinds.com/">Erica</a>, <a href="http://www.laurenruns.com/">Lauren</a>, <a href="http://www.magmilerunner.com/">Maggie</a>, and <a href="http://www.looplooks.net/">Erin</a>. All hail to my fellow <a href="http://www.chicagorunningbloggers.com/">Chicago Running Bloggers</a>!<br />
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<b><u>Workout summary and some fitness tweaks</u></b><br />
Here are my workouts from the week:<br />
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<b>MONDAY</b> - Yoga class<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 40 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Zumba class, Mobility 101 class<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - Strength Max class<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Yoga class<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - 3 miles of speedwork (10-minute warm-up, 2:1 tempo/recovery ratio at 7.5 MPH/3.0 MPH, 7 repeats), 20 minutes strength-training<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<br />
More on this later, but I want to increase my strength work from two days a week to at least three. I also want to include more interval work on my cardio days. Both of these intentions led to my speedwork/strength-work combo yesterday. The speedwork was challenging, as it always is, which is always why I struggle to find the motivation to do it. I need to keep reminding myself that even a little bit of moderate interval training is better than none at all.<br />
<br />
<i>Now, let's shift to recapping the festivities from the past week/weekend!</i><br />
<br />
<b><u>Break the Fast</u></b><br />
On Wednesday night, Adam's colleague, Brian, invited us to a "Break the Fast" dinner following Yom Kippur. It was a fun gathering with lively company and an enormous amount of food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FR2GMgI5pQc/WAPlka11FlI/AAAAAAAAPVs/m5N6uhyHKPIk7HIX_Y8IW7UP0_pe6DdZgCLcB/s1600/Break%2Bthe%2BFast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FR2GMgI5pQc/WAPlka11FlI/AAAAAAAAPVs/m5N6uhyHKPIk7HIX_Y8IW7UP0_pe6DdZgCLcB/s400/Break%2Bthe%2BFast.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not surprisingly, the desserts were my favorite part!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>Bling it On</u></b><br />
On Thursday night, Erin and I attended a party at Golden Crown Jewelers, where our friend Margaret works. I got to try on a couple of rings, both with price tags that made my eyes glaze over.<br />
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It was fun to play Kate Middleton for 15 seconds, LOL. Needless to say, I did/could NOT make any impulse purchases that night!<br />
<br />
<b><u>Dining for Dimes</u></b><br />
On Friday night, Adam and I attended the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction. Adam's friends Dan and Lori are big supporters of the March of Dimes Foundation, and they invited us to join their table.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several dessert options</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chefs on stage being recognized for their contributions</td></tr>
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Over a dozen local chefs provided a number of showstopping food tastings for the attendees. Food aside, it was unbelievable to witness the incredible generosity of the donors to the cause, and to see some real-life beneficiaries. Their stories were very inspiring.<br />
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<br />
<b><u>Open Doors</u></b><br />
On both Saturday and Sunday, I took advantage of the Open House Chicago event, which is hosted by the Chicago Architectural Foundation. This is a weekend in which over 200 buildings provide free behind-the-scenes access. I relish any opportunities to explore the city beneath the surface, so this is one of my favorite weekends of the year.<br />
<br />
The Open House Chicago sojourns deserve their own post. In the meantime, here is a snapshot from Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church, one of the sites I visited yesterday:<br />
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<b><u>Hockey is Back</u></b><br />
Last night, Adam and I went to our first Blackhawks game of the season. It felt really great to be back. I love feeling the energy of the team and the fans, hearing the music, and watching the spectacular skill and talent on the ice. As I've said many times, there are few things I enjoy more than watching a live Hawks game at the United Center.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warm-ups</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pregame show displaying the name/number of Artemi Panarin, my favorite player</td></tr>
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What a rush to witness the Blackhawks' adrenaline-inducing victory, including Richard Panik's first career hat trick! Woooooooo!!!!!!<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The night was made even more exhilarating because...</i><br />
<i><b><u><br /></u></b></i>
<b><u>Two teams, one city</u></b><br />
The Cubs were playing NLCS Game 1 at the same time as the Blackhawks game. In between periods, we got to watch the Cubs game on the UC scoreboard:<br />
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After the Hawks win, hundreds of Blackhawks fans camped out in the concourses to watch the remainder of the Cubs game on the stadium televisions:<br />
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It was there that Adam and I saw Miguel Montero's grand slam, which caused the crowd to erupt in raucous cheers. (Exceptions: Any White Sox fans in the vicinity made their presence known with some very, uh, <i>dissenting</i> reactions.) I thought the atmosphere in the concourses was just as good as, if not better than, any sports bar. =)<br />
<br />
<b><u>And now...</u></b><br />
Time once again to prepare for another upcoming week in the office! (How do the weekends always go by so quickly???) I am looking forward to a quieter schedule this week.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Tell me about your week and weekend!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<i>--</i><br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap, and with <a href="http://marathonsandmotivation.com/">Angela</a> and <a href="http://www.ilkasblog.com/">Ilka</a> for the Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-60169554604830365592016-10-13T05:00:00.000-05:002016-10-13T09:46:31.481-05:00Quiz showI always enjoy when my fellow bloggers answer "get to know me" quizzes. It's been awhile since I've done a quiz myself. A few weeks ago, I had fun reading <a href="https://noodletotherescue.blogspot.com/2016/08/40-things-you-might-not-know-about-me.html">Kelly's Q&A</a> where she answered 40 questions. Today I'm going to pick and choose a few from her post (in semi-random order) that I don't think I've ever addressed before.<br />
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<div>
<b>Do you eat blue cheese?</b></div>
<div>
In general, I'm an equal-opportunity cheese eater - so yes. I would put other varieties of cheese higher on the list, though. That aside, I do love the classic salad combo of greens, candied nuts, some type of fruit, and a stinky cheese.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lwz6nUcM2s/V_73F9XVfBI/AAAAAAAAPUE/AkQr9bLCjNA1aqORC2cOjzRoHeFn673iQCLcB/s1600/Spinach%2Bsalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lwz6nUcM2s/V_73F9XVfBI/AAAAAAAAPUE/AkQr9bLCjNA1aqORC2cOjzRoHeFn673iQCLcB/s320/Spinach%2Bsalad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.target.com/r/recipes/spinach-salad-pears-pomegranate-blue-cheese-pecans-recipe">Source and recipe</a></td></tr>
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<div>
<b>Can you whistle?</b></div>
<div>
No. Not even close. On a related note, I think it's fascinating when folks can whistle through their teeth. How do they do that???</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Do you get nervous before a doctor's appointment?</b></div>
<div>
When I'm in the waiting room, no. I do get a little jittery when getting weighed and while having my blood pressure taken. The worst moments for me are when I'm wearing the ever-so-stylish robe and awkwardly sitting in the exam room waiting for the doctor to come in. Once the appointment actually begins, it's all good.</div>
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<div>
<b>How many televisions do you have?</b></div>
<div>
Two. The primary TV is in the living room, and we have another one in the second bedroom/den. Generally the only time the second TV gets used is when the Blackhawks and Penguins are playing at the same time (not against each other). Adam will watch the Penguins on one TV and I'll watch the Blackhawks on the other.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>What do you think of hot dogs?</b></div>
<div>
I like them, but I rarely eat them since they aren't healthy. Sigh.</div>
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<div>
<b>Do you do push-ups?</b></div>
<div>
I try to avoid push-ups as much as possible.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Favorite girl's and boy's names?</b></div>
<div>
I love the name Grace, and it's a tossup for me between Albert and Wesley.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Do you have ADD?</b></div>
<div>
No, although my attention span is definitely shorter than it used to be. I think the two office statistics listed below are very realistic.</div>
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<div>
<b>What is one thing you dislike about yourself?</b></div>
<div>
I'm very thin-skinned. I have a tough time with constructive criticism and I always take things personally.<br />
<br />
<b>What's in your pocket right now?</b><br />
As I type this, I'm wearing pajama pants which don't have pockets.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Do you own slippers?</b></div>
<div>
No. At home, I am comfortable being barefoot in the summertime, or just wearing socks during cooler seasons. Adam has slippers, though, and he loves them. Maybe it's time for me to invest in a pair of my own?</div>
<div>
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<b>Worst injury you've ever had?</b></div>
<div>
<div>
I don't know if you'd call it an injury, but I had to have four teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. I only received local anesthesia, so I was awake during the procedure. It was a very uncomfortable few days afterwards.<br />
<br />
<i>Side note:</i> I also had four wisdom teeth extracted as a teenager. It blows my mind that I've had a total of eight teeth removed. I think the human body is a miraculous thing, but my dental composition definitely left something to be desired!</div>
<div>
</div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Favorite flavor of ice cream?</b></div>
<div>
Rocky Road, but I'll happily eat anything chocolate-themed - especially mint chocolate. I am also a huge fan of pistachio and green tea. Apparently I have an affinity for green-hued ice cream.</div>
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<div>
<b>How do you ring in the New Year?</b></div>
<div>
It's different every year - sometimes by going out on the town, sometimes by going to a friend's, sometimes staying home and chilling on the couch. The last few years I've had to work on New Year's Day, which has put a damper on any celebrations. This year, I am thrilled that I'll actually get to enjoy the holiday. Cue the Auld Lang Syne!!!<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite month?</b></div>
<div>
For weather conditions, September. For festivity, July is my favorite because it is the middle of the summer, and it includes Independence Day plus my birthday. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrate good times!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i>Now it's your turn. I'd love to hear your responses to any of these questions!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
--<br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://www.runningwithspoons.com/">Amanda</a> for Thinking Out Loud Thursdays.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-75127985836530595402016-10-11T05:00:00.000-05:002016-10-11T07:38:49.383-05:00Army 10-Miler race recapContinuing from the <a href="http://emmers712.blogspot.com/2016/10/army-10-miler-expo-and-oct-3-10.html">Army 10-Miler expo</a>, which was the most unique race expo I've ever attended.<br />
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In the past, I had heard a lot about the Army 10-Miler, but didn't envision myself running it. Then last spring, when visiting my friends Vanitha and Asheesh in DC, the race came up in discussion. Asheesh is in the army reserve, so this would be a very meaningful event for him. I jumped at the opportunity to run such a famed race with a good friend.<br />
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Adam's father and stepmother also live in the DC area. To further sweeten the deal, it turns out the race date coincided with my father-in-law's birthday. Therefore, a DC visit that weekend would be perfect timing for both a birthday celebration and the race.<br />
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Unfortunately, Asheesh has been battling injury over the last few months. In the end, he opted not to run. Obviously it was a very smart decision for him to play it safe, but I was bummed I wouldn't get to run with him.<br />
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On race morning, I arrived at the Pentagon to find it had been transformed into a race start village.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pentagon in the background, with rows and rows of portapotties in the foreground.</td></tr>
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I saw plenty of runners dressed to honor our nation:<br />
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The temperatures were in the 50s, and some early morning rain had cleared out just in time for the race start. Unfortunately, the winds were very gusty. It was so windy that runners' discarded trash bag dresses were whipping around everywhere on the streets.<br />
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Some folks were less fazed by the conditions than others, of course.<br />
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I had been considering trying to make this a PR attempt. The weather, combined with the scenic DC course, made it an easy decision to just run for fun.<br />
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It was a long walk from the corrals to the start line. I ended up missing my starting corral since I was in line for the portapotties. I joined the next corral instead. While heading towards the starting line, I realized the magnitude of the 35,000 runners participating in the race. This event is enormous!<br />
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A helicopter was circling the skies during the entire race. Near the start line, I was happy to get this snapshot of the helicopter above the American flag.</div>
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The starting line:<br />
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I headed out at an easy pace and kept my eyes open for historic sights and monuments. The course was filled with them! Here are some highlights:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlington Cemetery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lincoln Memorial</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Washington Monument</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jefferson Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Potomac River</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, my bladder was not cooperative throughout the length of the race. This was frustrating because I had gone twice before starting the race. Apparently even after all these years, my pre-race hydration strategy is still not perfect. There were aid stations every two miles with portapotties, but the lines were always very long. I didn't feel like waiting so I just kept on going. I also opted to skip taking any GUs, too. In retrospect, these weren't the best ideas, but it ended up being okay.<br />
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The mile markers each had a different soldier's creed on them. Talk about an incredible way to inspire the runners to keep going!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AH7XtQ2Z_j8/V_xUf-Mv_vI/AAAAAAAAPSs/_QmwIY--4ageJKKttFZ7Q82317VK18xlQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AH7XtQ2Z_j8/V_xUf-Mv_vI/AAAAAAAAPSs/_QmwIY--4ageJKKttFZ7Q82317VK18xlQCLcB/s400/IMG_6020.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I will never leave a fallen comrade."</td></tr>
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Adam got this picture of me around Mile 6, which was on the National Mall near the Smithsonian Institution Building:<br />
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As you can see, the course was very crowded. It remained that way throughout nearly the entire race. Windy conditions aside, I definitely agree with those who advised this is not a race in which to attempt a PR.<br />
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One of the most touching elements of the race was that all of the aid stations were manned by army personnel. Sometimes the aid stations and rows of army soldiers stretched for several blocks. This picture so does not do it justice:<br />
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I can't even begin to describe to you how it felt to be running through the long stretches of army soldiers, all offering you water or Gatorade and cheering you on. What an honor. It brought tears to my eyes every time.<br />
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A lot of the army folks were having fun, too. I heard some of them shouting things like,<br />
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<i>"FAT FREE WATER!!!"</i></div>
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<i>"I HAVE THE BEST WATER IN TOWN!!!"</i></div>
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<i>"COME AND GET YOUR DIET WATER!!!"</i></div>
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Hearing these made me smile.<br />
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I enjoyed the many bands on the course, all of which were playing patriotic songs:<br />
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There were some great spectators:<br />
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As you might expect, there were a lot of veterans running the race:<br />
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I heard other runners talking about walking up certain hills, et al. Much to my surprise, I didn't notice any inclines on the course. Imagine that, right?<br />
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This was a snapshot from around Mile 8, I think, shortly before we started hitting some enormous headwinds.<br />
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WOW - those winds were brutal, especially at that point in the course. I was really thankful this race was only a 10-miler as opposed to a half marathon or longer. More army personnel were stationed along various points to cheer us on.<br />
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The finishing chute was lined with American flags and spectators. Again, the photo doesn't do the scene justice.<br />
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What an exhilarating finish! All runners received a beautiful finisher's coin. Normally I am very partial to medals, but I love the coin:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side 2</td></tr>
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It was such an honor and a privilege to run this race in our nation's capital with the support of so many of our armed forces. I feel truly blessed to have had this experience. In my opinion, this race is a must-do for all DC-area runners and/or anyone with a military affiliation.<br />
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I only wish that I could have run with Asheesh. I can't even imagine how meaningful the festivities would have been for him. It would have been awesome to share the experience. Asheesh - I wish you the speediest of recoveries, and let's put this race back on the list for another year!<br />
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To all the brave men and women serving our country, I salute you!!!<br />
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--<br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://www.marciashealthyslice.com/">Marcia</a>, <a href="http://noguiltlife.com/">Patti</a>, and <a href="http://mcmmamaruns.com/">Erika</a> for Tuesdays on the Run.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-11245124425487432802016-10-10T17:38:00.000-05:002016-10-10T20:12:45.540-05:00Army 10-Miler expo and Oct 3-10 training recapCongratulations to everyone that completed the Chicago Marathon and all other races this past weekend! My social media feeds were awash with running action photos and I love it. I can't wait to read all of your recaps!<br />
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On my own end, running the Army 10-Miler yesterday was an incredible experience. It was very moving and humbling.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One side of the finisher's coin. I love the design.</td></tr>
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I am currently working on my race recap. In the meantime, I wanted to share some details from the Army 10-Miler race expo, which was held at the DC Armory.<br />
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I figured the expo would be like any other race expo and be filled with health/fitness vendors, race ambassadors, and charitable organizations. This expo was different. It had an extremely strong military theme and was filled with dozens of army equipment displays. I felt like I was walking into an interactive military museum.<br />
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Not surprisingly, army soldiers were everywhere, including working the packet pickup booths and handing out shirts. As you can see, this was by far the most secure race expo I've ever attended.<br />
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The soldier who gave me my packet might as well have been on active duty, he was so serious and businesslike. I was actually a little intimidated (in a good way). No softies here, right?<br />
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The weapons displays were eye-popping. Check out the big guns (literally):<br />
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If guns aren't your thing, maybe you fancy missiles the size of a human body?<br />
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If you light up at the concept of explosives (pun intended), there are multiple options when it comes to working with them, e.g.:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you love how these men are hanging out at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal table like "no big deal"?</td></tr>
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I don't know exactly what these displays are but they certainly look powerful:</div>
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There were also some larger equipment displays, such as this Jeep:<br />
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They even had this A/MH 6-M light attack/assault helicopter on site (I copied the description verbatim from its display sign, in case you were wondering):<br />
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For those in the military, these are probably commonplace items that nobody would bat an eyelash at. But for a civilian like me, it was a very cool experience to see all of these displays, mingle among so many of the soldiers, and watch them interacting with each other. I already had a lot of respect for all those that serve our country, but attending the Army 10-Miler expo deepened that respect even further.<br />
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Much more to come!<br />
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--<br />
<u>Workout summary from last week:</u><br />
<b>MONDAY</b> - Yoga class, run 10 miles<br />
<b>TUESDAY</b> - 10 minutes stationary biking, 20 minutes strength training<br />
<b>WEDNESDAY</b> - Zumba class, Mobility 101 class<br />
<b>THURSDAY</b> - Strength Max class<br />
<b>FRIDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SATURDAY</b> - Rest<br />
<b>SUNDAY</b> - Army 10-Miler (race recap coming soon)<br />
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--<br />
<i>Linking up with <a href="http://hohoruns.blogspot.com/">HoHo</a> and <a href="http://www.misssippipiddlin.com/">Tricia</a> for the Weekly Wrap.</i><br />
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081872231855122210.post-2289927829961249572016-10-07T16:08:00.000-05:002016-10-10T18:20:57.458-05:00Non-PR goals for the Army 10Greetings from Maryland! Adam and I flew into DC last night. Yesterday was the shared birthday of both my father-in-law and my niece - so we've got some celebrating to do this weekend. The timing couldn't be better as the last few days in the office have been exceptionally challenging for me. I am very happy to be able to spend the time with family and friends.<br />
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First off, I am sending out positive vibes to everyone running the Chicago Marathon, Twin Cities, Prairie State, and all other races this weekend!!!<br />
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On my own agenda for the weekend: <br />
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On one hand, I would like to make this a PR attempt, or at least an opportunity to gauge where I currently stand with my fitness. On the other hand, a lot of folks indicated the first few miles are so crowded that runners are forced to slow down to a walk, or even stop. Plus, I would like to enjoy the landmarks on the course. So all in all, this is going to be a race-time decision.<br />
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Potential PR attempts aside, here are five things I want to accomplish during this race:<br />
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<strong>1. Run a negative split</strong><br />
Doesn't matter if it's a ten-minute negative or a 1-second negative. I simply want to continue practicing the strategy of starting out easily and picking the pace up on the back end.<br />
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<strong>2. Minimize looking at my Garmin, and run by feel as much as possible</strong><br />
This one is going to be my biggest challenge. I rely on my Garmin a LOT for pacing and distance gauges. I've long been wanting to be better about focusing less on the empirical data and concentrating more on what my body is telling me.<br />
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<strong>3. High-five at least one kid for every mile.</strong><br />
Not just a meager high-five, either - I want to go all in and high-five with my entire being!!! The true basis behind this idea is to find ways to draw energy from the crowd as best as possible.<br />
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<strong>4. Squash any negative thoughts that might run through my mind, and just focus on positivity</strong><br />
I've got some mantras prepared for myself, and I already have a mental gratitude list that I want to embody during the race.<br />
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<strong>5. Finish feeling strong</strong><br />
Because we've all been here:<br />
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You all know what I'm talking about, right? =)<br />
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Happy weekend and happy racing, my friends!!!<br />
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<i>Linking up with <a href="http://www.marontherun.com/">Mar</a>, <a href="http://www.eatprayrundc.com/">Courtney</a>, and <a href="http://www.yousignedupforwhat.com/">Cynthia</a> for the Friday Five - and very appropriately so since the three of them are based in the DC area, which is where I am this weekend!</i></div>
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emmers712http://www.blogger.com/profile/15865493476823978890noreply@blogger.com10