Three Things Thursday ...

Did you ever know that I hold a grudge against Thursday? Well, I do. It's my least favorite day of the week. Always has been. Maybe that's why I so rarely honor it with a "full" post. Instead, it gets a bowl full of my randomness. And today is no different.

1. We are visiting J's family in Rhode Island. It's kind of far from our house. My GPS says that it takes a little over 10 hours. Sure it does, Garmin. On what planet? Obviously, you have never "lead" our family trips before. Virginia to Rhode Island in 10 hours? With three kids in the car? Three kids who have to pee every 45 minutes? I don't think so.

We spent the night in Maryland on Tuesday to break up the drive. It took us four hours to get there. And yesterday, when we finished our journey, it took an additional 8.5 hours. Last time I checked 4 + 8.5 = 12.5 NOT 10. Just saying.

2. When our family takes these exponentially long road trips, we bring a lot of food. Generally speaking, if my kids are upset or bored or tired or just being annoying, I can usually pacify them with food (yes, I realize this is not the BEST idea).

I bring along plenty of goldfish, pretzels, 100 calorie packs and for the runner in all of us ...

Yeah, that's a bag full of Clif Bars and Gu - Because last time I checked, driving for 12 hours in a car with three kids is just as much of an endurance event as running a marathon.

3. Speaking of running, my kids are more tuned into my running habit than I knew. Sure, they know that when I break out the skirt and the socks that it's time to run, but apparently, they also know my sneaker rotation.

For the past few months, I have been running in my Mizunos with pink laces and bumming around in my Mizunos with rainbow laces. Just this week, I downgraded my pink laces to bumming around status. And Dizzle didn't get the memo. I asked her to get my sneakers with the pink laces, so that I could go to the store. And instead of just saying yes, she came back at me with a stern look and a question,

"Don't you mean the ones with the rainbow laces?"

I nearly fell out of my chair. Since when does my five year old know that certain shoes are only used for running? And others have lost that status? God, I love that girl.

shoe woes ...

If you have been reading this blog religiously (like you should be), you probably know that I have had my fair share of shoe woes. For the first year and a half of my running, I was wearing the wrong type of shoe. Although, I supinate like crazy, someone put me in a stability shoe. Fortunately, I remained injury-free.

Then, last spring ('09) I finally got properly fitted. I was put in the Asics Gel Cumulus 10. I love those shoes, but the more I ran in them, the more they bothered the pesky extra bone I have in my foot. And after 350 miles or so, they looked like this ...

And I ended up in a cast. So, after much trial and error, I ended up with my current love - Mizuno Wave Rider. I have worn my way through 4 pairs of these this year. But, on Monday, when I put on my newest pair (they have about 30 miles on them), they felt "off." I could feel the insole pushing weird on the bottom of my foot. But, I ran in them anyway.

Well, I kind of ran. I made it about a mile before I had to walk. My foot was seizing up to the point of pain. I instantly thought my marathon dreams were over. I walk/ran until I got home (3.1 miles). Then I iced my foot and left it at that.

I woke up the next morning for a 10 miler with G. I put on my old pair (they have about 400 miles or so on them) and prayed for the best. And I finished that run with ZERO PAIN OR CRAMPING. What is up with that?

Now I'm not sure what to do. I really don't think that there is anything wrong with my foot. Obviously, I ran 10 miles yesterday without issue. But, I'm not sure if it was a fluke with the new shoes. If they are defective or my feet were just beat from the triathlon the day before. I really don't want to ditch a pair of expensive shoes, but I'm a little afraid to test them again.

What would you do?

Three and a Half Things Thursday (vacation edition) ...

Once upon a time, there was a girl. A girl who hated Thursdays. A girl who prayed every week for Thursday to not happen. But her wish was never granted. Instead, she was left to deal with all the stress-inducing things that would come her way. Until today. Because, today she is saved by Three (and a half) Things Thursday, Vacation Edition ...

1. J and I are going to Key West for the next five days. It is the FIRST vacation we have taken alone since our honeymoon, six years ago. It has been booked for a year and we are beyond excited that it is finally time to go. (Note: This trip was J's 30th birthday present from me. I turn 30 in two years. He's going to have to try to top this trip. Just saying.)

2. There are a lot of things I am looking forward to during this trip. Swimming without worrying that the people around you might drown. Not wiping anyone else's butt. Taking a nap in the sand. Eating dinner after 5 p.m. (that doesn't happen in my house). Running the streets of Key West with my love by my side. Not waking up because someone is screaming. Going to the bathroom in private. But more than anything, I am looking forward to NOT STRESSING. I won't have to manage my household. Or other people's schedules. I know my kids will be well taken care of. Plus, my life is LOUD. Like sonic boom loud. And five days of peace and quiet is pretty much my idea of heaven.

3. It would be overwhelmingly obvious to anyone who opens my luggage to know that I am a runner. I would say that 15% of my bag is filled with non-running gear. Between my Mizunos, skirts, and socks there is little room for much else. Well, other than my Garmin and handheld water bottle and iPod and GU and Clif Bars and Sweaty Bands ...

3.5. And speaking of getaways and running, yesterday I won a free entry to the Rock 'N' Roll Chicago Half Marathon from Sof Sole. Now, I just need to plan the trip. Anyone else running this?