Sometimes Runs Suck

Today was not my day....for running. Beautiful weather, all the time in the world; what more could I ask for???? Well maybe I could have asked for my body to hold up. All I wanted was an easy 4 miler. Little did I know that my stomach would start aching, arm/chest would start throbbing, my head would start pounding and that I would get all shaky and about pass out. I even had to stop and walk for a minute or two to get my bearings back. Good thing I had my phone with me in case of emergency... but I was so out of it but there was no way I would be able to call an ambulance for myself. To top it all off, the gnats were out in full force. I bet I ate at least 10 of them, sucked 3 up my nose, and caught at least that many in my eyelashes. Let's chalk this one up to bad luck and hope for a better showing tomorrow.

Run On - Brooke

The Hilton 10K

Usually I would only pay to run if I were getting at least a t-shirt out of the deal but this past weekends running at The Hilton was slated to cost $10.

Little did I know when I woke up and saw the rain that I would have needed to take my wallet with me to the work out center. As I approached the desk the attendant ask me for my room number and also asked how many days I would like to "pay" for....$10 for one day or $15 for two days.

I think the look I my face must have said it all but I still asked "It costs to run??? I usually only pay to run in races." After some friendly banter the attendant told me not to worry about it and that to think of my next entry fee being partially sponsored by The Hilton.

During my 6 miler that day it got me to thinking, why does everything at a nice hotel cost extra; if I were staying at a Holiday Inn Express I could have run for days on end, had breakfast, parked, swam, had happy hour complimentary cocktails and snacks and not paid a penny more.

The funny thing is that people say running is a simple sport that doesn't cost much at all but we all know that is not true. While yes, running is cheaper than golf, snow skiing, and many others; it is not without costs and Saturday it was $10 more than expected ;-)

Run on - Brooke

Hobby Collector-ology Q&A's

Found this list of questions on my favorite Twilight/Scrapbooker blog "Scrapping with the IkeaGoddess" and thought it might be a fun post.

***********FOODOLOGY***************

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Newman's Own Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
PF Changs or The Red Onion (Joplin)

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Pizza or Guacamole

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Loaded Chicago Style w/sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions (but also love roasted garlic, artichokes, eggplant, and goat cheese)

What do you like to put on your toast?
butter and strawberry jelly

***********TECHNOLOGY***************

How many televisions are in your house?
too many - 5

What color is your cellphone?
black/silver (iPhone that I can't live without)

Do you have an iPod?
iPod and Shuffle and iPhone - you can never have too many Apple products

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
appendix

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
suitcase

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
never

************BULLOLOGY**************

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Yes and no...yes if it is someday soon but no cause I should be living every day like it's my last

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
No idea???? Kinda like it (Brooke Alison Roberts-Higgins)

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000?
Don't think I could handle it but would try if it wasn't one of those kinds that kill people

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************

Season?
Summer Summer Summer

Holiday?
Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day

Day of the week?
Saturday's in the summer are at the lake and all other Saturday's are long run days with my friends ;-)

Month?
July or August – a summer month when the lake gets to be perfect

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************

Missing someone?
nope - have seen everyone recently

Mood?
tired but VERY happy

What are you listening to?
Muse all the time - or a Stephanie Meyer playlist

Current worry?
None that I should really be focusing on - I have no control

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went this morning
to check my email before running

What’s the last movie you saw?
The Soloist - makes you think about homeless people and why they are there and can stay that way

***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
6

Last time you had a run-in with the cops
February - pulled over for speeding and ended up with a ticket for expired tags. I had no idea.

Last person you talked to?
Grandma & Pa Roberts

Last person you hugged?
Michael

Do you always answer your phone?
No....but most of the time.

It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Right now...someone who is going to owe me $0.30 since I am out of texts this month.

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
They are already hazel but I would really like green/blue hazel

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic
Diet Cherry Limeade

Do you own a digital camera?
Yes, but need a new one cause it has horrible zoom and scratches all over it.

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes, had fish in elementary school and even when I taught 3rd grade.

Favorite Christmas song(s)
Silent Night - sang a verse solo in my 2nd grade music program.

What’s on your wish list for your birthday
Just had my birthday and asked for money for a new Mtn. Bike. Think I might be saving for a while. Have my eyes on a full-suspension bike for racing.

Can you do push ups?
Yes; used to do 40 a night but have been on the wagon for too long.

Can you do a split?
Nope...never have been able to

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Both....never know what's around the next corner.

Do you have any saved texts?
No...should I?

Have you ever been in a car accident?
A couple...Michael put us in a couple of ditches in college and I rolled my car on a dirt road but no major injuries.

Do you have an accent?
Not really...sometimes a little "country" but depends on if I am hanging out with my dad or note

What is the last movie to make you cry?
They all make me cry...even started crying last night when I heard the "Goose is Dead" song in Top Gun last night while I was making my dinner and Michael was watching it in the other room.

Plans tonight?
Training Session, Scrapbook Freebie Searching & Blogging

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Not really...there is always something good going on.

Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Butterfinger Crisp Bar, Starbuck's decaf-skinny-caramel latte, sunflower seeds - we traveled all day in the car ;(

Have you ever been given roses?
Yes, Michael used to sell flowers wholesale so I got them A LOT

Met someone who changed your life?
Can't pinpoint one person besides Michael of course. He takes me as I am flaws and all - besides, how would I ever choose just one

How will you bring in the New Year?
Who knows; we never plan that until about a week out.

What song represents you?
too many to choose from - will have to think about this a bit more

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
Yes, would love to go back to a simpler time before technology

Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
Belly button ring and would love a tattoo but how would I ever choose one thing to be on my body for the rest of my life???

Does anyone love you?
I should hope.

Would you be a pirate?
Can't - get sea-sick.

What songs do you sing in the shower?’
It varies, at the moment I find myself singing
Roxanne

Ever had someone sing to you?
never (unless you count Rock Band - but that would be so cool

Do you like to cuddle?
LOVE IT

Have you held hands with anyone today?
No, just got home from work at 8pm and am blogging now ;( maybe I should be sitting by Mikey holding his hand instead of this???

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Don & Jackie at their wedding

Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
from college and sooner.

Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Pulp free is the only way

What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Being a control freak but someone has to be in charge or nothing would get done.

Well that was lots of fun...took some time but fun ;-)
B

Trail Running = Poison Ivy

Thought I had made it through a year without getting poison ivy. Since the two adventure races were out this year and I have stayed off the trails in Joplin I thought for sure that I had escaped the horrible itch and lovely scars of poison ivy. I was wrong....

Memorial day weekend my new Arkansas running friend Jen and I decided to skip the roads and head out to the trails at Hobb's State Park. We had two perfect days of trail running with great conversation and weather. I kept us on the trail, didn't touch anything (except spider webs), and was very careful not to injure myself but still, a day later the tell-tale bumps that itch like you can't imagine were back. What was the worst was that not only did I get it on my calves but I also spread it up my thighs when I stopped at the porta-john before showering off. Note to self - no trail running without ivy block. It may not keep me from getting it again but maybe and that is all I need to justify another trail run on another day.

Run on - Brooke