This past Saturday, July 18th my friends and I ran the Okoboji Half-Marathon. It was a training run for Chicago this fall. The course was full of hills. We would run uphill and then it would be flat so there wasn't even the reward of going downhill on the other side, which made it a perfect training run. 

I started the run with my friend April, but a few miles in knew that I couldn't keep her pace for another 9-10 miles. I encouraged her to go on and rock the race while I stay behind. I didn't realize how much my pace has slowed down since running marathons. Anyways, I made a couple of friends a few feet behind me. This was their first half-marathon. It was so exciting for me to run this with them. One of the girls was cramping around mile six. I told her she had no choice but to finish and that I would drag her across the line rather than let her fall back. I call that tough love. She fought through the cramp and successfully finished! 

I've come to the realization that I'm a social runner. I know it's not a surprise. I think I could be faster if I put all my energy into the race, but I would rather mingle as I run. That's the fun of racing to me. We're all after the common goal of finishing. Let's enjoy the journey. 

Aside: I love to laugh and I have found the funniest running commercials. Go to www.runningsuperfans.com and click on the old film real to see the commercials. They're great!

Funny, funny, funny

If you were a PBS kid you will appreciate this. 

Lawrence Welk SNL style

It's funny because it's true

Last fall I stumbled upon a book in Urban Outfitters, Stuff White People Like. I think Urban Outfitters should be on the list. The full list is on the website. It's hilarious! I can't stop reading it. I think it would be a funny monologue style play. Check it out!

Book worm

For the longest time I avoided jumping on the Twilight wagon. I was not going to join the fad. A book about vampire love, really? It doesn't sound that great... I'm officially a hypocrite. I read and loved Twilight. I'm 25 and have a crush on the character Edward, and I know I'm not alone. How did this happen? I don't even know. I started reading, expecting to be disappointed. The opposite happened. I sacrificed sleep to read. Overdosed on coffee the next morning and afternoon. Ambitious to go home and do it all over again. Eager to read more. Now that I'm done with the first book I look forward to reading New Moon with hesitation. Knowing that it will take over my life and I will be disposed until finished.

 

Over the fourth I started to read My Sister's Keeper thinking it would not consume my time as much as Twilight had. Wrong. So very wrong. Medical conditions and law have always tugged at my heart. Jodi Picoult has an incredible gift with symbolism. The book is beautifully written. Each chapter is a different character's perspective, but they all melt together. It's insightful to have so many views of the family. There is a lot to think about as far as what would I do or how I would feel as the parent, the sick kid, the rebel brother or the daughter who was a designer baby. I'm not sure. Again, the symbolism that bonds these characters is beautiful. Especially with Brian's relation to Anna. 

Brian is the father and Anna is the designer baby, created to save her sister, Kate who has leukemia. Brian is a firefighter. Anna has never been given the option to not donate blood marrow for Kate and now she is expected to give her a kidney. Anna is suing her parents for medical emancipation. Basically the right to decide what happens to her body. Knowing that a kidney won't 'save' Kate forever. At one point when rescuing someone from a fire Brian says, "the safety of a rescuer is of a higher priority than the safety of the victim. Always." That line still resounds in my head. 

I know I'm not doing the book justice so please go and read it for yourself.