2013 Book Review

It's time for my annual 5-Star book review. Somehow I managed to read 3 more books than I did last year, but the grand total is still a paltry 27 - a wide varierty of fiction and non-fiction - yet, nearly 1/3 received 5-stars, while several came close with 4.5 stars. Sometimes the blurbs cannot do a book justice, so you will just have to take my word that the writing is worth your time! In no particular order:

1. Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan
This novel spans 30 years in this heartfelt magical-realist story of two rival families living in a mystical world that transcends both time and place. Meridia is a lonely child; a mysterious incident when she was an infant has torn apart her parents, leaving them sharing nothing but a cold, mist-filled home. Not until Meridia meets the charmer Daniel, at age 16, does she finally feel loved. They marry and move in with his family and at first Meridia loves her life in Daniel's home. But she quickly learns of matriarch Eva's deceitful, manipulative ways and her power, both natural and supernatural, which she uses to control her family. When Meridia rebels against Eva, finding unexpected support from her parents, the rivalry solidifies and a lifelong battle begins. As time passes, Meridia faces heartbreak and betrayal, becoming a strong, fiercely independent woman. While filled with fortune-tellers, ghosts and unexplained phenomena, the relationships between the various characters are true to life so that fans of fantasy and fiction lovers alike are sure to enjoy this magical tale.

2. Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup
Reviled playboy, industrialist, son of India's home minister, and recently acquitted murderer Vicky Rai is shot in cold blood at his own celebration bash, and six suspects are rounded up, all carrying guns. If Agatha Christie wrote a mystery about modern India, it might be something like this, as each of the six suspects is profiled by an investigative journalist. How did they end up at Vicky's party? Why does each one have a motive to kill him? Why are they all carrying guns? Swarup, author of Q&A (2005), the novel on which Slumdog Millionaire was based, gradually reveals the answers to each of these questions through lengthy and detailed case studies of the suspects: a Bollywood actress, an American tourist from Texas, a tribal member from the Andaman Islands, a corrupt bureaucrat who claims to be Gandhi, a mobile-phone thief from the slums, and Vicky's own father, an ambitious and ruthless politician.

3. Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone by Stefan Kiesbye
A village on the Devil‘s Moor: a place untouched by time and shrouded in superstition. There is the grand manor house whose occupants despise the villagers, the small pub whose regulars talk of revenants, the old mill no one dares to mention. This is where four young friends come of age—in an atmosphere thick with fear and suspicion. Their innocent games soon bring them face-to-face with the village‘s darkest secrets in this eerily dispassionate, astonishingly assured novel, infused with the spirit of the Brothers Grimm and evocative of Stephen King‘s classic short story “Children of the Corn”

4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn. On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

5. The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Likely to be dubbed the Native American To Kill a Mockingbird, Louise Erdrich’s moving, complex, and surprisingly uplifting new novel tells of a boy’s coming of age in the wake of a brutal, racist attack on his mother. Drawn from real-life statistics about racially inspired attacks on our country’s reservations, this tale is forceful but never preachy, thanks in large part to Erdrich’s understated but glorious prose and her apparent belief in the redemptive power of storytelling.

6. Wilderness Seasons: Life and Adventure in Canada's North by Ian & Sally Wilson

The inspiring account of a year in remote wilderness, far from settlements and roads. The authors share their experiences, from the challenge of building a handhewn log cabin to the excitement of encountering a moose at six feet.

7. Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan

An award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her identity. When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she’d gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened? In a swift and breathtaking narrative, Susannah tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family’s inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that nearly didn’t happen.

 

8. The Next Time I see You by Holly Goddard

This book follows the intersecting effects of one woman’s disappearance on residents of a small Kentucky town. Middle-school teacher Susanna becomes concerned when she finds her older sister, Ronnie, is missing. The two share a complicated relationship—Ronnie is a hard-partying factory worker while Susanna is a mild-mannered wife and mother. When Susanna launches a widespread search, it unexpectedly connects the lives of other townsfolk. Such as Emily, a tragic 13-year-old outcast whose daydreams may well reveal a dangerous secret, and downtrodden Wyatt, a fiftysomething blue-collar worker who begins to confront a lifelong emotional void after meeting and falling in love with a local nurse. Meanwhile, there’s Tony, the failed athlete who has returned to his hometown as the detective assigned to Ronnie’s case. As the search for Ronnie intensifies, Susanna begins to question the stagnancy in her own life, while other characters confront their perceptions of self-worth. Jones’ well-crafted tale captures small-town nuances while exploring the individual psychologies of her characters and their struggles.

 

And as an added bonus, here are the 4.5-star books:

 

1.  May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes

A. M. Homes presents a darkly comic look at twenty-first-century domestic life and the possibility of personal transformation. Harold Silver has spent a lifetime watching his more successful younger brother, George, acquire a covetable wife, two kids, and a beautiful home in the suburbs of New York City. When George’s murderous temper results in a shocking act of violence, both men are hurled into entirely new lives. May We Be Forgiven digs deeply into the near biblical intensity of fraternal relationships, our need to make sense of things, and our craving for connection. It is an unnerving tale of unexpected intimacies and of how one deeply fractured family might begin to put itself back together.

 

2. Escape From Camp 14 by Blaine Harden

North Korea’s political prison camps have existed twice as long as Stalin’s Soviet gulags and twelve times as long as the Nazi concentration camps. No one born and raised in these camps is known to have escaped. No one, that is, except Shin Dong-hyuk. In Escape From Camp 14, Blaine Harden unlocks the secrets of the world’s most repressive totalitarian state through the story of Shin’s shocking imprisonment and his astounding getaway. Shin knew nothing of civilized existence—he saw his mother as a competitor for food, guards raised him to be a snitch, and he witnessed the execution of his mother and brother. Harden’s harrowing narrative exposes this hidden dystopia, focusing on an extraordinary young man who came of age inside the highest security prison in the highest security state. Escape from Camp 14 offers an unequalled inside account of one of the world’s darkest nations. It is a tale of endurance and courage, survival and hope.

3. The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease by Daniel Lieberman
The Story of the Human Body brilliantly illuminates as never before the major transformations that contributed key adaptations to the body: the rise of bipedalism; the shift to a non-fruit-based diet; the advent of hunting and gathering, leading to our superlative endurance athleticism; the development of a very large brain; and the incipience of cultural proficiencies. Lieberman also elucidates how cultural evolution differs from biological evolution, and how our bodies were further transformed during the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. While these ongoing changes have brought about many benefits, they have also created conditions to which our bodies are not entirely adapted, Lieberman argues, resulting in the growing incidence of obesity and new but avoidable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Lieberman proposes that many of these chronic illnesses persist and in some cases are intensifying because of “dysevolution,” a pernicious dynamic whereby only the symptoms rather than the causes of these maladies are treated. And finally—provocatively—he advocates the use of evolutionary information to help nudge, push, and sometimes even compel us to create a more salubrious environment.

Running Goals

As with any long-term endeavor, you begin to examine and refine your approach. I began running in 2008, had a 7 month hiatus in 2009 due to my back injury, and with the exception of a couple sidelining injuries, have been building my expectations and repertoire ever since.

I started a running journal in late 2009, and began establishing running goals in 2010 to hone my focus - so the joys of goals achieved could propel me forward into each new the year. I think long and hard about goals that will challenge me mentally and physically, that are relevant, appropriate, and most importantly, achieveable. I put these goals on the inside of my journal cover and reflect on them throughout the year to track my progress.

Pictured above are my goals and outcomes for this year - I surpassed several goals, while others, though met, remain relevant and on-going. As you can see, it's really been a banner year! I needed this year after the disappointments and injuries of late 2011 - mid 2012. This week I sat down, putting much thought into my 2014 goals ...(click on the picture to see a larger version if you can't read it) 

Early Winter

Denali Mesmerized by Falling Snow

It's hard to believe my Schaumburg race was only 2 weeks ago, during a time of encroaching cold, but in a brown landscape not yet touched by snow. I can appreciate the fortunate timing of that race, now that we've been submerged in the depths of elements generally reserved for January. No easing into winter this year, Wisconsin is diving into the snow and bitter cold without hesitation. As a result of this sudden change, I've been stuck running on the treadmill the majority of the past two weeks - even for my long runs, which really sucks, but is better than the alternatives of getting sick or injured in sub-zero, slick conditions. I've logged a few miles outside, but nothing more than a 1-2 mile run to satisfy the requirements of my holiday running streak. Today was the 20th day in a row that I've run - I have 17 more to go - and to be honest, it's not bad at all. Running everyday feels comfortable; my body almost craving that movement.

This week I reached my 2013 goal to run at least 1,100 miles! It's the most I've ever logged in one year (last year was the furthest with 1,038 miles), equalling about 22.5 miles per week - not bad considering I had a lofty race schedule that called for more sub-20 mile weeks than I would have if not racing (due to taper and recovery weeks). I'm mulling over goals for 2014, and am thinking of boosting my weekly mileage by 10%, aiming for close to 25 miles per week. The more mileage one runs each week, the stronger their cardio base becomes, which in turn allows them to run faster, and for most of us runners, getting faster is an inherent goal.

Speaking of running, time has finally passed, as it always does, bringing Joe to Week 12 post-surgery. This means that by the end of the week, he will be able to start running! His first run will take place on the winter solstice. Just as with the right arm, Joe is finding sleep a teeny bit more comfortable as the 12-week mark approaches - the magic number in recovery. He is in full strengthening mode in P.T., each day moving closer to normalcy and away from the limitations the past 6 months have held. 

My Day of the Dead tattoo surprises me and pleases me each time I glimpse it. Being a super healer, the soreness quickly evaporated, leaving me with a flaky (scabs like onion paper), itchy thigh. The severity of the itch has threatened my sanity on more than one occasion, especially since I can't scratch it. I look forward to getting color added on 1/4/14 and to buying some shorter running shorts to show this piece of art off! 

Day 6 = Ink

My 6-day stretch of time off is coming to a close. It's been eventful and restful, beginning with a lazy Thanksgiving Day in which to do lists were pushed aside. Little was accomplished, outside of making our meal; a true day of rest and relaxation. Day 2 was consumed with pre-race tasks and travel, while Day 3 was filled with the deep satisfaction of getting my PR. Day 4 was a day to pad around the house in flannel bottoms and the cozy hoodie given out by the race, catching up on odds and ends. Day 5 was for pampering - a pedicure (where I got festive silver speckled shimmery "disco" nails) and a post-race massage, and today, my final day, was spent with a needle in my thigh.

Dark, foggy and misty, this was the perfect day to hunker down in the Waukesha Tattoo Company gallery as George spent 3 hours carving a new design into my outer right thigh. The first two hours were filled with conversation (George and his wife recently adopted a 2 year old Taiwanese girl) and glimpses of Wolverine fighting various villains on the flat screen above George's head. The final hour was endless, as the previously low level of pain began to creep up. I managed to read a chapter in my book, then turned my attention to the next movie, The Book of Eli, while practicing deep breathing techniques, eventually hugging myself and closing my eyes to create a cocoon of calm. And then, suddenly, it was over and I was thrilled with the outcome. I will return to George in a month, after this current bit of ink heals, to have color added. A great ending to my mini-staycation!

PR via Mind Management

Let's cut to the chase. I PR'd, and I PR'd big time! Finishing my 15th half marathon in 2:09:35 - a 9:54 pace. Not only was this my first PR since October 2011 (9 half marathons ago), it was me meeting a long-term running goal to finish a half marathon with a 10:15 pace or better. But even more remarkable than those figures and checks in the boxes of objectives met, is my mental tenacity that refused to let me take any breaks. It's been years since I ran a race or a longer distance training run without one single walk break - not because I physically can't do it, but because my mind can be weak when the desire to rest is strong.

Running is primarily a mental game. Once your body is properly trained for distance running, the larger battle is controlling your thoughts, more specifically doubts, negative thoughts and fears. For me, it's a matter of ignoring the command center in my brain that bellows counter productive demands based on Paleolithic survival instintcts: "Start out slow!", "Pace yourself, you have to conserve energy to make it 13.1 miles!", "This is hard and walking for a little bit would feel so nice!", "Hip feels tight - better ease up or you could hurt yourself!", "Only 7 miles in and nearly that many left to go?!" These are but a handful of the thoughts that constantly harass me during a race, but there are thoughts preceding a race that need corralling as well. 

The week leading up to a race is often filled with anxiety and excitement in anticipation of how you will perform. I combat negative based what-if's and/or unrealistic expectations in three ways.
1. Lots of  Imagery - I see myself running strong, nearing the finish line looking at my watch and seeing a better time then expected, crossing the finish line exultant with success, high fiving friends who cross the finish line, sitting on the couch still feeling satisfied with a crowning achievement, etc. 

2. Narrating the Story - I construct the story I want to tell in advance, creating the ending I will share in this blog, on Facebook, in texts to friends, etc., editing the story on the fly when I'm in the actual race. Sometimes the stories come true, sometimes they don't. The story of the Schaumburg Half Marathon came true. It is a short story: I trained hard all year, remained injury free, began seeing impressive results with my pace about 4 months ago, PR'd in my previous 2 races, perfected my taper week and was destined to PR in my final race of the year - in fact, there was no way I couldn't PR (remember this is the story I kept telling myself, even if I didn't fully buy it until it became reality).

3. Mantras - I begin working on a mantra or two to hold dear during the race, something that will redirect my drifting monkey mind back to a simple positive focus. For this race, I had 2 mantras: Run like a Kenyan (Kenyans don't worry about pacing themselves, they run all out and never stop), Don't Let Yourself Down! This second one was born out of pre-race imagery and story-telling. I knew this was my race to peak in, and if I allowed my mind to stop my feet from running, for even 10 seconds, I would have regrets; could not live with myself if I didn't give my all. I imagined driving home from Schaumburg with the oppressive air of disappointment pressing down on me and the image was so revolting, I had to replace it with a picture of my manic post-race chatter, debriefing Joe on the course, how I felt throughout the race, projecting new feats in the upcoming years. etc. 

Additionally, to bolster my thoughts, and to augment my taper, I invite superstition into my life. I begin looking for signs to confirm that everything will go as planned on race day - getting to Schaumburg's Dick Pond Athletics without a hitch for packet pick up? A good sign! Being assigned Bib #3063? An excellent sign! (I love the number 3, and 6 is my birthday, and if you add all the numbers up and break them down, they equal 3) Finding the very CW-X compression socks I wished I owned for the drive home from IL at Dick Pond's on major sale ($30 instead of $55)? Super auspicious! Meeting friends Jen & Ellen (also doing the race) for a pre-race Indian dinner, and eating the same dish I had before my last PR (Saag Aloo if you're curious)? A good sign! And watching Grimm in our hotel room before bed, just as I did the last time I PR'd? Another fortunate sign! 

And what if the signs don't bode well? I do my best to override them. The nagging headache, tight-feeling face and general physical ugginess I had most of  Friday, definitely did not fit with my list of positive signs, but I told myself emphatically, that I would feel better in the morning ... and I did.☺

Race day dawned sunny and "warm" - 32° with light winds. I donned my CW-X compression tights with color coordinated running gear (it helps your race to look good!), and walked the .8 miles from the hotel to the shuttle pick-up, which would take us to the start line in the Busse Forest Preserve. Sitting alone on the school bus, the only remaining open seat was next to me when the final man got on. We got to chatting and he had quite the resume. He said this was going to be his 22nd half marathon of the year! Said this is his perfect distance for speed, endurance and recovery, that he can run 13 miles every week with no problems, typically finishing in 1:20. He began running the Rock-n-Roll series this year, which awards points to people who place within their age groups and/or overall. He started winning his age group (he dropped that he was 57, though he didn't look a day past 43), and earned enough points to have ALL of his expenses paid for by the race to do the San Antonio, TX event last weekend. Though not in his league, I shared some of my running experiences as we walked another .5 miles from the shuttle drop-off to the start area, and then wished him well as I headed to a Port-o-Pottie line. I had 25 minutes before the race was to start. Then it was 20 minutes, and then with 18 minutes to go, my line was told there was no more toilet paper. Bad sign! Bad sign! I scrambled to a middle line amongst the bank of potties (Joe told me once that mathematically, the middle lines end up being the shortest cause people flock to ends) and with 7 minutes to spare, relieved myself of any last minute bladder impulses. 

The course was flat and not as picturesque as I expected. There were 3 out and back sections, that left me confused - I never had a grasp on my geographical location at any point in the race, with the exception of running past the Elk Preserve, which was a small fenced woodsy area that saddened me - just not enough space for the behemoth animals being "preserved". I did see three large elk (good sign!), which gave me the umph to run over the one hill of a bridge worth any mention. The course was not conducive to spectators, though there were a few rogue family members scattered about.Without the energy boost of cheering crowds, I had to dig deep a few times not to stop and walk, but my mantras, my narrative and stolen glances at my Garmin showing I was on target with my projected pace, kept me going until I could see Joe snapping my pictures as I approached and crossed the finish line with a new PR!         

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our home to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! 

There isn't much I'm not thankful for (with the exception of spiders, yellow jackets, ticks and centipedes), but with today being the official start of my holiday running streak, I'm particularly thankful for my health, fitness and injury-free status. I'm thankful for the meal that will nourish me after today's run - Tofurky, Smashed Cauliflower, Sourdough Stuffing, Brussel Sprouts with walnuts, shallots & cranberries, Joe's homemade whole wheat Monkey Rolls and Chocolate Mousse Pie. I'm thankful that good weather is predicted for Saturday's Schaumburg Half Marathon and that I have 3 more days off work following the race. I'm thankful that I'm entering the season of "rest"and I'm thankful that I already have so much to look forward to in 2014.

2-Week Count Down

Yesterday I ran my final long-long run of the year, gutting out 12 miles on an utterly glum morning with misty, windy conditions. The scenery along the Fox River Sanctuary helped me press through this slower than usual run. I felt slow and heavy, and clocked a 10-second per mile slower pace than I did last week in my 11-miler, a hillier, more challenging course. This slower pace, coupled with trends during the week towards increased irritability, slightly elevated heart rates and feeling on the verge of a head cold, tells me I'm close to being overtrained. This is important information, signaling me to scale back my work-outs now in the 2 weeks prior to my race. I'm fortunate to recognize the signs of overtraining early on, so I can nip it in the bud and not threaten my chance at a PR at the Schaumburg Half Marathon Thanksgiving weekend. Joe and I have waited a full year for this race to arrive (Joe discovered the race last November when it was too late to accommodate it in our schedules), and unfortunately, Joe will have to wait another year to run it (he has 5 weeks yet before he can run), but he will travel to IL with me to cheer me on in my 15th half marathon, as well as my friends, Jen & Ellen, who I convinced to join me☺ Schaumburg is less than 90 minutes away from home, but to account for any weather issues or last minute travel stressors, we'll drive down the night before and stay at an Extended Inn directly across the street from the race. The race is held in the Busse Elk Preserve, touted as a scenic course through woods, over bridges and along elk pastures. The race has chosen the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America as their key fund raising cause, which makes us like the race even more! And then of course, there is this cool race bib ... (this is a sample, not my actual bib number).

Streaking

I've decided to take the Runner's World magazine challenge to "streak" from Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Day. Streaking means that you run at least 1 mile every single day. There are streakers who have run every single day for up to 45 years - running through blizzards, tornadoes, pneumonia, broken bones, hours after surgery, in circles at an airport between flights, etc. This streak would only cover 34 days, which is totally doable. It's touted as a way to stay weight-neutral during the holiday season where the average American gains 2-5 pounds, but for me, it would just be a novel feather in my cap and a way to challenge myself with something new and different. A bunch of my gym and running friends are game for the challenge, so we'll keep each other accountable so we can earn the bragging rights by 1/1/14☺

Fleeting Fall

It seem like it was just yesterday that I was excitedly awaiting the transition from summer to fall, ready to leave heat and humidity behind in favor of crisp blue skies, low dew points, changing leaves and the harvest vibe. How did it go by so quickly? This picture shows the remnants of a season that has all but passed. Strong weekend winds emptied trees (leading to an afternoon of raking and raking and raking!), and tomorrow, 11/11/13, we're to experience our first "wintry mix" of rain and snow. Bah :(

It was at the beginning of fall, mid-September, that we ran The North Face half marathon, and now, three races later (Colorama & Lakefront Discovery Run), I'm gearing up for my final half marathon of the year on November 30th.

It was the end of September when Joe underwent surgery for his left shoulder. Now, 6 weeks later, he is done with the sling and moving on to active assisted physical therapy. Still way ahead of the curve in his recovery :)

Fall plans to have a radon mitigation system installed, to take Sunday walks through leaves, to train hard for race PR's,  to reconnect with friends, and to enjoy my mom's Harvest Feast (see picture below) have been accomplished, all seemingly with the blink of an eye. Does autumn always go by so fast? If only winter could be as fleeting ...

Lovey Dovey's

Three years ago yesterday, the Boyz entered our lives. It feels like they've always been with us, such an integral part of our world. It was a gloomy, dark November 4th when we traveled several hours to Marion, WI to pick them up from the Happily Ever After animal sanctuary. There was still much sadness in our hearts from losing Dio (17 years old) in July, and sweet little Rainier (5 months old) in September, but there was also hope and excitement for starting fresh with two healthy brothers. Six months old, Chaco, always the bigger brother, weighed in at 7 pounds, while Denali was a smaller 6 pounds, 2 ounces. Today, Chaco is a healthy 13.5 pounds (he's a big boy, but not overweight), and Denali is a solid 10 pounds, 13 ounces. Chaco dons a distinguishing spike of hair on the top of his head, Denali is known for his large ears and paws.

Chaco is made of all sweetness. He is mellow, never gets angry, loves to be loved and loves to give love, most notably rubbing the side of his face against our chins. He likes to plop into our laps with abandon, stretch out under covers like another human in the bed, and to be held high in the air while being stretched his full length - imitating a Superman pose. Chaco also loves to follow the sun around the house for warmth, eat peanut butter and margarine, track the wildlife in the yard and dip toys (especially his crinkle balls) into water bowls.

Denali, though comprised of sweetness, has other ingredients sprinkled in. He is funny and quirky in his habits, such as how he cannot settle into a lap until he has walked back and forth between us multiple times. Once he flings himself down, he begins purring loudly in anticipation of being pet. He gazes at you with large liquid green eyes and you are a goner. He can get pretty feisty, taking himself a bit seriously, when Chaco instigates playful wrestling sessions, and is prone to spookiness, puffing his tail up over the most benign sounds and movements. Denali loves to cuddle with Chaco, eat fresh spinach and margarine, track wildlife in the yard and fetch like the best of dogs.

Both boys live for each other. They are the best of friends. They also live for us, greeting us with unbidden joy when we come home, following us around the house, sleeping with us through the night, and waking up with us at the crack of dawn - twice each day! Yes, twice. First they get up with me at 4:00a.m., joining me in the bathroom as I prepare for the gym. The picture above shows a typical morning in the loo. When I first enter, Chaco paces back and forth on the counter, tail in the air, pushing his face against mine, sometimes licking my chin. Next, I brush my teeth and wash my face, as the boys anxiously await their sink time - for Chaco I need to pull the sink stopper to capture a bit of water for him to drink, much like drinking fresh water from a pond. For Denali, I need to have the faintest trickle of water flowing so he can drink directly from the faucet. As they have their morning drink, I move along to the toilet for my morning constitutional, at which time, Denali firmly taps my shoulder, an indication that he wants to sit in my lap ... while I'm sitting on the commode! He cannot be denied, believe me, he is persistent, so long ago (sigh), I capitulated. Done on the John, I begin putting my gym clothes on as the boys do one of the following: 1) wrestle with each other on the floor and/or in the bath tub, 2) dig rubber bands out of the bowl on the counter and drop them at my feet (they want to play fetch), and more rarely 3) groggily sit on the floor or counter in a glassy eyed daze. After I'm dressed, the three of us move along to the kitchen where I make peanut butter toast to fuel my work-out. They stand nearby, unmoving like statues, until my toast is prepared and we mosey back to the bathroom. I eat my toast in the bathroom where it is warm and light (I don't turn the kitchen light on cause I don't want to disturb Joe's final stretch of sleep), as a pair of copper penny eyes (Chaco) watch my every move, waiting for me to offer up my plate with a smudge of peanut butter for his enjoyment.  I exit the bathroom by 4:30a.m., return to the bedroom to say goodbye to Joe, leaving the bedroom door open a crack, and head out for the gym. Before the garage door is even up, the Boyz have rejoined Joe for their second sleep ... until he gets up 45 minutes later, kicking off their next round of bathroom rituals with their human.

Blustery 15k

On this bone-chilling windy Saturday (partial sun and a rather warm-ish 45° starting temp turned brutal by strong gusts of wind if you were not in motion sweatin' it up), Rosanna and I ran the Badgerland Strider's Lakefront Discovery Run (LDR) 15k (9.3 miles.). This race is a Milwaukee favorite with repeat runners year after year, as evidenced by a plethora of past racing shirts found in the crowd. The LDR is well known and loved for it's incredibly cool, creative long sleeve tech t-shirts that have a Halloween theme, often coupled with a topical theme. This year's shirt (see previous post - though our shirts are actually a light orange with a thick black strip along the underside of the arms and the side of the torso, with the much-coveted thumb hole feature) highlights a ghost riding a Harley as a nod to the summer's 105th Harley Davidson celebration.

The race course, changed for the better in 2012, follows an incredibly scenic path beginning in the Historic Third Ward near the Italian Community Center, to Harbor Drive (that name is self-explanatory, right?), beside beautiful Lake Michigan (where I kept my eye on a distant sailboat), up the Kenwood hill, into Lake Park, through the park to the a pedestrian bridge crossing over Lincoln Memorial Drive, along the Lagoon, between the backside of the Milwaukee Art Museum and the churning lake, onto the Summerfest Island, and back to the Third Ward.

It was a PR race for both Rosanna and myself. This was Rosanna's first 15k, so by default she would PR, but that said, she came in with an awesome finishing time given her abbreviated training schedule. While I technically PR'd with a 1:33:12 finish (10:01 pace), this isn't a perfect PR as the course was different from the last time I ran this race, and you need to compare exact routes to have the most accurate (and for me, fulfilling) PR. I expected to run faster than I did (my first 5 miles were at a great 9:32 - 9:50 pace), so I was a little disappointed at the end, feeling my PR wasn't good enough. Then Rosanna talked some sense into me ... I mean really, I had a serious PR, why can't I accept that? Plus, this race was being run as a training run for my half next month. Crossing the finish line we were given an orange plastic beer stein with the same design as our race shirts, since tradition dictates collecting a free beer at the Milwaukee Ale House post-race. I filled my mug with chips and cookies, rather than beer (like gag me with a spoon!)☺

Overall, it was a great race experience. I ran strong, and walked away from the race with no tightness or sore spots. The one and only glitch was being stopped by police at the top of Kenwood hill to let traffic through. I have run over 50 races and have never ever been stopped because of traffic. While I thought to myself, "Are you fucking kidding me?! You're ruining my finishing time!", others said it out loud. I have to admit the break was nice, and I did stop my Garmin so I would have an accurate race result, but when the official results are posted, those of us stopped by the cops will not have that time deducted, and will suffer the unjustness of it all over again when we see the slower clocked times. It's probably best not to look for the online results, take my 1:33 PR and look ahead to my 5th and final half of 2013!

Rápido

My heart, lungs, muscles and brain continue their harmonious quartet, working together to move me along more swiftly than I've ever moved before. Every run is new and exciting because I'm breaking personal records and catching a glimpse of what it must be like to be Joe - finishing long runs in a reasonable time instead of slogging away for hours (though Joe is still much faster). Yesterday, I ran a familiar 10-mile route on city streets (I'm already missing the trails) and finished 7.5 minutes faster than the last time I ran this route in May (at which time I had logged my best time on this route), posting a 9:42 pace! There was a time when I was grateful to run less than an 11-minute mile, then a time when I was exuberant over anything under 10:30 minute miles. I'm sure there will be a time when I'm recalling how great a 9:42 pace was (when I'm running a 9:00 pace!). Next Saturday, Rosanna and I will race in the Lakefront Discovery Run 15k (9.3 miles), along Lake Michigan, and though I'm treating this as a training run for my November half marathon, I fully expect to PR, blasting my 2010 results into oblivion :) 

Everest or Bust!

Several weeks ago I received an email from REI announcing the chance to win one of seven adventure trips. Each adventure is to a primo destination where hiking, biking, kayaking and/or other activities occur, in places such as the Galápagos Islands, Croatia, Zion National Park...and the Himalayas! You can register for the trip of your choice daily until 10/31, which is exactly what I'm doing every morning before taking off for the gym. It would be sooooooo awesome to win this trip. Read a bit about it and tell me it isn't meant for Joe and me!

"The incomparable beauty of the Himalayas has long beckoned the world's adventurers to Nepal. Our classic route combines simple, rustic accommodations with must-see sites while still allowing time to venture to secluded villages seldom visited by most trekkers.

Explore Khumjung, whose monastery houses a mysterious relic said to be the skull of a Yeti. Trek onward to Thame, home to one of the region's oldest monasteries, seemingly growing out of the mountainside. We pass through vast rhododendron forests and enter Tengboche Monastery, the largest and most active in the region, where evening brings the strange and hypnotic sounds of the traditional chant, thundering drums, and resounding horns of the Buddhist monks who live here.

Throughout our trek we encounter spectacular views of Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks before returning to Kathmandu, where we have more time to discover the rich Buddhist and Hindu cultures of this ancient city. Soak in the magic of Nepal on this unique and unforgettable lodge to lodge trek with REI."

Important Notice: Day 1 is the day you should plan to arrive at the meeting point for the trip. This may require departing your hometown one or more days in advance and traveling on an overnight flight.

Everest Lodge to Lodge Trek Itinerary:

 Day 1 Namaste and welcome to vibrant Kathmandu!

• Day 2 Explore Swayambunath Temple, Boudhanath Temple, and Durbar Square.
• Day 3 Fly to Lukla where our trek begins and hike to Phakding village.
• Day 4 Journey along the Dudh Koshi River to Namche Bazaar.
• Day 5 Day hike to our first spectacular views of Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse.
• Day 6 Ascend further to Tengboche Monastery, with spectacular Everest views.
• Day 7 Descend to the historic and quaint Sherpa village of Khumjung.
• Day 8 Trek off the beaten path through remote villages to secluded Thame.
• Day 9 Explore Thame's hillside monastery and return to bustling Namche Bazaar.
• Day 10 Descend the Dudh Kosi River valley to Phakding through.
• Day 11 Complete the descent to Lukla and celebrate with your trekking crew.
• Day 12 Return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, weather permitting.
• Day 13 Free day to explore more highlights of the Kathmandu Valley.
• Day 14 Our Everest lodge to lodge trekking adventure ends today in Kathmandu.

Kissing the Devil

After resisting the siren's call to join the 21st century for many years, I gave up on my 1999 Nokia flip phone (complete with an antenna), this week for the awesome iPhone 5c. My friend Diane, a long time Apple supporter, advised me that getting an iPhone would be like kissing the devil - there is no turning back. Not only did I kiss the devil, I am making out with the devil, unable to conceive of how I fully lived without an iPhone. Yes, I may be overstating my love of this groovy device, but it's to make the point of just how cool it is. I love telling the phone to call someone, to email someone, to find me such-n-such information and have it instantly pop up. I love checking my emails and Facebook for  brief moments during the day rather than spending 30 minutes at home after work catching up with stuff. Has this technology complicated my life? No! It's making it easier, more efficient and fun. Most of all, I love having an 8 mega pixel picture taking ability anytime, anywhere, posting those pics to family and friends in an instant. The phone can be a flashlight, a GPS system, a calendar with reminders, a music box (just plug headphones in), etc. Let's not forget all the cool apps you can upload (love having my FitBit on here), including mobile banking apps that allow you to deposit checks by taking a picture of your check - no more ATM 's or brick and mortar banks for me. And then there is texting, something I'd never done until this past week. Not my favorite activity, mainly because the phone's keyboard is so small and my fingers so clumsy, but I can even see the benefits of texting capabilities at times, though I think I still prefer email. So, I am plugged into 2013 and if you're plugged in too, you can reach me anytime by email, text, FB or phone at 262-914-1123. 

Colorama

Danielle, Heather, Me, Marisa, Mom, Lucy

Every couple years I get the itch to run the Colorama 10k at Lapham Peak. It's always the first Saturday of October with weather as varied as spring. This week, my assembled group of runners watched every weather forecast closely, as storms with "heavy downpours Saturday morning" were predicted. Heavy rains would make the steep trails, loose with rocks, slick with leaves and treacherous with ankle twisting walnuts, a dangerous undertaking. Hoping against hope that the storms would be delayed until the afternoon, we awoke this morning in our separate locations - Mukwanago, Oak Creek, Waukesha, West Allis, Milwaukee - to fog and humidity, but no rain!

Running the 10k would be me and my supervisor, Danielle. Running (or walking) the 5k would be Heather, my mom, Marisa & Lucy. Once again, my summer of trail running yielded results. I finished with a nearly 5 minute PR from previous years!!! I posted a 1:06:07 - a 10:39 mile pace. My best pace on this 88 floor course in years past was an 11:23. Danielle, talked into this race despite her doubts, greatly improved her pace from the last trail 10K I strong armed her into (and a 60# weight loss since that last race no doubt helped!). My mom took 2nd place in the 5k in the Women's 70-79 Division, finishing in 48:36. Of course there were only 2 people in that division, but she beat Marisa and Lucy by close to 6 minutes, a nod to all of her hard training (with a knee replacement and stent to boot!). And though Marisa was beat by her grandma, this was a major feat for her as well. Getting over her Christmas Day heart attack, tackling rising mental fears when her heart rate increases and navigating the uneven, steep and rocky terrain was a PR of another kind for her. Everyone succeeded today.

And the predicted rains? About an hour after I was tucked into the comforts of home, the sky grew black and unleashed torrential rains that flooded streets and relieved trees of their leaves. Timing is everything ☺ 

I'm headed back to the streets now for training specificity (meaning you train for the conditions you'll be racing in), as I prepare for my 15k later this month and the final half marathon of the year in November.

BAM!

The Fall of 2011 had me running my strongest and fastest ... until I overdid it and pulled a hammie. I took about 6 weeks to heal from that, began running again, with much endurance lost, probably overdid the training again (because I felt the pressure of time to be ready for our Moab Half Marathon - remember the race that we won the lottery to be awarded a spot?), and  by Spring 2012, I developed mild Plantar Fasciitis in the right foot and pseudo knee-crippling IT Band Syndrome on the left side, requiring physical therapy. I was healed, strengthened and running without injury by July 2012, but the fits and stops had left me woefully behind my peak performances of 2011. As 2012 came to close and 2013 fired up, I was making some small gains, but began feeling I had reached the pinnacle of my running success in 2011 and would have to begin accepting my averageness - just be grateful to be running at all. And then...BAM! My carefully plotted out training - meaning the types of runs I do (i.e. tempo runs,long runs, speed drills at 400 meter intervals, hill work), as well as with my weight training - began yielding results, noted in 2 of my 3 spring half marathons, and in faster and faster "easy" paces on the treadmill - results to keep me motivated and hopeful for further improvements, but not crazy significant results either. And then...BAM! In the past 1-2 weeks I've crossed a threshold and am running faster and stronger than ever before - way better than 2011. I've just come off a week where each run was a PR (personal record), which has built my confidence in the training, making me realize the results of late are not a fluke. I'm set for future race PR's, and maybe a year from now, I will be detailing paces 30-60 seconds faster than what I post today.  Here's what a better running Joy looks like.

• Minooka Trail Run -7 miles. Last week I hammered this out at 10:24 pace. Just 6 weeks earlier I had logged a 10:44 pace and that was the best I'd ever done. This exact route once took me an 11:25 pace to complete.
• Treadmill Tempo Run - 5 miles. Last week I reached my personal best in a tempo run, finishing with a 9:12 pace.
• Rosanna Run - 3 miles. Our standard early morning run was done with sore legs in the darkened fog at a 9:46 pace. We used to be as slow as an 11:00 pace, and in recent times, had a 10:15 pace as our best.
• Lookout Drive - Hartwell Hill Route - 4 miles. Before Joe's surgery, I smoked this familiar neighborhood loop - a hillacious course that I averaged a 9:37 pace on. Earlier this summer, my best time on this loop was a 10:01.
• Minooka Trail Run - 8 miles. Just 3 seconds slower than the 7-miler the previous week. Finished at a 10:27 pace, which is awesome, since I had additional hills in the park for this slightly longer distance.
• Neighborhood - 5 miles. My best 5-miler outside ever. 9:34 pace. BAM!

75410

It's another beautiful day for surgery - sunny, bright blue skies, cool but not cold. A near carbon copy of the day of Joe's last surgery on May 24th. No heroic final run before surgery this time though, as Joe's hip remains a bit jammed up following his insane performance in our trail half marathon 2 weeks ago. The surgical staff remembered us both - even the details of our lives from May, which makes one feel like a human being and not just another number, though Joe was assigned a tracking number: 75410. This is a number that is posted on a smart board (see picture above) in the waiting room that provides continual updates on where a patient is in the surgical process, such as pre-procedure, in procedure, recovery, phase II and complete (meaning you've gone home). By watching this board, I knew Joe was taken to the operating room at least 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. As he did the last time, Joe accepted a nerve block, which will last 12-24 hours to address the most immediate and intense pain that could follow. No reason to think there will be much pain, as he didn't have a lot the last time, using his pain meds for less than 3 days. As I bade my time in the bright and airy waiting area, I frequently glanced up to the smart board. I couldn't read the numbers from where I sat, but I knew which line was Joe's, watching for the magenta "procedure" line to turn to purple for "recovery". As expected, surgery went swimmingly. The tedious recovery process will begin again tomorrow when Joe gets into the passive motion chair. PT for the left shoulder will begin next Thursday after his follow up with Dr. Vetter. By Christmas, Joe's right shoulder will be fully healed, strengthend and mobile, while the left shoulder will be well on it's way, leading him to a fresh start for 2014.

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos. Day of the Dead. The Mexican cultural holiday spanning November 1st & 2nd in which families celebrate and honor their dead through prayer, create altars using sugar skulls (calavera) brightly decorated with marigolds, paints, etc, and bring meals and possessions of the deceased to their grave sites or shrines. This is a celebratory time, not a macabre endeavor, in which families hope to receive visits from their dead loved ones. I love this concept, as well as the beautiful unique skulls that emerge in their celebrations (if you want to see what I mean, simply do a Google image search for Dia de los Muertos).

Inspired by these images, I did a harmless (or so I thought) little search for Day of the Dead designs, thinking maybe one day I would get a Day of the Dead tattoo. When I stumbled upon the picture above, that "maybe one day", became "how soon can I get this?" Everything about this design speaks to me. The skull has amazing details, while the owl sealed the deal. I am a huge fan of owls, but I also like their connection to my Native American interests in which the owl represents death, carrying the departed soul to the West.

You're now wondering where the hell I would get this tattoo, right? This would be tattoo #11, my body is filling up. The obvious spot would be the upper back, BUT that's not for me - I'd never see it and no one else would ever see it, so it will go on my right thigh. It will be off center, just as Tomas the Snake is on my left thigh. The body of the tattoo would be on the outside of my upper right leg, while the wings would span the front and back of my thigh (thought they won't wrap around and touch). I consulted with George, my tattoo artist, today, and he says this can be done. He'll need to make adjustments to some of the details, but nothing drastic. And get this, I am now entering the world of hardcore tatting as I will need 2 sessions to complete this piece of art - one to outline it all, another to fill in shading and color (I will have some colors, though most of it will be shades of grey and black). The next step is for me to examine my calendar and training schedule to find the optimal time to have my right leg swollen, sore and out of commission for 1-3 days. Stay tuned for more!

TNF Half Marathon

Cold rain (low 50') and mud couldn't stop us from achieving our race goals. For me, it meant coming in under 2 hours, 30 minutes, and for Joe it meant coming in under 2 hours. REMINDER: Trail running is more challenging and takes more time than road racing - especially when it's muddy and you're navigating a course of slick tree roots, slippery rocks and goopy mud that weighs your feet down. Based on my summer trail runs, I expected to finish with an average 11:30 pace, which would have me finishing in 2:30. I finished 13.1 miles in 2:27:41 with an 11:16 pace - meeting and exceeding my goal! Perhaps more impressive are Joe's results after only 4 weeks of training. Joe ran 13.1 miles through the undulating Kettle Moraine in 1:54:29 with an 8:44 pace!!! And if you like stats, here are some more:

JOE: Overall Finish      = 90 out of  376
        Male Finishers      = 70 out of 197
        40-44 Age Group   = 12 out of  29

JOY: Overall Finish       =  276 out of 376
         Female Finishers  =  103 out of 179
         40-44 Age Group   =   13 out of  24

After finishing, we weren't interested in hanging out in the rain, so we made our way home, turned on the heat for the first time this season, and settled in for a luxurious afternoon movie on the couch with the boys.

Bonus Note: Driving through the country to the race, a large fox ran across the road (this seemed like a good omen), and some homely turkeys were walking along the route as well (we won't ascribe any meaning to them ☺).

Looking ahead ...Joy will run the Colorama 10k at Lapham Peak on 10/5, the Lakefront Discovery Run 15k on 10/26 and the Schaumburg (IL) Half Marathon (held in an elk nature preserve) on 11/30. Joe will get 19 more miles in before his 9/27 Rotator Cuff surgery, so he can reach 550 miles (not bad at all considering he'll only have about 6 months of running to claim for 2013.

Health Coach

For several years now at work we've (employee and spouse) had to participate in "Biometric Screenings" if we want a reduced health insurance premium. This means an outside contract agency does fasting blood work on us and takes various body measurements. When this is done, we move on to Step 2 - completion of an in-depth on-line health assessment and then we're green lighted for Step 3 - scheduling a call with a "health coach" to review our results. Today was my day to speak with the health coach.

 

I preface the correspondence below with noting that all of my blood work looked great, as did my measurements. However, the measurements (height, weight, waist, wrist) are inaccurate as the people wielding the measuring tape and scale have random approaches and faulty equipment. Despite holding steady in my weight and body size, their numbers fluctuate. For example, one year I was 5'5", the next year 5'4", and back to 5'5" the third time. My right wrist has measured anywhere from 5.25 to 5.75, my waist from 25" - 27", and the digital scale is always miscalibrated and off by 4-7 pounds (this confirmed by co-workers who report weighing much more on this scale then their home scales). A body fat percentage is assigned based on height and weight, which is crude and inaccurate. A more accurate way to measure body fat is with calipers pinching fat. I've had that done at the gym in recent years and came in at 22.7%. The healthy range for women in their 40's is 21-33%. 

 

This is what transpired during my health coach call today. She notes the only thing I didn’t score perfectly on was body fat (they came up with 27%) – “we’d like to see that at 25% or less  - what I would suggest is weight training”. Once she said that, I lost my mind.

 

Me: “No, I don’t think so. I already do 3 hours of Olympic weight lifting per week and I run 20-30 miles per week, which is also weight bearing. The measurements in this screening are not accurate, the screeners are widely random in how tight or loose they pull that tape measure, the scale is considerably off and I can assure you that when I’ve had accurate body fat measurements done I’m below 25%. And even if my body fat was 27% that is well within the normal healthy limits, which range from 21%-33%. “

 

She later annoyed me when asking about my sleep. I admitted I only get 6-7 hours/night, but that I sleep well. She asked if I could try getting more, and I told her, “no, because I need to be up in order to exercise so I can have these great biometrics.” She kinda laughed, and asked when I get up. I told her, “I get up at 4a.m., which means I should be in bed by 8p.m., but I don’t usually make it there until closer to 8:30 and then I like to read a bit for some down time, so I’m not usually asleep until 9:00 or later.” Well, she can’t leave that alone – she launches into how I can go to their website to get tips on how to fall asleep more easily, how to reduce stress, etc. Irritated, I replied, “You know, I am familiar with sleep hygiene – I teach it to my client’s all the time. I have no problem falling asleep, I choose to read as a pleasurable way to end my day. Falling asleep is not an issue. I could hang up from you right now, close my eyes, and fall asleep.”  And can you guess what she launched into next? “Well, if you could fall asleep just like that in the middle of the day, you’re not getting enough sleep and are at risk for changes in your health …” blah, blah, blah. I finally kept my mouth shut, rather than telling her she was a big dummy missing my exaggerated point about sleep (of course I couldn’t literally fall asleep this second if I closed my eyes!). I guess I just loathe this process and the people involved in it - that I have to jump through hoops for my health care. That said, I have great health insurance and will continue to do whatever they ask, even if it aggravates me to no end!

Running Stories

Okay, this is my morning story. Most of you know we got new carpet earlier in the year and no longer wear shoes in the house. If we do have shoes on in the house, we wear blue (cloth) surgical booties - especially over filthy running shoes. This week I've been sleep deprived, barely squeaking out more than 6 hours max per night (AND this is my highest volume running/training week before I taper for my race), so I was bone tired this morning when leaving for my run and totally forgot to take the booties off!

I ended up running 4.5 out of 5 miles before noticing. It was dark for most of that run, so I couldn't see my feet. I also ended up running through wet cement in the darkness! I remember running through it and thinking it felt like I was ice-skating, that my shoes should be grippier. Of course, I didn't know then that I had the booties on. Crazy! Here’s what my shoes/booties looked like when I got home☺

I mentioned above that I’m about to taper for my next race, which is the North Face Endurance Challenge Trail Half Marathon on September 15^th. This race offers a series of

distances ranging from 5k-50 miles over woodsy trails in the Southern Kettle Moraine. We’ve been doing the 10k distance since the race was first introduced to WI in 2008. After last year’s event, we felt we’d done all that we could do at that distance, and since we’d grown more serious about trail running, we decided to push ahead to do our first trail half marathon.  We registered long before we knew Joe would have surgery and be out of commission for 3 months.

Joe was able to resume running the day we returned from vacation, giving him about 3.5 weeks to gain some running fitness before the race. Mind you, during his 3 months off, Joe was not able to cross train with an elliptical or bike to keep his cardio up, but that is now a moot point, as Joe is tearing up the earth as if he’d never had a break. Joe’s first run after the 12-week hiatus was a 6-miler at Minooka Park completed 90 seconds per mile faster than me. I had assumed I would beat him in this race – my one and only time – as he’d have to walk a lot, but now I see I was delusional. Even with some walk breaks (he doesn’t need many!), Joe’s moving faster than my non-stop running.  While he won’t post a finishing time at the same pace he would normally race at, he will still place ahead of most, leaving him satisfied and ready for surgery number two 12 days later.  

Now as I toot Joe’s horn, I don’t mean to disparage myself. Yes, Joe is still much faster than me, but I too have made gains in recent months. I’ve gotten my “easy” treadmill pace down to a 9:22 (it was once 11:06), my standard outdoor street pace hovers around 9:50 (used to be closer to 11:30), and my trail pace has improved by 30-40 seconds per mile depending on the trail. Last weekend I logged my fastest time ever at Lapham Peak, running 9 miles at an average 11:33 pace. At Minooka I’m even faster, hitting the 10:45 mark. My overall heart rate has dropped during my runs, usually sitting in the mid 150’s, and I am running strong without injury.

Being injury and pain-free allowed me to participate in a study at Carroll University this week. The study is examining the differences between barefoot running vs. shod foot running on the hips. Studies have been conducted elsewhere to see what differences occur with the feet, ankles and knees when running with or without shoes, so they are tackling the hip. The study involves recording joint movements, muscle activation and proprioception (your body’s sense of where it is in space). Various spots along my right side (hip flexor, hamstring, glute, erector spinae, gluteus medius, rectus abdominous, femoral artery, etc.) were rubbed with sandpaper (a small ouch!) to help adhere electrodes that would send vital information to a computer about my body’s degree of activation when running in shoes and completely barefoot.  Little balls were attached to me as well along my joints (legs, ankles, hips, back, neck) to monitor their movements between the two types of running. Both measurements will yield information about proprioception and how the body makes changes in balance, stride, efficiency, etc. when running in either style. They filmed me (while the computer was also receiving information from the electrodes and balls) running on a treadmill (TM) with shoes on (they provide the shoes as a control mechanism for research results) doing my normal gait (I’m a heel striker, but not too harsh of a striker). Then they had me run on the TM in shoes while changing my gait to land only on the balls of my feet (hard to do), and lastly, I ran completely barefoot on the TM (they noted I naturally shifted to a forefoot strike). In addition to the running tests, I had two proprioception tests. In one, I sat in a chair with a piece of cardboard on my lap to prevent me from seeing where the researcher moved my right foot/leg. Once she moved my leg to a certain outstretched distance, I needed to stretch my left leg to what I felt was the same bilateral location. We did this 3 different times. The other proprioception test involved me standing on my right leg only, with hands at my sides, staring straight ahead at an X on the wall for three separate 13 seconds trials. The testing took less than 2 hours, I had a lot of fun doing it, loved talking with the professors about the biomechanics of running, various theories on barefoot vs. shoe running, contributed to science AND received a $20 Target gift card! A win all around.