Rambling Dissertations

So I have been thinking about women in debate recently. While historically, the success of women in debate, relative to their male counterparts has been lopsided, at best, things have changed. Out of the posh and tony western suburbs of Edina, Minnesota has risen a team so successful at debate, that their success has undermined not only the gender imbalance of debate, but the patriarchy itself. The team of Edina SS, also know as Mimi and Erin has completely ended the male domination of speaker awards and success at the local, regional and national levels.

The Receipt

Meg challenged Claire to an eating contest at the Minnesota State Fair.  This is Claire cutting a promo on Meg...

But I Could Be The Boy You Adore

This has been a pretty good week for me.  First, we went to the National Forensic League tournament, where Ben and Ilias took 10th place.  That was cool, and a great end to a great season and high school career for Ben and Ilias.   

Then today I finished my very first marathon!  I ran Grandma's Marathon in 5:49:16.  I would like to thank Lehto and Young Squire Jim and Jamie for coming out to cheer me on at teh finish line.  But I really want to thank Meg and Danny for coming up last night and being there at the finish.

The thing I like best about running a marathon is the people who are there to cheer you on.  I wrote my first name on the  front of my shirt, and people would yell out things like "way to go Pete," or "you can do it, Pete." 

Funny story, prior to the marathon, I decided to dedicate my finish to my Mom.  When I hit downtown Duluth, and was on the home stretch, I started to choke up a little bit, because I was imaging how proud she would have been of me finishing my first marathon.  Then, just as I was about to cry, a guy yelled out "there are puke buckets at the finish line."  (Incidentally, there were not any puke buckets that I could see.)  Needless to say, it ruined the moment. 

Video Killed the Radio Star

I Need Excitement Oh I Need It Bad

So this weekend was supposed to be my 20 mile run, but at mile 9 I started suffering from massive shin splints, and a sore hip.  The shin splints came on fast and intense.  I had to stop almost immediately. 

All yesterday, I was worried about what I would do for the race.  I posted on the runnerworld forums, but to no avail.  However, when I talked to my Dad this morning he really put things into perspective for me.  I can run the marathon, and it is OK if I don't finish.  I figure I have run 18 miles, and the extra two miles aren't going to make that much of a difference.  So I am going to take some time off this week, focus on cross training, and start my taper.   

Mommy's Alright, Daddy's Alright, They Just Seem A Little Weird.

Today was an 18 mile run.

I have to say that of all my runs this was the hardest.  The first 11 miles went pretty well, but the last 4 miles on Shepard Road were soul crushing.  By the time I got to Cleveland, I abandoned my time goal, and just finishing was the only goal.  From Highland Parkway to Selby I would run a block, walk a block.  It was really tiring.   My legs feel ok, but I just ran out of gas.  Next week is the 20 mile run.

Louder Than Bombs

The marathon training continues with a slight hitch in the get-a-long.  I have been experiencing what I think are shin-splints on my short runs during the week, and this week timing has interfered with my run schedule.  My program as me run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with weight lifting on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Since You-Know-Who came along

I haven't been very regular about my weight lifting.  As our friend Kyle said to us, the baby is like a "life bomb" going off and totally disrupting your daily routine. 

Anyway, due to the life bomb, this week, I shifted my short-runs around, and ended up skipping yesterday's because of the aforementioned shin splints.  But, I really want to run Grandma's, so I did not let myself skip my long run.

After some research I took the following steps to prevent the shin splints from interfering with my long run:

• purchased a new pair of Asics Running Shoes;
• paid extra attention to stretching this morning;
• paid extra attention to hydrating this morning;
• took some Ibuprofen before my run; and
• took an ice bath immediately after my run

That seems to have helped.  I think that I will also try these steps on my short run's this week.

My short run this week was a 13 miler, which I finished in 2:22.02, which is a personal best from the last time I ran a 13 mile run. 

In other Danny related news, I have a new song which I used to help soothe the cute little beast.

Baby, Baby Why Can't You Sit Still?

First, we enjoyed our first mother's day at casa de iglehart.  We had Meg's mom, Claire, and the kids over for brunch.  I made creme brulee french toast which is always delicious.

Today I went for a 16 mile run, with the help of Meg and Danny.

I have discovered that I have been dehydrating myself on my long runs by not drinking enough.  On Wednesday I calculated how much liquid I need on my runs.  I weighed myself before my 6 mile run and after.  I sweat off approximately 3 lbs per hour.  Since 1 lbs of sweat is about 16 oz of fluid, in an hour I need to replenish 48 oz of fluid.  I have been replenishing about 7 fl. oz per hour on previous runs.  I do own a Fuel Belt, but have not been using it to its fullest extent.

So I had Meg and Danny meet me along my route with bottles of G2 to refill my fuel belt.  With there help I finished in about 3:00. 

Buffalo Solider

Our friends Kyle and Elyssa bought us a book called "Be Prepared:  A Practical Guide For New Dads" which has a lot of helpful tips, and it is written like a scout manual.  I check it everyday. 

One tip in the book is to sooth the cranky baby by playing "Buffalo Solider" by Bob Marley and the Whalers.  I can say with a certain degree of certainty that this tip works.   I have never been a big Bob Marley fan, but I must say that I also like to sleep.  In fact I like sleep much more than I dislike reggae. 

Southbound, You Can Taste The Weather

New pic of Daniel.  Other fine photos are also available.

I am still doing the marathon training, but the sleep deprivation might be doing havoc on my time.