Thus far, I know of 12 adults* (and 1 dog) who did this crazy Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K, and 2 kids (and 1 dog) who did the last minute Kiddy Half Mile.
Participants included 11 Minnesotans, 2 Californians, and 1 Canadian from Vancouver, BC, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics! As a special reward, all outstate participants may now claim 'Honorary Minnesotan' status.
Take a look at the organizations that benefited from this:
American Red Cross
American Red Cross - Haiti Relief & Development
Canada for Haiti
Dakota Woodlands
ELCA Haiti Disaster Relief Fund
League of American Bicyclists
Mercy Corps
MN Valley Humane Society
Vitamin Angels Alliance
White Bear Lake Food Shelf
Woodland Hills Church
Considering this all came together in 3 days, I think this is truly phenomenal.
Wow, you guys. Just, wow.
*Ruth, I'm counting your mom in that number. :)
Edited to add Woodland Hills Church to the list.
Edited again to add Mercy Corps to the list.
Edited to add another adult to our number.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Another 5K update
We've now got 8 people doing this Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K and 1 Maybe.
So as previously promised (threatened?), I made a Facebook page and bombed my friends list with invites.
Reported donations so far include:
Dakota Woodlands
White Bear Lake Food Shelf
American Red Cross
ELCA Haiti Disaster Relief Fund
How cool is this? Pretty damn cool, I tell you!
So as previously promised (threatened?), I made a Facebook page and bombed my friends list with invites.
Reported donations so far include:
Dakota Woodlands
White Bear Lake Food Shelf
American Red Cross
ELCA Haiti Disaster Relief Fund
How cool is this? Pretty damn cool, I tell you!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Come on. You know you want to.
We have five people now doing this Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K and one Maybe. If we get one more, I'm making a Facebook group.
Just out of curiosity -- and I don't want to know dollar amounts -- what organizations are benefiting from our makeshift 5K? Comment below.
Just out of curiosity -- and I don't want to know dollar amounts -- what organizations are benefiting from our makeshift 5K? Comment below.
A marvelous night for a moondance
The moon last night was spectacular. So spectacular that I went outside with the camera and tripod and froze my arse, nose, and fingers to try to get some pictures.
It was worth it.
This one, I'm including simply because Morgan loves it and says the world needs to see it. She can't tell me exactly why she loves it -- "It's like a Monet painting, sort of," is the best she can come up with -- but she wants me to blow it up, frame it, and give it to her to hang in her room.
Will do, darling. Will do.
Edited to add a bit o' information about exactly why last night's moon was so stunning. From National Geographic: The 2010 wolf moon will appear 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than any other full moon this year, because our cosmic neighbor will actually be closer to Earth than usual.
It was worth it.
This one, I'm including simply because Morgan loves it and says the world needs to see it. She can't tell me exactly why she loves it -- "It's like a Monet painting, sort of," is the best she can come up with -- but she wants me to blow it up, frame it, and give it to her to hang in her room.
Will do, darling. Will do.
Edited to add a bit o' information about exactly why last night's moon was so stunning. From National Geographic: The 2010 wolf moon will appear 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than any other full moon this year, because our cosmic neighbor will actually be closer to Earth than usual.
oops
I inadvertently slept in until 8:50 a.m. (how the hell did that happen? I never sleep that late), so I'll be doing my Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K tomorrow.
I'm a mite irritated about this. On the other hand, this development has wiped the frown right off Mr. Frowny Face's face, and that's a good thing. Because no one likes a frowny Pete.
I'm a mite irritated about this. On the other hand, this development has wiped the frown right off Mr. Frowny Face's face, and that's a good thing. Because no one likes a frowny Pete.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K
We now have 4 people signed up to do this thing: moi, Pete, Ruth, and Helen in CA, who, by virtue of her sheer long distance awesomeness, gets the added bonus of being an Honorary Minnesotan for the weekend. And we've got one firm Maybe. (Michelle? Are you in?)
For all you out there on the fence about this, well, it's not too late to join us! You've got until 5 p.m. your local time Sunday, January 31st to donate to the cause of your choice and complete this 5K. The rules, such as they are, are here.
I'm aiming to do mine tomorrow at 9 a.m...or maybe 9 a.m. Sunday, because I am actually signed up to give blood at 11:45 tomorrow morning. (This was a large part of why those two "real" 5Ks tomorrow morning weren't convenient options for me; I didn't know if I could drive an hour, run, drive back home, clean up, and make it to the bloodmobile in time.) I think if I eat something before I run and eat something after, I'll be fine. Pete, however, showed his disapproval of this plan by making a frowny face -- no! not the frowny face! -- and making pointed remarks about people passing out after donating blood. I still think I'll be fine, but drat it anyway, now I have Doubt.
I shall sleep on this and decide in the morning.
For all you out there on the fence about this, well, it's not too late to join us! You've got until 5 p.m. your local time Sunday, January 31st to donate to the cause of your choice and complete this 5K. The rules, such as they are, are here.
I'm aiming to do mine tomorrow at 9 a.m...or maybe 9 a.m. Sunday, because I am actually signed up to give blood at 11:45 tomorrow morning. (This was a large part of why those two "real" 5Ks tomorrow morning weren't convenient options for me; I didn't know if I could drive an hour, run, drive back home, clean up, and make it to the bloodmobile in time.) I think if I eat something before I run and eat something after, I'll be fine. Pete, however, showed his disapproval of this plan by making a frowny face -- no! not the frowny face! -- and making pointed remarks about people passing out after donating blood. I still think I'll be fine, but drat it anyway, now I have Doubt.
I shall sleep on this and decide in the morning.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
...or perhaps not the end of the streak
The other day I posted about how the end of January is near, I haven't yet done my road race for the month, and the two remaining options aren't at all convenient or particularly exciting. I was *this* close to letting it go. All done. End of the streak.
And then my friend Ruth gave me an idea. "Make up your own!" she wrote on Facebook. "'Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K'."
I LOVE it. This is brilliant. I'm going to do it.
What's more, I'm going to invite you to do it with me. You don't even need to live in Minnesota to do this. If you're in Australia and you'd like to run or walk the Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K, then do so. We'll be glad to have you.
Here's the plan:
1. In lieu of the standard race fee, make a donation to the charitable organization of your choice. It can be in any dollar amount: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, whatever you're comfortable with and/or can afford.
2. Map out a 5K -- that's 3.1 miles -- starting from your doorstep or the end of your driveway or wherever, and finishing right back where you started.
3. Between 9 a.m. your local time Saturday the 30th and 5 p.m. Sunday the 31st, walk or run that 5K. You don't even have to do it all at once. You can do 1.5 miles Saturday and 1.6 miles Sunday, or any other combination that suits you. Just get out there and complete a 5K.
4. When you've finished, blog about it. Or update your Facebook or Twitter status to say: I finished the Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K!
5. This is not an MDRA sanctioned event. There will not be timed results, awards, or t-shirts. What you will get will be the bragging rights of having participated in the very first Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K. And unless this thing goes viral, well, trust me; there won't be many who can make that claim. =)
If there's enough interest, I may even create a Facebook page for this. For now, though, I'll just use this blog, which feeds over into Facebook. And if there's no interest and I'm the only one out there on Saturday, well, that's OK too.
Now, to decide to whom I want to give some money: MN Valley Humane Society, Doctors Without Borders, Dakota Woodlands, MN Literacy Council....
Edited to add, for Ruth asked, "Can I do it on my treadmill? If so, I'll join you. It's about the only way I'd do a 5k in the midst of Jan."
Sure, why not!
So, my official ruling: Treadmills are OK.
Edited again to add, after a conversation with Pete, who really wants this event to include cyclists:
Bikes, eh? Well, they always have a few cyclists leading road races so runners don't wander off the course and get lost, so sure, why not!
So, my official ruling: Bikes are OK too.
And then my friend Ruth gave me an idea. "Make up your own!" she wrote on Facebook. "'Why the *!%*!" do I live in MN-Saunders 5K'."
I LOVE it. This is brilliant. I'm going to do it.
What's more, I'm going to invite you to do it with me. You don't even need to live in Minnesota to do this. If you're in Australia and you'd like to run or walk the Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K, then do so. We'll be glad to have you.
Here's the plan:
1. In lieu of the standard race fee, make a donation to the charitable organization of your choice. It can be in any dollar amount: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, whatever you're comfortable with and/or can afford.
2. Map out a 5K -- that's 3.1 miles -- starting from your doorstep or the end of your driveway or wherever, and finishing right back where you started.
3. Between 9 a.m. your local time Saturday the 30th and 5 p.m. Sunday the 31st, walk or run that 5K. You don't even have to do it all at once. You can do 1.5 miles Saturday and 1.6 miles Sunday, or any other combination that suits you. Just get out there and complete a 5K.
4. When you've finished, blog about it. Or update your Facebook or Twitter status to say: I finished the Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K!
5. This is not an MDRA sanctioned event. There will not be timed results, awards, or t-shirts. What you will get will be the bragging rights of having participated in the very first Why The *!%*!" Do I Live In MN-Saunders 5K. And unless this thing goes viral, well, trust me; there won't be many who can make that claim. =)
If there's enough interest, I may even create a Facebook page for this. For now, though, I'll just use this blog, which feeds over into Facebook. And if there's no interest and I'm the only one out there on Saturday, well, that's OK too.
Now, to decide to whom I want to give some money: MN Valley Humane Society, Doctors Without Borders, Dakota Woodlands, MN Literacy Council....
Edited to add, for Ruth asked, "Can I do it on my treadmill? If so, I'll join you. It's about the only way I'd do a 5k in the midst of Jan."
Sure, why not!
So, my official ruling: Treadmills are OK.
Edited again to add, after a conversation with Pete, who really wants this event to include cyclists:
Bikes, eh? Well, they always have a few cyclists leading road races so runners don't wander off the course and get lost, so sure, why not!
So, my official ruling: Bikes are OK too.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
End of the streak?
Since November 2008, I've done one road race or the like per month:
Nov. 08 - Giving Thanks 5K, St. Paul
Dec. 08 - Reindeer Run 5K, Mpls
Jan. 09 - Polar Dash 5K, Mpls
Feb. 09 - Hearts-R-Running 5K, St. Paul
March 09 - Leprechaun Leap 5K, Chicago IL
April 09 - Earth Day Half Marathon, St. Cloud
May 09 - Stillwater Half Marathon, Stillwater
June 09 - Heartbeat 5000 5K, Mpls
July 09 - Graniteman Triathlon, St. Cloud
Aug. 09 - St. Paul Triathlon, St. Paul
Sept. 09 - Plymouth Firefighters 5K, Plymouth
Oct. 09 - Twin Cities Marathon (DNF; pulled myself off the course at mile 13), Mpls
Oct. 09 - Halloween Monster Dash 5K, Mpls
Nov. 09 - Turkey Trot 5K, Chaska
Dec. 09 - Snowflake Shuffle 5K - St. Joseph
Now it's the end of January 2010, and I find myself in the peculiar situation of perhaps not getting in a race this month. I had intended to do this year's January 1st Polar Dash but was sick -- and sick enough that I missed not only that one, but then a full two weekends of road races after. (Not that there was much to choose from. It's slim pickings in January in the north.) I was out of town last weekend. This leaves me with two last options for January 2010: a 5K in Waconia or a 5K in Center City, both on Saturday.
Neither one is close or convenient. I haven't let that stop me before, but this time I'm not feeling the magic. It's January. It's cold. I don' wanna.
I may just go give blood instead. But we'll see.
Nov. 08 - Giving Thanks 5K, St. Paul
Dec. 08 - Reindeer Run 5K, Mpls
Jan. 09 - Polar Dash 5K, Mpls
Feb. 09 - Hearts-R-Running 5K, St. Paul
March 09 - Leprechaun Leap 5K, Chicago IL
April 09 - Earth Day Half Marathon, St. Cloud
May 09 - Stillwater Half Marathon, Stillwater
June 09 - Heartbeat 5000 5K, Mpls
July 09 - Graniteman Triathlon, St. Cloud
Aug. 09 - St. Paul Triathlon, St. Paul
Sept. 09 - Plymouth Firefighters 5K, Plymouth
Oct. 09 - Twin Cities Marathon (DNF; pulled myself off the course at mile 13), Mpls
Oct. 09 - Halloween Monster Dash 5K, Mpls
Nov. 09 - Turkey Trot 5K, Chaska
Dec. 09 - Snowflake Shuffle 5K - St. Joseph
Now it's the end of January 2010, and I find myself in the peculiar situation of perhaps not getting in a race this month. I had intended to do this year's January 1st Polar Dash but was sick -- and sick enough that I missed not only that one, but then a full two weekends of road races after. (Not that there was much to choose from. It's slim pickings in January in the north.) I was out of town last weekend. This leaves me with two last options for January 2010: a 5K in Waconia or a 5K in Center City, both on Saturday.
Neither one is close or convenient. I haven't let that stop me before, but this time I'm not feeling the magic. It's January. It's cold. I don' wanna.
I may just go give blood instead. But we'll see.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Pet Issue: Why are we feeding our kids crap?
Fed Up, an anonymous teacher's blog about her school's lunches, makes me feel a little ill.
This NY Times article about some people doing things to promote healthful school lunches makes me feel like maybe things are starting to change. Maybe.
In the meantime, we're going to keep brown-bagging it.
This NY Times article about some people doing things to promote healthful school lunches makes me feel like maybe things are starting to change. Maybe.
In the meantime, we're going to keep brown-bagging it.
Friday, January 08, 2010
A post per day for the last 2 days?
Don't worry; it won't last. Soon I'll be back to my usual ignore this blog behavior.
The girls have been asking for a Wii for the last 2+ years. We have been steadfastly saying, "No" -- which meant they really didn't see this one coming.
Christmas Day, 2009:
The girls have been asking for a Wii for the last 2+ years. We have been steadfastly saying, "No" -- which meant they really didn't see this one coming.
Christmas Day, 2009:
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Oh, this poor neglected blog
I could make a New Year's resolution to get over here a little more regularly in 2010...but I don't do New Year's resolutions. Plus, odds are that no matter what my intentions are, I'll just keep doing what I've been doing: posting whenever the hell I feel like it. Or when I'm sick, housebound and bored, which happens to be my situation at the moment. I haven't left the house since last Friday, I'm swigging codeine like the Feds are about to ban it, and I stink of menthol rub. Good times, man. Good times.
Fortunately, we have bird feeders. Even more fortunately, I have a camera and a big bad lens that allows me to hang out on the sofa and shoot through the windows. So, I've been having what passes for fun documenting the ongoing saga of one slightly deranged red-bellied woodpecker muscling her way onto the feeders:
It's mine, you understand? Mine, mine! All mine! Go, go, go! Mine, do you hear me? Out, out, out! Mine, mine, mine! Go away! There's only enough for me!
It's mine, ya understand? Mine, MINE, all MINE!
Go go go! Mine mine mine! YAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
I'm rich! I'm wealthy! I'm independent! I'm socially secure! I'm rich! I'm a happy miser!
***
I know Pete, Eric, and our girls will know what these quotes are from. Anyone else?
Fortunately, we have bird feeders. Even more fortunately, I have a camera and a big bad lens that allows me to hang out on the sofa and shoot through the windows. So, I've been having what passes for fun documenting the ongoing saga of one slightly deranged red-bellied woodpecker muscling her way onto the feeders:
It's mine, you understand? Mine, mine! All mine! Go, go, go! Mine, do you hear me? Out, out, out! Mine, mine, mine! Go away! There's only enough for me!
It's mine, ya understand? Mine, MINE, all MINE!
Go go go! Mine mine mine! YAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
I'm rich! I'm wealthy! I'm independent! I'm socially secure! I'm rich! I'm a happy miser!
***
I know Pete, Eric, and our girls will know what these quotes are from. Anyone else?
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