I like to run; 20 miles; I like to run

Many of you know I'm preparing for my first marathon. It's coming up so quickly; in fact, three weeks from today! Yesterday was my last big run before the race...eek! I hammered out 20 miles with some of my biggest supporters there to cheer me on and run some of the hard miles.

I was so appreciative of their help; especially when Tracy and Steeny took time out of their actuarial study schedules to help me.

I ran around Levittown, PA on my own, and then I met up with the gang at a fun park in our town. There is a 1.5 mile loop around a pond, and there are basketball courts, skate parks, pavilions, and a dog park!

I did 11 on my own, and Tracy (TVal), Brian (BVal), Tval's brother (Jay), Steve (Mr. Wilson), and Mike (Steeny), ran the last 9 with me. Before yesterday, I had only ever run 15 miles, and 20 was quite the jump! The last 3 miles were filled with cramps, exhaustion, and my personal favorite mantra: "I love to run; I love to run; I love to run."

I was hurtin' for certain, but I did it! Madison Marathon, here I come!

Tour de Madison

There is nothing quite like a Madison afternoon spent walking downtown on a sunny 85 degree day with an iced coffee in hand. I'm pretty sure it can't get much better than that.

The day started with coffee and chatting with Valerina Ballerina. Then it was off to a birthday celebration for the brother. Happy 19, Lancer! There is always time for a little silliness with the sister as we fought construction traffic in the everlasting Madison beautifying project.

My gorgeous evening was spent at a UW Risk Management benefit for a retiring professor where I got to catch up with friends and professors, like AJ.

I mosied on to my beloved brewery, the Ale Asylum for a good tall Bamboozleator with Brad, Richard and Val.

I needed to call it an early night because formation was bright and early on Saturday morning. We managed a parade in the spittin' rain and near death experiences involiving the Val, a bass drum, a tuba, and a fire engine. Yes, in that order. The afternoon bus ride back to Madtown included books, gas station cappuccino and girl-time gab-fest.

Once back to the armory, we rush rush rushed (plus a little locker room singing) to get off to the Madison-area Roller Derby! This was quite a treat. Val, aka Aphrofighte, wants to join the ranks. Lauren, aka either M.C. Jammer or Weapon X, wants to join too, but only for A) the opportunity to wear my underwear on the outside of my tights, and 2) to be the sabotage decoy that wipes out everyone in my sight.

The Roller Derby was a great scene for guard friends to meet college friends for this girl. Joanne and posse met up with us for some fun.

Now, after knowing Joanne for as long as I have, nothing should amaze me with that girl. However, I swear she is the ONLY one on the planet that could look innocent (and geeky) enough to walk into a sports arena with a backpack on, and NOT get stopped by ANYONE. What did this backpack have in it? Oh yea, full of beer, and of course, nothing but the finest, a forty of Colt-45.

In case you can't recognize the surroundings of either of these two pictures, this is us in a bathroom at the Alliant center, pouring beer into tiny plastic cups. There gentlemen, now you know why girls go to the bathroom together. Mystery solved.

Sunday (guard drill) was spent preparing for our upcoming annual two-week training adventure. I think our entire unit knows how pumped up I get for this. This year, we are going to be touring all over WI in places like Milwaukee and Platteville. Less than six weeks away now!