Functional Fit: Backwards Dress?

By: Cool J
Functional Fits can take many forms- a versatile outfit that crosses over from work to evening, a simple blazer that can complete several outfits in different seasons, or a tunic that can be worn as a top or a dress... (Read about all of our previous Functional Fit posts HERE!)


I recently discovered a new kind of functional fit when I happened to take a fall while running a few weeks ago. I scraped up my knee and my shoulder. The injury was really not too painful but it was not very pretty...

So as last Monday's "Share our Strength Hotlist" event approached, I had to figure out what I could wear on a hot summer evening, without putting my injury on full display.


I had planned to wear the Rachel Roy dress that I received at the Fashion Swap from my friend Laura. (Read all about the Fashion Swap here)


In this picture, the dress (on the left) is on the hanger "correctly"- i.e. forwards. You can see that the right shoulder would be exposed.

I discovered that the dress actually was exactly the same, however, if I wore it "backwards". 

 I just had to remove the tags in the front, and this functional fit would safely hide my injured shoulder at the event! 

FUNCTIONAL FIT TO THE RESCUE!

And no one knew...until I posted it on my blog of course...

Fits on the Road: Bismarck, North Dakota

By: Cool J

Hello from Bismarck, North Dakota!

The D-man and I are here for my mother-in-law's wedding. It was a long, uneventful drive, but we did break it up by visiting this handsome fella in Jamestown, ND.

WORLD'S LARGEST BUFFALO!

His name is Dakota Thunder. Isn't he handsome?

We arrived in Bismarck yesterday in time for the rehearsal dinner.

 (Picture from the rehearsal)

This morning we decided to go for an easy jog around the town before I went to the salon for hair/make-up.

Hair and make-up in Bismarck:

Before:  No makeup. No styling of the hair. Yikes!

During:

After:

Okay, so back to the FITS ON THE ROAD part!

We headed out early this morning (around 6:30 am) to beat the heat and explore the area. We're staying at the Radisson, which is a little less than a mile from the state capitol grounds. There were a few other runners on the grounds, but it was mostly deserted.

Below is a picture of the North Dakota State Capitol, commonly thought of as the least interesting capitol building in the nation! 

Even though the actual capitol building was not very impressive, the grounds surrounding the capitol were very green and enjoyable.

(Petrified wood)

We jogged through the grounds and back to our hotel, for an easy 4 mile run.  It was a nice way to get a little bit of a sweat before the busy day ahead of us.

No matter how short the exercise, it still makes me feel so much better to work out while traveling. I know that today we will be eating and drinking more than normal, so I was very happy to still be able to find my "FITS ON THE ROAD" in Bismarck, North Dakota!

*Stay tuned for pictures from the wedding! 

Our bridesmaids dresses are simple black cocktail dresses.

Featured Fit: Training for a Half

By: LL
I'm one of those people that really needs to be registered for an upcoming road race in order to stay on a strict running schedule (unlike Cool J who runs 15-20 miles even when not training). So, I'm excited to have the Chicago Half Marathon coming up this September, giving me something to "run" for this summer. This will be my 7th half marathon and 3rd time running the Chicago Half. In fact, this will be my third time running with ECan. (A photo from one of our previous races is here.) But, this will be my first half with my sister, CJ, and this will be her first half ever (yay)!

So, for this half, the three of us are running with different goals in mind. CJ has the goal of running her first half - the longest distance for her so far (marathon soon after?). ECan has set the goal of running under 2 hours (and she was very close last weekend at the Summerfest Rock 'n Sole). For me, I have the goal of coming in right around my PR, which is 1:51.07 and was set at the Capital City Half a few years ago (back in my youth). As you can imagine, each of us has a very different training schedule for the next few months. To start off, I am going to highlight my plan, which starts this coming weekend. I'm changing it up from what I normally do in hopes that I will add some much needed strength to my core for the race.

Week 10:
Day 1: Run 4 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Run 5k (race pace)
Day 4: Run 1 mile sprint followed by Yoga Scuplt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 9:
Day 1: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 2: Run 2 miles (race pace), weight lift (light weights)
Day 3: Run 4 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Yoga Sculpt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 6 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest


Week 8:
Day 1: Run 5k (race pace)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Run 6 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Run 2 miles (race pace), weight lift (light weights)
Day 6: Run 5 miles (race pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 7:
Day 1: Run 2 miles (race pace), weight lift (light weights)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Yoga Sculpt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 8 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 6:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 4 miles (race pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 10 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 5:
Day 1: Cross train
Day 2: Run 5 miles (race pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 7 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 12 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 4:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 5k (fast pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 5 miles (race pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 9 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 3:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 4 (race pace)
Day 3: Run 5k (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Yoga Sculpt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 6 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 2:
Day 1: Run 5k (race pace)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 6 miles (race pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 1:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 4 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 5: Cross train
Day 6: Rest
Day 7: RACE DAY

Each year, I try to do one half road race. Last year was the Germantown Half Marathon (which actually turned out to be 13.6 due to some miscalculations on the part of the organizers), which was fairly hilly at the end. If I remember correctly, the biggest downfall of the Banco Popular Chicago Half is that the majority is out on Lakeshore Drive - on the concrete, in the sun.

I'm also looking at running the Maple Leaf Run 1/2 marathon in La Crosse, WI at the end of September. It coincides with the city's large Oktoberfest celebration, but I haven't decided. Anyone run it before?

Fitting Debates: Home Gym

By: LL
My husband and I recently bought our first house. After years of renting, we finally have a place that is all our own. And, I couldn't be more excited! Even before we closed, I had already started to move in my mind and redecorate.

Our house has a finished basement, which is nice but good lord, it was red. Not just red, but quiet possibly the worst red paint job EVER. It was anything but a place you wanted to hang out in. That was until this past weekend when we painstakingly covered the red with a serene sand color. It is a whole new space, which my husband and I are both drooling over. He sees a ping pong table, dart board and a TV area. I see a home gym. Think of the money we will save on gym memberships?!?! I will only need to have a package at a yoga studio now!

I'm sure that everyone who is "married to fitness," as my brother-in-law has so nicely labeled it, has had a similar experience. Yes, a ping pong table and dart board would be great fun for socializing/entertaining, but a treadmill and weights can be fun too! Group run? No? Maybe I could open up a private spin studio ... might be enough room for three bikes.

It is amazing how fit fanatics think ...

Fresh New Fit: Blow-Dry Bars

By: Cool J

The day has finally arrived- Minneapolis has a blow-dry bar!



Actually, in a few weeks, we'll have two blow-dry bars.
But as of Monday, the Blast Dry Bar opened  at the Shoppes at the West End!
(The WOW Bar opens in a few weeks in Edina)



Something about having a professional style my hair looks 100 times better than when I style it myself, and it lasts so much longer as well. I have usually booked blowouts at Spalon Montage for special occasions (weddings, etc), where they run between $40-$50. But Blast and WOW specialize in JUST blow-outs. They do them quickly, efficiently, and for only $35/pop!



Since Monday was the opening day at Blast, a blow-dry was only $17! I figured it was worth a shot, so I booked one to prep for another "Share Our Strength HotList" event, (where I wore the bold Rachey Roy dress that I received in April from the Fashion Swap)

The facility was very chic, with all white decor. I was offered cucumber water and a cupcake, as well as an Ipad to select my "style" from a number of options (I chose the "Flirt") and then I could watch movies during the service.

I loved that they offered you several different styles (as I mentioned, I went with the "flirt":

the blåst - our signature blowout   Smooth, body & a touch of curl at the ends … just like you … it's Minnesota nice meets sexy confidence.

the skinny - super sleek & straight Here’s the skinny … no way is sleek & sexy just for the coasts.

the glam - big time curls Luscious curls for luscious girls.

the bombshell - bodacious body Classic bombshell waves with voluptuous volume is always in style and always in demand.

the boho - bohemian waves Twist & shout … this is our fresh twist on bohemian chic. It’s cool, hip & feminine.

the flirt - flirty & bouncy Good luck boys … looks like you will be picking up the check tonight for you are merely a humble slave to this flirty style.

the surfer girl - beachy keen waves Surf's up! look like you let your hair dry on the beach. You will have heads turning from the shores of Lake Minnetonka to the sands of White Bear Lake.

the shortie - short on length … long on fun Hey short stuff! Loose waves make your style pop.

the uptown - updo u Take it up a notch! Choose the updo that suits you always elegant … add a little spice if you like … $60 & $75

the braid - for your inner Cindy Braidy … whoops … Brady $10. Don't be afraid to add a braid.

 

Since it was their first day, and it was a Monday, it was quite quiet in the salon, but they said that they are booked pretty solid on the upcoming weekends.

My one complaint was that the style took a little longer than I expected. I thought it would only be 30 min- 45 minutes, but it took over an hour. I have also heard that the Juut Academy in uptown offers blowouts for just $15, which seems more reasonable for a more frequent style.

My style icon Kate Middleton gets a blow-out twice a week! And she has AMAZING hair….Now we know her secret!

To check out a professional review of Blast, read this blog- and whaddya know, there I am in the picture- the sole customer on opening day!

http://blogs.mspmag.com/alishops/2012/06/26/first-impressions-blast-blow-dry-bar/

Fundamental Fit: Bathroom squats?

By: LL
As I previously mentioned, due to our relocation back to the Midwest, I started a new job this past April. You know how it is when you start a new job - there is the learning period where you absorb the rules and polices and try to establish your patterns. That has been me these last two months. I've had to adjust my routines to accommodate my new commute and work schedule. My fitness routine has been the main thing to change. My previous job allowed me a flexible schedule (in by 7 and out by 4) and my commute was a mere ten minutes.

I quickly was able to set up a new "outside of work" fitness plan (even though it will be changing soon as I start my 1/2 marathon training next weekend), but it is my "at work" fitness that I am still working on - I'm referring to the simple physical activities that help keep me awake and counteract the fact that I am sitting at my desk most of the day (and will soon require high, flat ass jeans ... cue the SNL song: "Mom jeans, mom jeans, put on your mom jeans, with an applique vest").

My PA started slowly with a few leg lefts and abdominal squeezes at my desk, followed by once per hour laps around the building. It has escalated to squats in the bathroom stall and sprints up the three flights of stairs to my department. See, no one is that active work, except for my "four-pack" partner who also walks periodic laps. I try hard not to seem creepy. (There is nothing creepy about bathroom squats!)

{courtesy of www.kalisthenixfitnessblog.com}

Luckily, when driving back from a client meeting the other day, I stumbled across a small park tucked away near the office. It has a baseball field, a few pieces of playground equipment, but most importantly, a track that is 75% shaded by trees. Score! In the most recent weeks, this has become my lunch-time escape. I pack a simple pair of comfortable flats and spend 30-45 minutes walking around the track. One day, I was super ambitious and tried to do a 30 minute run. Bad idea! My work does not have a shower, so I went back to work sweaty and uncomfortable sitting in the cold A/C the rest of the day.

Point of this account - it might seem difficult or creepy (okay, maybe squats in the stall are creepy), but it is so important to find little ways to be active throughout the work day - especially if your job is a lot of sitting at the desk (you don't want to develop chair ass).

Fresh New Fit: Stand Up Paddle Boarding

By Cool J

“We’re heading up north this weekend”

Such a stereotypical Minnesota statement, especially in the summer.

Or a Wisconsin statement too!

My family grew up going to my aunt and uncle’s cabin “up north”, and now in my married years, my husband and I are often heading to his family’s “cabin” in northern Wisconsin.

Growing up, the D-man’s dad was adamant about no motorized recreational “toys” at their cabin. This meant no jet skis, no motorboats, etc. The D-man often resented this rule as a child, yet he has come to appreciate the quietness provided by this restriction. With no public access to the lake, we are often the only ones on it, so you can’t help but relax while listening to the loons or observing a bald eagle high on a tree.

Paddleboards seemed like the perfect addition to our type of cabin weekend. We had tried paddle boarding once in Hawaii on the Big Island (MUCH harder than on the lakes) and enjoyed it quite a bit. With the proximity of the lakes to our house in the city, we also felt that we would utilize the boards on the weekends at home as well.

Part of our attraction to this activity was the thrill of getting out on the water and exploring nature. But we didn't overlook this sport’s benefits as a healthy, safe form of exercise. We all get tired of spending hours indoors at the gym, and are often looking for a change in routine. Why not head out to a nearby lake or river to give your body a great workout?

From my research, it appears that for an average person, recreational paddling can burn up to 225 calories in an hour.  However, once you really get going, you can burn 500 calories in an hour. Should you start racing, you’re looking at a calorie burn of around 850 calories an hour – that’s similar to long-distance running, but without the stress on joints.

And beginners, you should not be intimidated! Stand-up paddle boarding is not nearly as complicated as surfing (I've tried both, and surfing was a bit of a "failed fit" for me!) Most paddlers can get up and going in less than an hour.

Once they do, it won't be long before they start seeing the benefits of their labor. Stand-up paddlers strengthen the core, and your balance will also improve. You are using all of the intrinsic stabilizing muscles that aid you in your balance . . . muscles that usually get neglected in the traditional time at the gym.

How to Do it:
The main thing that stand up paddle boarding requires is good balance. The board itself is generally larger, wider, and thicker than a surf board with one or more fins on the bottom. As a beginner, you start by kneeling on the board and beginning to paddle moving into an upright kneeling position. 

Then, when you are ready, you stand up with your feet in the same wide, evenly spaced stance and feet parallel position that your knees were in. You want your position on the board to be with your weight centered on the board.

(Matilda watches patiently for me on the dock)

And then you paddle. That's it. It doesn't sound like much, and to watch someone do it, it doesn't look like much, but the secret is in what is going on with your body.The work behind SUP is all isometric and resistance. 

Your legs and your core muscles are working at all times to keep you balanced on your board. Every time you paddle, not only are your arms and back working to move the paddle against the resistance of the water, your legs and core muscles all work to counteract the resistance and hold your body upright against the movement of the board. The fact is, it really doesn't feel like that much work, but your body is busy! And yet the experience is calm and relaxing, gets you outside and into nature.


And if you're interested in an additional challenge, try letting your pup hop on the board!

Fitting Remarks: When you want to quit...

Fundamental Fit: Swimming Laps

By: LL
Summertime brings with it the perfect opportunity get back into a fundamental fit, which is swimming. I can still remember as a kid ... weeklong trips "up north" with my extended family, where we stayed at my aunt and uncle's cabin on a lake. We spent our days paddling around the lake in a canoe, having wood splitting contests, and swimming ... oh the swimming! It was almost like the turn of teenage-hood once you were able to swim out to the buoy in the middle of the lake, then turn around and come back - without stopping. All those winters at the high school pool learning to freestyle, backstroke, sidestroke ("pick the apple and put it in the basket"), and finally, butterfly! The summertime was ideal to perfect and show off technique. Exercise while having fun ... it doesn't get more fundamental than that!

I've realized as I've gotten older that when I'm at the pool or the beach, I spend less time in the water swimming and more time in a lounge chair, reading magazines and relaxing in the sun. What happened?

In an attempt to regain some of that fun and challenge my rusty skills, I ditched the chair and sunglasses and hopped into the pool this weekend. I was a little out of practice and struggled to get down and back the 30 meter length of the pool. But, I forced my way through it, switching up the strokes and taking it nice and slow. I'm not going to lie, it was tough. I was very sore after only 40 minutes in the pool, but I felt invigorated and young again.

Out of curiosity, I logged into my computer to see about how many calories I might have burned. And, even at my slow pace, I burned around 400 calories! I used my health insurance activity tracker to calculate my calories burned, but here is a decent one.

So I say, the next time that you are laying around at the pool, worrying about your uniform tan, pop into the pool and test out your swimming skills! You might just find a great way to mix up your summer workout routine.

Guest Fits: Married to Fitness - Fathers Day Edition

Guest Fit by the D-man


It's been a little while since I've had an opportunity to share my insights on what it's like to be married to fitness, but my unique father's day present seems a good topic.  


In case you haven't figured it out from Cool J's posts, she's rather fond of trying out whatever new fangled fitness studio rolls into our hood.  Her most recent focus has been Pure Barre which she covered it in a recent post .   It turns out they were offering free classes on Father's Day for ladies to bring their men, so guess where I ended up.  


Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of yoga and will try anything once but I was a slightly more nervous than usual for this one.  I will point out is that it's small isometric movements using a ballet barre set to motivating music meant to tone and firm which apparently involves frequent hip thrusts, "tuck freeze, tuck hold".  The only thing I could picture was just just about every 80's aerobics stereotype, best exemplified by Jamie Lee Curtis in 1985's Perfect:

The reality was far more normal and reminiscient of yoga poses with small movements to really work the hell out of your small stabilizing muscles.  My only complaint is with Cool J.  Every time she takes me to one of these type classes she gets a kick out of grabbing me weights about two sizes too big (but small to the untrained eye) only to watch me fall apart on the 100th repetition of tiny tricep extensions. 


Will I go again?  Perhaps but my dance card is pretty full these days.  As a fan of whole body fitness, work outs like that go a long way to stabilizing joints and helping to prevent muscle imbalances.   For the moment I plan on working more climbing and paddle boarding into my routine but variety is always welcome.  


Speaking of which, when I finally get Cool J into vertical endeavors, it'll be my turn to humble her a bit....

Favorite Fit: Running with Your Dog in the Summer

By Cool J

A few months ago, I posted about one of my favorite fits: running with Matilda. (Fit Fanatic: Running with man's best friend)

She's still my running pal during the summer months; in fact, the two of us went for a nice run this morning.

However, I am always a little concerned about pushing her too hard in the heat of summer. Running in the high temps is hard enough on humans; (trust me, I know- I just ran a painful marathon in the heat of Iowa! Read about it here) But can you imagine running in that same heat, while wearing a fur coat?What if you were unable to sweat, but only able to cool off through panting? Sounds rough.

Heat stroke is a real risk for dogs, and as the mercury rises, we should be on the look-out for any of these symptoms:

• Heavy panting
• Dark red gums
• Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
• Lying down and unwilling or unable to get up
• Thick saliva
• Dizziness or disorientation

If you do suspect heat stroke, follow these tips:

• Move your dog to a cool or shaded area and place cool, wet rags around the head and feet
• Don't spray your dog with a hose or pour ice water on it as the extremes in temperature can cause additional problems with hypothermia.
• Try to get your dog to drink water but don't force it to drink.
• Get your dog to a veterinarian right away. Even if your dog seems better there could be internal damage that isn't visible

Here are some of my personal tips for preventing heat issues with your dog, based on my experience with Matilda:

1. Cut back on the distance/time in the heat.When the temperatures are chilly, Matilda could probably run 8-10 miles and still have the energy to head to the dog park. But in the summer, it's just too risky. I only run 4-5 miles with her, and I'm sure to take it easy, and try to always pay attention to how she's doing. 
2. Access to water: I always run on trails that have access to water. Fortunately, running around the Chain of Lakes offers us several water fountains and easy access to the lakes for a quick swim to cool down.  But if you don't have access to water, I recommend bringing it along with you.
3. Adjust the time of day of your run: Run your dogs early in the morning before the sun gets high in the sky and the temperatures begin to rise. Early morning is preferable to evening as the asphalt and sidewalks won't be as hot.
4. Summer hairstyle: If your dog has a thick coat or longer hair, consider shaving its coat once cooler night time temperatures have passed. Matilda is a vizsla, which is a very short haired breed, so we don't have to worry about this, but I'm sure it could help!

Running with your dog can be a year round enjoyable experience, as long as you're careful!

Do you run with your dog? Any other tips for running in the heat? 

Fresh New Fit: Plus One

The Right Fits are excited to welcome a "Fresh New Fit" into our expanding family. Congratulations to E and T on a baby girl - Mikayla Jean! We couldn't be more excited for you both and are very excited to lead her toward the right fits, starting with this super cute, stylish summer ensemble (thanks, Cool J).

{The proud parents}

Featured Fit: Cause for Celebration

By: LL
One year ago today, I married (please excuse the cliche here) my best friend. After a long engagement, filled with lots of DIY projects, we were fortunate to be joined by family and friends to celebrate what was, quite frankly, the perfect day. It was a long time coming in our relationship (>7 years!), and our first year of marriage has flown by!

Since this blog was just in the inception phase at that time, here is a little peek at the big day:

{Compliments again to Tiffany Brubaker for such beautiful photos}

Since our 1st wedding anniversary falls on a Monday (thanks to Leap Year), we decided to celebrate on Saturday. Despite the last few weeks being extremely busy, my husband managed to put together an amazing evening! Here is a quick peak at what I wore for the special occasion:

Details:

Top: Soprano (Nordstrom Rack ... love this top, which is light and comes in a variety of colors)

Skirt: Vintage (love KCMO vintage shops!)

Pumps: Steve Madden (circa 2009)

Clutch: Kate Spade

Necklace: Art Show (Lafayette, IN)

Sunglasses: Persol

Despite it being ungodly hot when we head out for dinner, it cooled down nicely once we left the restaurant for the rest of the evening. 

Fits Do Race Reviews: The Marathon to Marathon

By Cool J


Yesterday, the D-man and I ran the Marathon to Marathon from Storm Lake, Iowa to Marathon, Iowa. The weather conditions were tough: 90+ degrees, no clouds, just glaring, hot sun on open country roads with no shade. We both finished about 20 minutes off of our goal paces (4:20 for me, 3:43 for D) but we survived, and felt proud of our accomplishments on a tough day.

And more importantly,  we completed state #10, so we are officially pursuing the 50 state goal!
This was marathon #12 for me, and marathon #16 for the D-man!




Race Weekend:
The weekend began with a 4 hour drive to Storm Lake on Friday.

Welcome to Iowa! Fields of Opportunities!

I had booked a room at the "SailInn Motel", which was listed on the marathon's website as a suggested lodging option. It looked okay online, but when we arrived, we were both a little apprehensive... It looked more like a place where people stayed for extended periods of time when they are really down on their luck..Maybe something from a scary scene from Dexter!

We quickly drove around the tiny town to determine if there was another place to stay, and we ended up at the "King's Pointe Resort and Waterpark".

We had tried to book a room at this hotel originally (D-man loves his waterslides), but they didn't have any open rooms at the time. We got lucky though on Friday, as someone had cancelled their reservation, so we were able to stay there for the night.

Fiasco #1 avoided (The SailInn also did not appear to have air conditioning...not so good when it was 94 degrees when we rolled into town!)
King's Pointe to the rescue!

The expo was held at the Storm Lake High School. It was by far the tiniest expo I had ever been to.

We were lucky that the race was tiny, because we found out when we arrived that they didn't have the D-man's registration..(or maybe he forgot to register? I do love my husband...but sometimes he needs a little hand holding!) That would not have been good... to have driven all the way to Iowa and not be able to run???

But thank goodness, he was able to register on the spot.

He was the 215th marathoner. I was #3!

After avoiding another potential fiasco, we headed to an early dinner. I had read a lot of the reviews for this race on "http://www.marathonguide.com/" and had read about "Honey Kissed Pizza" as the best pre-race carbo loading location. 

(I was really glad I read the reviews because Storm Lake is TINY, and we didn't have many non-fast food options)

We ordered a simple pizza with tomatoes, pineapple, and onions. The pizza was served with honey for dipping the crust, which was a unique sweet treat.

But the most unique part of this tiny pizza joint was the thousands of records for sale. The owner was the sweetest old man, who clearly had a passion for music.

 I couldn't decide which album to buy....

Ricky Nelson?

Or perhaps some Wilson Philips?

I decided on a classic album that I grew up listening to with my mom. 

It's a great addition to our (small) record collection.

 (The D-man still has a working record player)

Okay, so you're probably wondering when I'm going to stop writing about records, and talk about the marathon, right? 

The race SWAG was small, but charming. Who can resist a beer koozie?

The finisher's tees were nice too, although my medium is as long as some of my Vegas dresses....

The race started at 6 am, (or as the race director said, "Gun goes off at 6 bells, whether you're ready or not!")

Our alarm went off at 4:45, and we were at the high school by 5:30. It was already in the 70's, so we didn't really need the indoor waiting area at the high school, but I'm sure on a cooler morning, it would have been a nice touch. It was quite a perk though to have normal bathrooms at the start, and the race was so small that the lines were not very long....(though D did tell me that there were no doors on the stalls in the men's bathroom..what the heck??)

I have never been able to wait with D before a marathon. We usually say good luck, and split off to our respective corrals. But here, we both waited together in the small group, while a duet of talented singers sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Oh, so special :)

And then we were off....

(Please note that I experienced ZERO chafing even on a hot day in this outfit: Women's Moving Comfort Fiona Sports Bra - Calypso Blue 34C, Nike singlet, and Lululemon shorts. And CBRC BIC band of course!)

The Course:
I didn't have a camera on the course, and there were no photographers either. In fact, even though the race is a sanctioned marathon, it's not even chip timed! I have never done a non-chipped timed marathon. Clock time it is, baby!

I'm not going to lie- the course was pretty boring. It was a point-to-point course on "farm-to-market" roads with only pig farms and roadkill for scenery. We jig-sawed around country roads from Storm Lake to Marathon. The runners were quite spaced out, so there was no small talk or camaraderie. There were very few spectators, but those that did come out were some of the kindest and enthusiastic people in the country. 

There was a very memorable "zombie" support stop. For about half a mile before the support stop, 30 signs with "zombie jokes" lined the highway...

"What did the zombie eat after getting his teeth pulled? The dentist!" 

"Why did the zombie lose his job as a teacher? He only had one pupil"

Though the jokes were lame, they offered up a huge distraction, and I know I really appreciated it. I'm sure the other runners did too. And then of course, the volunteers handling that support stop were all dressed as zombies. It was awesome!

I had heeded LL's advice and told myself I couldn't turn on my iPod until I passed the halfway point. When I finally got there, it was a HUGE boost to start up my tunes, and I was feeling AWESOME from mile 13.1 to 19...until my iPod DIED! Ugh. Clearly, I had not charged it enough the night before, but that was a huge disappointment...

I needed something to keep my mind off the 7 remaining miles, so I tried "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"...I think I made it to 30 before I gave up. 

At that point, it was just "a Calhoun and a Harriet- just an easy two lakes Cool J"...I let myself walk through the water stops and told myself, "Don't think. Just run"....It was very mentally challenging, and it was so, so hot...

The heat was intense, and I could tell that I was coated in salt. I had followed lots of the tips from Friday's post for running in the heat. I filled up my water bottle at every stop, and used it to pour water on myself to cool down. At the stops with ice, I filled a cup with ice and used it periodically to put on my head or down my bra.

It was a brutal run in tough conditions, but as always, crossing that finish line was an amazing feeling.
The D-man was there cheering me in, and snapped this action shot as I tried to finish strong!

The sweetest little old lady greeted you at the finish line and put your medal on your neck, thanking you graciously for visiting Marathon. It was beautiful.

The finish area had an ice bath for soaking your feet, freezie pops, water, oranges, gatorade, iced sponges, and best of all?

SHOWERS!
The D-man and I had both planned ahead and brought dry clothes to change into, so we took advantage of the community showers and quickly changed into dry clothes.

D also took advantage of the pancake breakfast that was being offered at the community center, and he became BFF's with the race director (while I wandered around trying to find him- no cell phone service in Marathon. How did we survive before cell phones???)

Shuttle buses took us back to Storm Lake every 45 minutes or so. We checked out of King's Pointe Resort, but not before going down a few more waterslides!

We then decided to drive back to Minneapolis that afternoon. What do you need when driving 4 hours after a marathon? Compression socks! (though pink socks with red Tom's is probably a failed fit, right?)

We also drove back to Marathon quickly before hitting the road, and snapped a few shots with this great sign outside the town.

Although the heat made this a very challenging marathon, and I probably would never run it again, it still had its charm. The wonderful people in these two towns really displayed the friendly Iowa/Midwest mentality. They all seemed so happy to have us visiting, and they were so proud of this event. It was a unique experience for sure, one that I will remember for a long time.

I really enjoyed those freezie pops...I think I had four of them!