Weekly Therapy: 7.07.17

- Mel

the week:
My week as told in bug bites: Sunday, after my trail run, I took off my tall socks and slipped into my OOFOS sandals. While I stood around talking with my friends, I got bit twice on my right calf. My stupidity at spraying my bug spray while my socks were on, which was rendered useless with the removal of them. Then Wednesday, while I was waiting for our golf session to start, I felt something fall down my shirt AND PROCEED TO BITE ME twice in my bra area. Then today at work, something BIT ME ON MY FACE while I sat at my desk. WTF?!

That’s it, I’m bathing in DEET from now until Winter.

weekend:
Capital Striders long run on Saturday, followed by a visit to the Downtown Farmers Market. And then another trail run Sunday with the CS Turkeys. We are also going to a house concert on Sunday afternoon to hear Amy Gerhartz and hang with our fellow Rock Boat peeps (and have some Jell-O shots, probably).

seven things, seven days:
1. I NEED THIS.
2. Happy that the 4th celebrations are over and I can return to my regularly scheduled sleep program.
3. The baby barn swallows under our deck have seemingly grown out of their nest — though they still haven’t fledged!
4. When I was on the treadmill last night, I noticed out the window that we also now have a Robin’s nest under our deck. 24-HOUR BIRD WATCH OVER HERE!
5. Chicago Marathon made a lot of effort to provide an excellent training program for its race participants… in PDF format. Would really like to see a major race do its own app that includes a training program!
6. What should you yell to encourage runners, so sayeth Science? Personally, I like to use: YOU GOT THIS! {via Runner’s World}
7. Fascinating. What cookies and meth have in common {via NYT}

My Race Calendar for 2nd Half of 2017 + Mid-Year Check-in

- Mel

Today seemed like the perfect day to reflect a bit on the first half of the year (thanks, Holiday PTO!). I’ve got my tracking spreadsheet updated from January-June, and my training plan set for my first Ultra race (more on that in another post).

30 something miles iowa runner blogger
I like running and chocolate milk. I estimate that I’ve probably had at least 65 chocolate milks since the beginning of the year.

Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far:
I participated in my first Ragnar relay.
I ran my first race as a BibRave Ambassador.
I colored in 3 more states on my U.S. Race map.
I also took 2 DNS (Did Not Start) on registered races.
I added 2 more half marathons and another full marathon — bringing the totals to 11 and 2, respectively.
And I’ve run 456.2 total miles as of the end of June.

I also took THREE GLORIOUS WEEKS off running in June.

What’s Next:
July: Earlham 5k; Clive Running Festival (10k); Minnesota Nut House Challenge — Totally Nuts! (5K, 10K, half marathon); BTN Big 10k (Chicago)
August: Not registered for anything; and if Iowa is anything like last summer, I probably won’t!
September: Rockin’ Chocolate Half Marathon (Madison, WI); NewBo half (IA); Pleasant Creek trail run; Capital Pursuit (10-miler); Heartland Half (Omaha, NE)
October: Chicago Marathon; GOATz 50k (Omaha, NE)
November: Hillbilly Hike half marathon (Indianaola, IA), Route 66 Marathon (Tulsa, OK)
December: Hitchcock Experience 50 Miler (Honey Creek, IA)

I’ll also color in 3 more states (all road trips!), finish 2 more marathons — and a 50k AND a 50-Miler, and add another 800+ miles to my yearly total by the end of the year. NEAT!

30 something miles blog iowa running goals
A mix of old and new… I retired a couple old pairs of running shoes this year.

I’ll likely add in a couple of the fall trail races that I did in 2016 to this year’s calendar (Sycamore 8, To Grandmother’s House).

What’s on your schedule for the second half of 2017? Looking to add any races to your list? Check out my Race Discounts page!

Weekly Therapy: 6.30.17

- Mel

the week:
I finally moved back into my office building this week, since being displaced by a fire back in February. I’m on my second week back to running, too, and it’s nice being back on something of a regular schedule (trying to get in at least 3 runs a week). A return to usual habits and familiar surroundings brings with it a certain kind of peace…

30 something miles blog weekly therapy july
Day and Night…

…but also opens itself up to some fun.

weekend:
Last night, I danced my ass off to STANTON WARRIORS at Lime downtown (still kind of shitting myself that these guys were in Des Moines). Today: my ears are still ringing and I am feeling the effects of a bit too much vodka, though hopefully I find my second wind this afternoon to get some miles on the roads. Sunday Funday: I’ll be enjoying the outdoors and doing a bit of trail running in the AM, possibly biking or skating, and maybe some kayaking (and probably brunching). I opted not to use a PTO day for Monday, but look forward to having the upcoming July 4th to catch up on my hammock time.

seven things, seven days:
1. Somehow I made the list of Top 100 Running Blogs {via Feedpost} at #74. Neat, but… is this a real thing?
2. I joined a Brooks test run/social run from Fitness Sports Ltd. in Clive this week, followed by drinks at 515 Brewery. What a fun night (but holy moly, will I ever remember to use Glide this summer?).
3. There was not one – but THREE – Great Horned Owls in my backyard this week. With the owls and hawks in our area — and our house cats — I don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about field mice.
4. Three ways running changes after 40 {via Runners World}
5. And here’s 5 exercises you’ll want to do every week if you’re over 40 {via Prevention}
6. What makes us happy?, asks The Atlantic in 2009. Wonder how this would be written today, with a society so entrenched in digital communities.
7. To wit: The psychology of social media and Stoic truths for a digital world {both via Psychology Today}

10 B1G Reasons to Run the BTN Big 10K

- Mel

Disclaimer: I received a free entry to the BTN Big 10K race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

2016-BTN-82-bannerhq

The BTN Big 10K and 5k is back in Chicago in Grant Park on a new date in 2017 — Sunday, July 23. This is THE race to express your serious fandom (Go Bucks!) and dress in your school colors and compete for your B1G Ten team. Since my training for my Ultra basically starts the following day, this race will be one heckuva kick-off to college football season and a fun way to kind of “end” my base building. Also, it features the ultimate post-race Fan Fest & Tailgate party!

Here are 10 B1G Reasons to Run:

1. While it’s not Ohio (O-H!), this course highlights many of Chicago’s landmarks.
2. Share your Team Pr1de on the course with fellow Buckeye fans
3. Scarlet & Gray school-specific performance race shirts…
5. AND OSU-specific finishers medals!
6. Your packet can be mailed out to you (for a small fee), so you can skip the Packet Pick-up lines
7. BTN on-air talent and former Big Ten player appearances
8. Photo opportunity with the Big Ten Championship trophy
9. Post-race tailgate with free food item and beer (21+) for runners
10. BRUTUS! (and those other mascots)

BTN Big 10k race Chicago

Bonus: BTN is looking for the most die-hard Big Ten fans at the BTN Big 10K! Post your most spirited photos on race day using the #BTNBig10K hashtag for your chance to win tickets to the 2018 Big Ten Football Championship game or the Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The BTN Big 10K takes place in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, July 23, 2017. For a bonus RAM Racing water bottle, use promo code BibRaveBTN17 at registration.

I-O!

Product Review [Giveaway Closed]: SmellWell odor-absorbing pouches

- Mel 2 Comments

Disclaimer: I received a pair of SmellWell pouches to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

SmellWell odor pouches

You may have noticed my presence on social media is melliesmel. That nickname is a result of a prior online handle I used back in the old AOL days (melliemelplease) and my derby moniker: sMEL U L8R. I lived up to that derby name, and SmellWell is sort of my namesake product. Call it fate of the smelly. Where were you when I played roller derby, SmellWell?

Honesty alert: My running shoes don’t stink. I always wear socks and air them out overnight, so maybe that has something to do with it. But my sweaty skating pads and the ballet flats that I wear without socks stink.so.bad. EMBARRASSINGLY BAD. I’ve been looking for products like SmellWell that do their business to remove the root cause of the stink, rather than using sprays or powders to simply cover it up. The SmellWell pouches are advertised to last for 3-4 months and don’t contain any nasty chemicals. SmellWell removes the moisture caused by sweat bacteria and works to eliminate the smell.

First Impression: The SmellWell product is currently available stateside online via Amazon. There are several unique and fun patterns — and I had my choice of pouch to test. The smell is fresh and pleasant — not overly perfumy.

Review Period: I tried these on several different items: ballet flats, work shoes, skate bags, gym bags — even tossing them in baskets of shoes near our garage entry. They seemed to really absorb the smell and freshen the insoles of shoes (particularly from the husband’s overdue-for-the-trash boat shoes), and prevented odors from overwhelming bags.

Final Thoughts: The SmellWell pouches seem to work, albeit temporarily — or at least while in the presence of the smelly objects. These didn’t necessarily CURE the stank caused by gross sweat bacteria as I was hoping. By the next wear, the shoes developed an odor again, though maybe not as bad (at least I didn’t smell my shoes when I kicked them off under my desk at work). I wonder if with more consistent use, the odors will slowly dissipate. And noted for next time: bring on the airplane for when the husband kicks off his loafers.

SmellWell odor pouches review

GIVEAWAY!
Want to see for yourself how SmellWell keeps the stink out of your workout gear? Leave a comment below for your chance to win! One comment per entrant, please. No purchase is necessary. Contest ends on Sunday, July 2 and one winner will be selected at random to win a pair of SmellWell pouches. US entries only. Value of prize: $9.99

Can’t wait for the giveaway to end? Use discount code “BIBPRO10” on Amazon to get your 3rd SmellWell pouch for free when you purchase 2 (*note: must add all 3 into cart in order for discount code to work).

Weekly Therapy: Thoughts after marathon training

- Mel

the week:
Oh, heyyyy! It’s been a few weeks. I finally started introducing runs into my workouts this week, and also getting back into the swing of blogging since my marathon. I also had a wonderful trip back “home” over last weekend to celebrate with family our recent marriage.

post marathon training blog

weekend:
We’ve got a formal event this weekend (yay, another dress up weekend!) — and I’ve got both roads and trails planned with my Strider & Turkey buddies (yay, 70-degree temperatures!).

Tonight and throughout the weekend is also the annual Des Moines Arts Festival. Lots of YAY!

seven random thoughts from marathon training:
1. The cliché is true: Put. Glide. EVERYWHERE. And then put it everywhere else.
2. Why does my shoulder joint hurt when I’m running? Probably time to do a running form assessment with someone.
3. I was so used to being hungry ALL THE TIME. I’m eating like half the calories I was a month ago.
4. My weight dipped below 120 pounds for the first time in over a decade… and then my bathroom scale broke, so I have no idea what I currently weigh post-marathon.
5. I broke out in a rash from sunscreen during my 22-mile run. That makes 3 different scenarios of rashes that I experienced in this training cycle… which means I probably have to visit an allergist to figure out what is going on with my immune system (again).
6. Remember that time I got stung by a wasp? Haaaaaa. This marathon cycle really had it all.
7. I still like running! ?

Farm Report: 6.23.17

- Mel

Can we talk about the corn? Or is there some superstitious shit where you can’t chatter about it until July? Who made that up, by the way — the whole “knee high by the 4th of July” stuff? Was it a 7-foot farmer? Because corn ’round here is already knee high on me.

i see crop circles

pursuit of corn midwest blog
Not the 4th!

Ok, I looked it up. Your corn is bad if it’s only knee high in July, bee tee dubs.

Dear Lord, “high as an elephant’s eye” is a thing, too? Is Oklahoma! (the musical) about corn?

midwest shenanigans

I visibly cringed when the airplane gate attendant pronounced the “s” when giving flight updates to Des Moines. More than once. THE “S” IS SILENT.

PS: Downtown Cleveland now has a Taco Bell. That serves beer. This past weekend, they also had a DJ. I also really, really wanted a Chalupa, but it was only 3pm. ?

A Year Surrounded by Corn

- Mel

This post is a little delayed, as my one-year anniversary of living in Iowa was way back in March. I still wanted to post something, as I am completely smitten with this place (and still bewildered at how a year+ could pass so quickly!).

The announcement of our move last year was abrupt. And was shocking to most people who knew us (the facial expressions were a huge tell). In less than two months, we traveled to Iowa for the first time, explored the Des Moines area in one long (negative 20-degrees) weekend, shopped houses with a Realtor — and closed on the 2nd house that we saw, and visited only once (we both couldn’t remember where the lower level powder room was until we moved in) — leaving our city row home in Pittsburgh, driving across several states with three cats to settle into the suburbs.

That was quite long-winded. I KNOW.

It felt wonderful to be “back” in the Midwest. Although, you’ll get some looks if you say you’re originally from the Midwest and proceed to tell Iowans your “home” is in Ohio — because NOBODY HERE THINKS OHIO IS IN THE MIDWEST. I’ve also been nicknamed “East Coaster” at work for coming by way of Pittsburgh, despite Pittsburgh being a half-day’s drive from the actual coast.

That said, this move brought with it some fun changes. For starters, we moved to the suburbs into a house with an actual garage. And because of that, we got married. Haaaaaaa. Something that was only a brief conversation in Pittsburgh (the marriage, not the garage… but definitely the garage) became something important to us after we relocated. I realized soon after moving that my happiness increased and my anxiety lifted. I slept more than I have in decades — there’s quiet and darkness and stillness here. I’m surrounded by nature and not concrete. Which, something something, science. I have space to put my things and extra spaces for those other things, and we can watch TV in two separate places without hearing one another — and STILL not have a television in the bedroom. I drive a lot more (and we have two cars now). I left the non-profit world for a job at a corporation, and I absolutely love being in a large, social workplace that provides paid time off to volunteer ON TOP OF going on vacation.

My TV shows come on an hour earlier. Though I’m pretty sure that my body clock was destined for Central Time. I’ve adjusted to the weather, and curse the wind like a native (though silently FML’ing the summer humidity). I bought a Hawkeyes shirt… I ONLY WORE IT ONCE, OK?! (sorry, Buckeye friends).

I miss Pittsburgh (and my friends there) immensely. Though there was no doubt that I was burned out by city life; I felt on the brink of a meltdown nearly every day. And… Pittsburgh had changed a lot since we moved there. I’m so happy that we’ve made connections here in Iowa and found our respective communities — we might have even MORE social activity than when we were in the ‘Burgh. I also found my running tribe here, too.

I enjoy discovering Des Moines by foot and trail, with an intent to cover more trail mileage by skate and bike this summer. There are constantly new restaurants opening in Des Moines that we cannot keep up with (a good problem to have!) and I have yet to visit or see all the city’s points of interest. We’ve made a point of supporting our local cultural institutions and attending many of the unique local events. We have subscriptions and memberships and rewards points on grocery cards. There’s much more to explore in our new city (wait… how long can I call myself “new”?), and we’ve only scratched the surface.

EXTRA READING:
Your personality changes when you move to a new place {via Science of Us}

New here? Check out this FREE event next week with the Des Moines Partnership: Welcome to Greater Des Moines Reception

Farm Report: 6.16.17

- Mel

Not your average baseball scouting notes! But seriously — why are so many baseball players from Iowa? In this weekly wrap-up, I’ll start with an argument over why Ohio is/isn’t in the Midwest. Spoiler alert, Cleveland: Iowans don’t think it is! I’ve always preferred the Great Lakes regional moniker. But what say you?

gratuitous corn shot

32-foot long ear of corn

summer lovin’, happened so fast

My tomato plants and I are loving this sunshine! And I’m pretty sure the Iowa corn has grown 2 feet in one day. Preparing for a few days of high heat & humidity, and the rain this weekend should help keep everything green and blooming.

PS: Was Sandy dead?

midwest shenanigans

Speaking of Ohio, I’ll be returning home over the weekend to eat some midges.

And afterward, I’ll be having brunch at Urban Farmer.

How fitting.