B- Double E- Double R - U - N .. Beerrun!

If anyone can provide the lyrics to the next line of that song without Google, I want to be your best friend forever.



Tomorrow, I'm making the two hour drive to Lake Mills, WI to spectate for some awesome blogger buds while they run the Tyranena Beer Run.

I swear - if they classified spectators the same way they do runners, I'd be an elite for sure.  I'd have lawn chair and cowbell companies clamoring to sponsor me... it'd be glorious.


Something you may not know about me - I love beer almost as much (OK, just exactly as much) as I love running, and I cannot wait to try out this new (to me) brewery.  I'm bringing my famous sign, maybe my guitar, and I'm going to drink some beer and cheer my heart out!


Two quick announcements on this beautiful Friday afternoon:



1.  I am so excited to host a giveaway for some beautiful running jewelry... here's a teaser:

Aside from being beautiful and my FAVORITE race distance, this necklace is made from a dime!  My coin collector self drooled when I saw it.

2.  Lucy Activewear is having a HUGE sale tomorrow!  25% off store-wide - click on the button on my sidebar and go check it out.  They have some really beautiful clothes and I can't wait to try them out.



Hope you all have a great weekend - you know I'll be back with yet another spectating report (as well as an awesome giveaway!) after this weekend.

Fear Can Suck It #10

I wrote two posts a few months ago laying out some challenges I'd like to tackle, and I added a separate page with a running list of  stuff I want to do.

And today, I get to cross the first one off the list.






10.  Learn how to swim properly.

• I'm super comfortable in the water, but look like a hippo having a seizure when I try to do any specific stroke.  Do they even have adult swimming lessons?

Why, yes, Kim of two months ago, as it turns out, swimming lessons are not just for kiddies anymore.  

I signed up a couple of weeks ago, and found myself in a class with one gentleman wanna-be triathlete, and one mom who is petrified of the water.  

Annnnnnd..... this is where we need to take a break for a second.  

I need to clarify something.  My list of goals?  Most of them aren't real fears.  

"But, Kim!" you say, "Why is your list titled "Fear Can Suck It"?

Great question, readers.  Because it sounds good.  Because a couple of them are really scary.  Because a couple of them are just kind of scary.  Because "Procrastination-but-sometimes-fear-too Can Suck It" just isn't as catchy.

But if you want to talk about real fears, and really awesome people, let me tell you about the woman in my class.

She's probably in her forties (and man will I feel like an ass if she ever finds this blog and she's really in her thirties), and she's afraid of the pool.  She's on her second six week session, and two weeks ago, she had a breakthrough where she was able to stand in the pool, put her face in the water, and blow bubbles.  It took her weeks to get to this point.  I cannot even imagine how scary it must be for her to drive to class every day, knowing she is going to be uncomfortable (at best) the whole time.  

That is courage. 

Isn't it amazing how much we take for granted?  I am so lucky I have no fear of the water, and that I'm just looking for a few pointers on my stroke. (that's what she said?)

So anyway, back to the list.  I can swim pretty well now... go ahead and tri (ha, get it?!) to talk me into a triathlon.  Because there would be lots more bad puns like that.  You have no idea.

Best Class Ever and Giveaway Winner!

Before I start rambling and forget - look over here  --------------------------------------->

Someone else read my PSA signed up for the DKMS bone marrow registry!  We're increasing the chances of saving lives, people, and that is awesome.  Go you guys.

haha, that arrow is totally not going to work well when this post isn't at the top of the page... 

Anyway!  I started taking this class at the Y last week - it's Boot Camp.  And it kicks my ass.  And it is awesome.  

The first class we split up into teams and did relay race style drills across the gym.  First we'd sprint, then we'd sprint with a jump rope, then we'd have to plank-walk through our teammates' legs all the way across the gym, high-knees, sprinting... back and forth, back and forth, over. and. over.  It was an ass-kicker.

This morning was even more awesome.  The drill sergeant lady (who, based on my disturbing dreams this morning, I'm more than a little bit afraid of) set up a bunch of stair steppers in two rows in the gym, probably fifteen steps to a row.  She divided us into two groups, and one group did an exercise with the steppers (pushups, dips, incline pushups, high knees, agility, bear-walking) while the other group did something equally as punishing around the gym (sprinting, skipping (harder than you think!), shuffles, side-steps, running backwards).

At the end of the workout, people were moaning and you could even catch Ms. Badass Instructor grunting into her microphone as she finished out her sets of pushups.  I know I'll be sore tomorrow, but the worst part is my HANDS!  From crawling on those damn steppers, my palms are raw.

Don't try to wash me, I'll make you cry!

OK, on to the giveaway business.  The lucky winner is............

Yay for Sarah at Get Up & Go!

Sarah's new tank top!

(I totally think Random.org knew that she said I looked cute in my shirt and picked her... hint hint for future giveaways people!)  :)

Speaking of giveaways, go enter Rachel's Hippie Runner headband and belt giveaway!

Seven Things I Learned in the Locker Room at the YMCA

I've been taking some classes at the Y for a couple of weeks now, and subsequently been thrust into the strange and oft-frightening realm that is the Ladies Locker Room.  dum dum dum......

1.  That weird bucket of used razors they keep on the counter is the single most disgusting, horrifying thing I've ever seen.  Do they EVER empty it?  *shudder*

2.  I can tell which moms I would want to be friends with solely based on the way they change a diaper.  Perfect example - two crying babies, two moms.  One mom (to her six month old) "Hannah!  Knock it off!  HANNAH!  STOP CRYING!"  The other mom (to her six month old) "Sweet pea, it's ok... we're almost done.  (singing) Annabelle's a munchkin, a munchkin, a munchkin..."  I love moms that are tender to their babies.

3.  The self-conscious hell that is middle school starts early for overweight girls.  On the day of my first swimming lesson, I saw two girls, probably 6 or 7 years old, one rail thin and the other pudgy.  They stood in front of the mirror, and the skinny-mini was striking silly glamour poses and giggling while the heavier girl pulled anxiously at her swimsuit.  This sucks so bad - I wish all kids could just be kids.

4.  GET A CORNER LOCKER!  Made the mistake of getting one out in the open, so while I was trying to keep my towel on and put on my underroos at the same time, I had little girls racing back and forth behind me, in front of me, everywhere!  Now I park in the corner and box the little monsters out.

5.  There is no respect for a drawn shower curtain.  Nothing like scrubbing your scalp, eyes closed and relaxing, and opening them to find some seventy year old woman peeking in at you.  

6.  There is one drain for every two showers at the Y.  It's right in the middle of the two showers, underneath the divider. See #7.

7.  If someone gets into the shower next to you.  KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE DRAIN!  If you notice the water becoming a little amber... RUN FOR HIGH GROUND!  I am not joking here.  

I won't elaborate on #7 due to the reputation of tastefulness that my blog has.  Oh wait.  Yeah, I got peed on.

The Running Divas tank giveaway ends tonight at midnight!  Go enter now!

Well, I Made it Eleven Weeks

I tried to make it the full four months, I really did.  Kind of.

I went out yesterday for a short walk/run, and ended up doing 10 minutes of walking, 5 running, 5 walking, 5 running, 5 walking, with no pain.

After that run, I felt pretty gung-ho to start Pfitzinger's stress fracture recovery program, but I woke up this morning to some thoughtful comments to a question I posted on a running forum.  The comments basically said the same thing:  it's better to be overcautious then wind up with a setback, and that there are plenty of other sidelined runners who feel my frustration.

Perhaps it is better to wait it out a bit longer... I'm just not sure.

This injury is bringing out a different side of my personality.  Normally, I'm pretty secure in my opinions, and prefer to research an issue endlessly than bring it up to someone for advice, but recently, I've been seeking medical advice from anyone that crosses my path.

This new trait was clearly displayed a few weeks ago - I was at a relatives house who is not a runner, doesn't know anything about running, and there I was, hopping up and down on my injured leg like a lunatic, frantically saying, "See?  See?  Don't you think I could run on this?"

Please.  There are worse things than being sidelined for another few weeks (like being a whiny moron).  Besides, since I'm not really an "athlete" right now, I can continue to enjoy my breakfasts of champions:  Halloween candy and a glass of chocolate milk in my inspiring pint glass.

P.S.  Did you enter my giveaway yet?  Super cute tank top from Running Divas is up for grabs!

Seven Things You've Never Wanted to Know About Me

The sweet and very funny Kim from (Just) Trying is For Little Girls nominated me for this award - I'm pretty sure it's because all Kims have this secret pact to bond together and eventually we'll RULE THE WORLD!!!!  Go ahead, try to stop us.  :)

Also, Katie (who makes me laugh every day) from Will Race For Carbs nominated me for the Versatile Blogger award... so we're going to do a big old Blogger award party in one post... mmm  kay?

So I have to come up with seven random things to tell you... and then I'm supposed to tag people.  But really, if you read my blog, please consider yourself tagged and because I want to read all of your random facts too.


OK.  Here we go....

1.  This is one of my favorite shirts for two reasons.  First - it's from the Chicago Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon, which is one of my must-do-every-year races.  Second - and most importantly, it kind of looks like the skyline is giving the finger, and I like to think about that whenever I get stuck talking to someone I don't like.  Yeah buddy, that's my shirt flipping you off and you don't even know it.

I'm smiling because inside I'm happy.

 2.  I name a lot of things.  My first car (that my husband still drives - 300,000 miles and going strong!) is the Black Stallion.  He's a noble beast.  My old mini-van is called the Turkey Van because my mom hit a turkey with it on the way to one of my races.  Judy Blue is my current van and is named because as my brother put it "she's an old girl, but she's classy."  My guitar is Lady Jane because she's plain and sweet.  

Lady Jane

3.    As a child, I was a bit of a food hoarder.  I used to keep boxes of Halloween/Easter/Christmas   candy in my closet... I didn't ever eat it, I just wanted to have it.   Yeah,  I was a weird kid.  

4.  I can bend my thumb back behind my hand really far, and if I straighten my arms, my elbows naturally bend a gross amount more than normal.  Other than those two oddities, I am ridiculously inflexible.

5.  I have a big problem chewing gum.  I love to chew it, but if I don't think "Chew, chew, chew", I accidentally swallow it.  Seriously.  Every time.  If I can keep a piece of gum in my mouth for ten minutes, that's a big accomplishment.  

6.  I have an incredibly juvenile sense of humor.  If one of my kids is playing with balls, and someone says something like, "Oh, look at Alex playing with his balls!" I get the uncontrollable giggles.

7.  I have a fear that my blog will come back to haunt me some day.  I'm pretty sure I'll be sitting in an interview in 10 years, and the interviewer will ask me what my skills are, and of course I'll say that I'm awesome, serious, dedicated, a great multi-tasker, a hard-worker, blah blah blah, and then he'll say "Oh really?  Because it says here that you can't chew gum properly, and you think balls are hilarious."

Go forth and post your own Seven Things!

Running Divas Review and Giveaway!

Hey, good morning!

The awesome folks over at Running Divas recently gave me an opportunity to review some of their sweet products.

I really like this company because they make clothes that are cute enough to wear while not working out.. but they have fun sayings printed on the gear so everyone who sees you knows you are a badass runner.  Plus, the prices are REALLY reasonable, and the quality is excellent.  Definitely a great gift idea for a fellow runner.

I received this black long sleeve T - and I love it:

It is so cozy and the sleeves are long enough to pull down over my hands, which I love.  The back says "flaunt it".

My absolute favorite thing they sent (and probably my new favorite top period) is this:

Back shot to spare you another picture of my face.

It's really lightweight and soft, and the sleeves are longer than most short-sleeve shirts.  It also has a hood.  Does not get any better than this.  Here's the interesting thing on this.  It's a size Large, and fits me perfectly but I normally wear a Small or Medium.  Maybe I just like this particular item a bit looser, but if I were going to order it for a gift for someone (which I am going to) I'll order a size up.  The back says "Don't make me run after you."  Love it.

Now, on to the giveaway!

I have one tank top, size medium up for grabs for one lucky reader.  The tank top is very long and the material is stretchy, so I think it'll fit a wide range of bodies.

The front reads "freakishly strong" , and the back says "i know - alot of me tells me that".  haha.  The green color is really vibrant and pretty in person.

To enter:

(leave a comment for each entry)

+1 Become a follow of my blog or let me know if you already are (mandatory).

+1 - "Like" Life in the Twin Lane on Facebook - I just set up this page, and it's pretty lonely!

+1 - Share this giveaway on any of your various social networking tools, you tech-savvy folks you.

That's it!  

I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, November 2!