Running Around Town

I am going to get my butt kicked tomorrow.  Fortunately, all of you will have the pleasure of watching it on TV.

Around 8:12am, I will take my first of many, many, many steps up 50 floors of the IDS Center.  I'll make the trek alongside the State Patrol in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

It's called "Climb for a Cure."  But a better title might be "1500 Crazy People Getting Up Early on a Saturday Morning to Torture Themselves."

The Climb started about 30 years ago, but law enforcement got into the game back in 2004.   Tomorrow, 250 officers, paramedics, firefighters and troopers will join the "friendly" competition.  From what I understand, the Minneapolis Fire Department generally crushes the event.   The record holder is a Minneapolis firefighter named Dan Casper.  He uses those cycling legs to get up the stairs in 6:19.  Very few others even get within a minute of him.  Yikes!

"It started out as a machismo thing – who can get to the top the fastest," said St. Paul Police Officer Mike Polski. "Now, it's evolved into raising money for CF and the competition is in the backseat."  Sure.

The climb has a special meaning for Mike and his wife Donna.  Seven years ago, their little girl Mikayla was born with cystic fibrosis.  It's a respiratory and digestive disease.  Back in the 50s, kids barely lived until kindergarten.  Now, the average life expectancy is 38 years old.  Both Mike and Donna think there will be a cure in Mikayla's lifetime.

So, Mike's going to climb and recruited about 50 other St. Paul cops to join him.  Donna will take pictures and Mikayla will watch.  When I chatted with Mikayla this afternoon, I told she's going to need to give me a little oxygen when I make it to the top.  The little cutie-pie just laughed at me.

Apparently, it's a killer on your lungs because there's not much ventilation in the IDS stairway.  One guy called it the worst 15 minutes of your week.  Mike expects it to be the worst 20 minutes of his next few months.  I'm sure the troopers will be nice to me.  And, when you see me at the end all sweaty and gross, I hope you will too.

You can still sign up tomorrow morning to climb – or you can just give money.  Here's the info.  Have a great weekend!

Sorry I've been so MIA recently. I just got back from a nice little vacation in Hawaii. I'm still trying to figure out why I don't live there.

Anywho, it's been a big day here in the ole 'CCO newsroom. Right in the middle of our afternoon editorial meeting, we heard the news that Joe Mauer will continue his reign as Hometown Hero for another decade. Woo-hoo! x 100. Regular readers of this blog already know my warm and fuzzy feelings about #7. If you forget, please allow this video to remind you.

Just like he did with the "Favre is coming to Minnesota" news, Mark Rosen was the first to break the Mauer agreement. (Rock on, Rosie!) The way Rosen puts it: Sources tell him the framework is in place for a 10-year contract. The details aren't yet worked out, but Joe is staying.

When my assignment editor Petey Nelson (of Twins blog fame) heard this news, he jumped out of his chair and hugged fellow Twins fan Karna Bergstrom. I laughed because I knew he was genuinely full of complete and utter joy. As he put it in his mildly dramatic fashion, "I didn't think I could go through another traumatic loss to the Twins."

I like Joe. I've always liked Joe. But, I like him even more after reading this week's ESPN article entitled: "America's Fan-Friendliest Athlete." Apparently, writer Ryan Hockensmith (aka Joe Phan) HAND-wrote 479 letters to coaches, players and mascots associated with every NBA, NFL, MLB, and NL team asking for autographs. He got back some funny responses and odd paraphernalia. He also got back a letter from Mauer. Yes, a letter. A letter that he found "more thoughtful" than birthday cards from his Mom.

Mauer thanked him for his note, apologized for being delayed in his response (remember that whole Division Title thing) and his chance to meet the President. Hockensmith was so stunned, he called Mauer to ask if he actually wrote the darn thing. Turns out, Joe and his mom did. Every so often, the two meet up and figure out what Joe wants to say. Mom types it up, Joe signs it and off it goes in the mail to what I'm quite sure are many, many, many fans.

That's so cool. So cool in fact, I'm going to write my own thank-you letter to Joe and see what happens. I tried this once before with Justin Morneau. I wanted to wish him luck when he seemed to be a little nervous during the All-Star game back in 2006. Unfortunately, I didn't have the right address and it got bounced back. Bummer.

So, I'll try again. This time, I'll try harder. I might even write to Mikko Koivu too. I'll let you know how it goes.

Photo credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

You people are quick. Registration for Grandma’s Marathon opened just this morning and by 5pm, 2800 of you had registered! You guys have already filled about 30 percent of the race. Congrats!  I like how you operate. Keep up this pace and you might fill the whole thing.

I chatted with Bob Gustafson, the media guy for Grandma’s, this afternoon. He told me last year was the first year in 15 they didn’t fill the 9500 spots for the race. Let’s just go ahead and blame the economy and all those Minneapolis/Stillwater inaugural marathon go-getters for that one.

Bob is optimistic they’ll fill up the marathon this year. So, you better get cracking if you want to jump on the Grandma’s bandwagon. It’s about $90 plus the cost of a hotel room in Duluth.  Be forewarned. Prices are “at a premium” that weekend.  You can also stay at the UMD, UW-Superior or St. Scholastica dorms. My friends did that last year and had a grand old time.

I’m thinking of doing the half. I just can’t get myself in marathon shape over the winter. All the power to those who can! I’m just going to have to cross my fingers I get accepted into the half-marathon lottery. They take 5000 people, but have to turn away 4000. Now, that’s what I call popular. You can enter the lottery online between February 17 and March 1. Registration for the Saturday night 5K starts March 17 – Bob tells me that usually fills up in two and half days.

I’ve never done Grandma’s but I’ve always wanted to. The course is flat (130 elevation drop), runs right along Lake Superior and supposedly has some die-hard awesome fans for the last seven miles. (Downside – I understand the first 19 can be pretty lonely.) They also get cool speakers like Dick Beardsley (so cool) and one of my all-time faves, Duluth native Kara Goucher.  And, for those of you who are inclined to rock out with your iPod, they’re allowing headphones this year.

Bob calls it “a world-class event with small-town charm.”  Who could say no to that?

I’m eating m&m’s right now.  Which is kind of funny because I just wrote a story about how some Austrian coaches called Minnesota superstar skier Lindsey Vonn heavy. They said her weight gives her an edge over her smaller competitors.  Ouch.

Now, I’m not about to compare myself to Lindsey. I think I’ve made it quite clear in this blog my athletic skills leave much to be desired. But, as a runner, I do understand why she was so upset.  When you train so hard for every millisecond you can shave, you’re kind pissed off when someone says you’re better at it because you’re skinny or fat or short or tall.

Here’s what Lindsey said in her blog at the Denver Post.

“It's frustrating as an athlete to be called overweight in any way. There definitely are girls on the circuit they could be pointing at, but not me. I pride myself on how hard I work out and how physically fit I am. For them to say that was extremely aggravating.”

There’s no doubt. Lindsey Vonn has a nails body. She’s 5’10” and 160 pounds of a whole lot of rock-solid muscle. (What I wouldn’t give for just a little of that… ok, I guess there’s a lot I wouldn’t give… starting with the 7 hours of intense working out every day…) But, she knows it’s that body that lets her take those turns, hurtle down the mountain and have to mental strength to want to come back for more.

When my boss suggested I do this story this afternoon, I’ll admit, I wasn’t all that pumped. I mean, duh, people are talking about pretty female athletes’ bodies? What’s so newsworthy about that?  But, then I got to thinking about Michael Phelps. How many conversations did I have about how his web-like hands and feet, extra long torso and crazy wingspan helped him dominate the pool? A lot.

But, that discussion was almost always linked to how hard Phelps trained or how many calories he burned. We talked a lot about how his super-intense focus helped him win. His big hands, feet, arms and torso were considered a good thing for a man. In our society, “heavy” for a woman is not. (Don’t even get me started on that!)

As U of M sports scientist Nicole LaVoi said, “The critique wasn’t, oh, she looks muscular and fit and ready to do her best, it was she looks a little heavier.”

I’m don’t know what was going through the Austrian coaches’ minds when they said what they did. Where they trying to psyche Lindsey out? Was something lost in the language translation?  Were they apologizing in advance for their own skiers’ performances? Maybe they do think more height and weight equals more momentum. I don’t know. Even Lindsey admitted, the journalists probably sensationalized the remarks. (Darn journalists!)

What I do know is that she felt like they took something away from her hard work.  So, she responded by kicking a little tail and sweeping her races this past weekend. You go, girl! I can’t wait to watch you in February.

Lindsey finished off her remarks by saying, “If adding weight was the key to downhill success, everyone would be stuffing their face with food.”

I knew there had to be a good reason I’ll never run in the Olympics. I’m pretty sure I can’t give up my m&m’s.

My fingers and toes aren't quite back to normal. I think they are still partially frozen. I guess that's what happens when you jump into a frozen Lake Minnetonka on New Year's Day. Yep, I did it again. And, this time, I convinced my friend, Holly, to jump with me ... Sucker! :-)



It's just what you'd expect, except colder. Much colder. The water wasn't so bad. It was the air. At 2 degrees, it was a good 30 degrees chillier than the water. That makes the little swim quite pleasant (ok, maybe not pleasant) compared to what was like when we got out. Think iced-up sneakers and frozen hair!

That said, it was just as much fun as I remember. The ALARC folks that organize the Ice Dive are some of the coolest people around. I love that Bill Wenmark, the Ice Dive's fearless leader, gives me a big hug every time I see him! I love that everyone wears their excitement right out in the open. I love that all the people there will help a stranger in need. I still credit my new friend, Tracky, for saving my little toe from frostbite two years ago.

I know the Ice Dive is not for everyone. In fact, it's not for most people. That's clear from the many comments I've received today that echo a theme very similar to "Are you crazy?" But, for me, it's a great way to start off the New Year. Not only did it test my physical limits, it got me up and moving early. I spent some QT with a good group of people and I'll have some funny stories to share throughout the year. I can't think of a better kick-off to 2010.

Happy New Year everyone!

Ah, the Ice Dive.  Is it already that time of year again?  The time to jump in the frigid waters of Lake Minnetonka with about 800 other crazy people?  Darn.  I thought I had a few more weeks to ponder the sensation of millions of needles stabbing me for the five seconds I'm under.

Nope.  No more time.  New Year's Day is Friday.  Where did 2009 go?

Earlier this week, I thought I had made the decision to just say no.  I've done it twice before, I'm doing the Polar Dash, it's going to be really, really cold ... blah, blah, blah.  Excuses.  I'm starting to rethink my decision.

You might remember when my good friend, Jeanette Trompeter, and I took our first dive in 2007.  She's from California.  I had just moved here from South Carolina.  People thought we were insane, but we both had so much fun that we did it again in 2008.  It really is a great event, minus the stinging water part.

 

I started to reconsider around 2 this afternoon after watching 20 guys cut a huge hole out of Lake Minnetonka.  It was pretty darn amazing.  They worked for three hours straight in some not-so-warm weather, chain sawing and lugging 100-pound chunks of ice.  By the end, they took about 3 tons of ice out of the lake.  They also tried to peer pressure me into jumping Friday morning.

 

 

So, I'm going to sleep on it tonight.  Should I start off the year with a big bang?  Or should I sleep in my warm bed a few hours longer?  I'll let you know.  Until, feel free to offer up your thoughts.  I'm listening.

It's getting harder and harder to drag myself out of bed for a run. Every single morning, it's cold, dark and icy. I don't mean to complain, I'm just trying to state the truth. And that truth is, we chose to live here, so we have to find ways to deal with it. We need to figure out how to make ourselves put on our sneakers a few times a week to run, bike, ski, or skate out the door.

Fortunately, this problem can be solved. Enter Team Ortho a local foundation established in 2004 to get people active and keep them that way all year round. Over the years, they've raised $100,000 for local orthopedic associations. They've also organized lots of races to keep people moving throughout the year.

This year, they are planning the Monster Marathon Series. It's a series of four events, where people and dogs can do everything from a full-on run to a leisurely walk. They want "Every Body" to feel included. The idea is just to keep you motivated to stay active by signing up for all four races now.

The first event is the Polar Dash 5K/10K on New Year's Day. Then comes the Minneapolis 1/2 Marathon/Marathon in June, the Minneapolis Duathlon in August and the Monster Dash in Halloween. (That's the medal in the upper right corner of this blog.) Each race you complete, you add a piece of the pie.

I'm signing up tonight and expect it to cost around $250. (BTW, you get a fleece, the medals and a bike jersey with that fee. And, some of the money goes to charity!) The deadline is actually tonight (yes, I'm a procrastinator), but the organizers told me they'll extend it until January 15 if you do the Polar Dash. They already have 800 people ready to go. I think I even convinced my producer/newbie runner, Tracy, to jump aboard.

I need the motivation. I need a race to keep me going. Bring it, winter. We can handle you.

Listen up procrastinators! If you're anything like me, you'll start your holiday shopping bright and early tomorrow morning. It should go by quickly because I've already made the lists for all the important people in my life. I hope to finish by early afternoon, then sit by a fire, smell my decorations/evergreen candles, sip apple cider and listen to Christmas songs. Yes, I love this time of year that much. I really do.







Therefore, I'm going to offer up a few last-minute gifts ideas for the runners in your life. Maybe you have one in your family or know someone who wants to join the craze. Maybe you're just looking for a little gift for yourself for job well done. Whatever it is, here are some cool ideas.

1. An ID bracelet. I don't know why I didn't think of this invention. It's a brilliant idea. How many people go for a run without any ID? Here's a not-so-fashionable piece of jewelry that's safe and sensible. I like it.

2. Ipod gloves. Use your Ipod with your gloves on! I love this so much too. You know I've already asked for this, but I'm going to do it again. I just got off the phone with Mom and discussed the family lists. It was quite clear she hasn't read my blog in a few days. Tsk tsk.

3. Anything lululemon. My sister turned me onto this gear last year. So comfy. So cool. A little on the pricey side, but you can splurge on one piece.

4. A subscription to Runner's World magazine. Any runner will tell you this is, by far, the best running mag around. Great writing, powerful stories, fantastic tips. A good read for new or long-time pavement pounders.

Happy Holidays, my friends. Be safe out there.

If you've had the unfortunate pleasure of chatting with me over the past few days, you'll quickly figure out I'm not bringing my A-game. I have one of these pesky head colds that won't seem to go away. Friends have told me I sound like a cross between Darth Vader, a 12-year-old boy, and a phone operator you might hear on one of those $1.99/minute calls.  Nice.

I spent most of yesterday on the couch quite pleased there was a Law & Order S.V.U. marathon on TNT. I barely had the energy to make it to the grocery store, much less to the gym.  But, this morning, after stocking up on lots of Tylenol Cold capsules, I felt a ton better. I even thought about a run to loosen up my sinuses. I know, that's gross.

I've always been told about the "above the neck" rule when it comes to exercising when sick.  Dr. Mark Seaburg, an internal medicine doc at Park Nicollet, confirmed it for me this afternoon.  We chatted for a few minutes about working-out when you're not feeling great. He's run 84 marathons. He knows his stuff.

He said if your symptoms are above the neck – head cold, runny nose, sore throat – then it's ok to go out for a little run.  It's the below the neck stuff – chills, chest colds, stomach problems – where you should really take a rest. And, he said, whatever you do, don't work out at all when you have a fever. Our internal organs require a specific temperature and exercising increases that temp, so you could really do some damage to your organs.

I asked him if it was ok for me to work out. My cold is in my head, not my chest -- meaning my cough is dry.  (I'll stop here with the details. You get it.) He said if that's the case, exercise can help because the adrenaline opens up the clogged mucus. It clears out the sinuses. I can attest to that. I did feel better this morning after a short, easy run.

He warned me, though, don't overdo it. He also said if you have asthma, avoid exercising in the cold because it causes your airways to constrict. Dr. Seaburg's advice is pretty easy to understand, "If you're short of breath, you probably shouldn't be doing it." Good point.

Man, oh man, oh man, oh man, it’s cold out there. Not cold enough, though, for some of you die-hard runners who refuse to let a little -11 degree wind chill get in the way of your run. I just got off the phone with a nice guy named George who works at the Running Room in Uptown. He’s been running around Calhoun and Isles every day this week.

He did admit to slipping on the ice yesterday (“It wasn’t that bad because there was snow on the ground to pad my fall”) and told me he’s not a huge fan of those first few steps (“For that first mile, it can be pretty miserable"), but said once you get going it feels pretty good. He doesn’t mind the chill because it keeps most people away from the trails offering George and “quieter and more peaceful” run.

I’m not here to judge George because I’ve certainly run outside when others would not. What I will do is share his advice because it was quite good.  And you (special shout-out to my girl, Lisa) have been asking for it.

1. Clothes

Layers, layers, layers. You might want to try a base layer that wicks away the moisture like a poly pro, then add on a insulation quarter-zip or zip-up top. If it’s really brutal, slap on a wind resistant Gore Tex jacket. As for pants, you can go double layer too. For the dudes, George suggests some wind briefs. Check them out for yourself. I’m not going any further with that one.

2. Head

Forty percent of your body heat is lost through your head, so a hat will do wonders. I just picked up a nice one for $20 at Target and I love it. I can’t do face masks or scarves because they drive me nuts, but they’ll keep you warmer by protecting your face and warming the air you breathe. George recommends Body Glide on your exposed skin to protect from the wind.

3. Hands

30 percent of your body heat is lost through your hands and feet. You could try running gloves to keep the moisture away, but I’ve found regular, cheap cotton gloves do the trick too. I hate that I can’t control my iPod with them, but I am asking for the cool iPod gloves for Christmas. (I hope Mom, Heidi and Katie are reading this.) Some people like mittens because they let your fingers share the heat.  Like the clothes, test them all out. I find that I burn up when I wear too much stuff.

4.  Feet

I’m cool with my regular old socks because I don’t let my feet get wet.  You could try wool socks, but I bet you’d get hot. As for not falling on the ice, check out the Yak Traks or spikes. You can take on and off easily. George says you don’t even notice them much when you’re walking or running in the ice and snow. He also said they’ve sold a whole bunch at the Running Room today.

5. Miscellaneous

Wear sun glasses. It might not be warm, but it’s still sunny. Drink water. It might not be warm, but you still sweat. Dress in bright, reflective gear when it’s dark. It might not be warm, but cars still can’t see you.

Most importantly, be safe. Know your limits. I know I can’t run in zero degrees, but that’s ok. The gym is ready and willing to have me use their stuff.  I know I’ll get back out there soon.  I also know if I change my mind and hit the trails tomorrow, I’ll have company. George told me a dozen people showed up to run at the Running Room clinic tonight. Good luck!