I was planning to go to the gym today.  Chris even told me I should go, because it was really hot outside.  But after I did some other stuff, I just wanted to go run outside.  I know, I KNOW that I would have gotten a better workout if I’d run on the treadmill, but I would have been so bored.  I’m so whiny, aren’t I?

I’m making a really weird face here.  I’m not sure why I thought the internet would enjoy that.

I got honked at no less than three times.  I was reminded of that bit Jerry Seinfeld does about why do men honk at women.  Do they expect them to kick off their heels, run after the truck (in this case, it’s always a truck), calling out “I’m so glad you honked, I had no idea how you felt!”  Nothing makes me feel more beautiful than a couple of incredibly disgusting men honking or yelling out of their vehicle.

Seriously, what is wrong with people?  When I see an attractive, shirtless man running, I don’t honk.  I just stare.  Hmm.  Or maybe then somebody honks at me as my car is swerving out of control.  I’m kidding.  Women never objectify men.

I think, though, that my point is, no good comes from honking, unless you are just showing off to your friends that a) your horn works and b) you aren’t afraid to honk at a female.  WIN.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to my sister Leslie!  Here’s last year’s blog post because I’m too busy (lazy) to write a new one for her.

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From Leslie’s engagement session.  She’s smiling because she finally got the frame to herself 😉

What’s the verdict?  Do we look related?

I love the smell of a new pair of shoes.  Women’s size 10, Mizuno Inspires.  Thanks to Mizuno Running and the Mezamashii Project.

I took a lot of pictures of my new shoes inside.

But, I figured I’d better try out my new shoes on the road.

(Free shoes courtesy of the Mezamashii Project from Mizuno Running, but I wasn’t required to write anything at all.  I am because I love them and primarily because the soles of the shoes are purple.  Want your own pair of free shoes?  Apply here.)

What beautiful shoes.  Mike asked me something about the soles the other day, and I looked at him blankly.  I said, um, I don’t know, but they are purple on the bottom.  He laughed at me, and said, well, of course you know that.

Have you ever tried to take a picture while running?  Now I have.  It’s harder than you’d think.

I went to the park, ran all the way around Tower Grove Park and Missouri Botanical Gardens.  I cut down that street by the Gardens with the wonderful shaded dirt and grass path.  The dirt was very dry, and so was the grass.  We really need some rain.

The shoes were great.  They don’t feel too different from what I’ve been running in, and they look fantastic.  Yes, I’m aware that is not actually what matters in a shoe.  But I can’t deny that I enjoy the look of them.

I felt great running.  I felt like myself again.  There is just something about running that makes me feel alive, that makes me feel like anything is possible.

Oh, yeah, that’s sweat.

(It’s funny that that is my default attitude.  I can do anything.  Anything is possible.)

I’m already thinking about my next run.

I’m just popping in to let you know I got my free shoes today! It seems the Mezamashii Project is no scam 😉

I love them already.  No, I haven’t run in them yet.  I will on Sunday.

This morning Sarah Crowder and I went onto the Katy Trail to work on a video project she is making of me.  She wanted to practice her techniques, and I get something too—a video AND a free picture—win-win!  I played Ashokan Farewall about twenty times and she recorded it from a variety of angles.

Then she took all the files home to work with.  I can’t wait to see what she comes up with! 

Tonight I’m playing with the Symphony—we are doing a concert called the "Classical Mystery Tour."  It’s a great show with a Beatles cover band, and they sounded great in rehearsal. 

Oh, did you know Twitter was down yesterday?

Okay, time to foam roll (post run, which I did not run in my new shoes yet because I was afraid to get them dirty.  Yes, I’ll have to figure out how to overcome that particular hurdle) and then cook dinner before the show!

Why, yes, I do own cow shorts.  They are more of a pajamas short than a wear outside short.  More of, that is.  I’m not ruling out the possibility.

What are you all up to this weekend?

Today is the opposite of yesterday’s blog post.

Okay, well, not really.  But yesterday’s post was all about me looking my best.  Today’s post is about me looking my sweatiest!  The two are related though, aren’t they?  Without the sweaty part, the best part just isn’t as good!

I had a workout with Mike this morning.  It was upper body—did some thrusters, dead lifts (nothing serious, don’t worry), kettlebell swings, rows, and chin ups.  I probably forgot something, but that is pretty much it (after the warm up of squats and lunges—I swear he must own stock in squats and lunges).  I told myself today would be the day I stayed after and ran a bit more.  I got on the treadmill and planned to do 15 minutes of hill intervals (set the incline to 6, run 6 mph for 35 seconds, hop off for 25, repeat.)  Well, after 7 minutes I was dying and felt like passing out, so I stopped after 10.  It’s possible I should have been running slower—I used to do these intervals a few months ago and maybe I started too fast.  Or maybe ten minutes was a good amount.  I cooled down for a few minutes and then took this picture in the car.

I tried to portray the way I felt with the expression on my face.  Gross.  Yet AWESOME.

Anyway, I’m starting to get antsy and excited to get my new FREE Mizuno shoes.  My friends and my trainer are all super jealous (though hopefully some of them and you can get some too!) and I’m very excited to try them out and naturally tell you all about them.  I told Jen I’d make her take pictures of me running in them in the hopes of getting a picture of me in the air.

Like this one!  An actual picture of me with my feet OFF the ground!

Only one foot off the ground (still better than NONE of course)—from last weekend’s race.

(What do both of those pictures have in common?  I’m wearing Mizuno shoes.  Interesting.  I suppose I’m already a fan…also I really think my knees look funny, just generally.)

Anyway, if you’re a runner, do you have pictures of yourself in the air?  Is this something that concerns you, or is this simply my own personal problem?  Tell me about them in the comments.

(Scary instagrammed photo!)

I forgot where I saw it, but Mizuno (running shoes) is starting a project giving away free shoes as part of their marketing campaign. (hashtag #brilliantrun)  You can apply here.  I applied last week (?) and got an email yesterday that I had been selected for FREE SHOES.  I won’t actually believe it until I see it, because I am a cynical optimist, but they are supposedly sending me a pair of Inspires with a purple sole.  Very exciting!  Maybe you can get some free shoes too?!

I’ve already been a Mizuno runner (with the exception of my Brooks Pure Cadence shoes) but I haven’t tried the Inspires.  I’ve been running in the Nirvanas—the guy on the phone said the Inspires were very similar but lighter.  I’ll obviously blog more about them after I get them!

Edited to add:  After ordering my shoes, I got to invite one other person.  As a southerner, naturally I wanted to keep it in the family.  My sister Leslie got a free pair too—she usually runs in Inspires, and the person on the phone suggested to try the Elixirs, which are a bit lighter as well.  Unfortunately they didn’t have any in her size, but instead she is getting some awesome new color of the Inspires.  I’ll have her let the blog know how that turns out!

This is what I have to deal with every day.

Oh, I forgot to share this with you.  Do you watch CSI: Miami?  (If not this won’t make much sense.) I was complaining to my friend that my post-race breakfast the other day at Uncle Bill’s wasn’t sitting well.

That’s all for today, friends 🙂  You’re welcome.