Dear Evan Dando, We Need to Talk.

Years and years ago, when you graced the pages of People Magazine's Most Beautiful People edition, I was thrilled. You WERE awfully pretty....

I mean, I liked the Lemonheads. But mostly, I liked your pretty face. It wasn't my fault. Who could resist this?

In my young (as in, high school) and superficial mind, you were a pretty face that sang pretty things.

But I always bought your CD's. When my first kid was born, I would sing "Into Your Arms" to her when she fell asleep (poorly, so I apologize, #1).

When I got my first iPhone, years ago, Lemonheads were among my first iTunes downloads.

{source}

When I started running, my playlist was comprised solely of songs I knew the lyrics to, and could sing along with (have I mentioned I'm a terrible, terrible singer?). Lemonheads made more appearances than any other artist.

All of this to say, Evan Dando, that you've been part of my life for a really, really long time.

Twenty years is a long time.

When I saw you were playing in OC last October, I was GIDDY. I don't know that I've ever bought tickets to something with so much excitement.

And it was magic.

I'm a little OCD sometimes. And I've been mindlessly youtubing you for MONTHS now. And if I didn't really appreciate Evan Dando and the Lemonheads before, I for sure do now.

I laughed, in a mortified kind of way, at your rendition of Billie Jean.

I could play your version of Like a Rose over and over.

I spent 30 minutes fascinated by PESTO.

But, this is the thing, Evan Dando.

I not only made plans to go see a SECOND show in Boulder, but I pushed another blogger off the fence and over the edge of crazy.

And through Snowpocalypse, I made my Internet BFF drive me to the Fox Theater.

And the show was okay.

Not magic. Just okay.

I saw you walk by while I was on the phone outside...

But you looked pretty... melancholy.

You're still pretty, even if you look as if you've aged a dozen years in the past 4 months...

I'd guess touring for months on end would be tiring.

But your voice is still lovely. It always pleases me when artists sound as good live as they do recorded... and you probably sound even better live.

The playlists snagged from the stage after you left were full of interesting songs that you skipped. You had the entirety of It's a Shame About Ray listed, but still mixed up some songs.

You had the words to Hard Drive typed up for you...

You seemed not super excited to be there.

Bummer.

Was it Snowpocalypse? I mean, I can understand how that would irritate anyone...

On our way out, after your relatively short set... I told Holly I was considering ways to finagle another trip to another show (Disney Princess Half what?!). But after that mess, I was leaning towards not.

But then, while innocently youtubing a new Evan Dando playlist, I found recordings of shows, made as recently as late January... and they were GOOD. Full of energy.

And now I'm busily plotting a redemption show.

My husband is less than amused at my obsession.

Flying out to the east coast for a(nother) concert seems crazy, even by my standards, so I probably won't do it. I am resigning myself to wait patiently for your next tour.

Based on your Tweeting, I sure hope you make it that long....

Best,

The totally not I swear creepy stalker,

H.

{what's that? this is a running blog? Right... 5 miles, Tuesday, easy pace, nothing exciting to report.}

Slipped my mind that I could use my brain....

I am a BIG fan of music. I know, most people are, so it's probably not that special, but really. I dig music, a lot. When I was a freshman in high school, I went to a school that was an hour (plus) bus ride from my house. We had a LOT of time on our hands. My friends and I all had this tape (like, yes, a tape), on one side was Violent Femmes, American Music. The other side, was Lemonheads, It's a Shame About Ray. It pretty much rocked my entire high school life, and these two bands remain two of my favorites to this day. Actually, I think I have more Lemonheads songs on my playlist than any other band.

I'd had the opportunity to see Violent Femmes several times, and they were consistently awesome. But Lemonheads eluded me.

Until I accidentally happened to see an ad on Facebook. Normally I ignore these, all of them. I'm not sure how this one caught my eye, but it did. So I was SUPER psyched when I saw that Lemonheads were playing a small local venue, in just a few days.

The Coach House is in interesting place. Kind of a dining hall. Kind of a bar. With a stage. I got there plenty early, and scored a seat (at a banquet table...) right next to the stage. There was a dinner option, but I passed, and hung out at the table with my coke.

Evan Dando sat at the next table over for a bit and watched the first act. We bonded, I'm pretty sure. Just setting the stage for our BFF'ness.

The first band was mediocre. I swear the (older) front man was wearing jeggings. It was disconcerting.

The second band, The Gromble, was pretty great. Sort of a mix between Violent Femmes, Vampire Weekend, and something else that I can't quite peg. But they were good, and put on a good show. If you're in the area, find them.

Plus, I'm a sucker for a horn section.

Then.

Then there was this.

Evan Dando played an acoustic set for about 30 minutes.

The rest of the band came out afterwards, and played the It's a Shame About Ray album, start to finish.


Yeah, that's upside down. Oops.

There was a projector onstage, that I was intrigued by before they started, and the entire time they played, it showed random footage of driving around, snow, open fields... a bird...

They played a couple other songs from their other albums...

And then Evan spent some more time solo, playing requests from the (small) audience.



It was amazing.

I've been lucky enough to see a lot of my favorites live, and I really enjoy when people sound as good live as they do recorded. Evan Dando has a beautiful voice, and somehow, it's even better live. These videos really don't even do him justice.

After they finished playing, he hung out and signed autographs, chatted with everyone, and took pictures.

I tried to take a picture, as well, but I have a new phone, and couldn't figure it out.

Thankfully, Evan Dando is techno smarter than me.

Me: Shoot, I don't know how to do this....
BFF Evan: Oh, you have a new iPhone. Here, look, you can push this... and flip it around.

I don't know that guy on the left. (No, really, I don't know him, or where he came from).

But obviously, I have a new BFF.

Knoxville - The City of Dreams. Also, PFTW

You guys, I don't think Evan Dando listened when I said I was worried about him.

Because that guy, he is looking ROUGH.

I pinky-promise this is my very, very last post about ED (until their next tour...), promise.

My weekend shook down like this....

6am flight, from Orange County. Arrived Knoxville 3:40pm.

I know nothing about Knoxville, or Tennessee, but turns out? It's kinda pretty.

Met Holly from Nothing but Bonfires at the Bijou Theater for drinks and some light Evan Dando stalking...

...which works out great, because in addition to being a lovely person, she's MAYBE as obsessed as I am.

Which is how we ended up walking down the street at the back of the theater and randomly running into Evan Dando outside.

Yes, that happened, and it was magical, and awkward, and glorious, and funny, and sad, all at the same time.

He looks ROUGH. I thought he looked rough in Boulder, but man. That dude is living HARD. Also, he needs to wash his hair. And his shirt.

Anyway, to overshare, he advised us that he was really tired, that he has been touring a really long time (true), and he wasn't sure how things were going to go. However, they went magically, and it was a great, great show, and I am - I think - over my obsession. Especially because they are now heading to Europe, and according to the H, I am unable to cross the ocean to see Lemonheads.

And then the show was over, we ate amazing guacamole...

before heading back to our hotel. Delicious.

Got to our hotel, and discovered that Evan and crew were staying at the same hotel. We tried some light stalking (as in, sitting in the lobby...), but no further sightings.

2 hours of sleep later, I was back at Knoxville's tiny airport, and home by 10:30am. And then I ate, and took a 30 minute nap, and ran 10 miles. I will have to keep that memory tucked away next time I think I can't possibly do a run because omg I haven't fueled properly or didn't sleep enough.

10 miles, fueled by 2 hours of sleep and guacamole.

Then I took #1 to the magic bakery and bought all the things.

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Plan for the Week!

Last week... 21 miles total
Tuesday: 4 miles easy, 42:37
Wednesday: 1 mile easy, 10:45; strength conditioning class
Thursday: 6 miles speed work, 1 mile warm up, 4 miles strides (600 regular pace, 200 realllly fast, repeat, 1 mile cool down). Awful. 200's suck (PS, someone asked, I was doing 7:55 pace for the 200's).
Saturday: Easy 2.5 mile walk through Knoxville.
Sunday: 10 miles, easy pace, 1:53:18.

This week....
Tuesday: 7 miles easy
Wednesday: 2-3 miles easy, strength conditioning
Thursday: 7 miles tempo (<------GROSSIHATETEMPORUNSGROSS)
Saturday: 12 miles, 6 alone plus 6 with PCRF

Evan Dando vs My Running

I had a tempo run on schedule for Monday.

I hate tempo runs.

My iPod refused to play my Evan Dando playlist (rude), so I settled for whatever random stuff I had on there.

My tempo run was... good. Not just, like, I didn't die good. Like, for real, actual good.

Conclusion: Evan Dando has been the key to my recent crappy runs.

Gabby's birthday is tomorrow, and we picked up the ONE THING she's been asking for for ages....

I have no idea. I've certainly never recommended fishing.

I've been obsessively checking weather reports for our camping trip this weekend. Last week, there was a chance of showers on Saturday. That would suck. Then, it shifted to Tuesday. Awesome.

But then it shifted to Wednesday. And then Thursday.

Plus, there's this.

Brrr. WHY did I think October camping in the mountains was a good plan?? Assuming I survive the bears, I sure hope I don't succumb to hypothermia.

Someday, I will learn that I cannot keep candy at my desk.



I took a total rest day yesterday, in my ProCompression socks (orange might be my favorite....). I intended to come home, do weights, and eat chicken for dinner. Instead, I played Trouble, and made pizza. Way better.

Tonight, I get to do my long run. 16 exciting miles, after work. Whee?

The Confessional... Friday Funnies included

Looking for more ways to find balance during the holidays? Click HERE for 281 FitFluential Tips!

1. Hey, remember MONTHS ago when I went to a concert? Rest assured, world, my Evan Dando obsession lives on. This song is my current repeat fave:


Lyrics HERE. (Confession: I play an Evan Dando mix on youtube all.day.long.) (Confession 2: Man, he's pretty) (Confession 3: I just gave him his own tag. ON MY BLOG. TOO MUCH)

2. We're 9 days out from Christmas. Have you finished shopping?! (Confession: I haven't)

3. I'm very, very excited to run tonight. (Confession: I'm equally feeling like I might lazy-talk myself out of it... it's been 6 weeks since I ran regularly!)

4. I haven't really posted about this much, but! Gabby is being granted a wish through the Make a Wish program. I talked about our meeting with the Wish Granter's briefly HERE. We heard back from the document coordinator this week, and they are hard at work on her wish.... TO DISNEY WORLD! Her official wish was to "meet Cinderella in the giant castle far away, because Cinderella is so beautiful". So, pretty much the cutest thing EVER. (Confession: I tried very, very hard to not influence her wish with my very obvious bias towards all things Disney - I succeeded, but #1 may have been busily showing her youtube videos of Disney World....)

Yeah, those are patent knee high boots. I don't know. (Confession 2: I obviously need to clean out our pile o' shoes, but I won't)

5. My mom flew away last night. The girls had SO much fun with her visit.

(Confession: I did more in the last 10 days in SoCal than I've done in a year. Lame)

6. I love that RunRacing lets you customize your bibs... I may have done this to the H...

He's just about as pleased as he seems in that picture.. (Confession: None, I don't feel bad) (The bibs made more sense when I was Mrs. Awesome. #1 was Awesome #1. I wrecked the whole party with Jerk Shin)

7. Yeah, she's sleeping like that. No commentary needed.

(Sorry, #2)

Leaving, on a jet plane

I checked in for my flight this morning - and, ps, Delta with their don't-need-to-print-just-scan-your-phone situation? That's the best thing ever.

Also, Delta? Super great at the customer service. After they originally jacked up my flights (no, Delta, I cannot leave at 10am Saturday, I don't think even Kara Goucher could manage that. Maybe Desi.), they finagled some additional changes that please me, and I ended up with a flight I originally looked at that was $150 more than what I booked. Thanks, Delta!

Anyway. So, I guess I'm running a marathon. In, like, 48 hours.

I have really, really simple goals.

Goal A: Finish, without being dead

Goal B: Don't hate it (or my friends that are running with me)

Goal C: Sub 5, and maybe 11-ish avg pace (puts me at 4:48, but sub-5 is all I'm asking for)


I toyed around extensively with McMillan post PCRF PR and the 5k PR a few weeks ago, and with my Yasso's right before that, and the consensus was 4:35-ish is doable.

But the more I thought about trying to race for 26 miles, the less fun that sounded.

26.2 miles is hella far.

And despite training, you just never know what is going to happen, y'know?

So, yeah, I'm 100% taking the easy road. I've got a strategy, one that involves walking at certain times, and I'm cool with that.

I've got a couple other races in the next 7-8 months, and plenty of time to work on speed and figuring out how my body actually for REAL handles the marathon distance. It would really suck (and probably mess with my tiny brain a bit) if Seattle was awful and I hated it. My plan is specifically designed to make it challenging a little bit, but mostly enjoyable. Hopefully I succeed.

My long runs were all successful. I started this training cycle in March (SOO LONG AGO!). My long runs, in order:
16 @ 11:18 avg pace
18 @ 12:10
20 @ 12:08
20 @ 11:33
16 @ 10:55
18 @ 11:14
22 @ 11:03 <---!!!!!

I put in 440 miles in this cycle. I bonked on that first 18. I jacked up my fueling and bonked HARD on that 22. I ran in the Hot, on that first 20. I ran in the rain, on that first 16. I ran 18 miles after work, unfueled and tired.

My playlist is ready, with 5 hours of every Lemonheads/Evan Dando song recorded. I only kind of wish I made that up. Shannon, that's #real.

So I guess I'm prepared. I'm guessing at LEAST I won't die.

Right?

*******************************************************************************

Friday, I'll be at the Expo around 1:30 and plan on hitting the Tall Mom meetup at 3, and the Brooks/Online Shoes event Friday evening. Hope to meet some internet friends this weekend, and excited to run with some of my favorite people on Saturday!

Alma is taking me to eat delicious things on Sunday, because she is awesome. I mean, she does know Evan Dando, so how could she NOT be.

Cheers to not dying, friends.

Three Things Thursday

ONE
I guess complaining for the world to see is what it takes to snap me out of a running funk?

I don't want to speak too soon, but both of my runs this week have been.... good?? Trust me, I'm knocking on wood while I type this one-handed.

It's been so long since running felt GOOD, I'd forgotten what that was like. It's a welcome change, I tell you what...


TWO
In case you missed it, I'm fundraising for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, in honor of my daughter, Gabby, who is currently nearing the end of her leukemia treatment.

I choose to fundraise for PCRF, because I believe - strongly - in their mission: “To bring hope and lifesaving treatments to children battling cancer.” 

Last night, I attended the Team Captain kick off event, as we head into the fundraising season.
 

The things that PCRF does with the money donated - it makes a difference. It makes a difference in lives of children fighting cancer RIGHT NOW.

One of the statistics shared last night was regarding non-hodkins lymphoma. The treatement protocol for NHL used to be 2 years of rigorous chemo, sometimes radiation, and resulted in a 40% survival rate.

Today, the treatment is 90 days, and a 95% survival rate.

These changes are because of studies that PCRF has funded.

I'm asking for help, in a few ways:
If you're local, and not already committed to OC Marathon, I'd love to have you join Team Gab on May 5th - you can click here to learn more about the Reaching for the Cure events (there's a half, 10k, 5k, and 5k walk). Team Gab is open to anyone.

If you're not local, join the Second Annual Team Gab Virtual Race! In addition to MEDALS this year, there are great prizes donated by Nuun, PRO Compressino, Aspaeris, Team Sparkl, and BIC Bands. Click HERE to register. There is some chatter of an OC fun run/picnic/margarita/beer festivity on March 9th, as well.

If you're not a runner/walker/cyclist/swimmer/hopscotcher - you can still donate! Click HERE to make your tax deductable donation to PCRF.

As always - THANK YOU. It truly, truly makes a difference, not just for this one.

But also for the 28 other kids who will be diagnosed with cancer TODAY (stats here)


FINALLY, on a happier note....
I don't really pay attention to the "stats" for my blog - but I sometimes glance through search terms that lead people here, just out of curiosity.

Some of my favorites over the last month:

does evan dando have kids? - Oh, Evan.....
batgirl las vegas 2010 - wasn't me
funny boob names for races - confused. are you naming your boobs? naming your team after boobs?
how to be really fast runner in 365 days - sorry, my friend. wrong blog.....
why is bridge being a little bitch - haaaa. why, indeed.
zebragiraffe - what?
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - sounds rough....
cim neighbour bilding an ark - an ark? they might have needed it, with the typhoon and all...
forehead wrinkles - are you talking about my TV boyfriend, Agent Michael Vaughn?!
jabberwocky creature - intrigued.
little forehead wrinkles - are you with that guy, up there?
super sexy make out ideas - sorry, friend, I've been married 15 years. I'm all out of ideas (also, I have children who read the internet machine, so I wouldn't share them here if I did have ideas)

And, strangely enough, one of my most frequently viewed posts? The one I did about my grocery shopping for $75 a week. 

Huh. Maybe lifestyle blogging brings in the cashflow more than medicore runner blogging....

Playing catch-up

Hi!

So, listen. Since I've been SAHM'ing, I've been a little.... lost? I don't necessarily "define" myself as a working-mom, but I have been working for a long time. The adjustment to being a full-time, at home parent has been jarring, honestly. Not bad, mind you, just.... different. I definitely enjoy the face time with the kids, and - DEFINITELY - the freeeeee time I have, now that the kids are back at school.

But for the first time in ages, I'm not really on a schedule, besides Gab's school schedule. I have so much free time, I kind of get overwhelmed and freeze because I don't know what to do with it all. That sure sounds like crazypeople talk.

Anyway, with all this freeeeeee time, you'd think I could at least be running some decent miles. AND YET.

This is what lazyass looks like

I'm partially convinced that my problem is that I had no races coming up - #1's cross country scheduling made fall plans mighty tricky for racing - so I've picked a December half, and start training..... Monday. Whee. 

With that, I guess, Plan for the Week is making a comeback!

Monday: 3 mi easy, XT

Tuesday: 6 mi, speed

Wednesday: XT

Thursday: 5 easy

Friday: 8 (with middle miles race pace), XT

Saturday: rest

Sunday: 3 easy or rest

I have kept up on the video trifecta (Tank Top Arms, Core, Glutes/Thighs), so at least there's that? (And, ps, I DO have muscle in my arms, and and AND I did full pushups - not on my knees - so I guess those videos do work....).

In other news....

As I said, #1 joined cross country at her high school, and is busy being so fast. They train hard, they train a LOT, and she's made amazing improvements already. When she started going to camp, her 5k time on July 4th was 24:xx (her 5k PR from Chapman 2011 was 22:08). At an invitational last weekend, she came in sub-20 in a 3 mile race. 

I would probably puke, if I didn't die first. 

I don't want to brag (lie), but she's killing it - she's already been asked to run varsity, and I'm really excited to watch the rest of her season. Which races every single weekend. All of the weekends. All over Southern California. 

Every weekend. 

Excitingly, #2 has expressed an interest in going running, too, so I am hoping to log some easy miles with her this week. 

And Gab has been accompanying us to some of the races, and mostly spends her time being like this. 

Grass Angels? 

And in non-kid news, remember my infatuation with Evan Dando last year? After an 18 month dry-spell in the SoCal tour front, Evan finally returned to OC this weekend, and man, it was glorious. 

Of note, that is NOT the infamous black shirt he wore for 6 months straight in 2011-2012, his voice sounds AMAZING, and he is seemingly clean and sober. Thank goodness. 

And, finally, I am for SURE an old, old, old person.

I have a really FUN story to share another day about annoying people. 

My favorite day of the week is grocery store circular day. 

All the small things

There are so many exciting things happening, I barely even know how to start!

1. Work is still great. Part of what I do involves searching up things that land me at stuff like this

I lol'ed for like five minutes.

2. I just bought tickets to see BFF Evan Dando (and Psychadelic Furs) next week at Downtown Disney. This is, like, sensory overload, these are all of my most favorite things! 

3. AND THEN I was lamenting to The H that it had been awhile since I'd seen Mighty Mighty Bosstones on the west coast, so I googled, and SURPRISE FOR ME, they'll be here in December! So psyched. 

4. XC season is coming to an end - our league finals were last week, and we came in 3rd in the league. Next weekend they head out to Mt. Sac for Southern Section prelims, and I anticipate the following week, they'll be heading to Finals. I don't think states are in the cards for them this year, but.... it could be close!

5. I haven't publicly discussed it too much, but #1 has had a tough season. I think (and her coaches agree) she's just a bit overtrained and her legs aren't recovering very well - her times got slower and slower (lol at 19:30 for 3 miles being slow), and her legs felt tireder and tireder. After a week of intensive massage, stretch, roll, and ice, she finally bounced back a bit for the league finals. Her confidence has taken a bit of a hit the last few weeks, so I'm really glad she had a strong race to close out the season, before heading into post-season competition. 

I believe the haircut is what worked a magic run fast spell on her. 

It takes sole.

6. I cross-trained 4 days last week, and ran twice, so Desi and Shalane should just step aside right now, because I'm the Greatest Athlete Ever.

7. Related to Desi/Shalane, I wish Kara would stop crying. But I have a cold, dead heart.

8. I am DYING DYING DYING for a race-cation. I can't find a spring/fall race that I'm obsessed with, though. Sad times.

9. This time change is not the greatest. I keep waking up toooooo early, and one day last week, I made cookies by 6am. Lame-slash-awesome.

10. THE END.

FYTO5K Recap, and PFTW

First, Team Gab is only $326 away from 1st place fundraising team for Pediatric Cancer Research!!! I've gotten a TON of Virtual Race recaps sent in, so if I haven't replied to you already, I'm sorry, I've been super swamped the last week.

If you haven't joined yet, you can CLICK HERE to run the Team Gab Virtual Race Fundraiser for Pediatric Cancer Research. And, don't forget, BIC Bands will be donating a portion of their January and February proceeds to PCRF as well! I wore mine on Sunday at Tinker Bell, and sweartoheavens it is the first band to not fall off of my janky weird shaped head.
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Adam at The Boring Runner hosted the 2nd Annual Freeze Your Thorns Off Virtual Race. Last year, I missed the race because Gab was still in the hospital. This year, I dedicated my first 5K of the Tinker Bell Half Marathon to FYTO5K. Ironic, since it was a jillion thousand degrees yesterday.

I am not entirely sure how to do this recap, without spoiling the Tinker Bell recap, so for now, I'll say this.

This was the FUNNEST 5K I've ever run.

I love being matchy matchy.

It was very sparkly. I had no idea I could adore Team Sparkle more than I did before. But I do.

And it was almost as if we didn't even run......

Yep. Official 5K time, 1:08:40. I blacked out everything else, because that will be in the full recap.

***************************************************************************
PFTW

Last week recap:
Tuesday: 6 miles outside with the new Garmin(!!!!!), 1:03:30 (yeah, that's less than the time FYTO5K took....)
Sunday: Tink, 13.68 miles (oops)

I skipped my speed work day (lame). I was tired, and getting this cold, and then I had too much going on and I'm a lame-o loser run skipper. Oh wells.

This week:
Monday: maaaaaaybe an easy 3 (or 4?).
Tuesday: 6 easy
Thursday: 6 miles speed work
Friday: 8 mile long run with BECKA! Didn't I JUST see her, you ask? Why yes, yes I did. And I'm going to Colorado this weekend to see her again. And my BFF Evan Dando. Yeah. That's right.

And there may be a 5K on Sunday. Possibly. If I don't die of frostbite or something first.

Things I Love.

1. Bollywood.

{source}

2. Okapi's. Zebra? Giraffe? DON'T KNOW!

{source}

3. Evan Dando covering Whitney Houston.

{source}

4. Poppies.

5. Pineapple.

{source}

6. Once Upon a Time.

{source}

7. Blackjack.

{source}

8. Alias.

{source}

9. Mountains, streams, waterfalls, and meadows.

10. Cooking delicious things.

11. That things like this can come from running, and writing about running.

{click HERE to donate to Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation}

12. Friends - internet and IRL - that truly *get* me.

13. These fools.

14. And this one, too.