M is for Marathons.... and Mexico! and Mangoes!

Just as marathon training is about to officially start, I had to go to Mexico. Had to. Like going on vacation is a bad thing, right? Ha! 

Honestly I was a little concerned about being gone for 10 days just when I needed to start 'building my foundation,' so to say.  My family and I left on Thursday, June 19th, for a trip south of the border for the 15th birthday celebration of a family friend, Laurie.   I'll take more time to blog about the experience of being in Mexico for the first time and all the fun stuff that goes along with it (tacos for every meal, cheap cerveza, deciphering what eve

ryone is saying, toilets that don't flush... yes, even that

) but I'm a bit too tired right now. So... to be continued!

I will say that the title of this posting is derived from the experience of my solo quality run while away.  At our resort there was a gorgeous golfing range that was off limits to joggers.  So I, of course, had to run around this path when the golfers di

sappeared for the night.   I did two laps on the large range, which is approximately 4 miles, and about 20 minutes along the way I came across a mango tree with fresh, luscious mangoes lying all around it. Mind you, I really, really like this fruit which, in the U.S., is pretty pricey and rare (nowadays it's $1.50 for one mango.  I used to pay $1 for 3 at Devon Market just a few years back! Sheesh!).  So to stumble upon a plentiful plethora of free, ripe mangoes kind of made me want to stop running and happily weep. And eat. Okay, it's an exaggeration but still... 

Anyway, I did not, in fact, stop; I did continue on m

y run. But the mangoes along the trail coupled with a magnificent setting sun that painted the whole sky a vibrant orange, then pink, and finally mauve,  kind of made running in Mexico really peaceful.  I was hot, and drenched, and weak, but man, was I happy.

Those Nike Ads

And now the marathon is stalking me wherever I go. Guess that means it's time to hit the pavement! Although I've traded in my ol' pair of purple Nikes for some sweet New Balance kicks (pink, with 15% of proceeds going towards breast cancer research. Awesome!), I can't help but love the Nike ads I've seen around town: on the el platform, in the train, at bus stops.

They're clever and many ring true. The first I saw said something like, "You're beautiful when you sweat." Hell yeah!

Nike put out the ads since its the official apparel sponsor for the Chicago Marathon this year. It's maintaining a pretty cool site that I recommend any runner to check out. I've decided to use the beginner training schedule too, since the workouts are more appropriate for what I can handle (some of the other beginner schedules were way, way too simple).

Nike is even hosting free running groups that meet virtually every day in a different spot in the city, including down Taylor Street at the Starbucks. Sweeet. I am stoked.

Hot, hot, hot!

I strapped on my new pink New Balance shoes and went out for a casual run today around 5pm. Talk about summer! 3 miserable miles of sweat, heat and blinding sun. I collapsed in my bed exhausted after such a short run. Ad commented that it's too hot to run. I disagreed. No such thing, this is what the whole summer will be like. And there aren't any excuses.

A weekend full of firsts

This title is slightly misleading because its suggestive optimism clouds the fact that I was in bed sick all weekend with food poisoning or the flue (which, if it was the former, then it was a first too!). Regardless, Chicago had its first two consecutive weekend days of glorious weather -- woo hoo! Saturday and Sunday were perfect for running, or being outdoors at the very least (both of which I did not do due to the aforementioned circumstances. Sucks, I know!).

I bought my first pair of running shoes for this summer, and can say I am super-stoked to stap them on and hit the pavement.

Also, I recieved my first two donations from two former instructors: my Communication prof, Sister Mary Pat H. of Loyola University Chicago, and French teacher, Madame Jancys of Queen Peace High School. A huge MERCI to these wonderful women for getting the summer started right. I think I'm starting to feel better already. :)