The 5K Experience

I did it! I actually ran a 5K. I amaze myself sometimes. I was doubting myself the few days leading up to the run. I hesitate to call is a "race" because it's not like I'm trying to win. Let's face it, just finishing the race is enough for me.

So the day was perfect. My run started at 7:15am so it was still cool and low humidity. I had been worried that it was going to be super hot and super humid even that early. Running in humidity isn't fun. I feel like I can't breathe! Not a good feeling. I was planning on getting to the race about 6:30 so I'd have time to go pee and stretch. However, after getting lost in downtown Minneapolis after dropping off Joel, Aaron, and Salli at their 1/2 marathon starting spot, I didn't get to the starting line until 7:00am. Luckily, I still had time to pee. Stretching, not so much. I made sure to be near the back of the crowd so I wouldn't get trampled too early on. And off I went. The first 1/2 mile wasn't too fun because my muscles were a tad tight. After that it was pretty good. Until mile 2.5. Someone moved Mt Everest to Minneapolis. I turned a corner and WHAM. There's it was. Mt. Everest. And who should be there squatting at the bottom of the mountain? A photographer. Seriously? Who wants to be photographed while hot and sweaty. It was like a bad paparazzi. He wasn't even trying to hide. As I was contemplating the best way to scale the mountain, the guy snapped my picture. (I was e-mailed the picture later. I look annoyed. However, I was wearing my super comfy ESPRIT t-shirt circa 1994 so that was pretty awesome to see) About 1/2 way up the mountain/hill I realized my feet were moving but I wasn't going anywhere! So I had to walk up the dumb thing. Once I got past that, it was just another 1/2 mile or so to the finish line.

My time was pretty good, for my first race. I had a goal in my head of what my time would be. I beat it by 3 minutes. My next run is in October but I'm going to try to run another one in September. There's always random 5K races going on every weekend. I still can't say I love running. I don't, nor do I think I ever will. However, I'm getting a little better at it. I ran 3.5 miles the other day and I didn't die. That's quite an accomplishment for me! :)

Iowa State Fair

Let's just get this out in the open. I hate the State Fair. To me, it's a bunch of smelly rednecks and smellier animals thrown together in the August heat to ferment and cause even more smelliness. And the fried food? What the heck? Does America really need more obesity? Ok...I'm off my rant. This year my employer gave all of us free admission tickets to the fair as well as some free activity tickets. In years past when they've done this, I've given my tickets away. Joel and I hate going to the fair (see above rant for reasons why). This year however, Hannah is 4 and loves animals so we thought we'd give it a try. Even Noah being 1 is a trooper and will tag along anywhere as long as there's food involved. The day started out a little rocky. Our camera batteries died so we had to buy some there. $3.50 for 2 batteries! Had to be done though. Then my flip flop broke. Seriously, the strap that goes between your toes just came right through the shoe. Darn cheap Old Navy flip-flops. Of course I had had them for eons so I guess they'd done pretty well for a $2 shoe. So what to do when your shoe breaks? Go do the medical tent! Yep, I walked right in and asked if I could have some medical tape to fix my shoe. They didn't even blink. Just went to a drawer and pulled it out. I made a joke about using their medical training to fix a flip flop and he said he's fixed many shoes since the fair started! Seriously!? In the mean time, Joel scored some duct tape from the general store so between the 2 tapes, I was back in business. After that the day got much better. The kids absolutely LOVED everything we did which made it so much more enjoyable for me. The weather was really nice so it wasn't too smelly :) I don't know if we'll go every year but this was definitely the first year I've not wanted to bring scissors and cut off a mullet. :) Here are some pictures from the fun...

You can just see Noah's brain working. He's trying to figure out how to grab the butterfly and put it in his mouth...or demolish it.

She riding the pony. She seriously thought this was the best thing ever

Hannah riding the pony.

I seriously thought the camel was going to spit on us. He had disgusting teeth! Good thing Noah was keeping an eye on the situation.

Hannah and Noah kept running through the shooting water thing. They both got soaked but had a great time.

Attempting to get a good family picture. This is actually the best one. Poor Hannah was a smidge too short

Joel and Hannah going down the giant slide. She LOVED it!

Grandma and Hannah riding the sky glider.

Noah was tuckered out by the time we left

A Three Stooges Moment...

I'm sure everyone remembers the 3 stooges skit "Who's on First". Well, we had one of those moments in the Jernstad household tonight. A little background...

Hannah and Noah go to a wonderful in-home daycare on the days I'm working. One of the other girl's name is Morgan, who I think just turned 2. Morgan's niece, Lexie also goes there. Yes, I said niece. Morgan's mom, Gia was pregnant at the same time as her 17-year-old daughter. I can't remember her name so we'll just call her "baby mama", BM for short. :) Sometimes Gia will pick up both Morgan and Lexie from daycare, other times BM picks them both up. Here comes the confusion...

Hannah: Daddy, you need to go get another mommy.

Daddy: What??!!

Hannah: Yea, you need another mommy. Like Morgan and Lexie have 2 mommies.

Me: Hannah, do you think that Lexie's mommy and Morgan's mommy are both their mommies?

Hannah: Yea!

Me: Well, actually Lexie's mommy is Morgan's sister. So Morgan is Lexie's aunt.

Hannah: No she's not.

Daddy: Hannah, you know how Aunt Salli is mommy's sister? That's why you call her Aunt Salli. She's your aunt. Morgan is Lexie's mommy's sister so she's Lexie's aunt.

Hannah: What?

Me: Yes, Hannah. Just like Aunt Salli is your aunt, Morgan is Lexie's aunt.

Hannah: Mommy, an ant is a bug!

Me: *sigh*

Sometimes I hate the English language.