Friday Random Bullets

Just me and my shadow, out for our long run


• I've been somewhat sick *cough cough* this week; I actually had to take a couple days of legit illness sick days.  I like to save those for guys for um, personal long run days, dangit.
• Ryan ran his last XC meet last night, beating out several strong JV runners and placing 10th overall on the team and 1st, by far, of all freshmen.  He dropped 4 minutes on his 5K time since the start of the season and has come a long way in perfecting his running form, which used to mimic something of a flailing crazed person running from a fire. Will be interesting to see how he progresses over the year.  The men's team, as a whole, are now ranked #3 in the state.  Incredible!
• Insurance update:  Denied.  Final Word.  I won't go into the whole illogical and irrational explanation they provided me, I don't want this blog to be a tyrant about what's wrong with health care in this fabulous country of ours, but I am done!  A good lawyer friend of mine in Chicago told me to fight it, they are legally in the wrong, but I can't.  To fight it will take many, many months and I have wasted 7 precious ones already impatiently waiting because I believed in the system.  I no longer do and I don't want to lie awake at night anymore wondering.  I have some things brewing that will bring me some insurance - not the insurance I want, and it may involve a job shift at school, which I do not want, but at least it's insurance.  Stressful to say the least, but I now have my answer and I know to move forward, however painful it is. 
• While I'm on a roll of all things wrong with the world, here's another gem.  Everything was squared with my daughter's college tuition: scholarship, grant, financial aid and my checkbook had us all paid up to date for the year.  So I thought.  A couple weeks ago I started getting love letters from the Bursar's office stating we still owed $9900.  I got to spend 2 of my quality sick days this week on the phone figuring out that someone, somewhere, somehow forgot a 0 (that's a "zero") when entering her scholarship funds so instead of $11,000 she was awarded, the school only certified $1100.  "Ms Runwithjill, if you would please deposit $9900 in your daughter's account, we will investigate this further and see if we can figure out how to obtain that money that is apparently no longer available and refund you if said funds become available again."  Hahahahahahahahahhahahahaahaaaaaa.  That's so funny!
• Ever have one of those long runs where you knew ahead of time it was going to be in the toilet?   Or am I the only blessed one?  As mentioned, not feeling very well this week, barely ran since that lung gagging 2-mile race last weekend, not sleeping much left me totally lethargic on today's 15.  And for that precious cherry on top, mile 12 had my heel, the one that's been behaving for awhile now, totally paralyzing me.  LOVELY! 
• 'Twas a gorgeous autumn day in Denver, though, with spectacular views of fresh snow on the front range, which I got to look at while I contemplated cutting my foot off with nothing but my fingernail.  I never tire looking at these babies.



A little off center, but this is the trail I run on frequently; probably a huge source of my sinus issues!



• A HUGE "GOOD LUCK" to my friend, and business partner (better, Andrew?), Chris, who is running the Des Moines Marathon on Sunday.  This is his first marathon and only his 3rd race in the incredible one year he's been running.  I am so excited and won't even care about my desolate run today when he crosses that finish line in one marvelous time!  Click here and wish him well - and it's his birthday - woohooo.
• Another honorable shout-out to Andrew, my newest addition in the business world, GO ANDREW and ROCK that 10K!!!!!  10K's in Canada are the same here in America - in case you all were wondering?! I'm really excited for him, he's just started running this summer and I love all his questions.  Questions means knowledge and as a girl who drove my old trainer up the wall with her incessant inquisitions, I get it! 
• Sunday is the Denver Marathon (sorry Beth :( ).  I will be attempting to reel in, and keep on pace, my neighbor and dear friend, Jim, as he attacks the race that left him miserably dehydrated last year.  I'm a wee-bit worried I'm going to fail - I am FAR from his pace anymore.  JIM, please don't make me run uphill at a pace starting with an 8!!  The COOL thing, though - tomorrow is a blog meet-up lunch with Adam (I am boring), Beth (Shut up and Run) and Tara (Colorado Runner).  Looking forward to meeting Adam, and praying for him that the lack of O2 molecules don't mess up his kick-ass pace!! 
• Sorry for the double dot spacing....me and blogger are not good friends.

Happy Miles this weekend to all.  And luck and hugs to those racing: Katie A and Rad Runner Girl going for the full in Long Beach; L.B, Glenn and Slomo in the Long Beach half; Anna Marie and Bethany and Ryan doing the Baystate full; Marlene doing the Toronto Marathon; Marcia doing the Grand Rapids Half; Adam, Tina, Aimee, Jim, and my friend Craig in the Denver full; Shana and her hubby in the Denver half; and of course, Chris in Des Moines!  Go get 'em, guys!!  (sorry, I am way too lazy to link their blogs!  Feel free to wish them well here and I'll pass along the message :) ).  Woosh, that's a lotta racing this weekend!