Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Friends DO Let Friends Fart

Running tip: Find a buddy or a running group to run with. The best way to not skip your workout is to have others who hold you accountable. You may be able to let yourself off the hook, but it’s tougher to not show up knowing everyone will be talking about what a wimp and loser you are during their 16 mile run.

I met up with fellow bloggers Jill and Tara for Sunday's long run (16 miles). I’ll tell you the best thing about running with people who you’ve never met in person, but who know you from your blog: they already know so much about you, that there is no “breaking in” period. As in, I could have pretty much shown up and taken a dump right in the REI parking lot and neither Tara nor Jill would have batted an eye. (That's me and Jill ->)

It was great to finally meet these girls. After all, I knew we had at least three things in common: running, blogging, geographics. How bad could it be? I was a bit nervous though, kind of like a blind date. What if I can’t keep up? What if they think I’m really weird? What if they try to get to second base (just kidding, that was blind date talk). What if they go to play on the jungle gym and leave me alone on the swings (oh, sorry, having a third grade flashback). At least I didn’t have to worry about farting and stuff, ‘cause like I said, that’s what would be expected of me.

All my fears were laid to rest when I met Jill and Tara. Both were so nice, friendly, easy to be with. We started uphill for a bit just to see if Tara, who had a pulmonary embolism back in the fall, was faking it. She wasn't, and I really felt badly for her. Indeed, she was having some lung issues (that’s a nice way of saying that she coughed up her lung and left it on the curb), so she stayed with us for four miles, then decided to call it a day. Here's me and Tara holding hands and becoming BFFs.


Before we said goodbye to Tara for a bit, the girls were nice enough to let me stop for a short crap:Can you see Tara's pit stain?:

After saying goodbye to Tara, Jill and I trekked our way through Denver on the Cherry Creek Path, through the county club neighborhood (those people with those amazing mansions and big trees – they are SO not happy), and Cheeseman park, or gay-central, of Denver. There’s this really cool platform thing with columns (I think it dates back to B.C.), so I needed a pic with our city in the background.

Jill was a great running partner. Unlike me, she is quite the experienced runner, having run many marathons and four in the past year alone. She BQ’d several times this past year, and is a certified running coach. I always enjoy talking to runners about their races, their training and what works for them. Nice that we had 16 miles to chat!

Jill and I wound our way back to downtown Denver and hit 16 miles right at the doorstep of the best little coffee shop, The Market ->. Tara was waiting for us there with her laptop and her spilled latte all over the table. Bad lungs and clumsy! But, we do love her regardless. Jill drooled over sweets:


I had some swigs of wine (this picture is so gross – I look like such a prepubescent boy. But like Tara said, if we weighed more we would have boobs but we wouldn’t run as fast. If an actor played me in a movie it would probably be Macaulay Culkin from Home Alone. Hello plastic surgery people: how about giving me a boob job to review?):

Tara had a beer and I love her for that:

I ate a croissant sandwich the size of my head (another unflattering picture I look like I need an IV or at least some makeup):

We said our goodbyes, but not before giving the Barista man favors to take our picture (you can fantasize about any favors you want. And no, I have no clue why this guy in the background is asleep):

Overall, a great day spent in great company. It's just great great great great. GREAT. Here's me saying great great.

Drinking: Starbucks Gold Coast coffee

45 comments:

  1. Sounds like you guys had a great run! It's always fun to meet up with other people to run with. I totally laughed when you talked about Cheeseman park a.k.a gay central. I remember when my husband and I first moved to Denver and we went to that park. We couldn't figure out why there were so many men sitting in their cars?! We had a good laugh when we figured out the reason...ha ha!

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  2. Geez one more laugh with a third viewing of the same picture. that guy in the background is funny considering you three were most likely laughing it up the whole time. all the while he was keeping his face from nodding off into his soup bowl.

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  3. I follow Tara's blog, and when I read her post last night I realized it was you! How fun for you guys, I've got some NY blog friends, and I would love to run with them someday!

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  4. What a great day! So nice you made two new bloggy friends to run with and I am SO jealous of your city. Beautiful view.
    Good 16 miles!

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  5. "if we weighed more we would have boobs but we wouldn’t run as fast." Best line ever! Someone needs to make a t-shirt saying that for all us itty-bitty committee! :D

    Hooray for new friends!

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  6. You are hilarious!! I love the pics..I literally laughed out loud!
    What a fun run! It would be great to meet up with some other bloggy runners...I haven't found many in my area that blog yet.

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  7. That sounds like a pretty cool day! Running in Colorado is so much prettier than running in good 'ol Waco.

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  8. That sounds like such a fun time!! I loved all of those pics...felt like I was there. :)

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  9. Awwwwww yay! I'm so excited ya'll met up and ran together! How fun! When I come to Denver this winter to visit my pops ya'll better meet up with me too! :)

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  10. Looks like a really fun first date. I really need to get a running partner. :)

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  11. I love that guy sleeping in the background!

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  12. What a fun blogger meet-up. So glad it was better than most blind dates! Love the pics!!

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  13. That was great. Did I mention it was great?

    You are so funny. I'm happy that you all got to run together.

    After a run I always look like I need an IV...makeup won't fix my after run looks!

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  14. If you get that boob job to review, ask for one to giveaway! When I'm done breastfeeding I am going to need to win that!

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  15. hahah love the pictures and commentary on the run. sounds like you guys all had a blast!

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  16. I found your blog by way of "According to Berni" and was happy to see that you are in Denver!!! I'm in Highlands Ranch, also a blogger and also training for the Colorado Colfax Marathon! Small world... too funny! I just did my 14 miler last weekend so I thoroughly enjoyed reading your 16 mile recap. I run often in Denver w/ my running buds around Wash and Cheesman Parks! I'll have to keep an eye out for you... And be sure not to run downwind! ;)

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  17. Hahaha, girl...you can definitely write up an excellent recap of an excellent day quite well! You forgot the part that even though I've run a bagillion races, I still was sucking a few lungs up on the hills. And yea, we need no boobs to get in the way, 10 lbs of extra boob = 8 minutes slower/marathon time. Or those numbers may be switched not sure. Anyhoo, it was a great time and I enjoyed it a lot! Hope you recovered well and ready to tackle your next long run!! We'll hook up soon!

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  18. Ahahha, love the sleeping guy in the background of the last pic

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  19. I have already read both Jill's and Tara's recap of your crazy blogger meet up!! It looks like it was so much fun:) I love it when I am able to meet other bloggers...you are right..it is like you already feel like you know them from their blogs!

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  20. You are 3 totally different gals with 3 fun stories to tell! Hey, how about "air" boobs with the fluffy look, minus the pounds. No hugging or poking though..pop!
    So glad you three had fun, thanks for sharing the fun and the pictures:)!

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  21. You are so right about the boobs. My ginormous ones are the only reason I run so slowly. Yep, they're weighing me down.

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  22. yeahhh for blogger meet ups! the line "boob job review" had me cracking up!

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  23. so jealous of your runner blogger meet up! i wish that i had some bloggers closer to me! :) cute pics too!

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  24. That was a great post, just great :)
    So jealous all you biotches got to meet up and run together - almost makes me want to move to Denver! LOL!
    And I hadn't noticed the sleeping guy in the last photo when I looked at it on Jill and Tara's blog! I think I need to get my eyes checked! Great run girly!

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  25. Oh my goodness - I am laughing way too hard at the "McCaulay Culkin" comment!

    Glad you had a great running blogger meetup. Looks like you had an awesome time!

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  26. That looks like it was so much fun!!! And the sandwich made me hungry...Thanks :P

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  27. How fun! You guys are hilarious in your pictures. I need to find a running buddy...

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  28. Great pictures! So fun! The guy sleeping in the background is hilarious! I think I can see drool.

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  29. You are a fartaholic - there, I said it.

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  30. HAHA! Great post :) Looks like you all had a great time.

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  31. I love it when I can fart in front of someone right away, it really breaks the ice.
    I love the sleeping guy, hilarious!

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  32. Aww, so much fun! Great job on the run - sure looks like a great time!

    And yes, you do look a little sickly in the croissant pic. But it sure looks yummy!!

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  33. Wait, so did I miss it or did you NOT have a beer!? Lame.

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  34. oh this was a fantastic 16 mile report. you're hilarious. and i am in love with denver. period. so by default jealous you live and run there :) and yep, that sure was Fernando's in WP, GOOD LORD they have the best pizza! am i right?! soooooo good.

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  35. sounds like you guys had a blast!

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  36. How fun! I want to do a bloggy meet up one day! I am way too slow though :-)

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  37. I prefer certifiable coaches to certified ones.

    I'd go running with my blogging buddies, but they insist 6 AM is a good start time and 10 degrees is just fine.

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  38. Love the whole photo essay, and in particular, the asleep guy behind you. That is fantastic.

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  39. Hahaha! Great post woman! And you don't want a boob job, when I was on that Nuvaring (the one that almost killed me last year), I went up a cup size and those damn boobs were annoying. They would jiggle while I ran and drove me crazy. Being flat chested is the way to go!

    We need to plan another meet up soon! I'm going to get my lungs back in tip top shape.

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  40. Glad you guys hit it off. Running with buddies makes the whole experience far more bearable - even if you have to stop for each other's dumps.

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  41. Ha! That last picture is too funny.

    I wish I could write like you. I read every paragraph and am laughing... there is never a need to skim here. You should give us some blogging tips!

    I love meeting other bloggers for the same reasons! And running with them really makes the time fly by!

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  42. Sounds like a whole bunch of fun with great friends.

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