Target Field!

I'm back, y'all.

It was a busy and super sweet weekend. Elizabeth came to West Des Moines on Thursday night. We ran a quick 2.02 miles together. It sure was nice to run with a partner, especially someone so beautiful! (Low-fat brownie points?)

On Friday, we went to Rochester, MN, Elizabeth's hometown, and spent the night there. I got in the mandatory, doing 1.08 miles with the intent that I'd get up and do a longer run the next morning. I did do a longer one, but not as long as I intended. I squeezed in 8.16 miles in just over an hour, running a 7:35 pace. I was surprised by how fast I had run it, but there was still the fear hanging over my head that I'll be running a marathon and might not get in some decently long runs.

Later on Saturday, Elizabeth's family and I went to Target Field in Minneapolis to see the Twins host the Athletics. It was a great game. I even bought a Joe Mauer jersey shirt so I could support the home team. The Twins won 2-0. The ballpark was gorgeous, and it easily beat my lone memory of the Metrodome, my first MLB experience. That game even had a couple of boyhood heroes--Ken Griffey Jr. and Kirby Puckett--in it, and still, this one topped it. I can't wait to go back next season!

On Sunday, Elizabeth and some of her friends, who I guess I could now call my friends, went to Valley Fair in Minneapolis. It's cool amusement park. We must have went on five or six roller coasters, and a couple of them (okay, all of them) either left me fearing for my life or nauseous. What a great way to spend a day. I'll consider going back to that place again... maybe.

Elizabeth and I drove back down to West Des Moines that evening. I got home, ran 1.01 miles, and went to bed early. Tonight, Monday evening, I went out and conquered large portions of the Des Moines area. I put in 14.48 miles--my longest yet for the blog--and at a decent pace, 8:26 per mile. It took me 122 minutes and 20 seconds to finish. I should have just spent that time watching a movie or doing something more pleasurable. But I'm seeing some high mileage now, and it feels good to know that I'm not too far off track. I've also earned a few days of one-milers as rest. Whoopee!

Sorry for not posting over the long weekend!