Nashville’s Country Music Marathon

Wow – one year ago yesterday I ran my first (and only to date) half marathon (which actually set me on the path of blogging). I was so sick with food poisoning I didn’t have fun at all. But this year I think I would have liked it. Past Monday, I called to see if I could register – just to do it, you know! – and they organizers had capped participation at 23,000 half-marathon participants. YIKES!

The Country Music Marathon is a blast and it is getting super-duper popular since Nashville is an easy destination to get to and there is a lot of fun stuff to do, not to mention the marathon itself is a blast with bands lined up all around the course. In reality, the bands are lined up all around the half-marathon course. The full marathon course is sparsely attended by runners and fans alike and fairly challenging so I don’t believe there to be a ton of stuff going on in the back 13.1m. Ugh – and I LOATHED my training runs on the back half of the course, over the river and through the hood. Bad.

This year, I was a mere spectator. Hopped on my bike @ 7a.m. and rode over to Belmont to meet up with the Hedges to support our friends and colleagues. Shanan, of course, came prepared with non-fancy champy for Kir Royales to toast the physical prowess of those around us. We saw a LOT of people we knew run by – I was looking for my friend Rachael Rowland who was my running buddy last year, but I never saw her. I was bummed out about that. I really wanted to cheer her on. But I did see Marshall, who I work out with every morning, and was glad to see she was strong and in good humor at mile 7. HALF WAY, BABY! I put her picture on flickr so check it out. We saw Eddie George running with a 6-person security detail. Hilarious. But I can’t hate on him – he is an amazing athlete (and SO TALL) and a Buckeye – HOLLA! I seriously heart him.

After watching two hours of people first whipping by, then running by, then struggling by, then laboring by, then walking by, we (me, Shanan, and Anne) decided to call it a morning and go to the fair grounds for the monthly flea market. I wasn’t looking for anything other than entertainment.

Boy did I get it. Never in my life have I seen so many MORBIDLY OBESE people. I kind of got really mad – I mean, they are going to be a serious serious drain on our healthcare system in years to come (b/c these were people of ALL ages). For-profit healthplans will insure these individuals, who are often times poor or of lower income, and it will be MY premiums that go up. I think there should be a tax break or something for people who maintain their weight within a certain healthy range – yes, I know that is TOTALLY impossible to regulate and police. But something has to be done – this was a pit of adult onset diabetes and heart disease and lifestyle related cancer and just nasty fatness. I can guarantee these people haven’t seen their genitalia in years.

Anne and Shanan, after having their fill of the fair, wanted to go have drinks with lunch. I opted out and went to the gym to run 6 miles (almost a quarter marathon! LOLz) – and thought about how I never wanted to get heart disease.

Where’s the Beef?!

OH THE HORROR!!! Wendy’s has closed the first Wendy’s ever opened! Dave Thomas is rolling over in his GRAVE! Earlier this year Wendy’s closed the first store Dave Thomas opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. Now the No. 3 burger chain is considering selling the chain entirely as net income fell 71% in the first quarter. DAYUM!

OH. MY. GOD. NO.

Sure, downtown Columbus is a total dump, sure no one goes to City Center Mall, but dang, y’all! Why you gotta go closin’ down the first ever Wendy’s?!This is the worst possible news (you know, besides all that Iraq war stuff)! I love Wendy’s! I love dipping their french fries into my frosty. Shoot, I remember when they had those crazy beads for curtains. I looooove their food and passionately HAAAAATE McDonalds. I don’t think the answer to winning hearts and minds (let alone profitability) lies in selling out. They need to embrace a cause, be it corporate social responsibility, global diabetes awareness (just a thought!), childhood fitness – something! But a sellout? That’s for weak, reactionary bitches. Buck up and get a strategy. PS: that little purchase of Baja Fresh was kinda off message and reactionary to McD’s Chipotle success. Not super helpful.

Here’s to Dave T…and knowing how to make delicious fast food that is the best in the industry. PLEASE don’t loose the #3 spot to Hardee’s. WTF?!?!? (Now there’s a turn-around for ya…)

O-Town Is So Sad…

“Gators swamp Buckeyes for second straight title”…I wouldn’t say a nine-point difference is exactly a swamp. But it is a win. *ucK&rs. I mean, even Vandy beat Flo-retards. So disappointing. I hope most of the team comes back next season. Looks like it would be quite promising. But here’s to my team.

Oh come let’s sing Ohio’s praise
And songs to Alma Mater raise
While our hearts rebounding thrill
With joy which death alone can still
Summer’s heat or winter’s cold
The seasons pass the years will roll
Time and change will surely (truly) show
How firm thy friendship … OHIO!

Can’t Watch

Ok – I cannot watch this basketball game. For the second time this year, my team, my Buckeyes are playing the Floretards and I just can’t watch. What are the freaking odds? How is this possible? Florida fans think its a lock, but….sounds suspiciously like what happened in January….

Did I Call It?

Yes, yes I did. On February 18, I just knew in my bones this would happen: Ohio State and University of Florida (Floretards) meet again in a National Championship bout, but this time for basketball. Can you believe it? What are the freakin odds???

This Might Be Awkward

This is NOT a basketball blog – but I am in LOVE with the tournament. Don’t worry, this too shall pass.

It looks as though Ohio State will be facing Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen. I want to revisit yesterday’s man-sized non-flagrant foul by Greg Oden. He always looks like a giant playing amongst children out there, but yesterday, he looked like Godzilla rampaging through a Japanese fishing village (ありがとう,あばずれ = domo arigato, bitches). WOOT! Seriously, watch that joker go flying!
Now, was this a “non-flagrant foul”? According to NCAA.com, “a flagrant personal foul shall be a personal foul that involves severe or excessive contact with an opponent or involves contact that is extreme in nature while the ball is live”. Take a peek, and you decide. Frankly, I am all for a physical game. Big + Strong = entertaining (to me). And I look forward to Wednesday’s match up. However, things around work are gonna get a little, um, awkward.

How ‘Bout Dem Bucks

Well, well, well…What a game versus Xavier! First let me say, I hate Cincinnasty and all things that come from there mostly – except Skyline chili. Sorry, gang…lived there and hated it. Anyway, Xavier is a Cincy school and a pretty good basketball team, traditionally. As much as I loathe them, I thought Xav had those Bucks iced. Oden was shut down, we couldn’t buy a basket, just terrible ball. Justin Cage and Justin Doellman had harassed Oden into a lackluster performance, holding him to 14 points and 12 rebounds. Grr.
With just 2 minutes left in the game, I had to change the channel. My team does better when I’m not watching. But, I kept refreshing Yahoo to see the score. I saw that with just 43 seconds left in the game, the Buckeyes had pulled up to 59 (to Xavier’s 61). OH SNAP! Had to watch! But I couldn’t if I wanted the Buckeyes to win. So I turned on the shower. And wouldn’t you know, Lewis put up a rainbow and scored a huge three-pointer at the end of regulation, sending it to OT, baby!! I hopped in the shower and took my time (or what I thought was taking my time). When I got out, oh hell, with 12 seconds left in the game, Ohio State was up 78 to 71. What a comeback – glad I didn’t watch. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
WE’RE GOING TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN! GO BUCKEYES! WOOT!

Duke Goes Down Like Divine Brown

I was on the edge of my seat last night watching Duke loose to underdog, Virigina Commonweath. Weren’t you all?? I’ll admit, my bracket had Duke moving forward – but I screamed with glee (much to Frank’s consternation) each time VCU scored and hollered like a man when the final buzzer rang!
Honestly, one common thread in every Duke loss this season has been the strength of the backcourt of each oppponent who claimed victory. Walker, Maynor, and Pellot-Rosa all earned all conference nods in the post season awards and all three have shown the ability to take over games throughout the season. And, boy!, did they last night!! I couldn’t be happier and I don’t even care about Duke, UNC, UK or any of the NCAA basketball stars like those guys.

I wonder if this is what it feels like for other people when Ohio State looses a big football game…

Why I No Longer Live In Ohio

You all know that I seriously heart my Buckeyes. I mean, LURVES! A friend of mine who still lives in Ohio sent me a link to these jokers and their video – to get me in the mood for Thursdays b-ball game. It is funny to see all the places I hung out in college, and I do feel proud to say I am a Buckeye fan – but these dudes! These dudes! They are SO midwestern – the unshaven faces, 17 1/2 inch neck, pudgy middle, faux rapping!! UGH! So true, so scary, so Ohio. Bless their hearts! AND GO BUCKEYES!!

Go Bucks Go Bucks Go Bucks

Today at 12 noon eastern, 11 a.m. central time, top ranked Ohio State takens on the $hitbags from up north at the United Center in Chicago in the Big 10 tourney. Long lunch anyone?
Better still, only hours until SELECTION SUNDAY! Let’s hope my Buckeyes can avenge our loss in the desert. Stay tuned…the Final Four play out in the ATL…which is only 3.5 hours from NashVegas. It’s getting hot in herre!