Was it something I said?

Just to get this out there, I'd like to mention that I neurotically check my blog for comments and Google Reader for updates. Over the past week or so, the number of comments has dropped, so I just wanted to ask: Did I write something that offended you or otherwise turned you off from my blog? If so, I'm sorry.

And on a somewhat similar, perhaps pathetic, note, I love comments, as much as I love corn chips! (Speaking of which, I'm trying to break my addiction to corn chips by cutting them out of my life for 21 days. I hear that's how long it takes to break a habit.) Keep leaving comments; it's great to know that people are interested in the (albeit random) things I have to say.

Despite an e-mail to Dan this morning with the subject "Kick N SORE", I managed to get my achey butt out the door for the planned long run. I was really pleased to have my Garmin strapped to my wrist (Perpetual thanks to Dad and Pat!) because I ran all over the place today without having to worry about mapping out mileage later. First, I went looking for the local health food co-operative. Then I ran through various parts of campus, past my office, to the gym, and home. I even saw TWO other runners in tights and hats; they must be hardcore Midwesterners! Maybe their hats got condensation too:

(New purple jacket! I'm like a raisin.)

I had been worried that I had lost some of my fitness level, so I only planned for seven miles per the Half Marathon training schedule. Nevertheless, I was able to crank out eight chilly and snotty miles. My legs didn't even feel that fatigued at the end. It's very satisfying to have actually completed the long run today, especially in light of the fact that my arms and back are quite sore from kickboxing.

Let's talk about the temperature! The weather was hovering in the high teens today (18 degrees, felt like 6 or so) when I got out the door around 11:15am. Given the icebox conditions of the past week, that felt plenty warm to get my butt outside for a run. I even--perhaps stupidly--ran with the wind for the first half and battled it the entire way home. Incredibly, I ran negative splits...or, at least, I ran faster the second part of my run. Check out these stats, including two "laps" I made when I accidently hit the LAP button:

Total: 8.06 miles/1:17:55/9:40 pace/761 calories burned
Lap 1: 6.96 miles/1:08:12/9:48 pace/666 calories burned [Oh snap!]
Lap 2: 1.09 miles/9:42.9/8:53 pace/95 calories burned

Woo-frickin'-hoo! 8:53 pace! I'm pleased as punch! Next week, the Half Marathon training group is set to run eight miles, so I think I'll be in good shape. Maybe I can even pick up the pace and ask some informed questions about an appropriate goal time for the race!

The rest of the day was quite productive:

• Having scouted out the location, I went shopping for the first time at Common Grounds food co-operative. I'm not sure how I feel about health food stores. It was really expensive, and though the one-time $60 membership fee gives you discounts, I'm not sure it's any cheaper than Meijer (when it actually has stocked groceries for purchase). For example, scallions at Meijer at 2 bunches/$1. At Common Grounds, they are one bunch for $1.19. Highway scallion robbery! I'll probably go back a couple times and continue this very scientific research and evaluation process. Your input on food co-operatives is appreciated.
  
• At Common Grounds, I bought almond butter for the first time, plus some dates! Last year, my running buddy Daniela and I used to run to the local Middle Eastern market and buy a big container of dates. Today was like that, except I was alone, dipping dates in almond butter in front of my computer:
  

• I finished my linguistics homework reading for Tuesday. Apparently, I forgot how to read and process information because it took me a l-o-n-g time, which was, of course, punctuated which incessant blog checking.
• To concentrate on the aforementioned reading, I went in the office and shut the door so as to mute the television from the other room. Apparently, this was not a sufficient barrier to keep me from hearing the crinkly sound of the boyfriend opening a box of fudge cookies that Dan brought over for us earlier this week. I opened the office door and was greeted with this:

Stupid cookie temptation.

• Before I went on my run this morning, I tried my hand at homemade granola with rolled oats, Craisins, chopped almonds, cinnamon, shredded coconut, and maple syrup. It turned out pretty well, and it's much cheaper than buying it from the store. Plus, there aren't any preservatives. I ate it with some homemade yogurt:

• In preparation for any more sub-zero temperatures, I bought a neck gaiter today. I'm not quite sure how to keep it from slipping down, but maybe I'm not pulling it up high enough or need my hat on. Anyway, I hope it will turn out to be a worthwhile investment. In any event, I think I look like a pretty bad-ass ninja in it, especially with the tags on the side:

Last day of freedom tomorrow. Happy MLK Day!

(P.S. Happy 20th birthday, Paula!)