My brain gets weird after exercise and I end up registering for races, like this one.  So here we are at 5pm on New Year's Eve, in the dark at Eau Claire (lovely Eau Claire, on the brink of demolition).  It is very warm indeed for December, Kevin is actually wearing shorts.   It is so wonderful to see friends at these events. The route goes out across Prince's Island park, west along Memorial to the 14th St bridge then back on the south river pathway.  It is surprisingly (and shittily) icy especially along the north side of the river.  We get stuck behind a poodl ..read more

So, 2023 you were sort of weird.  I finished a (wet, muddy, crazy) 50k on April 1st.  We visited the UK for the first time in 5 years and saw all our families.  I saw Russell Brand live, in the front row.  He even hugged me.  Good times.   Then the covid happened.  Ugh.  Running went right downhill after that, the only other event I did was the Santa Shuffle 5k in December and I'm so glad we did.  I just haven't felt good much this year.  I felt good after that run though.  That run makes me think I want to do more runs. We went to ..read more

It has been exactly 10 years since we last ran this one, and if you look back these are indeed the same antlers.  I found them in a cupboard the day before the race.  In 2013 it was -30 at race start and I suspect that's why we never signed up again.  This year was a balmy -5 so clearly a good decision. I can't remember the last time we did an event out of Eau Claire, I am just happy to be back here (before they demolish it).  There's a toy donation spot as this event is to benefit The Salvation Army, a band and a photo booth plus heated parking, heated waiting area with ..read more

Orlando was so good we ended up (in a deeply irresponsible manner) booking a trip to Hollywood after we got back.  Hollywood had the same IPs plus Evil Dead Rise, the Terror Tram featuring a walk through of Jordan Peele's Jupiter's Claim set (from Nope) with the tethered from Us (beyond amazing), and 2 original Houses.  The dancing M3GANs could be viewed in a luxurious theatre with perfect lighting.  There was even a Purge stunt show.  We met Norman Bates!  Quite a lot of winning.  It's also interesting that although both Universals had the same IPs, they are not ..read more

Not a race, just a vacation!  To be fair during our week in Orlando, we did walk about 100k including a 25k evening at HHN, so this is still an endurance-based event report. We had five nights at Freddy's HHN this year, after a brilliant one night visit in 2022 encouraged us to 'do it properly' this time.  The element that caused us to pull the trigger was the addition of a Last of Us House.  This House, one of ten, would be based on the original game and specifically the Pittsburgh section (start the plane).  Since that announcement was in June, we were also able to book ..read more

We have two new amazing rescue additions to the family!   Kaos (right) lost all her siblings to a virus, she's our little miracle.  She has two levels, zero and a hundred.  She's gorgeous and sweet, playful and curious, and she's driving the other cats crazy with her non stop energy.  She hasn't quite learned to meow yet, and instead sounds like a miniature pterodactyl (I assume, having never actually encountered one).   Daisy (left) arrived three weeks after Kaos so she could get her vaccines.  She's the sweetest, tiniest little scrap of kitty you coul ..read more

As illustrated by the gigantic inflatable bunny, we find ourselves at the start line of the Easter Challenge 50 at Windsor Racecourse in England.  It was one of these trips I wasn't sure would happen after all the travel debacle of the recent past and crazy schedule we managed to set for ourselves.  However, here we are under overcast skies hoping the floods and mad rain from the previous day are done.   We have parked on the tarmac since the grassy fields are extremely muddy and it's a short walk walk to the start area (I bet it won't feel short at the end).  Pickin ..read more

Our beautiful soft chatty princess has gone to be with Jack.  The sweetest of little creatures with nothing but love for everyone.  Every morning she would greet us with requests to be fed (sometimes well before we were getting up), then she raced me down the stairs and after she had eaten we would have a 10 minute cuddle.  If I worked from home I would get regular cuddles all day.  So many cuddles, always accompanied by her lovely deep purrs and warm little body.  Even on the day we let her go. The very first thing she did when we met her in 2010 was climb on my lap ..read more

This used to be entirely a running blog and I would really really like to do some of that awesome stuff again.  We are (finally) going back to the UK in 2023 and I thought why don't we do one of our most favourite events ever?   I have had doubts about racing again and frankly no, enough, I want this.  I finally have no pain, I’ve strength trained since March and now I will train for this.  A lovely welcoming British 50K yes please.  I don't have a single regret about registering and I can't wait for the event.  This is our third Ultra Challenge event, we di ..read more

When I first heard about Spooky Empire I thought there was no way we'd be making it.  However, sometimes the stars turn and a time and an opportunity presents itself.  Here's your (magnificent) Twin Peaks cast lineup: Look it's Agent Cooper!  I honestly never expected to see him at a fan expo and still didn't actually think I'd see him until he was literally right in front of me. Our journey to Orlando involved a flight to Atlanta then a 7 hour drive.  Apart from a long delay getting to the rental car office in ATL, it went perfectly.  What a wonderful change. F ..read more