1.  On Monday I went to a live taping of Windy City Live.  There were no prizes/gifts for audience members but it was still fun to be there.  We heard from Brian Grazer, watched a performance by Muntu Dance Theatre, and listened to a discussion lead by Dr. E. Patrick Johnson on the NAACP leader, Rachel Dolezal.

2. This past weekend I got a kitten.  Her name is Lola and she is very playful and FUNNY!  I will post pictures of her (not too many) on the blog and on Instagram.  I hope you don’t unfollow me.  For now here are a few.

3. I love coffee.  But I also love flavored coffee creamer.  I’ve been loving this Mexican chocolate style.  Delicious.  Try it.  You will not be disappointed.

4. Just the other day I found my Birkenstocks in the back of my car.  I think they’ve been there since last summer.  Ha, definitely ugly shoes but very comfortable.  I remember one time I was in NY and walked for a couple of hours in them and my feet did not hurt one bit.  Will definitely be wearing them this summer.

5.  This afternoon my nephew and I did a Slice of Chicago Pizza Tour.  We are both HUGE fans of Home Run Inn but wanted to try something different.  We had pizza from Pizzeria Uno, Quartino, and Giordano’s.  I must have read incorrectly the description because I could have sworn it said that we were supposed to go to 5-6 different pizza places.  Overall, it was fun to make a trip downtown (even though it was very windy and kind of cold) and have a few slices from two places we’ve never been to, Quartino and Pizzeria Uno.  The verdict?  Pizzeria Uno is the best one.

Are you a fan of pizza?  Favorite pizza place?  What is your favorite topping(s)?

1. I know this is late but did you watch the Boston Marathon?  Wow, what  a race huh?  I was able to watch it with my kids on the SmartBoard at school.  We saw the beginning of both the men’s and women’s and then watched halfway through the race and then the end of it.  I told them to be on the lookout for Desi and Meb. Some of them remember seeing Meb win the race last year.

2. I’ve been having calluses on my right foot.  It is so bad that I finally bought  a bottle of callus remover.  I failed to follow the instructions.  Let’s just say I put on way too much because I was not seeing any results.  Well, imagine my surprise after the relay marathon on Saturday (where my feet got soaking wet) when I took off my socks.  The liquid and water had soften the skin and most of it was peeling off. And because I am stubborn, I took a nail clipper and began clipping away any loose skin.  In the end it was so bad that I had to put on bandages.  Definitely will not make that mistake again.

3. My class “History of Mathematics” is sort of interesting.  I am sort of kidding when I mention that the best part of my evening class is my big cup of iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.  Well, the class is not interesting anymore.  Last week the teacher lectured nonstop on geometry.  Let’s just say I dislike geometry and simply do not get it nor do I care to understand it.  I know this does not sit well with me wanting to be a math teacher.  See below the homework assignment.  I mean, really?  Who gives out homework like that?

4. I am thinking of signing up for the Quarryman Challenge 10 mile race taking place on Saturday, May 9.  I’ve never done it but have heard good things about it. What freaks me out is that another runner (a guy that can run 6:30 minute miles) said that it is a challenging race/course.  Seriously?  He is a fast runner and thinks it is challenging.  I wonder how it will go with me then.  Well, regardless, it is on my radar and am about 90% sure that I will sign up.  It is $45 and about 30 minutes from my house.  Also, this is one of the races on the list for the CARA Chicago Marathon Incentive Program.

5.  Are you be running the Chicago Marathon this year?  Confirmation emails went out Tuesday afternoon and I know of two runners that were not selected.

According to this article From Runner’s World,

A total of 71,040 runners applied to the lottery or registered via a guaranteed entry, according to race representative Cindy Hamilton.  With an expected field size of about 45,000 runners, here’s a quick breakdown of the numbers surrounding the 2015 event:

• 64 percent of the field was accepted through the lottery. In other words, of the 54,800 runners who entered the lottery, about 53 percent got in. Those are much better odds compared to the 2014 New York City Marathon, where only 18 percent of lottery applicants were accepted.
• 36 percent of the field earned a guaranteed spot.

From those runners who entered with a guaranteed application:

• 41.7 percent will run through a charity.
• 23.6 percent are time qualifiers.
• 17.4 percent are Chicago Marathon Legacy Finishers who ran the race five or more times in the past 10 years.
• 11.3 percent deferred their entry from previous years.
• 1.2 percent will particpate through a tour group.
• 4.8 percent entered through other means.

6.  Another photo of gifts from my kids.  🙂

1. The hunt for the “perfect” running shoes is back on.  The Asics Cumulus are not working out for me.  I went to Fleet Feet to try the Brooks Ghost 7.  Oh, they’re so comfortable.  I knew I had to get them but could not decide on a color.  Yes, I am one that has to pick a cool color.  I decided on a pair (see below) but then when I got home I changed my mind so I ordered a different pair.  The second pair looks nicer right?

2. I am keeping up (I’ve missed a day or two) with the Kettlebell Swing Challenge but it is getting tough.

3. Tomorrow is the IL Marathon .  I am runner number 1 and my leg is 6.7 miles.  I met with the rest of my team on Sunday to go over logistics, nail down on what to wear, and just to hang out and talk.  I also gave two of them (one of the girls was in CA) a bag with a pepper spray, two Hammer gels, and a packet of Justin’s Hazelnut Butter.  We’re all very excited and cannot wait.

4.  I love getting pictures/drawings from my students.  Translation: Teacher, you are the best teacher I’ve ever had.  Sometimes they also give me candy and chocolates.

5.  Tuesday afternoon was the deadline for me to register for the Chicago Marathon.  Now begins the training before the training for the marathon.  🙂

6. These ads were an eye opener for me.  I’ve drank Nuun (I am obsessed with the Kona Kola flavor) but now after seeing the comparison with Hammer Nutrition’s Electrolytes Fizz Tablets, I don’t think I will drink it again.

How are you doing in the Kettlebell Swing Challenge?  What do you drink when you run, bike, exercise?