Holy Mother of....

Check out this picture of l'Alpe d'Huez, the 16th stage of the Tour de France (today's stage). This is one of the most famous stage of the Tour, and this year? It's a time trial. Oy. It will probably be better in the long run for the frontrunners, but I cannot imagine not having a runup to that steep trail.


In other sporting news, I've managed to complete a 7-mile run yesterday and a 4-mile run today, in weather so muggy I look like I've just stepped out of the shower 5 minutes into my runs. Zach has been dubbed Best Husband To Be EvAH!, because he got up at 6 yesterday morning and fetched coffee and a scone for me so I could refuel after my run. I don't know why, but I had been having a severe mental block about the 7-miler. Between my knee and exhaustion, the three previous attempts had ended in ignomy. Yesterday's run was good, though. Strong and consistent, at least until the very last hill. Today's run was fast, minus the three 15-second stops to stretch out a recalcitrant quad. Tomorrow? A 6-miler. I'll have to see about running a different loop. I'm getting tired of the lakes, and I really need to do some hill work. Maybe I'll loop around and make the marathon mile 2 hill part of the course. That would be good training. Yes.

Hrm.

Maybe the marathon post will have to wait. Have just been asked to track a shipment that was possibly sent out on February 2nd, and no one seems to have a tracking number or even a memory of sending the thing out. Nor are they sure which of the 4 carriers we do business with was used for that shipment. Restraining... Urge... To... Kill.....

While I'm on hold with the nice lady from FedEx who womanfully restrained her urge to laugh in my face when presented with my request, I shall draw up my to-do list for this week-end.

Run 8 miles (Saturday)
Shop for a new sports bra (encapsulation & NOT a racerback)
Shop for a wedding skirt
Possibly (hopefully) meet with N&K re: reception decoration
Get a manicure?
Dye my hair
Clean the apartment
Threaten cats with shaving
Yoga (each day)
Start burning music
Cook dinner to be dropped off at friends' house who just brought home baby
Cook other masses of food for weekday consumption
Repair ripped fitted sheet
Do laundry
Return massively overdue library book & pay fine
Hook one of the TVs up to an antenna & see if we can get sports coverage
Get massage or at least book one
Arrange site visit for possible theater space


That's a pretty full couple of days, especially considering that the shopping will take me to the Mall Of America. And REI. I'll have to wear a skirt so I won't be tempted to go up the climbing wall....


In other news, has everyone seen this NYT article about the lack of women in Alaska? Kind of funny, kind of patronizing. I have some thoughts on a couple of the assumptions made, but they'll have to wait, as well.