Twins Fever!!

Ryan has Twin's Fever!! This week we went to a Twins Baseball game. For those of you who don't watch Sportscenter every night, the Minnesota Twins are in first place of the AL central division. They lead the Chicago White Sox by only one half of a game. We went to the game on Wednesday night against the White Sox. It was very loud in the Metrodome! I ate a "dome dog" and Ryan had the bratwurst (at least I didn't have to make dinner). The fans in Minnesota are passionate about their baseball team. They beat the White Sox three games in a row. I really hope they make it to the playoffs so we can go to another game.

Running Update: With the marathon only two weeks away, Ryan thought it would be smart to buy a brand new pair of shoes. Yesterday he bought a new pair of shoes that are identical to the ones he already has. He claims that he wears out shoes faster than me because he weighs more. I think he is crazy! Nobody should buy brand new shoes two weeks before a marathon. He will have to learn the hard way. I will be there to say "I told you so" when his feet are covered in blisters. We ran ten miles yesterday, and now we get to start our taper.

We love VISITORS!!

Last weekend Ryan's parents came to visit. It was so much fun to show them around and share our new city with them. They stayed in a Marriot hotel that is literally across the street from our apartment. We had a lot of fun while they were here. We went walking along the Mississippi River, visited the Museum of Minnesota History in St. Paul, and they took us out for dinner every night. We had a great time! They were able to do some extra sightseeing while we were at work on Monday and Tuesday. They couldn't leave without going to the Mall of America. It is Minneapolis' biggest tourist attraction. It was a wonderful break from our regular routine. We love having visitors. If anyone would like to come and see us, you would always be welcome.

Running update: Last week was we ran 15.5 mile race around the lakes. Yesterday we ran a 20 mile training race. Only a month left until the marathon!

Labor Day Get-A-Way!!

Ryan and I took a little vacation for Labor Day weekend. After work on Friday we drove about two hours north to Gull Lake. It is in an area called Brainerd Lakes. There are hundreds of lakes in the area. (Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes!) We stayed at a resort on the lake. I wasn't really sure what to expect. Of course, neither of us had ever been north of Minneapolis before. We just picked the resort from pictures on the internet. The resort was huge!! It was probably built in the 1960's. The decor was definitely outdated. I have added a picture of the floor in the bathroom so you can get an idea. But our room was really nice. We had a great view of the lake from our balcony. They had cabins and hotel rooms. They had a huge indoor sportscourt with an indoor track and a gym. The best part was the weather. It was warm, sunny, and windy. (thanks to Hurricane Gustav) We laid out by the pool and by the lake. Ryan went golfing two days in a row. But mostly we just RELAXED!!! It was a well needed break.