With complete and total amazement, I would like to report that I had a great 9-mile run this past Sunday but I have to tell you that it’s an absolute miracle that I finished at all, much less in a reasonable time and feeling the way I did, because I tortured my body Friday and Saturday in the following ways: 

• Friday night I stayed up late, smoked two cigarettes (ashamed to admit, but on occasion, while drinking…), and enjoyed a couple very large and very strong vodka and sodas. 
• Saturday I drank lots of coffee, hardly any water at all, and went to the Great Frederick Fair, in the rain, where I ate (are you ready for this?): Sausage and peppers, a roast beef sandwich, a corn-dog, and a giant apple-dumpling with ice-cream.  For lunch. Not exactly great fuel for an impending endurance run.

I woke up Sunday in the wee hours with a very upset stomach and feeling like I was catching a cold.  Both the upset stomach and icky-cold feeling intensified as the morning went on.  And it was raining Sunday morning which meant I’d spend all 9 miles on a treadmill at the gym (dreadful), so I was doing a lot of procrastinating.    Not sure how I managed it, but I made my way to the gym and onto the treadmill.    I kid you not, 1 minute and 9 seconds in, I got a cramp.  Fan-freaking-tastic.  But I was determined, and I wanted to try out the run-walk method (run a mile, walk a minute).   Without a doubt, The Rachel Zoe show playing on my personal treadmill-TV provided a good distraction, but this run-walk method proved to be key.  I don’t know anything about the science behind it, but being able to look forward to a short walking break at every mile made me run faster, and the walking gave me a chance to drink and give my muscles and lungs a little break.  My overall time was under 81 minutes, which is just a hair faster than a 9-minute mile pace, and I definitely felt like I could run another 3 when I finished the 9.  So I am psyched about the run-walk method and I’m hopeful that it’s going to make for an enjoyable run on race day.   In other news, my feet and toes are taking a beating, which I guess is par for the course.  Calluses, blisters, and loose toenails (yes, loose toenails) decorate my feet, so I’m requiring several bandages now before every run.  Hitting the treadmill again tonight for 5 miles and then I’ll take a yoga class. Next long run will be 10 miles (this weekend) and then the training tapers until race day (October 10^th).   I’ll give you a little info next week on racer tracking and how you can watch the race in real-time from home.     

The “30 Rock” cast accepts their outstanding comedy series win {thanks, AP}

In between offbeat introductions and commentary littered with faux acting credits, “30 Rock” and “Mad Men” picked up the top Emmys in the decidedly quirky Neil Patrick Harris-hosted 61st Emmy Awards.

Glenn Close and Bryan Cranston took home drama actress and actor. Toni Collette won lead actress in a comedy series for Showtime’s “United States of Tara,” besting two-time category winner Tina Fey of “30 Rock.”

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Debonair Samir {Thanks Milkcrate}

I said I’m cool/like some ice cream
Wit them cherries on the top/cause them haters wont stop

Swizz Beatz
“I’m Cool”

Those four bars, along with that undeniable baseline from DJ Debonair Samir, will probably be the catalyst to get the party started at your favorite mid-summer barbecue. Hip-hop heavyweight Swizz Beatz is the latest mainstream constituent engaging in the new-found musical glory that Baltimore club music has become for pop music artists. But for Samir Singletary, there’s nothing new about the beats and rhythms that he has helped bring to the club music faction since he migrated to Baltimore City. Born in Newark, New Jersey and spending some of his formative years in New York City, Samir used the elements of hip-hop {rapping, dee-jaying, graffiti, break dancing, etc.} as the focal points for his creative direction. It wasn’t until he heard the infectious tones of European house music making its rounds in his hometown’s hottest clubs that he found his true calling as a club music maverick. Read the rest of this entry »

{photo by MEEKAH HOPKINS, B}

They let me out on the track. This was Rachel Alexandra’s view coming down the home stretch.

Rachel Alexandra leads, and eventually wins, the Preakness Stakes {photo by MEEKAH HOPKINS, B}

6:23 p.m.: She did it! All cheers from the stands.

6:29 p.m.: A final note: A historic day at Pimlico for the Stakes. The new infield, and a filly won for the first time in 85 years! Oh yeah, and my friend I’d Do Me won big on Rachel. Ah, the magic of Preakness…

{photo by MEEKAH HOPKINS, B}

I’m a Preakness junkie. Or actually, a reformed one. I started going 10 years ago, in 1999 when I was a high school senior. For a 17-year-old kid it was pure, delicious hedonism. And I returned each year that followed, hungry for more: I grew older but the experience didn’t.

I think you’ve all heard enough “Phreakness” stories in the past days, so I’ll spare you eight years worth of infield debauchery, save one that happened to me during Preakness 2007, the last time I attended the Stakes at Pimlico:

I was enjoying a beautiful day of people watching in the sun when the thinkable happened: I was hit in the nose with a long-distance beer can missile. The beer can melees of previous years finally caught me, square in the face. Nope, my nose didn’t break open; I broke open the beer can instead. Not as cool as it sounds, though: I fell backwards and cut open my shoulder on the chain-link fence. I still have the scar to prove it.

After that? Time to grow up, Meekah. I vowed never to return to the infield.  But, I’m a Baltimore girl, through and through: the siren song of Preakness got the best of me this year. So I’ve returned, this time to the Top of the Stretch, where I can dress up and sip Black-Eyed Susans safely. I’m a little older, a little wiser … but then so seems Preakness. I don’t think anyone knows what to expect from tomorrow’s “safe” infield party, but I’ll be there to tell you.

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{photo by MEEKAH HOPKINS, B}

5:08 p.m.: They just rolled out the Preakness gate. T-minus one hour!

5:35 p.m.: Well, Bmore Bob definitely lost. C’mon, Luv Gov!

5:41 p.m.: b’s Brian Krista just got called “the pedographer” by barely coherent Marg man Jamie. Apparently the pitcher did the job.

Keep checking out bthesite.com for updates live from the Preakness Stakes.

A different type of infield this year {photo by MEEKAH HOPKINS, B}

4:42 p.m.: This is the east infield, a virtual drunken war zone in previous years, and the site of my beer-can collision from ‘07. Now it’s a big bizzaro picnic. Weird.

4:50 p.m.: Insider drink-tip from New Yorker turned Towsonite Jamie Feleggio, 31: A plastic pitcher of Margs for $20. And he “ain’t sharing.”

Keep checking out bthesite.com for updates live from the Preakness Stakes.

{photo by MEEKAH HOPKINS, B}

4:21 p.m.: My Preakness Stakes pick: Luv Gov, 20-1 odds. I will dominate. Matt Vensel what?

4:09 p.m.: Just bet $5 on Baltimore Bob to place in the Dixie Stakes. Gotta rep for MD.

Keep checking out bthesite.com for updates live from the Preakness Stakes.