VRBs Week of 6 July 2007

[badunnin]

Another Friday goes by (and much of Saturday!) and no thread! I'll start!

Picked up the Runner's World today with the Hanson's article - that's my school they're running at! There were times (running geek moment) that I'd come in early, tutor, then take part of my planning period and go sit out on the bleachers to watch them, sometimes taking some grading with me. Just enjoying the sunshine and the, umm, view. ;)

I did get a few runs in in China, but have been feeling under the weather since my return - we all had something bronchial on the trip, and I'm still feeling it. Going to brave the heat tonight and at least put a couple miles behind me.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks for starting this week Bethany. Sorry you're under the weather so and I hope it passes quickly. How is your jet lag? I had a terrible time flying back from South Korea this spring. That's neat that you had a near-brush with RW. I hope you had a good run today too.

I had a busy day - ran 14 miles in the heat and humidity in the swamp. I was ready for it to be over by the time 14 came around. The kicker after that was I went to the store Kathy works/worked at to help with their annual sale. 6 1/2 hours standing on hard relatively unpadded concrete. I think I'd take another 13 miles over standing like that again. But it was a sense of accomplishment to get through the sale and get home. But my hooves are dead and I'm fading fast so I'll call it quits and see you all on the 'morrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[Elizabeth B]

Bethany - Thanks for getting us started and cool that the pictures in the RW article were taken at your school! I had never heard of the Hansons group until you told us about them.

Les - Congrats for getting through both your run and the annual sale at LW's store. Too bad you won't have that to look forward to next year ;)

The theme for my workouts this weekend has been hills, hills and more hills. The store that sponsored the beginner ride last Sat. didn't do that yesterday, but they told him to come anyway and we'd figure something out. So my live running buddy and I went. We were in the C group and got dropped pretty quickly. My friend could have hung on, but not me. So she and one of the store owners stuck with me and we ended up doing 22 very hilly miles (in about an hour and 45 minutes), which is about twice as far as I've ridden before. Most of the ride was beautiful - out in the country, few cars, gorgeous scenery.

This morning for my long-ish run, I tried to follow the race course for my neighborhood 8K that's being held in the fall. It's going to be a pretty darn challenging course - once again, very hilly. But I have to say that the way they designed the course showcases some of the prettiest streets in the neighborhood, with a nice variety of architectural styles. I saw an adorable little cottage that I'd never seen before and what looked like an old converted carriage house. I think I'm going to start incorporating that route into a lot of my long runs in the neighborhood.

It's a hot one already here in Nashville and it's supposed to get up to 95. I think I hear the pool calling...

Take care, all and enjoy what's left of the weekend!

[MaryH]

Bethany Thanks for the pictures. Sounds like it was a great (albeit exhausting) trip.

Elizabeth - 22 hilly miles is A LOT. Good going. Apparently you and I have the heat while the middle of the country gets drenched in rain.

I ran 3 miles this morning and it was 67 degrees at 6:00 a.m. :rolleyes: I was in LA last week with my girls so I haven't done any running in about a week. :o

Hello to everyone else. Stay cool or dry or whatever the case may be. :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

22 miles isn't shabby Betsy especially on a hilly course. Good run today, and that's smart to run a little of your upcoming 8k course. I think we say 95 today too - if not it was darn close. Honestly, I kind of look forward to the sale, I'm kind of an anomoly in the store and I really do know a lot about fabric. That and it's the only time I get to handle $40-80/yard wools (the softest wool I've ever felt that wasn't on a sheep). But I certainly won't miss standing on concrete for 6+ hours.

Mary - Plenty of heat here too. I think we're slated for 93-98 highs all week. Good for you to get out while it was reasonable.

Things are really working for us as we get ready to go... and I think I've solved my lodging issues between the time we move out of our house and I leave Norfolk. A friend at church this morning asked if I had any plans or had thought about it, I mentioned that I had thought about it - about that long. This week was supposed to be the week to start looking in earnest. Well, she and her husband will let me stay at their house in there second floor suite (at least 2 or 3 rooms with it's own bath) and may be there all by myself for a week or so... bonus! And when Kathy comes down from Alexandria that's no problem and if anyone comes for my retirement, that's no problem either. So one less thing to worry about this week -- WOO HOO!!!

Lifted per my usual and hope my shoulder is just confused right now. :rolleyes: I hope everyone had a good weekend and I'll see you tomorrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[SusanMac]

Grr -- ISP ate my post. Don't get me started on Charter Comms! Let's see if I can type fast enough before my connection goes down again.

Bethany - Thx for starting up. I thought of you immediately when I saw the Hanson's feature in RW. Can't wait to read it. Hope you recover quickly. Summer's a yucky time to be sick.

Mary - Hope you had a fun trip w/the girls.

Les - 14 miles -- you sound like you'll be more than ready for the annual Labor Day race. The fabric store is lucky to have you. Glad your housing situation is falling into place so well.

Elizabeth - Awesome weekend for you. I love finding new places to run. Glad you are accomplishing more on the bike. I really like hills (mostly b/c I'm not fast on the flats)

Fri was a measly 25 min swim. I'm behind schedule on my swimming, but it's better than nothing. Having some problems finding swim partners & don't want to swim in the lakes alone (even tho I'm sure I'd be fine). Sat was my 2nd century bike ride. It was hot but everything went really well -- stayed hydrated, ate well, paced well. It was an organized fundraiser ride. I've learned that these are an awesome way to get in long rides, and also see a new area. Sun was a 60-min trail run w/DH.

Hi to Kathy, Natasha, Seathyme, Aggie & Vicci! How are you guys doing?? Yoga, hiking, and general updates are all welcome.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Fri was a measly 25 min swim. I'm behind schedule on my swimming, but it's better than nothing. Having some problems finding swim partners & don't want to swim in the lakes alone (even tho I'm sure I'd be fine)....
Even though you'd probably be ok in the water having someone there is a big thing, something going wrong while you're alone in a lake is never a good thing. I seem to remember that lakes aren't the easiest thing to walk out of (unlike a pool). Still, I hope you do get some more satisfying swims in soon.
...Sat was my 2nd century bike ride. It was hot but everything went really well -- stayed hydrated, ate well, paced well. It was an organized fundraiser ride. I've learned that these are an awesome way to get in long rides, and also see a new area. Sun was a 60-min trail run w/DH.
Great ride and good job with pacing and all the other facets of a century ride - it sounds like you're ready for the ride in the tri.

For us in the swampy lands today was blistering and humid most of the day. With all that said I didn't run (wouldn't have enjoyed it if I had) but did ride this evening for about an hour. Life moves smartly onward - now for the real kicker, they're tearing up the street in front of our house and if they aren't done by next Wednesday I'm not sure about moving on time. YUCK!

That's enough for now... hope you all (and everyone else) are well. Until tomorrow - happy trails,
Les

[badunnin]

Susan - I think I'd share your apprehension of swimming in the lakes alone. Every year someone drowns on our beach, and they are usually not novice swimmers. 2 summers ago it was a gentleman who swam every day, weather permitting, for 20 years. Better safe than sorry when it comes to the water....

Betsy - I haven't been following the threads for the past few weeks, and was a little shocked when you said you did 22 miles in under 2 hours. Then I saw that it was on a bike. ;) Still impressive, especially on hills! Biking is something that I have difficulties with, as it puts my shoulder/neck/head in tension. :(

Ran tonight. It's been hot as Hades by Michigan standards, and my run was just snotty tonight, mostly from this silly cold. Still, a run is a run. I waited until it cooled down to 80F tonight (at 10:30pm) but the humidity went up. I'm hoping that I can find my rhythm soon enough, as my races are creeping up on me and I'm still in that comfy 5k range. :o

Time for a shower - I'm sticky.

[SusanMac]

Hi gang. Mon was a 60-min run with a few fartleks thrown in. Very fun. Today was a 56-mile bike on the IM course. DH & I somehow dodged the ominous rain clouds. I found 2 new swim buddies at a bike seminar last night!! Very excited. Now just have to figure out schedules.

Nice job on the run & bike, Badunnin & Les. Remember, all this heat & humidity just makes us appreciate winter more :-)

[Leslie Ferguson]

80 degrees at 10:30 Bethany, where do you live in the south or a swamp? ;) Quite the trooper to run at that hour, I know I'd be up all night if I did that now. Back in the day (when I was in college) 11:00 runs were a study break but I was young and impetuous then. When is your race/next race?

56 miles on the IM course Susan, is the course a loop? I would have to guess loop bike courses are pretty much the norm in most places as it would not be too fun to figure out an out and back and stop traffic on that long a road. Great to find some swimming buddies so you can safely swim in the lake.

No run today, Bethany's day yesterday would have been utterly pleasant tonight down here. That topped off being in a meeting from 8:30 until 5:30 without a break to speak of (3 10-15 minute breaks and a working lunch) didn't help. And I had to come home and get ready for an overnight trip to Patuxent River MD tomorrow (meeting early Thursday morning). Hopefully I'll run tomorrow before it gets terribly hot (about 8 am by the predictions) and before I have to leave for points north.

Hope all are well and I'll probably not check back tomorrow but will see you on Thursday.

Happy trails,
Les

[badunnin]

Les - well, last night at 10:30 it was 85F, so I bagged the run. I had planned either M T Th or M W Th, so I'm still good. The weather finally broke, and it's lovely outside again, so no excuses tonight! And I can run at 10:30pm easily in the summer - I don't work. ;)

My next race is Dances with Dirt, on September 8. The Detroit Free Press half is October 20th. I know I'm fine once I find my groove again. Heck, I ran a fast (for me - it was about an 11:20 mile?) 5k without slowing to a walk when I was in China and I hadn't ran in months, so the muscle memory is definitely there.

Susan - it looks like you are continuing to kick butt and take names!

[SusanMac]

Just got back from a 2-hour run. It felt really smooth and good this week. A nice change from last week's slog. It probably helped that it's below 80 today & not so humid :-)

I'm off to our weekly symphony concert picnic tonight. Our cooking club is meeting there this week!

[Kathy B]

Hi, all! We are still on vacation, but heading home Friday. I have been running 3-4 miles about every other day at the park that is one block away from where we are staying. OF course we have done a LOT of walking almost every day as well, and then yesterday we went for an 18 mile bike ride in the Cape Cod area that was great! It was beautiful scenery, not too hot, mostly flat terrain and a good workout to boot.

Susan, I echo the thoughts that you should definitely have a "swim buddy"! Glad to hear that you have found a couple of new ones! I was just talking to my kids about that the other day after reading a story about a man who died last week during the swim portion of a triathlon. Even the best swimmers could find themselves in a situation where they need a hand.

Hopefully I will be back to running and can post more when we return, although my MIL is arriving the day after we get back for an extended stay....so I may be a little busy....:o

Hi to Bethany, Les, Elizabeth and everyone else! Wishing you all cooler days and nights! :)

[badunnin]

Well that sucked. I walked most of 3.5 miles. Too much on the mind tonight, and none of it good. Ah well.

[SusanMac]

Badunnin - Don't feel too bad. Walking still kicks butt over sitting on the sofa! Hopefully you got enough endorphins goin' to straighten out the mind stuff & feel better :-)

[Leslie Ferguson]

I wouldn't sweat it Betany, getting out and running 3.5 is good, better than I've been able to do in the past few days. I would love to run at 10:30 again but alas I work in the summer and shortly I'll have to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed for my first "class" of the day at 8:00 (church every weekday morning as part of school) starting 8/13 so running late is still out of the question. Hopefully you were able to clear some of the junk floating around.

Maybe I'll be able to read stuff tomorrow. It's been a roller coaster couple days (3.5 hour driving trip ended up being 5.5 hours one way and 5 hours the other). Most of the past couple days was occupied thinking about a lost CLBB friend (see the thread about Lisa Lee on the other stuff thread).

It has been a long couple day and in a break from tradition I hope to go out tomorrow for a short run, if for no other reason than to check my shoes for life.

It's good to chat and I'll see you tomorrow.

Happy trails,
Les