Virtual Running Buddies - Week of January 25 [Archive]

Kathy B

01-25-2008, 07:10 AM

Hi, all! I am 5'7". Got in a TM run and some weights yesterday, and plan on the TM this AM. I have a lot to do as we are heading OOT. DS has been gone to All-State Band this week (I'm a proud mama, can you tell?) and we are going down for the weekend and to hear the final concerts.

Thanks for starting the thread Natasha. Did you get your spin in last night? If driving counted as exercise, I'd have it made!! :D

Susan, I think that we should have a virtual DVD party to watch Spirit of the Marathon when it eventually DOES come out on DVD! What do you say?

Kathy, be sure you report back on your cake. The picture looks great! Have fun at your get-together.

Glad you got in some rest, Les, and now the weekend is here...hopefully you can relax a bit.

Tkay, how did the art program go? And did you end up seeing the movie?

Gotta run! Have a great weekend everyone!

Leslie Ferguson

01-25-2008, 08:01 AM

No run to report yet, took advantage of another day off but I'll chime in about height (although I probably don't count in the discussion - a gender thing) - I'm 6'. My observation about TM running and even trail/road running is appearing effortless seems to be more attached to how the person runs (is it natural or like many a learned thing). I've had folks blow by me while I was moving at a good clip and they seemed to be running effortlessly. Although leg length does help because of stride and turnover requirements (3 foot stride vs. 4 foot stride).

ktg - 15 degrees sounds quite brisk but might be a decent temp if it's not windy. I hope you had a good run.

I'm planning on running long tomorrow so I'll probably rest or spin today.

Happy trails,
Les

TKay

01-25-2008, 10:33 AM

Thanks for starting us off, Natasha. I can't believe it's Friday already. I guess a Monday holiday (MLK) will do that for you. Hope you get in that run today.
Ktg - Happy cooking. Enjoy your chili party. With 15 degree weather, I'd have a hard time figuring out when to run too! Brr.
KathyB - Good job on the TM runs. You are my TM inspiration! Enjoy your OOT band excursion with DS. What does he play? I played flute and piccolo in high school. It was so much fun. The art program was fantastic. The boys did these surprisingly realistic drawings of toucans. My 6-year-old who can barely write his name neatly, did this remarkable drawing. There must be magic in them there markers.
Les - Rest, rest, rest. Sounds like something you could really use a lot of right now. It's nice you got the bonus of some great company for your shuttle service. You're always so nice to help people out. Enjoy your run tomorrow.
Height - I'm 5'6" or just a smidge over. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to be about an inch taller.
Spirit of the Marathon - I saw it last night. It played at probably 8 theatres around here and I know for sure that one of them was sold out. The theatre I was in had a good crowd of running people who all seemed to know one another. I'm sure it was a running club thing. The movie was fantastic. It followed the stories and training of a handful of runners, from the elite like Deena Kastor to the novice (like a couple of women who were running their first marathons). They were training for the Chicago marathon of 2005 (I believe that was the year). I enjoyed every minute of it. It really is inspiring and now, gulp!, I feel I may have to run a marathon at some point. If you see it in February, be sure to stay after the credits. They basically show you the behind-the-scenes DVD features you wouldn't normally see. There was an interview with Ryan Hall, as well as a deleted scene of Deena Kastor making enchiladas. Apparently, she a great cook. I'll join the DVD virtual viewing party when the time comes. I'd gladly see it again.

I'm off for an (inspired) TM run this morning. (We've had some much-needed rain all week.) Happy Friday all! And hello to everyone I missed. Hey, legolas, you out there? And Vicci? How are you doing?

SusanMac

01-25-2008, 12:15 PM

Nat - Thx for starting us off this week.

TKay - I'm so glad you loved the flick! It definitely sounds inspiring. Now you've *gotta* sign up for a half this year!

Kathy - Nice TM run. And congrats to DS on All-State. I was also in band, but never made it quite that far.

KTG - Hope you got your run in. If you dress right, 15-deg is quite nice. The chili party sounds awesome -- love chili

Height - I'm 5'5". I definitely think a lot of endurance runners are on the smaller side (Deena, Meb, Grete). Leg length doesn't matter all that much. I'm w/Les -- it's all about smoothness & efficiency of stride. It's so beautiful to watch someone who's got it. Wonder if it's genetic...you either got it or you don't?? I know I don't

Got in a great spin today on the bike trainer. Finally getting around to watching the 2007 IM Kona coverage on NBC. When we recorded it there was a winter storm warning here, so I've got scrolling weather warnings during the entire program! Oh well. Doesn't seem quite as inspiring as previous years, which is odd b/c it was an exciting/surprising race this year.

Howdy to Seathyme, Elizabeth, Mary, MGS & the rest o the gang this week.

Natasha

01-25-2008, 03:08 PM

TKay, great film review! I'm looking forward to seeing it more now. Actually, here's one more good reason for me to see it on DVD: I'll probably be bawling through some of it. Inspiring movies, maybe especially those about sports, can really set me off :o

Kathy, that's so cool about DS in All-State Band! Have a great weekend and safe trip!

ktg, a chili party sounds like just the thing in this brisk weather. Enjoy!

I was craving a run today and just got one in. Good stuff. Now to stretch, make a quick dinner, eat, and then head out for the evening. And walk and feed the dog. Hmm, better go.

Hi to Susan (good job on the trainer workout!), Les, Legolas, Mary, Eva, Betsy, and everyone else. Vicci, how ya doin'?

Natasha

mabvt

01-25-2008, 03:23 PM

Hi Guys--

I haven't posted since before Christmas...

I haven't run since before Christmas either. :mad:

I had a very sore/slightly swollen foot that needed a break. While I was breaking it started to snow...and I haven't been very motivated to brave it in the elements. But I WILL RUN THIS WEEKEND. I'm posting for some much needed accountability. I am afraid I will turn in to a lump if I don't go soon.

To answer the height question. I'm 5'10". I have pretty long legs. I mean quite long...though my hubby might say they are pretty. ;) The funny thing is that I look at smaller women runners and think "No wonder they're faster than me, they don't have to lug around all of these extra inches!" BC of course with extra height comes extra weight too.
So Eva, it goes both ways! You know, the grass is always greener.

Have a great weekend everyone (i will run...i will run...)

Melissa

TKay

01-25-2008, 05:39 PM

Melissa - Nice to see a post from you. You can do it...you can do it! Get those long legs out there. :D
Susan - Yes, a half is on the agenda. Just need to find one. Funny about the IM coverage not being as inspiring as the race really was. (Not funny ha ha.)

Just popping back in to report a really nice 5-miler on the TM. It felt great. I think that movie really DID do the trick. The best part? Most of it was sub-10-minute mile pace. For me, that's huge. I can usually run for a while under 10-minute pace. But to sustain it? Not so much.
I guess the intervals are paying off. Hooray!

Leslie Ferguson

01-25-2008, 09:27 PM

Way to go TKay, it does sound like your interval training is doing it for you too. I'm with Susan, you're just going to have to run a half this year and figure out which full you're going to run next year. ;) The bug has bitten you now - oh yes it has. I'm glad you liked the movie - I'll hae to see if I can find it when it comes on again or wait for the DVD.

Glad you're back Melissa and sorry that you haven't run since before Christmas. Good vibes for you for the weekend and a good run - or any run for that matter.

Good run Natasha. Is there still snow on the ground up there?

That's odd too Susan that the IM footage wasn't that inspiring - but sometimes it just isn't the right time.

Kathy (although you won't see this until Monday) I hope you hae a good weekend with the state band trip.

A shout out to the rest of the gang - ktg, seathyme, Megan, mgs, Vicci (we have a place for you), Legolas and everyone else.

Today was another almost rest day for me. I did some puttering around the house, then I took a spin on my bike trainer for an hour - it's been a while but it felt good to sit in the basement on the stand and read and ride. Then I put together a shelf for the bathroom and cooked dinner (stir fry).

Tomorrow and the remainder of the weekend should be fairly tame for me - nothing out of the ordinary planned.

Have a good weekend and happy trails,
Les

Natasha

01-26-2008, 07:14 AM

Hi Melissa! Nice to hear from you. Sorry about the foot. I hope you do get out this weekend. It's not supposed to be too cold here, so hopefully it will be good running weather where you are as well.

Les, sounds like a great day to me - puttering, getting a bit done, relaxing, fitting in a workout. Enjoy your run today!

TKay, great job on your run!! Isn't it an amazing feeling when you have a breakthrough run? Sounds like you're making excellent progress :)

We had our running club AGM last night and the executive was all voted to stay on, so I'm club secretary again for 2008. It was a nice evening but I'm also looking forward to some downtime today with DH and our dog. I think a HIKE is in the cards too (if I were to say that word out loud now, the pup would come running).

Have a lovely Saturday, everyone!

VictoriaL

01-26-2008, 10:02 AM

Mind if I join you all on a virtual run?! ;)

Les several times during the past week I have forced myself to think of what you endured after dislocating your kneecap (double ouch!) and realize that I should just buck up because this could be so much worse. It sounds as though the new shoes are just what you needed, and you�re obviously enjoying them. I hope that you got more sleep in the latter part of the week, and that you enjoyed your days off.

Meg I have never been to Boston (although spent a few hours at Fanueil Hall years ago during a layover) so I can only imagine what a Heartbreak Hill is like. ;) We will be in that area in June and I want to tour Boston a bit, so I will give it a look-see then. There�s a Cardiac Hill in Pittsburgh�wonder if it�s similar in topo?

Nat Yes, I have a subscription to Canadian Living which a wonderful friend who lives in Montreal gives me for Christmas. I enjoy that magazine a lot. In fact, there is a tourtiere recipe which I cut out from a recent edition, a vegetarian version with chestnuts, carrots, onions, and other things I can�t remember, in my �to try� pile. It sounded very warming, for winter. Probably late winter, alas� How cute that the pup reacts to �hike�. Ours went nuts when he heard the word �out�!

seathyme Hope that you had a nice long weekend in NH. I�ve always had a bit of a soft spot for that particular state since DH & I were married there (sheesh- probably when you were a young tot!).

Susan Funny that your doc assumed your current running schedule might be due to New Year resolutions. :) Wonder what she�d think of your schedule from, say, this past August??? And I�ve never heard about a snowshoe run�very cool!

Tkay You seem to be the resident TM Queen at the time! Congrats on sustaining your10 min-mile pace.

KathyB Hope that you had a good time listening to all of that band music over the weekend! What instrument does DS play?

And a hello to all whom I�ve inadvertently missed!

Convalescing is not something I do easily and, um, happily. The first week was spent getting used to being relatively immobile. This second week I was just pi**ed at myself. I�ve been told that I have about 4 more weeks to go, so I�ll try to improve my attitude in the next weeks. DH has been amazing, cleaning and cooking. A friend dropped by with at least 10 dinners� worth of meals (and frozen multigrain waffles and French toast for breakfasts), all things she made herself; Mom is recovered enough from her walking pneumonia at Christmas to have made and sent a box of cookies, scones, granola, etc.�I really am quite fortunate to have such a support system. :) I had been taking a lot of mega-ibuprofen (800mg, I believe) so the past few days have started on lower doses of Tylenol. It�s not as effective with the pain, but it�s not unbearable so I�d rather deal with that than any possible stomach problems/side effects of the ibuprofen.

I want to run, I want to walk, I want to go outside and move! I feel like a lump, sitting here with my foot propped up, wearing stretchy pants (to fit over the aircast bootie). Mom�s peanut butter brownies are calling me and, if I know what�s good for myself, I will ignore them� :rolleyes:

Have a nice weekend everyone�and do something active for me!

TKay

01-26-2008, 12:55 PM

Vicci - Oh, I feel for you. You are in such a tough spot right now. Thanks for keeping up with us here. We want to hear from you, no matter what you're doing (or not doing). Glad dh is being a trouper. Hang in there.
Natasha - I love that "hike" gets your pup going. When I was little, we had a dog with a metal leash (why it was metal, I have no idea). We always had to be careful not to kick the leash or move it in any way if we weren't going out. As soon as he'd hear the links rattle, he'd be at the front door, excited beyond belief. Enjoy your hike (whispering).
Les - Here's to a great rest of the weekend. You're right. I got bit by the bug.

I'm taking today off, but happy to report my legs are still doing well. I'm not overly beat up after yesterday's run. Yay! I'm definitely scouting halfs. Who knows what will happen after that.

SusanMac

01-26-2008, 02:55 PM

Just got back from a 45-min Bode run. Very squishy, slippery snow today so we had to take it very carefully. Felt good to get out, tho, after a few indoors workouts.

Happy Sat everyone :-)

seathyme

01-26-2008, 05:19 PM

seathyme Hope that you had a nice long weekend in NH. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for that particular state since DH & I were married there (sheesh- probably when you were a young tot!).

Good to hear from you, Vicci! Yes, I have loved NH all my life. fwiw, I'll be impressed if you were married when I was a young tot, since I'm 46 years old.:D So perhaps if you were married at age 5..... What a mixed blessing for Mom to send you that delicious care package when you're trying to resist eating it!:rolleyes: I'm glad she's recovered, though, and it's so nice to have a mom who will bake for you to cheer you up.

I was about to report that I've been working like a dog lately and therefore not posting much. But then I glanced at the dog sacked out on the rug and wondered where that expression comes from... he is a master at relaxation! Anyway, v. busy around here, mostly for good reasons but today for the first time since starting my '08 challenge I posted zero miles -- not even a speedy mile with above-mentioned pooch. The zip was for a good reason: I organized a Spa for the Spirit today, a women's retreat including yoga, a labyrinth walk and a healthy lunch. About 30 women took part and it was great. But, now I'm exhausted and the "real" work day is tomorrow! So personal comments will have to come later.

Quick note, though, to thank TKay for the film review. Count me in for the DVD virtual viewing -- can't say no to something that may inspire us to run!

More after recovery...... have a good rest of weekend, all.

Oh, and I'm 5'9", have to be careful to buy tights that are long enough, and do not run effortlessly.:cool:

Leslie Ferguson

01-26-2008, 09:05 PM

From the bottom...

seathyme - That's sounds like a grand day at the spa, all the good things in life. I'll send good energy thoughts to you for tomorrow with your "real" work. And here to hoping you get back on your mileage track for the year.
Susan - Probably not the most fun run you've had - 45 minutes in the slush isn't something I'd look forward to.
TKay - A rest day is probably in order for you. I bet you can find a good half to run in this year - my coach has run in a couple out there and I know there are lots in and around Monterey/Carmel/Salinas.
Natasha - Congratulations on being re-elected as running group Secretary. How was your hike today? Was Cabot as excited as I know he was?

Vicci - You're always welcome at the table. I should have caveated that the major injury was quite a few years ago so there has been a lot of selective memory employed. That and being the doer at that time I made myself do things and actually made the exercises a game - or esle they would have been torture. Oh, and it didn't hurt that I got injured in September in San Diego so I wasn't having to deal with being inside all the time. From what I remember, the second week was the hardest for no other reason than the novelty had worn off and there was still weeks of cast ahead - that and sponge baths were the pits (plaster casts and water don't mix). I'll keep your spirits in my prayers and hope that you have a good week coming up. And you're almost halfway there so get ready for the down-hill party. If it's pain you might want to ask about other pain killers like plain old Tylenol (being that I'm allergic to all NSAIDs my analgesics are Tylenol and Aspirin).

I had a good 10+ miler today (almost 10.5 I'd bet but I'm not sure). I took a late start and ran on the C&O Canal towpath. It's a beautiful run but the better part of today's run was in the open (no wind blocks to speak of). I ran from about the 3 mile post to the starting point near the Kennedy center (actually ran to the Kennedy Center) then turned around and ran out to the 5 mile post and back to where I started. Running down wind was nice but into the wind was a tad brisk. Still a good run and I'm thrilled with 3 runs this week - keeping up with my goal finally.

It may snow overnight (no run though because I'll be busy until noon) but it should melt off and it should be a nice week. I'm going to try and take advantage of the last little bit before classes restart on Wednesday.

Hope everyone has a good Sunday and I'll see you tomorrow.

Happy trails,
Les

Natasha

01-27-2008, 08:57 AM

Seathyme, wow, that must have been a ton of work to organize the spa event! Glad it went so well :)

Les, sounds like you had a nice run. Enjoy the rest of your R&R time until midweek!

Vicci, great to hear from you. I ran "for" you today, if that helps. Good idea to not go overboard on the ibuprofen. I'm glad you have a good support system! (And that vegetarian tourtiere sounds intriguing - please let me know if you try it!)

Susan, good work on the Bode run!

TKay, that's funny about your old dog's leash. Dogs pick up on everything, don't they? Yay about your legs feeling good after the speedy run!

As mentioned above, I did run this morning, about an hour with the group. We had snow yesterday (about 1.5-2 inches). It's the super dry, fluffy kind, and last night it was incredibly sparkly. Lovely! So I ran in the snow today. After the run I rushed into the grocery store and did the shopping lickety-split. Now to relax a bit and then head out for coffee. Tonight we have dinner plans so I need to figure out what to make, too!

Take care, all!
Natasha

Legolas

01-27-2008, 09:08 AM

Vicci - I'm going to sit beside you on the Injured Reserve bench, so to speak. As some of you are aware, I have a bit of a chronic condition that flared up on me over the Christmas holidays. I ended up taking a week off of work, and am seeing about 3 doctors on a regular basis, trying to get it all back under control and get my dosages correct so that I can live a normal life. :rolleyes: In the meantime, my eating is off, my sleeping is off (I'm getting about 3-4 hours sleep per night), and I'm spending a lot of time with my parents. Exercise, although I'm sure it would be helpful, has been shoved off the stove entirely for the most part, as the eating and sleeping things really don't allow my body to do it.

So... enough of my sob story! I'm really doing quite well with it, and am optimistic that it will be under control soon enough. But I'm just really really tired and a bit cranky. :o

Oh, going to Arizona at the end of March. Very much looking forward to a trip away! Anyone have insights on day hikes in Sedona or the Grand Canyon? ;)

mabvt

01-27-2008, 01:49 PM

I hope all of you runners are enjoying a cozy Sunday afternoon.

seathymeThat event sounds great! Also glad to have some "tall girl" company on the board. Hear, hear on the tights...and any pants for that matter! :mad:

tkay What do you usually do while on the TM? Watch a movie/tv?

Legolas Keep taking good care of yourself! Speaking of cranky...this is a rotten time of year for that for me too. Lucky you, having a trip to look forward to. I've never been to the GC. Some day.

Natasha DH and I have taken to calling walks "W"s all the time bc our pup comes running. Also, I was cleaning/chopping carrots this afternoon and he was UPSTAIRS and came flying down the stairs. He loves raw carrots.

I actually have a run to report today! Our dear neighbors (marathoners and big time supporters/encouragers of my running) let me use their TM this afternoon. I ran about 3 miles...did some walking and then picked up the pace for another mile. Yay. It felt good. Hopefully I'm not too sore tomorrow.

Mimeea

01-27-2008, 09:01 PM

Has everyone been getting snow this week?! We got a bit today too, not too much to be a hassle, but hopefully the sidewalks and paths will be cleared soon.

Well, I haven't been running this week... I came down with a bad cold, and with the weather and the rush of spring semester starting tomorrow, I didn't want to risk it. I'm planning on doing an inside workout tomorrow, perhaps erging.

Les- I know what you're talking about the flat spots- they are there. It seems like the two smaller hills before Heartbreak are teasers- since it was my first time on that part of the course, I thought I was flying up Heartbreak, until one of the more experienced runners mentioned the actual hill was nearly two miles ahead!

Susan- 5 years, wow, your team must be great! Coxing seems like fun- my roommate was my boat's cox (I was stroke seat), and she enjoyed navigating and avoiding near collision, all while keeping calm, authoritative, and loud! Would you consider rowing again? Either way, it's great to be out on the water. I now am a coach for our on-campus PE crew, we have a competition for dorms in the fall, and each class in the spring. It's pretty impressive where new rowers can get in about 8 weeks. Does your team have competitions or go to regattas?

Vicci- Have fun planning your trip to Boston. "The Hill" is near Boston College, a bit outside of the city. And if you come a bit farther out, you'll be in picturesque New England in Wellesley, which has some great running routes off the marathon course.

Legolas- I hope you're able to get more sleep and that you improve!

I'm 5'4", btw, which wouldn't be so bad if everyone in my family was taller than me. Even my mother and grandmother are 5'8". Alas.

Leslie Ferguson

01-27-2008, 09:53 PM

Vicci - Somehow missed the veggie tourtiere - sounds interesting to say the least.
Legolas - Glad to see you back and as has already been said, take care of yourself. Regardless, it's good to hear from you again.
Natasha - Great day... run in the nice snow after a glimmering night with the snow. Then out for coffee - you've hit the jackpot! Too bad I didn't post sooner because I've found another keeper from the most recent CL - Pork Medallions with Orange-Apricot sauce.
Melissa - Way to go! Good to "get back on the horse" and get a good run in.
Megan - Ah, the joys of the new semester - mine starts on Wednesday so I'll be in the boat with you then. You called it well too, all those neat trails in and around Wellesley and Natick and Framingham - loved those spots to run when I was in Boston the last two times. Maybe I'll get some running in down in Cambridge the next time I'm in Boston to round things out a little.

Nothing much from here today rested up after my speedy run yesterday (faster than I realized at the time) but did some cooking for therapy. Tomorrow will be a run day before things go wild for the remainder of the week. Hope all had a good weekend and stay warm and healthy.

Happy trails,
Les

aggie94

01-27-2008, 10:16 PM

Well, so much for my theory that I can't run fast because I'm short. :o I'm sure genetics has a lot to do with it - I don't think, no matter how much or hard I trained, I could ever run a mile at some of the paces that others find comfortable. I'd like to blame it on my short stubby legs but since Natasha is even shorter than me and a speed demon, I guess I'll just chalk it up to slow genes instead. ;)

I am also very much out of conditioning for running right now but hopefully can get back into it quickly. My pace is so much slower than it was this time last year, but I haven't done a lot of running in the past year. I was supposed to meet my running buddy for a 5 miler this afternoon, but it was rainy and nasty. I am spoiled living in Arizona, so there is never a need to suck it up and run through those conditions - we moved it inside the Y and did treadmill runs instead. I went for a solid hour but at my current snail's pace, it was just over 5 miles. Still, it felt great (albeit muggy and humid with the rain outside). I'll look forward to my next dry, sunny run. :)

Sorry to all those who are injured. Hope you guys can get back into the game soon, although be careful not to rush it!

Have a great week, all. My brother is coming to town on Thursday, and we are having a big Chinese New Year party on Saturday (with tons of prep going on Friday), so I am hoping to get in two good runs before things get crazy late in the week.

MaryH

01-28-2008, 04:37 AM

Resident insomniac popping in. :cool: I've given up trying to figure out why, but I am just unable to sleep tonight. I've been awake since about 1:30 but finally gave in at 3:00 at got up. But hey, the gym opens at 4:00 a.m. so, since it's raining here, I'll shlep over there and walk the treadmill (and then get coffee because even Starbucks isn't open until 5:00 a.m. :p )

Not whole lot of running to report but a bit more than last time. I've been pretty good about walking most mornings (it's 2.5 to just under 3 miles depending on the route I take) and on some of the last ones, I've been running the last 1/2 mile. But I've been using the new HR monitor and the running usually sends me over the target I'm supposed to be at. Work has been interfering with yoga - need to fix that somehow. :D

As for the question, I'm 5'8" with long legs, but it doesn't seem to help with speed - in that I don't have any. ;)

Hello to all. Time to get ready for the gym. Maybe I'll get a bunch of work done when I return. :cool: :D :)

TKay

01-28-2008, 10:40 AM

Happy Monday everyone.

I got in a good 45 minutes on the TM yesterday. I must have gotten over some hump because all of my runs are feeling really good these days. I'm always slow to warm up, but once that's behind me, I'm in good shape.

MaryH - You poor thing, not being able to sleep. At least you made good use of your non-sleeping time.
Aggie - I'm also spoiled by great weather. I don't run in the rain. Cause, you know, I'd get my shoes wet. :p I'm not-so-speedy myself, but I'm working on improving that. I'll never be lickety split either.
Les - Cooking and running. A nice combo.
Mimeea - Hope you're better soon. No snow for us, just lots of rain.
Mabvt - Nice job on the TM. It's good to have neighbors like that, I guess! When I'm on the TM, I can watch the closed-captioned programs at the gym. If I'm lucky, I'll catch something interesting--or distracting at least. Otherwise, it's just me and my iPod. If I had a TM at home, I'd watched TV, I think. What about you?
Legolas - Nice to hear from you, but sorry you're down a bit. Your trip sounds lovely.
Natasha - Sounds like a great weekend.
Susan - I thought of you when I was on the TM yesterday. I was getting a little bored and felt like slowing down. I thought of doing my 10K and then half to try to motivate myself. All of a sudden that image of you crossing the finish line to You are an Ironman!" popped into mind. I got all goose-pimply and had no trouble finishing my run. So even though you don't realize it, you're motivating me. Thanks!

Taking the day off. It's raining and wet here still. We need it. Have a good one runners.

SusanMac

01-28-2008, 12:56 PM

Happy Mon, runners! (yes, even those of you in recovery mode at the moment)

Les - that course sounds very cool! Like the 'cooking therapy' term.

Nat - that's awesome that you're enjoying your position in your running group so much

TKay - that IM thing seems like eons ago. It's an extremely odd feeling! Nice job on your TM session. Glad you've been in the groove lately

Aggie - I figure that, whether it's leg length or slow-twitch muscles, it's always your parents' fault ;-) Did you find some killer jeans for your Chinese NY party? Glad you have a running buddy to train with

Legolas - So good to hear from you!! Thx for checking in. Glad you feel everything's on the right path. I've hiked both of those places, but it's been a while, so I don't have specific recommendations. I'm in desperate need of a vacation, too!

Mimea - Your story about flying up the hill cracks me up. I do love coxing, but it's often not enough to keep me motivated, since it's not physical. We typically do about 5 regattas each year. Our club typically has 1-2 boats at Head of the Charles each year, too, but I've never been. Would love to one day.

Seathyme - You've definitely earned a recovery day. Remember, that's when you build your strength! Nice job on your 'streak' so far. Your year is off to a good start. Your retreat sounds phenomenal

Had a really great one-hour run w/friends yesterday. It felt esp cold, even though the temps were quite normal (normal being 5). DH thinks it was the higher humidity. One friend, in particular, was pushing the pace, so I stuck w/him. Our Sun runs are usually quite leisurely, but I was zonked all afternoon. Felt good. I think today will be a rest day.

aggie94

01-28-2008, 01:11 PM

Aggie - I figure that, whether it's leg length or slow-twitch muscles, it's always your parents' fault ;-) Did you find some killer jeans for your Chinese NY party?

Yes, I did! Check out my jeans thread on the Other Stuff board. Picked up a great pair of Sevens that I can't wait to wear. :D

It felt esp cold, even though the temps were quite normal (normal being 5).

:eek: :eek:

I am soooooo spoiled. "Normal" for me would be 60, sunny, and dry. :D If it were 5� outside, I would call in sick to work, much less think about going out for a run! :eek: :o

ktg0930

01-28-2008, 01:17 PM

Hi everyone,

I just typed a long message and my computer ate it.:( It's so frustrating because it had taken a long time to write all the personal notes.

I ran at lunch, 3 miles, and it was lovely. It's warm today, predicted high of 55 and it was sunny and 40ish at lunch.

So anyway, I hope everyone is well and enjoying running, rowing, biking, or recuperating.

Kathy

SusanMac

01-28-2008, 01:18 PM

Aggie - You're not spoiled....we feel sorry for you b/c you have no snow to play in ;-) I'll go check out the jeans.

seathyme

01-28-2008, 03:14 PM

Eva, Sevens are my look-great jeans too!

So half an hour ago I was out on the bike path speed-walking the dog, when the Harvard track team cruised by. Not the Hansens, but still. They were so fluid and *fast*! It was impressive.

Signed,
Not genetically blessed for running
(but treasure the ability to get out there and poke along nonetheless)

Natasha

01-28-2008, 03:32 PM

Hi all! Busy day here!

Kathy (ktg), glad you got in your run. Don't you hate it when messages get eaten?

Les, the pork medallions sound interesting. Can you believe I've never prepared those before? Maybe I should give them a try.

Lego, good to hear from you here. I've been to the Grand Canyon and really liked it, but can't speak to day hikes since we didn't do anything of the sort there. Bet you can't wait! :)

Eva, nice job on the muggy run and good luck with the hectic week ahead!

Seathyme, so cool about the Harvard track team. It's so inspiring to see really gifted runners, isn't it? In a few races I've come across the leaders as they head back (waaaay ahead of me, of course :D), and I always have to watch. It's a beautiful thing (IMHO) to see them fly.

Mary, how was the gym?

Meg, feel better soon!

TKay, glad you are having a spell of great runs! Susan, sounds like you had a nice run yesterday also. :)

Today I plan to spin and do some weights. Looking forward to it!

Have a lovely evening, all,
Natasha

Leslie Ferguson

01-28-2008, 09:15 PM

I'm not sure what happened today - there's been tons of business on the thread and that's good to see.

Natasha - If you'd like I can post or send the recipe - it's really easy and takes about 20-30 minutes to cook (they say 20 minutes but I couldn't get there). Hope you had a good spin.
seathyme - I think that's an awesome sight seeing the fast guys go past. I've had the blessing to see the elites running in Virginia Beach the day before Rock and Roll half and those folks are so effortless (and so tiny too). Enjoy and relish in your poking along.
Susan - 5 is a bit cool for me and I would bet that there was humidity if it felt colder than you are used to. I love cooking therapy, something about the aromas and all. Great that you did your hour run with your buddies too.
TKay - I know folks who have been running for a long time and they don't warm up appreciably fast either. 45 minutes on the TM is grand. BTW - if you do end up with wet shoes I have a good trick to get the moisture out of them - lightly crumpled up newspaper. It sounds odd but I've had soaked shoes that have come dry in less than a day with paper in them.
Mary - Sorry about your insomnia. You'd figure that Starbucks would be open at 4 am - why wouldn't they be? And in some places they might just be open 24 hours a day. ;) But really, sorry that you aren't sleeping well.

Good runs to ktg and a shout out to aggie and the rest of the gang!

Today was fun. I had set out for my normal run today - about 60 minutes. And (not by design mind you) it morphed into just over 70 minutes. I really didn't want to run that long but I got to a turn point and thought I had covered the distance back to home in 25 minutes a while ago but alas it was closer to 35 minutes (and I wasn't running all that slow either). Luckily I had the time to do it but it was a bit unnerving to say the least.

Registration for school tomorrow (takes 45 minutes for my whole class to pick up schedules and pay fees) then an interview for another internship (lasting 18 months). We're also getting together tomorrow evening for the folks from school who are from Kenya and who haven't been able for safety reasons to get home - might be a weird night tomorrow. Hope to spin between my interview and the service.

Happy trails,
Les

seathyme

01-29-2008, 12:55 PM

Hi gang,

Here's hoping that insomniacs, snifflers, hobblers and those who run too far by mistake are all feeling better soon, or even today! Hey and Legolas, you too of course.;)

Reporting 5 miles this morning. Meg, I don't know how it is in Wellesley but on the bike path here in Arlington there was too little snow for the plough on Sunday but enough to generate some packed down snow and icy patches. Quite warm today though, so hopefully it's melting.

So here's my dilemma: the yoga class on Saturday at our retreat reminded me how much I MISS my very regular yoga practice, which has been sporadic at best lately. I think I just have to get back into a class, but it's so hard to fit it into the schedule. <pondering> Meanwhile the 1000 mile goal is going amazingly well. Today's 5 miles officially put me over 100 miles for January.:cool:

Good to hear from so many runnahs! Happy trails.

SusanMac

01-29-2008, 01:13 PM

Seathyme - If you find your schedule doesn't have room for both, we'd still let you be a VRBer even if you cut back on the 1000-mile goal to make room for yoga. We wouldn't take it personally :-)

Kathy B

01-29-2008, 01:49 PM

Today's 5 miles officially put me over 100 miles for January.:cool:

Great job Seathyme! I have to say I am not surprised, though, as I have seen you steadily "racking 'em up" all month. Way to go!

Our weekend was very enjoyable. DS plays percussion, and as for the All-State Band, he made it in on the marimba. The music was wonderful, and it was such an upbeat atmosphere since everyone there was all about the music. Happily, the event occurred near a huge outlet mall, so we spent a relaxing afternoon browsing through the stores and snagging a few bargains. The place DH found for us to stay was quite a bargain, too, and I made use of their exercise facilities for 35 min on Saturday.

I got in another 35 min today on the TM, but it was a little frustrating. I thought I would try using my HRM even though I was indoors, but I guess there is too much "noise" from the TM. The HR displayed was jumping all over the place while my own was not. Oh, well....the good thing is that "my own was not" I guess! ;)

Les, why are you interviewing for another internship? Is this for AFTER the summer one? Or are you doing more than one at a time?

Susan, 5?:eek: See my previous note about the hot water bottle! Glad you enjoyed it, though. Hope you had a restful remainder of the day.

Hi to everyone, and wishing you all a good Tuesday. :)

Leslie Ferguson

01-29-2008, 01:56 PM

Les, why are you interviewing for another internship? Is this for AFTER the summer one? Or are you doing more than one at a time?

It's involved but the process for Ordination includes a summer of Clinical Pastoral Education (as seathyme put it - boot camp for ministers) at a hospital and 2 years of field education/experience at a local church - focusing on the day to day aspects of being a minister in a church setting. So I (as well as my other 29 classmates) have to line up two internships each with the field education happening during the school week. That should be 12 hours per week (including preparation and travel) while the CPE is 40-45 hours per week (with no other official functions at school).

Hope that helps.

Happy trails all and I'll chat later tonight.
Les

Natasha

01-29-2008, 02:57 PM

Les, continued good thoughts to those you know from Kenya. Tonight might be an emotional evening, I'm guessing. I read another article the other day about Eldoret. It's awful how it calms down for a bit, and then another wave of violence erupts.

Kathy, welcome back! Sounds like a wonderful weekend, filled with family time, good music, and shopping! I'm glad too that it wasn't your heart that was jumping all over the place - better that it be mechanical error ;)

Seathyme, wow, 100 plus miles for January alone - and all outdoors! You're banking those hours for later in the year! Nice job.

Susan, brr -- not quite that cold here (in fact, not cold at all today) but we are expecting frigid temps and messy weather over the next few days.

Got in a spin and weights yesterday. Today I think I'll do a gentle run and some abs. I'm off shortly for a massage. I also figured out what I'll make for a run club get-together this weekend: Brownie Latte Cheesecake. Hope it's as good as it looks! My run club may like to run but they also enjoy good (and not necessarily light!) eats and drinks ;)

Take care, all!

mabvt

01-29-2008, 04:02 PM

Hi Gang!

Seathyme--100 miles in January is way impressive!

Natasha--Brownie Latte Cheesecake? :eek: You better let us know how that one turns out...I'm salivating...

Hello to all runners today (can't type long, dinner is in the oven)

No run for me...It is raining like crazy here which has caused almost all of the snow to melt. Except for the big gray gross looking piles of course. The wonder dog and I took a soggy walk last night. This afternoon I got some play time in the Faculty vs. 8th grade boys basketball game. It was fun. I didn't score but ran around a lot guarding those squirrely thirteen year old boys.

TKay

01-29-2008, 05:58 PM

Seathyme - Wow! You're on a roll. Happy 100th. I hope you find time to squeeze in your beloved yoga.
KathyB - Glad the weekend went well.
Natasha - Mmm...brownie latte cheesecake. Can I join your running club?
Mabvt - I think you get extra points for playing basketball with a bunch of 13-year-old boys. :p
Aggie - Did you decide on your half? I think you said La Jolla, right? I'm wondering what, if anything, turned you off of Santa Barbara? I'm casing that one and looking for any info I can find.
Les - Thanks for the shoe-drying tip. We've had rain around these parts, and it seems 6- and 7-year-old boys can't stay out of puddles. Who knew? Speedy shoe-drying has suddenly become essential.

I got in a TM run today. Just under 4 miles. Intervals. It felt good, but now I'm getting that achy, sore-throaty thing. Ick. I'm drinking lots of fluids and keeping up on my vites. Maybe it's early to bed for me.

Hope everyone else is on the mend from various ailments. And for those who are healthy, keep it up!

Elizabeth B

01-29-2008, 07:03 PM

Hi runners!

I'm 5'9" and have trouble finding pants/tights that are long enough. I have one pair of Asics running pants that my running friends laugh at because they're so short. I do have one pair of fabulous Moving Comfort running pants that are nice and long- I love them.

Great to read about everyone's workouts and also to hear from Vicci. It's hard keeping your spirits up while you're sidelined. But let me tell you, once they let you run again, you'll be running whenever you can!

Seathyme - Great job on working toward your mileage goal (although you're sacrificing your yoga time). Have you picked out a half marathon yet?

Natasha - Can I join your run club and have some Brownie Latte Cheesecake??

Chicago was so much fun, and not as cold as I was worried it would be. Of course, I brought long underwear, wool socks, foot warmers, hand warmers, etc. and didn't need half of it. A friend invited me along to accompany her daughter's dance company that was attending a dance workshop there. There were about 12 9-10 year olds in our group. They were so much fun and the moms were all really great, too. The highlights were the American Girl store and having dinner with a friend from high school. The hotel had a workout room and lap pool, so I was able to squeeze in some running and swimming.

Well, dinner is ready so I'd better sign off, so take care, all!

Leslie Ferguson

01-29-2008, 09:37 PM

Hey all, back now and a little less frazzled.
Betsy - Sounds like a good trip to Chicago and you confirm just about everything I think about traveling in the winter - it's never as bad as you think it should be and you are always over prepared. But better that than under prepared in my book.
TKay - If I can, that fact doesn't change even when the boys get older (much older in my case), except when it comes to things like top siders and dress shoes but my running shoes are carte blanche with the puddles. :cool: Hope you bounce back quickly from your scratchy throat thing too.
mabvt - Running around with 13 year olds is worth more than running miles in my book. Better choice given the conditions too.
seathyme - Good job getting 100 in for January - I think that may be farther than I got in. I agree with Susan about the yoga question too - it sounds like it's something you need to do. Go for it!
Natasha - I'm up for the cheesecake too. I'd join your running group for that. :D Hope you had a good run today. And thank you for your thoughts about the Kenyans. We had about 100 for the prayer service tonight with the 3 students and at least 3 other Kenyans from the local area in attendance. It was a moving time and they were all honored by our presence. It's going to be a long road but there's light in Kenya now but Mary (the one who's house was destroyed) has a tough couple months ahead but her husband is as safe as he can be.

Sorry for going OT for a little bit. I had a good interview today - I guess I shouldn't worry about them any more but still it's nerve wracking. After that I got a 45 minutes spin in on the trainer in the basement. Looking at the weather I should have spun tomorrow because they're talking a huge cold front blowing through and 20-30 mph winds with gusts to ~50mph until tomorrow afternoon. Great. :rolleyes:

Have a good hump day tomorrow and happy trails all,
Les

ktg0930

01-30-2008, 08:58 AM

Hi VRBs!

I ended up taking a day off from running yesterday but did take a walk. It's bright and sunny, and I plan to run at lunchtime. I plan to walk before dinner. I've added some walking to my routine because I feel like I get less "here to there" exercise working at home.

Les -- I'm glad your interview went well. I think all interviews are stressful just because you want to make a good impression and showcase your skills effectively.

Seathyme -- Yay on the 100 miles in January!

ElizabethB -- Your trip to Chicago sounds like it was fun and not too cold. Being prepared for the cold weather is half the battle, I think.

Natasha -- I want to join your runnign club too. Let us know how that cheesecake turns out. Sounds like a good recipe.

TKay -- I hope your scratchy throat doesn't turn into a full-blown sickness.

Mabvt -- I think running around on a basketball court counts as a run in my book. We were watching the UT men's BB last night and I was noting how much the refs run around too.

Kathy -- Glad the band competition was fun...and you got to shop too.

A question for everyone who does yoga (or knows anything about yoga)--what type do you do? I have decided that yoga might help increase my flexibility and have been looking at some classes. Each place seems to do a different type. I guess I am not looking for the meditative benefits of yoga, but would like something more focused on flexibility. I know that part of yoga is getting in touch with your body, but I don't want to just sit on the floor and reflect, if you know what I mean.

Have a good Wednesday!

TKay

01-30-2008, 10:28 AM

Kathy B

01-30-2008, 01:01 PM

45 min on the TM for me today, plus some weights.

ktg, I actually don't know what kind of yoga I do! :o I mostly do the Namaste TV show that is on FitTV. They may say what kind it is, but I have never paid attention. It is probably the kind you are talking about though, because it helps a lot with flexibility, and it keeps moving, which is the main thing I like about it.
Occasionally I will do another show called INHALE with Steve Ross which is on the Oxygen channel. It also keeps you moving, but it is definitely more strenuous....a Power Yoga type show that is one hour long. The poses aren't anything unachievable, but he does have you hold them and an hour's worth can be a real workout.

Tkay, don't let that sore throat turn into anything more. Take some zinc and take it easy! (This is your mother talking!!! ;) )

Elizabeth, that American Girl store is pretty cool, isn't it? Expensive, but fun to look around in. Glad you had a good time in Chicago! (And managed to workout, too. :) )

Natasha, a massage sounds great! I have never had anything more than a free 5 min one at the Mother's Day 5K. Don't know why....I've actually given DH gift cert for them in the past and he loves them. I may have to check it out. Where did you find your cheesecake recipe?

Les, thanks for the explanation. Makes sense. Your internship sounds like what we used to call "clinicals" when I was in nursing school.....time spent working in the hospital or other healthcare facilities in addition to our classwork. I think we are getting some of that same weather that is headed your way. Snow yesterday, and supposed to get 3-5" with a winter storm tomorrow. (Naturally I have a 12 hour shift tomorrow!)

Stay warm everybody!!

seathyme

01-30-2008, 04:50 PM

Kathy/ktg, I'd echo KathyB and say there is a wide range of yoga styles out there. If it's called "power" or "ashtanga" or "flow" or in some cases "vinyasa" then it's probably work-up-a-sweat yoga. This can mean fast-moving sequences or long holds that challenge your muscles. Anything called "restorative" or "gentle" or "beginners" will be slower and easier, but even so may provide great flexibility. If your body isn't used to yoga it can be good to take one or two entry-level classes just to get used to the poses and vocabulary. I have found that some teachers are a much better fit for me than others, and same with the styles. It can take some experimenting to find the right place to be. But when it's right, it's amazingly wonderful. Hope you find something good!

TKay, be careful with that throat! I'm sure a birthday party for 7/8 year-olds will do wonders for that. ;) Know what you mean about wanting to stay on a roll with workouts though.

Les, the service for the Kenyans sounds moving; I'm so sorry your friends are suffering. Glad the interview went well -- hope you land a good internship!

Welcome back, Betsy! Glad you survived a winter trip to the windy city...

Nat, that cheesecake should be illegal. Can I have some??

Today was a lotta work, but I did fit in 2 miles of power walking with the dog late afternoon. Have you noticed? It was 5pm and not yet dark!! May I say I cannot wait for longer light??

Good evenings to all~~

SusanMac

01-30-2008, 05:26 PM

Quick fly by to report a good spin on the bike due to crazy temps outside. I finally finished watching the IM Kona program, and cried :-) Busy day work-wise, including email that stopped working & a very frustrating hour on the phone with customer support. Looking forward to a hot shower & some stir fry with DH!

Happy Wed everyone

Natasha

01-30-2008, 05:33 PM

Hi everyone!

Melissa, playtime with the students sounds like fun!

TKay, glad you're not feeling worse, but keep taking care of yourself to ensure you're 100% soon! (Otherwise Mother Kathy will be after you! ;))

Kathy, good work on those workouts! I have to say that I love sports massages. Maybe you'll try one (a longer one) after your next race? Hope the storm isn't too nasty. I think that's the storm we're supposed to get on Friday.

Betsy, Chicago sounds like fun and I'm glad it wasn't too cold and that you fit in some workouts.

Les, yay about the good interview! We had the crazy winds here today. Nutty. Last night my neighbour's BBQ (grill) almost went flying.

ktg, I do yoga but admit to not knowing what kind I do :o I guess you'd call it the-kind-that-I-do-to-make-my-hips-and-leg-muscles-more-flexible. ;) Catchy, huh?

Seathyme, I know what you mean about it staying light longer. I've noticed a real difference the past week or two! It still gets dark sort of early, of course, but it's a definite improvement.

Hi to Susan, Mary, Eva, Legolas, and everyone else. :) Edited to add, hi, Susan! We were co-posting.

I sure hope the cheesecake turns out well - will keep you posted! Kathy, it's from Tish Boyle's The Cake Book. I have The Good Cookie by her and love it, but haven't had much chance to make too many cakes form the cake book yet (though I do love perusing it). I don't have as much opportunity (or inclination) to make cakes as I did, but still love 'em.

The run club membership coordinator will be thrilled to have so many new virtual members :D

Got in a 4 1/2 mile run today. I'll be doing yoga tonight. I ended up opting to take yesterday as a rest day.

Take care, guys,
Natasha

TKay

01-30-2008, 06:47 PM

Poking my head back into the conversation to assure the mother figures out there (that means you, Kathy) that I did not work out after all today. In addition to thinking better of it, ds#1 (whose birthday is today) came home early from school with a whopping goose eye on his eyebrow. Ooh, he's gonna have one heck of a shiner. He's embarrassed by it. He hasn't quite grasped the notion of, "You should see the other guy" talk. :p (He bonked heads with another student on the playground and took the brunt of it.) Okay, I'm done with my OT remarks.

Kathy - Good going on the TM and weights. And the mothering too. ;)
Seathyme - Nice job on fitting in a power walk with all your work.
Susan - Glad you got in that spin. After your day, I'm sure you needed it. Enjoy your din with dh.
Natasha - A run followed by yoga. Sounds perfect. Hope the run club isn't getting too big!

Leslie Ferguson

01-30-2008, 07:10 PM

Les - I don't watch the news (it's all bad), but did catch a snippet of some of the news from Kenya. I immediately thought of your friends. Glad Mary is safe and I'll send good thoughts out for the safety of her husband. It's really heartwrenching. I'm sure your prayer service was a comfort to the Kenyans who were there.
They were all quite touched by the attendance and I think there will be a lot of community financial assistance going to them. Still and as you say it's heartwrenching because there's nothing they (those here) can do - it's not safe to travel to Kenya right now and there is sporadic communications - but if there's a good thing, at least they are among friends right now.
On a lighter note, funny about the rain puddles. I guess I should stop waiting for them to grow out of it then? :D
Oh, little boys - me included - never outgrow puddles so might as well not fight it. The only time it's worth fighting is when they get dress shoes or suede shoes in the puddles (thinking about Hush Puppies from my youth which may show my age).
My icky throat thing is still here, but hasn't worsened. I'm on such a roll with the workouts, it's hard to take an off day. I'll take it easy and just do a short weight walk. Today is ds#1's eighth birthday, so I've got a cake to bake. Must get my work behind me so I can wrap gifts too.
Sorry you aren't on top of your game and I hope that an 8-yo birthday doesn't take too much out of you.

ktg - I hope you get your walk in before dinner today and I'm not of any help when it comes to yoga. Sorry.
Kathy B - That's pretty much what we're doing here too. What we do is helpful even if it is stressful (12 hours a week on top of classes is a lot). Hope the snow wasn't that bad for you.
seathyme - I love that it doesn't get dark until after 5:15-5:30 now so I can run when I'm a little tardy coming home from school.
Natasha - Glad to help the running club and great work on your 4 1/2 miler today. Enjoy your yoga tonight and probably not a bad idea to take a rest day yesterday. The winds weren't that crazy here but still had gusts in the 40 mph range.

I ran this afternoon - it was 45 when I started but the wind - made it pretty nasty. Felt good to get on the road for an hour today (no overage to speak of this time either). Yuck may be coming by tomorrow as they're predicting heavy rain late afternoon/evening into Friday.

Off to study - classes started today.

Happy hump day and happy trails,
Les

aggie94

01-30-2008, 10:52 PM

Aggie - Did you decide on your half? I think you said La Jolla, right? I'm wondering what, if anything, turned you off of Santa Barbara? I'm casing that one and looking for any info I can find.

We are shooting for La Jolla. The *only* reason I decided against Santa Barbara was the timing. It is May 10, and that is a little late in the season for my training in AZ since it will be hot by then and not that fun to run outdoors anymore. There was nothing about the Santa Barbara race specifically (other than the date) that made me decide against it.

This week has been crazy and hectic. I had to take clients to an NBA game last night so beforehand, I ran home to let the dogs out and took off for a quick 4-mile run from my house. It's a loop DH & I have done many times in the past, but the last time I ran it was October or November, and I think yesterday I finished it faster than I ever have before. It felt great, and I do think my ideal running temp is right around 60 degrees. :o

I don't think I am going to get in another run before the party on Saturday but will make up for it with a longer run on Sunday.

I really wish I could respond to everyone individually, but I have to get back to work :( so for now, here's my shout out to everyone. (BTW, I found out yesterday that one of our cases is going to trial in 5 weeks (we have not actually had a case go to trial since 2003!), so my life is really going to suck for awhile.)

TKay

01-31-2008, 01:07 PM

Aggie - Thanks for the half info. I'll be interested to see how your training goes. I've never done a half, so I'll be trying to keep up! Sorry you're pressed for time, but glad you got in that 4-miler. Hope the weather treats you well.
Les - Is your usual run time about an hour? I've noticed that seems to be what you aim for. I hope your new classes go well.

I got in a steady 50 minutes on the TM. Took it easy since I haven't been feeling well. Keeping my fingers crossed that the crud has passed me by without really settling in.

OT - I'm very excited to be cutting off my long hair today. Whee! I'm donating it (despite some controversy about whether the donation centers really use the hair, but I digress). I'm anxious to run without creating a big clumpy knot at the back of my neck.

Happy Thursday and hello to everyone I missed.

SusanMac

01-31-2008, 03:09 PM

TKay - That is really exciting about your hair donation. I think it's something to feel good about, regardless. And, yes, you will love working out ponytail-free. It's a wonderful feeling not to have that sweat dripping down.

Aggie - I think 60 is just about right also. My school is celebrating Chinese New Year next week on my tutor day. What are the guidelines of what to wear? Just anything red? (2nd graders, btw)

KTG - While I don't do it regularly, I really enjoy the power/flow/Bikram yoga since it pushes me more. The astanga yoga I don't find to be as challenging (it's still great stress release, but it takes longer to notice strength or flex improvements) It's been several years since Ive done regular classes, but that's what I remember, fwiw.

We've got some mushy snow here (which wasn't expected til later tonight), so I'm passing again on joining the new Thurs night run group. Maybe I should just not even bother thinking about it til the weather is more predictable! Plan to spin on the bike tonight or tomorrow.

Natasha

01-31-2008, 04:38 PM

TKay, that's so neat about donating your hair! I always think it's great when I hear about people doing that. Enjoy the short hairdo! I always feel great when I get mine chopped, but right now am enjoying having it long. As soon as it starts to get milder, though, I think it'll be time for another short cut.

Haven't trained yet today but I plan to spin. Lots of other stuff to do though, even after a super productive day.

Hi to all - not much time to post today, but I wanted to ask if you would please keep a family in mind. The man was my DH's boss at a previous position and they are now good friends. The guy's wife has been ill for some time (cancer), though she had been improving with treatment. We just learned today that the wife was hit by a vehicle yesterday and suffered major injuries. Worst of all, while she's recovering from the injuries, she can't undergo the cancer treatment :(

These are wonderful people and have had such a rash of bad luck. Please keep them in your thoughts if you don't mind.

Natasha

SusanMac

01-31-2008, 07:19 PM

Wow - I can't believe that double whammy, Nat!! They must be extremely strong individuals to be going through all that. Maybe his wife can get TKay's hair ;-) (and maybe some of your cheesecake!)

Leslie Ferguson

01-31-2008, 09:40 PM

Natasha - Without a doubt I'll be doing my part and adding your friends to my evening list. It definitely sounds like they are having a bad run right now, please send them my regards and my prayers are with you and DH too - times like these are hard on friends too. Hope you got your spin in.
Susan - Too bad the snow is slushy or it would be agrand time. It looks like the nastiest part of the weather is going to pass here by for now. But they can still be wrong.
TKay - An hour is kind of my standard run, has been for a ton of years. If I'm doing an especially hard run I will probably go for a shorter time but these days the target is an hour. That's great that you are donating your hair to charity - a lady who worked for me a couple years ago donated 10 inches - it was a shock to see her cut off her really long hair. I hope you had a good TM run today.

Howdy to the rest of the gang - seathyme, the Kathys, the Megan/Megs, Betsy, Legolas, aggie, MaryH, and the rest of the gang.

I got a little derailed today getting ready for my trip away for two days (my sponsoring Diocese is meeting for it's annual convention/council and I'm encouraged to attend). Hopefully the weather will support it and I'll be able to carve some time out for a run or two between now and Sunday. I may be a little scarce because my traveling computer is questionable (HD is acting up) so I may be without connection.

Happy trails and have a good Friday all,
Les