Virtual Running Buddies (week of 2/1/08)

[Kathy B]

35 minutes on the TM for me this AM. AND I'll claim an outdoor run, too. DD, the dog and I trotted all the way to the bus stop this AM, and then the dog and I trotted on around the block and home. Short and very cold, but I say it counts! :p

Natasha, what a hard time your friends are having. :( It really makes you wonder, doesn't it, when some people suffer one blow after another. I will definitely say a prayer for them. I hope things take a turn for the better soon. I am sure it is a help to have good friends supporting them.

Tkay, waiting to see your new doo!

Have a good weekend everyone! :)

[seathyme]

Happy Birthday Kathy! Thanks for starting off. I hope you're doing something indulgent tonight to replace all those calories you burned today.;)

Nat, I too am so very sorry for your friends. What a terrible time they're having.:(

So TKay, do you run faster with less hair?:D Can't wait to see your pics.

No run to report today. Been working rather hard, and since noon we've had an icy sleety rain coming down, blech. But tomorrow is supposed to be clear and maybe even warmish, so will get out there for sure.

Have a good weekend, runnahs!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Fly by - Happy Birthday Kathy! Sorry you had nasty weather seathyme - it was raining here but thankfully no ice/sleet. Wild day too, 33 and rain when I left home this morning and in Williamsburg (140 miles away) about 2:40 later it was bright and almost 60. :eek:

Time for bed and I don't know if I'll be able to sneak out this weekend but I'm going to try.

Happy trails,
Les

[TKay]

Ack! I'm a day behind. Happy birthday, Kathy! It still counts even though it's a day late, doesn't it? I mean, in Les's circles, you get to celebrate for a whole month, right? :D Good job on the double run yesterday, Kathy. I hope you got in some good celebrations time too.
Seathyme - Hope you get in that run today.
Les - Good luck with your busy weekend. With luck you'll get a little run time in too.

I'm planning a long run today since I took off yesterday. (I'll let you know if my speed increases, Seathyme.) Waiting for dh to finish his training ride and then I'll be off. For those who asked, my hair pics should be posted (by a generous Robyn) over on the other stuff bb sometime this weekend. For whatever reason, I am absolutely photo-posting-challenged.

Have a great one, runners! Hello to Natasha, Legolas, Vicci, Elizabeth, Meg, Susan, and everyone else whose names escape me at the moment.

[seathyme]

Yep. Six windy miles this morning. Maybe you know this kind of scene: dramatic dark clouds in the sky above trees on fire with direct sun. It was gorgeous.

Les, that's wild about the temp difference you experienced yesterday!

Have a good run, TKay. Will keep an eye out for your pics.

eta: Happy Birthday Natasha!! How nice it falls on a Saturday -- hope you're having fun.

How's everyone else?

[TKay]

What the heck? Today's Natasha's big day?! At least I won't be a day late with my greetings this time. Happy birthday, Natasha! I hope you have a great one.

ETA: I got in 6.5 miles on the TM today. I'm really happy to get in that long of a run. I'll be ready for that 10K for sure (it's on the 23rd). Oh, and Seathyme, I don't think my hair improved my speed much. It still took me over an hour to do the six. : )

[VictoriaL]

Okay, let’s all don our Imagine Caps and go for a run with me! :)

I have to say, my Imagine Cap worked better when I was 4…

Another looooong week. I had a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday (why would an orthopedic surgeon have his offices at the end of a long corridor? It took forever to get there). The lower fibula fracture is healing “very well” but the broken bone on the side of my foot is “displaced”, which means the two pieces of bone do not meet (mine actually meet on only about 50% of the surface). In a prime example of a not very good office practice, the xrays were taken then the tech pinned them up to the lighted board and left. I saw those 2 bones dangling inside my foot and became mildly upset until the doctor finally came in and reassured me that the broken parts would calcify over. Apparently I may have a little “bump” there, but he also gave me the option of having surgery to reposition and pin the bones together. Hmmm. Guess what I chose? ;)

Anyway, 5 more weeks on the dreaded aircast. He said that in two weeks I may try using the EB (heaven help me—I am looking forward to that!) but he would suggest not trail running until April. He’s a runner also, so I’m accepting his judgment of the situation. Although I don’t like it very much!

I did start a modified stretching program this week and started using hand weights (and an ankle weight on the good leg) so I feel a little less like a big ol’ blob. Yoga is out for now since it requires balance and I barely have that without the huge weight on the end of my left leg!

First and foremost, a big huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both KathyB (belated) and Nat! If you guys lived around here, even with the bad leg, I’d be baking some cakes… :)

Tkay Did you survive DS’s birthday? And, more importantly, get rid of that scratchy throat thing? And congrats on the haircut! My 8yo nieces are doing the same thing this weekend—both have mid-back-length hair and are getting at least 10” cut off to donate.

seathyme, I am lousy at guessing people’s weight, age, birth order, beverage preference, etc. when they are standing right in front of me—and since I wasn’t married at age 5, I suppose that goes doubly for those who I only know online! May I say that, in cyber-age, you seem to be quite young?! :rolleyes: I hope that I never witness a crime and it’s solely up to me to describe the perp for identification! Anyway, congrats on the 100+ miles for January in MA, nonetheless!

Les you are absolutely correct about the second week being the worst! This past week was a little better, I seem to be getting used to the routine. And I am so thankful that my cast is removable—a plaster one would have been awful. Luckily you spent your down-time in San Diego. And good luck with acquiring the other internship. I didn’t realize there was so much in the way of “life experience learning” involved. But it makes sense.

Legolas I hope that you continue to heal. As much as I like to think of you sitting on the bench with me, I’d rather think of you out there running!

*puff* *puff* *puff* Are you all keeping up with me?!

Nat hope that you’re enjoying the brownie latte cheesecake (drool). I’m thinking… I can virtually run in your club then virtually enjoy the cheesecake, too? Nope, it’s just not the same!
And many healing thoughts are going out to your friends. What a rotten thing to happen--both the cancer and the accident.

Mimeea the Wellesley area sounds so pretty from what I’ve read/ heard. I’d like to do an extensive tour of the Boston area but I think that DH is planning most of our time nearer to Cape Cod.

Mary Are you sleeping better now? I rarely have trouble, but when I do I feel awful the next day (I’m a sleep-slave, I guess!).

Susan Your dedication to running in those super-cold temperatures is amazing! In our virtual run, it is 60 degrees… ;)

Betsy I’ve never been to Chicago, but my first stop would have to be either of Rick Bayless’ restaurants. I’m glad that the weather was decent for you (odds are that, in January, it wouldn’t have been!).

KathyB Marimba certainly wasn’t an option when I went to high school. In fact, I didn’t even know what one was until I was around 40, then I bought one because I loved the sound so much. :) Your weekend sounds as though it was enjoyable—plus shopping, too!

I’m realizing that I really should post during the week to keep up with everyone, and avoid 5-page replies!

Okay *puff* *puff* we’re done. Eight miles and now off to Nat’s for some of that brownie latte cheesecake!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/1082763720_f3348427ba.jpg
:D

Have a great weekend to all!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Fly by...
Happy Birthday Natasha.
Vicci - I'm right there with you on the virtual run with the cap - mine is tuned just fine right now thank you. As you might imagine, in my next "life" there's not much you can do to prepare (like taking a math class or something) and the best (and only way in my opinion) to learn is to do it - to be with people. I can believe that you wouldn't want to spend more time in a cast on top of surgery too. I bet it will heal just fine and a little bump can be fixed later if necessary. Good run.

Busy day here and what I think is productive but not in ways that many would call productive. Spent a lot of time talking to people and not specifically paying attention to the agenda of the conference. But then, I can't vote, I really don't have a voice (although they allow me to speak if I want to - parlementary procedures). There were lots of people who had interesting questions and interesting stories to tell so I'm thrilled to talk and listen.

Luckily, the conference is over midday tomorrow and I'll go home. Of course, I'll have to catch up on no studying for the past 2 days but I think a run may be in the offing.

Happy trail,
Les

[ktg0930]

Hello Runners!

It's supposed to be 60 here today. 60! I am looking forward to my run this afternoon. Other than running, I am making jambalya and we are going to a new members brunch for our synagogue. We joined in 2006, so I don't consider us new, but they are doing it for all 2006 and 2007 new members.

Natasha -- Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day. How was the cheesecake? I am sorry to hear about your friends and I'll be thinking of them.

KathyB -- Happy Birthday to you!

Vicci -- You seem to have a really good attitude about your cast, even though it's a drag. I'm sure the stretching and weights will help you both mentally and physically.

Seathyme -- Glad you had a nice run yesterday.

Les -- Hope you are able to squeeze in a run today.

TKay -- I can't wait to see the new haircut. It must feel a lot different since you must have had pretty long hair.

Have a great day everyone!

[Elizabeth B]

Hello runners!

First of all, belated Happy Birthdays to Kathy and Natasha!!

Natasha - Thanks for sharing your friends' situation with us. Has there been any update about the wife's post-accident recovery?

TKay - I'm happy to hear your upbeat hair donation report, because my hair is getting cut and donated soon. I've been torn between feeling as though it looks ratty and is in the way and worrying that I'll miss it when it's gone.

Les - Wow, as usual, you've been busy! It sounds like you're enjoying the conference.

Kathy/ktg - That jambalaya sure sounds good on a day like today - I hope you have fun at the new members brunch.

Vicci - Great job at sounding upbeat during your recovery. Your doctor sounds like he knows what he's talking about, so it's probably a good idea to wait until April to resume your trail running.

My running continues to go well. We did 9 miles today and I was happy with our pace and how I felt. My half marathon is in March and I think I'll be in good shape for this one.

I did commit to serving as Co-Race Director for our neighborhood race, but we're going to change it from an 8K/3K to a 5k, for a variety of reasons. So, if anyone is planning a visit to Nashville in the fall (Kathy/ktg, maybe? ;) , come on by and run a FABULOUS 5K!

That's it for now - take care, all, and enjoy the coming week!

[Natasha]

Hi everyone!

Kathy, sounds like you had a good birthday. Did you have pastries from that place you mentioned on the V Day thread? They sound fabulous!

Seathyme, that does sound like a gorgeous run you had after the icky weather passed through.

Les, what a busy weekend for you. Hope the rest of it goes well. I like your new tag line, BTW.

ktg, how was the brunch? 60 degrees - hard to imagine ;) Though we are supposed to go up to near 50 by mid-week, I think.

Vicci, good to hear from you and I'm glad you can at least do modified stretching and weights. Also glad your doctor is a runner so he can at least relate and can probably give you better advice as to when to start doing which types of activity than some doctors would be able to.

Betsy, that's so cool about your being the race co-director! Wish I could do that 5k - I'm sure it will be fantastic.

TKay, good job on the run and I agree with you that you're more than ready for the 10k later this month.

Many thanks to everyone for the good thoughts for the family. Yes, they are very strong and have a great deal of faith, so they are coping with things as well as I think anyone could be expected to.

Also, thanks for all the kind birthday wishes! It really was a wonderful day - filled with great company, good food, and... SNOWSHOEING! We got a ton of snow on Friday, so by yesterday the roads were cleared enough for us to go up the road to the trails. The snow was fresh and we had the woods to ourselves (as we almost always do there). The pup was thrilled too. All in all, that was a great birthday present.

That reminds me that one of my birthday presents was cross-country ski gloves from DH that he bought from Mountain Equipment Co-op. They're fabulous for snowshoeing, running, etc.

Today we had our Valentine's Day club run which meant a run (actually, it was a poker run ;)) on country roads - gorgeous. I did about 9 miles and enjoyed the snowy fields and trees, though we did have to pay attention on the roads as a couple of them were a bit slushy/slippery. Lots of hills, too, as you always get here as soon as you leave the town proper. Afterwards we socialized over lunch. The cheesecake was well received, and lots of funds were raised for a worthy charity. I will post the recipe on the Cake Book thread on Great Food if anyone is interested.

Hi to everyone else, and have a great rest of weekend!

Nat

[seathyme]

Vicci, I think you ran a marathon with all those personal replies! Thanks for taking the time to do that.:) And I'm glad Week 3 was better than Week 2. I guess it's a backhanded kind of silver lining that you're actually looking forward to the EB.:p

Nat, the birthday snowshoeing sounds lovely. Glad the run and party went well too. I can't decide if I want that cheesecake recipe or not!

Betsy, yay on 9 miles today. You are well on your way to being ready for a half in March.

Kathy/ktg, how was your 60 degree run??

Les, I bet a run felt good (if you fit one in) after all that conference yakking.;)

TKay, 6.5 dreadmill miles -- wow. That sounds like your longest run in quite some time.

I did not run today but did do an early morning walk with le chien. Then this afternoon we dropped him off at his dog-sitter (sniff) because we're heading to San Francisco for vacation this week! Very excited. The evening's entertainment is football, of course, but then we're up early tomorrow morning to catch our flight. Doubt I'll be checking in much for awhile, so have a great week, everyone! Oh, and I'm hoping I too might get to report a 60 degree run, so as not to feel too jealous of you southern and westerners.:D

[Leslie Ferguson]

Stalling...
Betsy - Good run - I agree that 9 miles should put you in good stead for a March 1/2. I'll have to opt out of a run in the fall in Nashville - although it would be great to get down there to return the favor from this past spring.
Natasha - Snowshoeing sounds fun and I bet Cabot had a blast. :D Congrats on your cheesecake making good money for charity too.
seathyme - have a good trip to SFO - probably a great time to be there as long as the rain stays away.
ktg - 60 sounds fabulous - like it was here this past weekend. They're talking about ~70 by midweek here. :o How was the jambalaya?

No run today for lots of reasons not the least of which was I didn't get out of Williamsburg until almost 2 and didn't get back to the Freeway (I took a "more direct route" from where I had lunch) until 2:45 with 2+ hours to get home from there. With a stop along the way to hunt for an elusive present for a friend (without avail) and I got home about 5:45. But I had a great weekend and haven't smiled so much in weeks. But I've got to get on the road soon so I can start rebuilding miles for my half (I know I'm close but my coach will be there and I want to do well) in May. Speaking of which, I found out that for his birthday in December he ran his 16th marathon in 2007 and had a personal best in more than 10 years (3:47). Just think what he could do with fresh legs.

Need to study for classes tomorrow so I'll sign off and see you tomorrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[Natasha]

Les, sounds like a hectic weekend all around for you. Hope you get in a run today. Congratulations on Charlie's latest achievement with that speedy time!! The 3 marathons in 6 months was more than enough for me - can't imagine 16 in one year :eek: Good on him -- he rocks!! How close is he to joining the 50 States club now?

Which half are you planning to do in May?

Seathyme, enjoy San Francisco! I'm sure you'll have a blast and will enjoy adding to your mileage in warmer weather. Sorry about your Pats, though it sounds like an exciting game (I only saw about 3 minutes of it myself, so can't comment on specifics :o). I do like close, low-scoring games though.

I'm taking a vacation day today - just 'cause ;) - so am puttering around, doing a bit of shopping, lots of cooking, going for long walks, reading, etc. I also plan to spin and do yoga.

Take care, all!
Natasha

[SusanMac]

Kathy - Happy bday!

Nat - Happy bday! Your showshoe romp sounds fab.

Les - Can't believe your friend has done that many marathons in a single year. Wow! Which half are you doing? Is this a new one for you?

Seathyme - You had to leave the state after the Patriots lost??!! ;-)

Victoria - Thx for checking in. Very impressed that you're doing those stretches. It would be easy to just do nothing

Elizabeth - You sound totally on track for your half. Congrats on taking on the race dir slot. I'm sure you guys will pull off another successful one.

TKay - I just checked out your new do' photos. The cut looks really, really great. You look just like Katie Holmes ;-)

I had a PC-free weekend, and it felt awesome. This weekend was my snowshoe race, as well, and DH & Bode decided to come w/me & romp around in the snow. This was a state championship, of sorts, called Badger State Games. I'm proud to say that I earned my very first ever gold medal :-) Very happy. there happened to be no one else in my age group. Hey, it's not my fault they all slept in! I did think it was odd. There were more in the 50 age group than mine? Here's DH's video, for anyone who has never watched a snow shoe race:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zif7yF5mhY

Happy Mon everyone <<don't feel like working today!>>

[ktg0930]

Happy Monday!

Susan -- the snowshoe race looks like great fun! And congrats on your gold medal.

Les -- that's an amazing number of marathons in one year for your friend!

Seathyme -- hope you have a wonderful trip. We are also planning to go to San Francisco this year, probably in August.

TKay -- I posted on the hair thread, but I'll say again that I love your new haircut. I think the color looks great on you.

Natasha -- I'm glad the cheesecake was a success for your club. Enjoy your day off. It sounds like a lovely day you have planned.

Elizabeth -- Let me know when your race is in the fall. I'll put it on the calendar so DH and I can plan to run.

The brunch was good and the jambalaya turned out well. We ended up not having it for dinner last night but will have it tonight. It started raining yesterday before I got my run in :( And now today it's raining again. I can't complain (too much) because we need the rain. I hope it stops later, though.

[TKay]

Susan - I love the video--especially dh's suggestion that you "go faster." Sounds so much like my dh. The race looks fun. As for my hair, I have a friend who's taken to calling me KT (as opposed to TK). Haha. I wish I was as tall and thin. :rolleyes:
Natasha - Ooh, a vacation day. I love it. I took Friday off (well, I didn't have any work and I took off from my household duties) and went to Disneyland for a few hours with my sister. It was a hoot. Enjoy playing hooky. Your gloves sound great.
Les - Sorry you didn't get in that run, but it sounds like your weekend was a great success. 16 marathons in one year? Yikes!
Seathyme - A week without le chien? Oh no. I'm sure you'll have a great trip though (and enjoy our mild weather). And yes, 6.5 is a long run for me--especially on the dreadmill.
Elizabeth - I didn't realize you're growing your hair too. I don't miss mine at all. I think it's not a shocking change because my new cut is not super short. (There are pics on the Other Stuff bb.) Good going on your 9-miler. Tell me again what half you're doing? A 5K in Nashville? Ooh, I wish I was closer.
ktg - Did you get in that run?
Victoria - So kind of you to ask. Yes, I'm over the itchy throat thing (never became anything full-blown) and I did survive ds's birthday. Thanks! We have one more celebration for him. We're visiting an aircraft carrier down in San Diego (Les, it's the Midway--you familiar?) on Sunday and taking one of his buddies with us. He is very, very excited about it (he's into military history and aircraft and whatnot). You are doing as well as I could imagine anyone doing with your lot right now. I wish I could make the time go faster for you. I'm glad you at least get in the stretching and weights. That must help. Hang in there. Sounds like your doc is on the ball.

I have a couple of race plans in the works for myself. I'm doing a 10K on the 23rd of this month. So the next few weeks, I'm going to work on my speed and staying healthy. I have my eye on the Santa Barbara half on May 10th. I'm hoping I can be ready by then, but you know I've never run that far. SB is only two hours away and makes a nice weekend family trip. Plus, dh could probably find a bike race to do up there on the 11th.

Off to the run on the TM again today. Have a great week, all.

ETA: Ktg, we were posting at the same time. Disregard my question about your run. Enjoy your jambalaya. Sorry about the rain.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Hey gang, quick check in. I'm going to run the Marine Corps Historic Half in Fredericksburg VA. This is the inaugural event and the 5000 slots filled in something like 10 days. It will be my first race in Fredericksburg and there will be some hills but I know I'm ready for them. I've lost count for my coach but I think he's up to 33 states now and that doesn't include international races (Montreal, Barcelona, Stockholm, Vancouver BC, Bermuda, and shortly Antarctica).

Off to class so I'll see you later, after my run today. :)

Happy trails,
Les

[TKay]

Les - Antarctica?! How cool. Sounds like half you're doing will be exciting.

Just popping back in to post a 40-minute TM run. Intervals. I felt good, but my legs were a bit achy--like my shin bones weren't happy. Not sure if that makes sense. I cut the run a bit short and stretched really well afterward.

[newsomz]

Hi All,

Good to read updates from you all! Things got crazy at home/work so I haven't had a chance to run (or keep up with these threads). I don't know how you all do it :) Anyhow...

Natasha & Kathy - Happy (belated) Birthdays!!
Vicci - Sorry to hear about your injury. Here's to a speedy recovery.
Betsy - Nashville in the Fall sounds nice! I've never been there. Depending on what is going on this Fall I just might have to make an excuse to finally visit. Let me know when the race is.
Everyone else - Keep up the great runs!

Also, does anyone have the Nike+ for their ipod? I just got one and am having a lot of fun with it. It keeps track of your runs and uploads them to the Nike+ website where you can track your progress, work towards goals and complete in challenges with other people. I'm still figuring out how it all works :)

Today I can report a 3K run. The first run for me in quite a while. I fell off the bandwagon and am finally getting back on, though I was snowboarding all last week so I don't feel too bad about not running (at least last week:)

-carrie

[Kathy B]

50 minutes on the TM for me today.

Thanks for the BD wishes everyone. It was a fun day, and yes, DH brought home a chocolate mousse cake from Andre's pastry shoppe. Delicious!

Les, when is the Marine Corps Half?

Tkay, I love your haircut! You look good in short hair! :)

Thanks for posting the snowshoe race, Susan. Looks like it was a great day for it, and like a fun event, too. Congratulations on your medal! (Don't explain 'em, just accept 'em!;) ) A PC holiday sounds like a wise thing for everyone on occasion.

Seathyme, have a great time in CA! DS had some friends over to watch the game last night, and DD and DH were watching it too. I don't know who was rooting for who, but everyone had a lot of fun watching it! Me....I don't follow football, so I just made sure there was plenty to eat and watched a movie. A nice evening for all of us! :D

Natasha, what do you mean by a "poker run"? A run out in the country sounds really nice!

Elizabeth, good for you for taking on the neighborhood 5K for next year. I am sure the planning is already underway. Keep us posted!

Kathy/ktg, glad to hear the brunch was a success. Hope the sun comes out for you soon.

Vicci, you actually have a marimba? Wow! DS would be so jealous! He has played piano for years, so whenever there is a mallet piece for the percussion section, it always gets tossed to him. He is starting to learn to play with four mallets (two in each hand), which is really something to see. It is pretty much expected that you know how to do that by the time you get to college, so he has to get cracking!
I am sure 5 weeks sounds like a long time, but you know it will be gone before you know it. And April won't be far behind. Hang in there!

[Leslie Ferguson]

From the bottom:
Kathy B - The half is Sunday May 18 (probably one of the last Sunday races for a while). Congratulations on 50 minutes on the TM.
newsomz - Welcome back - good for you to get a 3 miler in today after having been gone/off for a while.
Susan - I'll have to check out the snowshoeing race at school with a T1 connection.
Natasha - Neat gloves and I'll pass your regards on to Charlie. I was wondering about the poker run too. Hope you haed a good vacation day today.
TKay - I'd say that if you're already running 10k (or 6.5 miles) then you sould be able to get ready for a 1/2 marathon on May 10th. Good run on the TM - 40 minutes of intervals sounds grueling on a TM but I remember those miles all too well.

First, I'll claim a ride on the trainer for 45 minutes today. It's supposed to be ~70 tomorrow and I may be able to swing a run after lunch before work (at the computer lab). Thought I'd get out for a run but got derailed by a phone call about possible financial aid for next year - can't pass that up.
For those interested here's a link to theAntarctic Maraton info sheet (http://www.marathontour.com/antarctica/info.shtml). There isn't too much there but I love the course - a 6oo foot climb in a half mile - NO THANK YOU. Then there's this comment about shoes:
Shoes: "You will not need any special shoes. A training shoe designed for offroad running is best. Bring two pair since it might be wet and muddy. Racing flats are not a good idea."To which I had to think (about the racing flats) - DUH!

Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday tomorrow. Anyone partking of the pancakes for the day? Probably not since LW is out of town and I'll be working but who knows, maybe I'll go crazy. ;)

Happy trails to all (not trying to slight anyone either),
Les

[TKay]

Carrie - Snowboarding counts for sure. Glad you're back on the running trail. Good going on your recent run.
KathyB - My TM hero. Great job on the 50 minutes. Chocolate mousse cake--yum.
Les - Sounds like a good workout on the trainer. Funny about the racing flats comment. Hope you get in that run today.

I'm taking an unexpected rest day. Last night my right shin was killing me, tender to the touch even. I iced it and took some ibuprofen. It does feel better today, but I think I should rest it. Not quite sure what I did. Bad form, maybe? I hate taking the day off since I'm feeling really good. Ah, well. I guess I'll address some issues that have been needing my attention--likes taxes. Ah, who am I kidding? I have until April. :rolleyes:

Hello to everyone.

[Leslie Ferguson]

I'm taking an unexpected rest day. Last night my right shin was killing me, tender to the touch even. I iced it and took some ibuprofen. It does feel better today, but I think I should rest it.
Yes. If your shin hurts to touch you should rest. It is NEVER good that you have pain that gets worse when you touch something like an ankle, knee, or shin. Ice and ibuprofen is a good start and (from my experience) this shouldn't be a single day off but probably two at a minimum. The rule of thumb that I learned the hard way (IT band issues) was certainly a day off and if the pain was totally gone then run, if there was still pain rest another day. If the pain lasts for 3 days or doesn't respond to ice, rest, and NSAIDs then to the doctor.
Not quite sure what I did. Bad form, maybe? I hate taking the day off since I'm feeling really good.
I know how hard it is to take a day off when you're feeling good but for the long term rest is a good thing. As for why, there are typically (5) potential causes for shin pain (and ankle and knee and IT band): (1) running too often or too many miles (increasing weekly mileage too quickly); (2) running on the wrong surfaces (concrete is terrible to run on); (3) running in dead or dying shoes (how long have you been running with your current pair and wear isn't always the best indicator to shoe health but may be a flag); (4) running in the wrong shoes - motion control when you need cushioning or vice versa (when I run in motion control shoes my ankles and knees are in pain often); or (5) running too fast (speed kills). It is a toss up whether #1 or #3 is often the biggest culprit for pain but they are both close to each other. Sorry that I bear that news but rest is your friend right now. Believe me, I've learned pain lessons the hard way. Enjoy your rest days.

Off to go home and run before heading back to work at the computer lab. Happy Mardi Gras!

eta: Got out this afternoon -- it was 60 and my body didn't know what to do. :eek: Still got just over an hour in (just a little) and felt good albeit sweaty for the first time in ages. Nice to run in shorts and a tank too. But I know that will all change shortly.

Happy Fat Tuesday! (If I can say that here ;) )

Happy trails,
Les

[Natasha]

TKay, I agree about the rest day. Good luck and I hope it's not tender very soon!! BTW, I loved the before and after hair photos. You have such nice hair that I'm sure the donation was most welcome. And the new cut is very flattering!

Les, nice run!

Susan, congrats on the medal and I'm with those who say, hey, you earned it, why explain it? ;) :D

Kathy, glad you had cake from Andre's. Sounds sooo good. So is your son thinking of making music his major in college?

Carrie, good to hear from you and to know that you are well enough to run and do all that snowboarding :)

Vicci, wow, a marimba player? You have lots of hidden talents! :) I'm impressed.

The poker run meant we each got two random playing cards before heading out, and then partway through someone was waiting with more cards. At the end of the run, we compared hands and did some trading, and those with the best hands won small prizes.

Speaking of cards, not sure if training is in the cards today, but we'll see. I did get in the spin, yoga, and long walks yesterday, so if today ends up being an off day due to other commitments (primarily work), so be it.

Best to all! Happy Mardi Gras.
Natasha

[Leslie Ferguson]

Sorry you may take a rest day today Natasha but sometimes work gets in the way doesn't it. ;)

Close out for the evening - I had a good evening at work and made a short stop at a Mardi Gras party hosted by a classmate. Forgot to mention that I'll need some good thoughts tomorrow too, because I'm planning on participating in a Fast for Ash Wednesday tomorrow - that may not go as well as I like if my body doesn't want to participate, but at least we're only fasting for the portion of the day that will be the quiet day - from 6 am to 4 pm. Maybe that will be doable. Besides that I'll probably be away most of the day tomorrow - observing a quiet day will probably lead me away from the computer unless it's to write a reflection.

Happy trails all and have a good day,
Les

[TKay]

Les - Thanks for the consult regarding my shins. I'm running on the TM, increasing mileage slowly and not running consecutive days. So I'm thinking it may be working on my speed too much? My kicks aren't very old--purchased in October, I think. What I did do this weekend was wear heals which I don't normally do. I wonder if that contributed too? Hmm. Glad you got in a good run yesterday. All the best for your fasting/reflective day today.
Natasha - Interesting about the poker run. Did you win? Enjoy the rest. I'll be right there with you.

Another off day. Shins still hurting. I'm determined to heal whatever this is in time for my 10K on the 23rd. I've been so looking forward that, I'll be bummed if I miss it.

Hope everyone else is well and enjoying a lovely day.

[Kathy B]

Snow day today so the kids are home. I did the TM this AM and also yesterday. Good thing, because it looks like I'll be working the next couple of days.

Natasha, hope you got caught up on all your work stuff. My work days are always rest days since I do mostly 12 hour shifts. DS is definitely planning for a career in music, but he is not sure what area. He is still investigating his options. Other than the obvious (music teacher or rock band :p ), it is hard to know what all of the possibilities are and what things to consider. He is only a junior, though, so he still has time to get things figured out. He plays piano and percussion.

Les, if I had to fast from 6 AM to 4 PM, I would start by sleeping in until noon! Hope you have a nice dinner waiting for you this evening.

Tkay, sorry to hear about your shins. Rest is definitely a good idea, even though it is not what you want to do. If your race is in April, you have plenty of time to heal and continue your training. Don't push it!

[SusanMac]

Kathy - Don't you mean S-N-O-W D-A-Y !!! It literally hasn't stopped coming down here since yesterday at 4pm. We've shoveled the drive 4 times already today.

TKay - Are you icing your shins? Even if you don't see swelling it helps. Plus, just feels good. Hope you feel better soon.

Nat - I've never heard of a poker run. that sounds fun!

Newsomz - I got an iPod+Nike for Xmas. Problem is...I don't have a Nano. At first I felt horrible b/c I thought it was expensive. When I learned, I just said "thanks" & now it sits in a box. Very glad you're enjoying it

Wow a lot of other stuff going on around here.....mirimbas, ankle casts, fasting, internships....whew, tough to stay up on everything

No workouts this week, since work has been crazy. Hoping to spin today.

[VictoriaL]

Well guys, it's not running, nor is it the dreaded exercise bike, but I was able to accomplish some aerobic activity this afternoon- vacuuming! DH left for a few hours so I dragged myself upstairs and spent over an hour vacuuming 2 lousy rooms. And I worked up a sweat, as well. :) Now I need a shower but can't until DH returns-- I can get myself in but not out.

I also took the aircast off and did more stretches this morning than I have during the past week. I was careful, verrrry careful, of my damaged ankle and foot, but I needed to stretch without the weight of the cast. My hip flexor and quads on the "bad" leg has been really bothering me, probably due to lugging this thing around. Although called an aircast, it's hardly light in weight... Anyway, I was trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong and went to a few sites for answers. Apparently, I'm having less problems that I would have if I hadn't been running and using weights during the past year+. Oh well. The stretches felt good and I'm having less pain in the entire leg today so I shall try this routine every morning. I have the time.... :rolleyes:

KathyB and Nat, no I am not a marimba player! I have a marimba, and I play it, but I'm nowhere near proficient at it! I love the looks (it's wood, as most are) and the beautiful sound ("happy birthday", "yellow bird", and "the banana boat song" seem to make up most of my repertoire) but I am too embarassed for anyone other than DH to hear me at it. Actually, the rubbery bands which the wood keys lie on is deteriorating so I have to find a place to repair it. A marimba fix-it shop, I suppose.

TKay nice haircut! :) My hair is as long as yours was and occasionally someone (most recently, my sister) will comment that I'm too old for such long hair but I've always had it and have no idea what else to do. I did have it layered last fall-- that was a big step! Your new 'do looks great. Also wearing heels may have contributed to your shin problems, if not caused it. Your foot was pointed in a way that it normally isn't (and it's an unnatural position, too). I hope that it feels better now.

Susan, I'm jealous of your snow! Sounds like you're getting a lot. It's 62 here, and sunny, but I can't be out in it so why doesn't the weather just make snow instead of torturing me?!?!? Love the idea of snowshoe racing. I couldn't see the video clip since dial-up and youtube do not play nicely together.

Les, enjoy your quiet day today, and have a nice meal when 4pm hits.

I hope that seathyme is having some nice, long runs in warm weather...

My parents drove 2-1/4 hours to bring us food yesterday. The quantity was amazing-- soups to main dish entrees to breads and desserts. I want to have the stamina my Mom has when I'm 72! It was lovely to visit with them (DH made lunch and cleaned up-- they were quite impressed!). And now I have more cookies and brownies (and cinnamon rolls) calling me when I'm trying to eat less! But I'm not going to turn down Mom's food. :) I just have to consume slowly...

Happy Hump Day, all!

[ktg0930]

TKay -- I'm having shin problems too. I went for a run yesterday (70 degrees, it was glorious) and at first, it felt like my shoes were laced too tight. So I loosened them, but my right shin/ankle still hurt. So I'm resting today. And based on Les' advice, probably tomorrow too. My shoes dont' have that many miles on them.

Vicci -- those Aircasts are not light at all! I used them in a study (well, the study patients used them, not actually me) and they are pretty heavy. I'm glad you were able to stretch.

Les -- you should be eating a nice meal about right now! I fast for Yom Kippur and it's a long day. I technically cheat though because I do drink water.

Kathy and Susan -- enjoy your snow days!

Natasha -- the poker run sounds interesting, never heard of it before. I hope your work didn't get in the way of some exercise.

Newsomz -- I've looked at the Nike+ipod but don't have one. Maybe I'll meet you in Nashville this fall at Betsy's race. I live in Knoxville so hope to be able to do the race.

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Kathy

[Leslie Ferguson]

TKay -- I'm having shin problems too. I went for a run yesterday (70 degrees, it was glorious) and at first, it felt like my shoes were laced too tight. So I loosened them, but my right shin/ankle still hurt. So I'm resting today. And based on Les' advice, probably tomorrow too. My shoes dont' have that many miles on them.
Amazingly, lacing your shoes too tight is one of the ways that you can adversely impact your ankles/legs/knees. As best it's been explained to me, lacing your shoes too tight can cause you to change your gait from its normal to something that puts undue stress on joints and muscles in your leg. As you found out it takes a while for it to hit and even when you loosen your laces you still have left-over pain. Hopefully your shin pain goes away quickly and I second Susan's advice (for you and TKay) ice is good even if there isn't swelling (hard to have swelling on your shins too) and even if there isn't noticable inflammation the ice feels so good on sore shins/ankles.
Les -- you should be eating a nice meal about right now! I fast for Yom Kippur and it's a long day. I technically cheat though because I do drink water.
Not quite eating a nice meal yet but put some comfortable things in my system (cinnamon-raisin bread is something that makes me feel good). I know I need something more substantial but will wait until I get home. I'm not sure that water is cheating or at least in our tradition water is the only thing you can have during your fast - no need to become dehydrated too.

I hope that Susan and Kathy B are enjoying their SNOW DAYs. Snowing since 4 pm in Madison - that's too much.
Kathy B - I hope that DS gets to shoot for his music dream.
TKay - Forgot to mention your haircut -- I like it. And depending on when you got your shoes in October you might be approaching the end of your scooter's useful running life. But most shoes last somewhere in the 300-500 mile range. Typically running stores tell you something between 4-6 months for recreational runners (those who aren't running 30+ miles a week). Another way to look at it, if you are running 3-5 miles 4 or 5 times a week then you should be ready for new shoes in 20-25 weeks.

A good day and the worst of the fasting was, amazingly, at about 7:30 this morning when my brain kicked in and thought I wasn't going to eat for the rest of the day. After that, the blood sugar roller coaster wasn't too fun but manageable.

Now, to home for some real food then back to school to work in the Lab again.

Happy hump day and happy trails,
Les

[Elizabeth B]

Hello all!

I hope that Seathyme is having a wonderful time in San Francisco - one of my favorite places. I'm looking forward to hearing about all the fun she's having.

Vicci - It sounds as though your recovery is on track. That was so nice of your parents to bring you food!

KathyB - There are many music career possibilities for young people with talent and determination - music production, songwriting, music business fields like management, publishing and the record industry, to name a few. And since your son plays both piano and percussion, it sounds like he has a good head start.

TKay - Les could be right about your shoes, although I could see how wearing heels for a weekend wouldn't help your shins. I can usually only get about 200-300 miles on a pair of shoes and for me, shin pain is the first sign that it's time to replace them, especially if I haven't made any changes to my running routine. I'm sure you'll get it figured out before your 10K and that you'll do great. I wish there were more 10Ks around here.

Has anyone read the RW article about the Flying Monkey Marathon here in Nashville? I haven't done that crazy race, but when I talk about my "hilly run", that's where it takes place.

Last night I was able to get in a 6 mile run, get home, shower, fix dinner and clean up before the first line of storms came through. The first line was the worst for us - it came right through our neighborhood, but luckily didn't spawn any tornadoes near us. The second line came through around 2 am, waking me with the thunder and the tornado sirens, but that storm wasn't as bad. Tonight it's really windy - I got blown around so badly during my run this evening that running kind of felt like a contact sport!

I'm off to cook dinner - enjoy the rest of the week!

[Natasha]

In random order and I'm sure I'm missing people, so apologize in advance...

Vicci, a marimba fix-it store should be easy enough to find in the Yellow Pages, right? ;) Glad your DH and mom are taking care of you, that you got to take off the Aircast, and that the stretching feels good. If you want snow, come here! We have LOTS.

Les, I'm glad you can have water in the fast. Not being able to have water would be the worst (says the person who can't fast before a cholesterol test without suffering :o).

ktg and TKay, I hope your respective shins feel better soon!

Kathy, that's neat about your son. My sister got a Bachelor of Music degree in university (violin was her main instrument). She really enjoyed it for the most part. I spent a lot of time down there and at concerts. I have a keen appreciation of music of various kinds, and a special love for classical music, but NO musical talent of my own :o

Betsy, I'm glad you're safe and didn't get blown away on that run! I haven't heard about or read about that marathon. Very cool that one of your local routes was featured since it's part of the route!

We're getting the snow here now. In fact, we got one round last night and today, and tonight (and possibly tomorrow?) is round two. I got in a good spin tonight as DH used the treadmill; then I did some lower body weights. Then we walked the pup and let him romp. Lastly, we did the shovelling. DH is just finishing it up now as I went inside to put on the kettle :) It's a lot of fun out there at the moment, with a lot of neighbours out joking and helping one another, and with everything all white (the snow) and silvery (the sky). Let's hope the driving is good tomorrow though, for those who must drive.

I thought there was something else I was going to tell you guys but now I forget. If I remember I'll pop back in!

Best to all! :)

[TKay]

KathyB - How did the snow day go with the kids at home? Needless to say, we've never had one here. I think my boys would love it.
Susan - Yes, icing my shins but only at night. I suppose I should do that off and on during the day, but it's hard to keep ice on your legs when you're walking around. Hmm. You buying that? You know how much I'm sitting here at my desk. :o Hope things settle down and you get in some stress-busting workouts.
Victoria - I haven't been laid up like you, but I have been thinking about you the past few days. I am up and around, but not being able to work out/run has been tough. I feel for you not even being able to get out of the shower! Sounds like you have some good eating ahead of you at least. My mom was a utilitarian cook, but I'd love to have her spaghetti again. Enjoy!
ktg/Kathy - Sorry you're having the same shin ailment. Funny about the tight lacing. I had no idea that could be bad for you. Here's to quick healing.
Les - I'm giving my legs another rest day and then trying a slow, easy jog tomorrow. I may check into new kicks, just to be safe. Truthfully, these didn't feel all that cushy when I got them, so maybe there's not enough spring in this model for me. How was your meal last night? Funny about your brain having the worst time in the morning.
Elizabeth - Glad you got so much done before getting hit with the storms. More than that, I'm glad you guys are safe. I love running as a contact sport. I can picture it.
Natasha - Did you remember what you forgot? Between your spin, weights and shoveling, you got in a full-body workout last night. Good for you.

Me - Another rest day. I'll try an easy run tomorrow and see how it goes. The funny thing is dh has an away-from-home conference to attend this weekend and I'm going with. We'll get in a datenight tomorrow evening. I was asking him if we'd see his work cohorts or not. I will be wearing comfortable shoes--no heels! I don't know. Maybe it's just me who thinks that's funny. :D

Signed,
Who knew I'd be chomping at the bit to get back on the TM?

[ktg0930]

Elizabeth -- glad you are okay after the tornadoes. We had the strong wind and thunderstorms yesterday morning.

TKay -- I'm with you, resting again today and then trying to run tomorrow. I might try new shoes as well. Have a fun weekend away from home.

Les -- thanks for the info on the lacing. I hope I just tied the laces too tight at my ankle and it's a temporary pain. I don't know if no beverages applies to all Jewish fasts, but on YK, nothing is supposed to cross your lips. The rabbi always reminds us to use common sense and not go without needed medications or to not fast if it would be detrimental to your health.

Natasha -- I just love it when it is snowing or has just finished. It's quiet outside and you just hear people shoveling (and maybe some snowblowers).

My dad called last evening to make sure we were okay after the Tennessee tornadoes (luckily, we don't seem to have tornadoes in east Tennessee, probably due to the mountains to our west). He had the chicken soup ready for my mom who was out shoveling. My dad had his hip replaced in November and hasn't been able to do anything like that all winter, and it's been a snowy one for them in Wisconsin.

Hello to everyone!
Kathy

[SusanMac]

Waaaaah -- I have nothing to report! I don't have a good excuse like a leg cast.

I did pick up a 3rd client this week, though. Just finished signing contracts, so I'm kind of excited. I am officially over-booked. This is a good thing, but will definitely impact my workouts. Need to get better at 7pm workouts during the week. I mean, why not, really?? right? DH has offered to start doing the grocery shopping, but I feel guilty!

Actually, next week is much quieter for work, so maybe I'll get in those 3 target workouts.

In the mean time, glad everyone has survived the crazy weather this week. We got 13".

[Natasha]

ktg, glad you are okay and weren't affected by the tornadoes! Yes, I agree about the snowfall - it's so quiet. I love the peace and quiet of winter generally.

TKay, enjoy your weekend away with DH and your date night! Friday is our standard date night, BTW - so we will be "date nighting" at the same time tomorrow, give or take a few hours because of time zones ;) Good luck with your easy run tomorrow.

Hi Susan! :)

I got in a really fun run tonight: close to 5 miles. Now to stretch it all out!

Take care, all,
Natasha

[Leslie Ferguson]

ktg - I bet you'll be fine, lacing normally only causes me issues for the run and a day afterwards (not the next run if I take a day off). Common sense is always a good thing when putting your body in unfamiliar situations.
TKay - I hope you have a goo drun tomorrow. Sometimes "cushy" is less about feel and more about resiliency, most of my shoes aren't "cushy" but they feel springy if you know what I mean. Fingers crossed...
Howdy to the rest of the gang.

Day derailed - had an interview across town this evening that I scheduled last night at about 5:30. The only time available before the interviewer headed out of town to New Orleans on a mission trip so got clobbered in rush hour traffic heading home and no run. Answering TKay - dinner was a mix but filling and filled with proteins and good carbs. Made my famous "trashcan eggs" with a conglomeration of black bean salsa, green beans, chopped zucchini, tomatoes, and chicken - sounds messy (and it was) but oh so filling and just what the doctor ordered after the carb fest (probably why the morning was the worst time for me as the carbs burned off quickly).

Tomorrow I'll run as well as Saturday.

Happy trails all,
Les