Virtual Running Buddies (and riding) - w/o 10/17... Go SusanMac!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Well, it's the end of the day on Friday and we need to root for Susan to have a good race this weekend - a Marathon for her. One for the books (and maybe a Boston Qualifier). Hard to remember all the great things going on last week (already). Frankenfoot, Strassburg Sock, running and riding, and new scooters! All good things.

Nice day today, even if it was "Monday." It was trying to rain a little when I got home and the clouds were setting in. Still got out for a short jaunt on my bike (about 45 minutes) and snuck back in the fading edges of light. Almost time to relegate my road bike to the trainer and stick to mountain bike riding outside.

Work to do this weekend - mostly because it's midterm week next week and even though I don't have any midterms there are projects due in the first week back from break. No rest for the weary.

Happy trails and fleet feet to Susan!
Les

[Robyn1007]

Good luck Susan!

Sounds like a nice ride Les. I know what you mean about the trainer. I keep trying to eek out weekend rides until skiing is hard core again.

Off day for me today as I went to see a ski flick tonight. Unfortunately it was not a Warren Miller and it showed that their budget isn't as big.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Sorry the movie was a bit of a bust but still a night out is a good thing. Hope that you had a good day off and came back today with a good run/ride.

Speaking of which, I took the afternoon to take a long ride (before the temp gets too cool to ride on the W&OD). Just over a couple hours (about a minute) and just a little under 29 miles (.2). Felt like I was slogging through peanut butter once in a while, and I even had full tires (filled them before going out). Not sure why, maybe it was a lack of caffine (didn't get my normal 2-3 cups of caffinated coffee this morning). Early morning for church tomorrow (7:45 first service) so not a late night tonight.

Pulling for Susan (if she hasn't already run) - can't wait for a race report too. I hope to hear from some of the gang later this weekend too.

Anyway... Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Hi All!

I forget-- was Susan's marathon earlier today or is it tomorrow???

In any case, hope it was/is all that you want it to be, Susan! :D Tell us!

Les, nice bike ride! :) Was the scenery pretty? I liked the expression "slogging through peanut butter" and I'm glad that the more experienced riders have the same experience as I do at times... I am in awe that you are actually up and talking (coherently, I am assuming) to people at 7:30am. I'd need a lot more than 2-3 cups of coffee (do they make double-caffeine??) .

Oh, and Les and KathyB, the 4-page rambling of my day in the jury pool is too large to go through the PM function on these boards, so if you still want to read it, shoot me a pm with an e-mail address and I'll send it.

Today I did a half hour of weights this morning and then, this afternoon, a 45-minute trail run. It's getting a little nippy out these days, and I had to locate my fleecy running jacket for the first time since last spring. Our first frost is forecast tonight, and I may have to break down and turn on the heat tomorrow...

Hope that everyone is having a great weekend!

[Robyn1007]

Les, I hate it when all the sudden it feels like your bike won't move like you think it should. Sounds like a lovely ride though.

Vicci, nice job on the weights and run. Personally, I'm ecstatic not to have to time rides on the weekends according to weather.

I got out for a ride this afternoon. I'd planned on going during the morning but was in some pain so I delayed and thankfully it let up on me so I got out for an hour. I had the opposite situation on my ride, I felt like I was flying on my ride which was good. I stopped off and visited with a couple of friends along the way for a few minutes each.

http://www.theskidiva.com/forums/images/smilies/ski2.gif

[Leslie Ferguson]

Vicci - Thank you for the notes, I'll take a look at them a little later. Yep, I've got to be coherent and reasonably personable at 7:30 (having been up for over 90 minutes by that point in time). :D My pleasure to tell stories about my struggles - life works out that way some times. Good run and weights workout. Don'tyou just love the cooler temps? It was only in the upper 50s here today which is just grand running weather. Hope you have a good week.

Robyn - Glad the peanut butter ride was out here and not out there. Lovely that you felt like you were flying today too. Hopefully your pain subsides soon and you can get back to normal.

Today was neat - long day at church (not unexpected); did a 2 mile walk for a homeless shelter (that was started by the first Pastor at the church I'm interning at); then came home and couldn't figure out why I had no motivation to do anything productive. ;) NOT! It might have been lunch at 3:00 that was integral in my lack of motivation this evening (probably). Looking at the midterm week and hoping it goes as well as I expect it to, I think I'm ready for the week regardless. (And I couldn't get much more prepared for it regardless).

Happy trails all... I wonder where folks might be hiding these days? A shout out to Carrie, Nat, Susan (good race vibes to her), KValley, Meg, and alll the rest (not wanting to neglect anyone).

Les

[newsomz]

Les - Is it already too cool for rides up there? Or is the light fading too fast in the evening? Great job on the recent rides.. I know the feeling of moving slower than molasses.

Vicci - Sounds like a very nice trail run! DBF and I will be in a much cooler climate this winter while I'm training for a marathon and I need to figure out what to wear for winter running. I believe average highs are between 30 & 50 F. Any suggestions for winter running gear I should make sure to have? I do not know if I'll need gloves or not at those temps.. what do you think?? Obviously, I have no clue when it comes to dressing for winter - let alone winter running, lol.

Robyn - Great job on the ride! It is always fun to be flying.

Susan - How was the marathon?? I hope you are satisfied with your performance!!!

Happy Sunday to everyone else :)

I ended up skipping my Thursday run because I was exhausted. No more track workouts for me until classes are done.. I think the 12 hr (+) days on either side of my track workout are too much. After each of my track workouts I've been incredibly exhausted.. and since I cannot cut out class ;) I did get out for a good 58 min run this afternoon. Yay! Temps have cooled down enough so I can go out before 6pm!!! We'll see how long it lasts :rolleyes:

[Robyn1007]

Les, good luck with midterms this week!

Carrie, good for you for listening to your body!

Well, I really got to fly high today. I SKIED!!!!!!!! Got in about 8 runs before it got too busy and dangerous (think pinball skiing). The good news is that the season of cycling, swimming and strength workouts meant NO leg burn today! :D And then I was a good girl and came home and did a strength workout.

Traditional first chair ride of the season shot
http://lh5.ggpht.com/rspeirn/SPt2qhhjwkI/AAAAAAAAAbc/isDMrieGXJ4/s576/PA182739.JPG

A nice patroller offered to take a shot of me
http://lh6.ggpht.com/rspeirn/SPt2sX1RusI/AAAAAAAAAcA/iROQVKgyTik/s400/PA182743.JPG

[Elizabeth B]

Hey, VRBs, remember me?

Robyn - I LOVE the first chair ride of the season photos - that grin on your face is infectious!! And the scenery in your photos is always stunning.

Les - I'm so happy that the temperatures have finally dropped here in Nashville! I thought it would be summer forever, but fall finally came this week. I do soooo much better in cooler temps.

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I'm getting ready to join you on a more regular basis because....our neighborhood race and my first Race Director experience was yesterday! I'm sure things will be better next year, but the last couple of weeks have meant sleepless nights and endless cell phone calls/emails, but thank goodness everything turned out ok. We didn't get a huge turnout (200 registrants) but we did at least break even and have some money for our cause (the local middle school band program). It's been a very, very hard but very rewarding journey in which I've made new friends and am rewarded by feeling that I'm benefitting my community. I was especially pleased because two of the Metro Nashville/Davidson County Council Members were there, as well as our Metro School Board representative and our Congressman, Jim Cooper (who actually ran the race!). I've had tons of help from the Nashville running community, through running stores (all of them pitched in), the Nashville Striders running club, and our wonderfully supportive running community.

I haven't run myself in over a week, but am visiting my parents in Florida soon and plan to start running again while I'm there. This week is all about thanking our Committee members, volunteers and sponsors.

Now I'm anxiously awaiting Susan's race report!!

Take care and I'll be "seeing" y'all on a regular basis soon. Also, pm me if you'd like to see photos, etc. and I'll pm you back with the link.

[KValley]

Susan I'm too late to wish you a great marathon, but I CAN offer my huge Congratulations! I hope you resting and I wish you a speedy recovery process- enjoy your triumph!

Robyn Woo Hoo on your return to the slopes!

Les I'm glad you got out for a beautiful ride, as challenging as it was at times. I wish you a good, steady week ahead and the energy to face its challenges.

Vicci Nice trail run in the cooler temps- isn't autumn grand!

Carrie Gloves & hat or ear covers a must; you might remove them once you warm up, but you don't want to get caught out without warm gear. CoolMax or Thermax shirts and a vest on top. I don't mind wearing shorts when it's cooler but I also have a couple pairs of Brooks' polyester/Lycra running pants (not tights, but a bit looser) for cold weather running. You are headed to France, non? Get stuff here- it will be outrageous in Europe. $$$

Good speedwork on Thursday to close out the week. Yesterday was 8 miles around Green Lake. It was a stunner of a day. I got out at daybreak- just in time for sunrise. The foliage is about 60 percent turned or turning to gold orange, red. The rest is still lush green, so the contrast is really beautiful. I've been so lucky with outdoor runs of late- so much sun and gentle temps. But this being in Seattle, I'm sure my luck will run out one of these coming days...

My run was pain-free but my PF is pretty tight today- after a long day of work. Now time to put up my foot!

Have a great week everyone!

Cheers,

Julie

[Kathy B]

4.7 miles for me this morning which was especially good because I didn't feel like going at all. Told myself 2 miles was all I had to do, but as usual, once I got going, I decided to go longer. Felt pretty good, and who knows how long the weather will cooperate? 64 and a little windy, can't complain. Over the w/e I did get to the CC for weights and about 30 min of intervals on the TM.

Julie, your 8 miler sounds gorgeous! Thanks too, for the cold weather dressing tips. I am hoping to run outside a little longer this year before calling it quits due to the cold. May have to invest in a few items.

Elizabeth, glad to hear your event was a success! Congratulations! You know, every year there is a turkey trot in our area that originally started about 20 years ago with a small group that got together for a run at a park on the Missouri River Thankgsgiving morning. They decided to turn it into a community event, and give the proceeds to the park department for the parks upkeep. It grew a little bit every year. We did the run two years ago, and there were over 1000 people there. It was elbow to elbow on the trail, but very fun. So you never know what your event may evolve into!

Skiing sounds great, Robyn! Here's to a good season! :)

Carrie, I'm not much good for a workout after a 12 hour day either. You can only do what you can do. Good job on your run!

Les, good luck with your midterms. I'm sure you will ace them!

Vicci, good job on your weights and run. I think DH broke down and turned the heat on the other day, but I have been leaving the windows open, so we may be working against each other. :D I must have a cool room to sleep in! I think it's my age....

Hi to Natasha, Susan, Mary, Tkay, Laura and Meg! Hope you all can check in soon. :)

[SusanMac]

Hi gang! Thanks so much for all of the good race vibes. They paid off. I had a really fabulous race weekend & am very happy all around. But first...

Elizabeth - of course we remember you! Can't believe your race was this weekend. 200 sounds really good for your first year (well, the event's 2nd, I think), but agree with Kathy that it will no doubt keep growing a bit each year. The important part is having some $ go toward your cause.

Les - i'll have to remember the peanut butter reference! Glad you're getting in lots of riding these days.

Robyn - Awesome pic! But....where is the hot stylin' new ski outfit?? I have a guess that you have several. I only have 1 ski outfit, and it's the same one I've had for about 10 years :-)

KValley - great news about the happy, healthy PF run

Newsomz - Runnersworld.com has som really good info on how to dress for cold weather. It seems everyone has different tolerances for temps, so it takes a while to figure out what works for you.

We had such a fantastic weekend! Des Moines itself has just a few hundred thousand people, and the race (all distances) has about 6K runners. But, it really felt like a world-class event. Great expo. Great organization. Great volunteers. Awesome shirt (long sleeved technical fitted shirt) and medal. The course was really beautiful. A combination of beautiful neighborhoods, wooded parks, lakes and a spin around the Drake Relays track! That was really a blast. They had music out on the course (which was a surprise) and many more spectators than I expected. I'd definitely recommend it.

I had fallen off my training plan, so knew this wasn't a year for me to BQ. I didn't even expect to PR. I decided this one would just be to have another fun experience under my belt. It was nice not to have the pressure.

I decided to run w/a pace group (4:15). There were about 10 of us, and it provided a good way to meet people as you raced. I met a guy for whom this race was #50 for his 50 States membership. Another woman who does ultra's. Another who also does IM. For several, it was their first. I had a really good time chatting off & on with everyone.

Jerry our pace leader was at 4:10 pace the entire race! He knew it, too, and kept apologizing. Many of us dropped off around mile 19. I felt really smooth & steady, just not able to hold his pace, so let him go. My legs & feet really started to hurt around mile 23, but I kept an eye on my watch & thought I would still make it on target. I came in at 4:14. My last 2 marathons were 4:11 and 4:12, so the way I see it, I'm pretty consistent!

My quads are super tight today, and I have a pretty disgusting blister on my big toe. But, I'm very, very happy. I had a better post-race yesterday than I often do. I attribute it to the fact that I kept walking for a long time (didn't stop & sit, which is tempting) & chugged 2 chocolate milks at the finish expo :-) (I could've had more)

DH did the half-marathon. He's been having some hamstring issues, and didn't make his target time. But, he was also impressed with the race. It was a really fun weekend.

[Robyn1007]

Susan, so glad the race went well! Congrats on staying on target but sorry you didn't get your BQ. I love that chocolate milk is such a great post workout drink, I use it too!

I don't have the new outfit yet as I need to have my connection pick it up for me when she's back in the local stores but she's been crazy busy. Really, it was too warm for the jacket yesterday although as I kept having to hike up my pants I was wishing I had those. :D

[aggie94]

Just a quick drive-by from this VRB alumnus to give a big shout-out to Susan: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Sounds like you had a great race, even if not a PB.

I have been running pretty consistently the past few months, 3-4 times a week, anywhere between 3-6 miles each run. But there's really not much to write about. I've finally moved back outdoors after being on the treadmill all summer (temps are still warm here!) and my usual Y running group has started back up. I would like to set my sights on another full marathon <gasp! did I just say that out loud??> but I think the PF Chang in Phoenix is coming up too quickly. Perhaps something in February or March would be more conducive to my training.

I'll try to check in more often. Miss you guys!

[Natasha]

Hi all. Wow, lots happening here this week! I've been working a lot lately and so when I'm not working I have been spending time with family and playing outside. So my discretionary Internet time has been way down. Nice to check in here and see that all is well and everyone is happy :cool:

Susan, CONGRATULATIONS! You rock :cool: Any marathon is just an awesome accomplishment (as you know) and I'm glad you had such a blast. Sounds like a good marathon to keep in mind! Good luck with the blister and I had to laugh about the chocolate milk. You wouldn't believe how badly I wanted a chocolate milk when I was done my 1/2 du. I saw a cooler full at the finish and DH cajoled the volunteer into giving us one. (They were supposed to be for the full Iron distance athletes but DH asked if he and I could share one since collectively, we'd done the distance ;)). Anyway, it hit the spot like you wouldn't believe... well, no, I think you would believe! Whatever... enough about me... enjoy putting your feet up and enjoying a well deserved day off and a looooong massage. You're our first VRB marathoner of 2008, IIRC!

Oh, and congrats to your DH on his 1/2 and I hope his hamstring improves soon!

Betsy, congrats on your race being done and being a big success! You should be proud - think not only of the music program you helped out, but also all the runners to whom you were able to give a great event. Some of them may be first timers who may now be on the road to many more fun races.

Robyn, great photos! I don't have to ask if you had fun ;) Nice too that you can feel all your hard work in the summer paying off.

Les, good luck with midterms!

Hi to Vicci, Eva (another possible marathon - how exciting!), Carrie, Kathy, Julie, and everyone else. Wow, so much here that I want to read and reply to but it's been a packed day, I just had dinner, and I've got some work I need to do. So I'll sign off, wishing one and all happy trails or happy recovery, as the case may be :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

Ride by - read most of the posts and it has been busy today. Just got home about 20 minutes ago (10:40) from a meeting at Church so need to take care of things before ed. Will comment tomorrow but congrats to Susan, Betsy (good to see you back and I'd love a link - do you need my e-mail).

Parting shot - I rode before heading over for the meeting - an hour around town (a run tomorrow hopefully) and felt great. May go out to dinner tomorrow - Dinner Out for the Cure in Alexandria and the Japanese place nearby is donating 50% of their proceeds to charity so sushi may be on the menu. :cool:

See you tomorrow... Les

[1MegMeg]

Good morning everyone!

Les - Your sushi for the cure dinner sounds delicious! Hmmm, is it strange that I am craving sushi before 8am? hehe!

Robyn - Love your first photos of the season on the slopes!

Eva - Completely understand about the heat and just starting to run outside. I just started running a few weeks ago and I think I picked a good time of year to start, as Florida in the summer is miserable outside. Another marathon sounds fantastic! Will you do one in Arizona?

Susan - Congratulations on completing your marathon and to your DH for his 1/2! What a wonderful accomplishment!

*waves* Good morning and hello to Vicci, Natasha, Kathy, Julie, and Elizabeth!

I am up to two miles! Two-thirds of the way to my 5k. :) And I officially registered for the race.

[SusanMac]

Aggie - Good to hear from you again! Totally understand about San Antonio. A fall marathon would be tough training in Arizona. Maybe you could do Austin? I've had my eye on that one for a long time (good excuse to visit family & friends)

MegMeg - So glad you officially signed up for the race! That typically makes a huge difference in motivation for me

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone! Still sore today. I can never remember how long that lasts

[Kathy B]

This AM I did some weights and 40 min on the EB at the CC. 12 hour shift tomorrow, so I won't make big plans for Thursday...

Susan, congratulations from me, too, on your marathon! Sounds like a great time. Was it a pretty flat course? I don't tend to think of DesMoines as hilly, but that doesn't mean the course didn't have a few. The half and full marathons in KC are VERY hilly, so I don't think I would pick them for a first attempt if I decided to go for it. Des Moines is only 3 hours away, though....
Hope the soreness resolves quickly. I am sure it was smart to keep walking for a long time.

Good job on your 2 miles, Meg!! You will be at 3 before you know it. :)

Natasha, you sound really busy these days. Nice to hear from you. Is this a particularly busy time of year for your work? The hospital I work at tends to start filling up every year as we head into winter due to all of the viral stuff that goes around. Hasn't quite hit yet this year.

Tonight DH and I have Parent-Teacher conferences for both kids, then the kids and I are going to a candidate forum held by the League of Women Voters. The 6 candidates are running for 3 slots in the state legislature. We went to one once before, and it was very interesting. Hope it doesn't last too late, since I have to be up early tomorrow!

[newsomz]

Hi All,

Sorry, but a quick check in today because I need to get to dinner! I have no Tuesday run to report :( Mostly because my knee is bothering me.. I hope it goes away soon! I think I may be afflicted with the aptly named "runners knee". Not sure what to do about it but I am guessing some rest will be good. I also picked up some new scooters today!!! They look a little something like this:
http://www.zappos.com/images/738/7384454/8521-771603-d.jpg

I switched from Mizuno's neutral shoe to their "support" shoe. It has a lot more cushioning which will be good for my long runs! I am hoping it keeps me from getting injured, too :)

Happy trails! Hopefully I'll be back Thursday with a run update :D

[KValley]

Just a quick check in - a big wave to EVA! I have warm, fuzzy memories of our run together at SunRiver in 2003. And we're both still running! :)

MEG! Woo Hoo for the increasing mileage. You will have such fun at the race- it will be terrific motivation AND reward.

SUSAN- Again, congratulations on such a great time at the marathon- all of your prior training has paid off in continued steady times and great shape.

CARRIE- I'm so sorry about your twitchy knee. And don't tell my two pairs of Brooks, but Mizunos will always be, hands down, my favorite running shoe. Have fun with your new pair.

Really came to add one more item to my winter running suggestions: YAK TRAX (http://www.yaktrax.com/productspro.aspx) (link to website included). My apologies if they've already been discussed here on the VRB. I lived for several years in central Washington state, where the winters are cold, snowy/icy. I would have abandoned outdoor running altogether if it were not for my YakTrax- these things rock. I'm not a fast runner, so I can't really attest to how they might affect one's speed, but I found them completely natural to run in and I didn't have to tiptoe around icy patches or worry about slipping in the snow. I must have my pair around someplace- fortunately there isn't much call for them here :cool:

[newsomz]

Robyn - Love the pics!!

Betsy - Welcome back :) Great job on running your first race. I am sure all the runner's appreciated your efforts!

Julie - Thanks for the winter gear suggestions!!! Very helpful and just what I needed. I have a dividend to spend at REI so I will be able to stock up soon. Oui, France. And I am definitely planning to bring all my running gear with me. Great job on the early morning run, again!

Kathy - Great job on the morning run!! Sounds like great weather for a run. I love to League of Women Voters!! They do a great job of informing me about our local candidates :o

Susan - Sounds like a wonderful race! And nice that your time was close to your recent times. Way to go!!! How did you find the pace group?? Just curious how these things work...

Eva - Nice to see you again! I understand about it being too hot outside to run - I ended up taking June, July & most of August off because I couldn't bear the thought of running during that time of the year. Maybe I'll join a gym next year and try the treadmill thing. I vote for the Austin Marathon, too! I've been eyeing that one myself.. any excuse to visit Austin ;)

Natasha - Glad to hear you are keeping busy with family, outside time & work!

Les - Did you go to sushi tonight? How was it?

MegMeg - Great job on the 2 miles! You're very close to that 5K!!

[aggie94]

Aggie - Good to hear from you again! Totally understand about San Antonio. A fall marathon would be tough training in Arizona. Maybe you could do Austin? I've had my eye on that one for a long time (good excuse to visit family & friends)

Funny you should mention that. After I posted yesterday, I went off in search of marathons in February or March and ended up at Austin's site. Coincidentally, it's the weekend of Valentine's Day and also the weekend I would celebrate my birthday, so I went ahead and booked us a hotel there and figured we could make a fun trip out of it. Plus that gives me just over 16 weeks to train. And an excuse to go back to Austin. :)

Hi Julie - great to "see" you here! Of course I remember that run. I went for a solo run in Bend when we were vacationing there in March and it brought back lots of warm fuzzy memories of that trip. Miss ya! But seriously, Yak Trax?? Please tell me I will never live anywhere where I will need such a thing. :eek: (As I presently dress to head out for a 4-miler at 5:30 p.m. with current temp of 90°.)

[VictoriaL]

Carrie I think that because you are accustomed to running in FL you may need additional cold-weather protection in that cooler climate. I agree with Julie that you will need ear protection and gloves (especially as the temps slide down toward 30 degrees). I love my CoolMax long-sleeve shirt to layer under another wicking shirt and then my jacket. Sometimes I will need to take off the jacket after I warm up, and it can be tied around my waist (with the sleeves) to be out of the way. And I have a wonderfully comfy, and now threadbare, pair of running pants. They’re a great fabric, not too heavy (my legs seem to generate a large amount of heat) or too thin, neither baggy nor tight…. Alas, the tag is worn off and I cannot find a duplicate anywhere! Occasionally, I take them with me while shopping but still no luck. *sigh* I usually don’t run below 30 degrees (weenie that I am), but since you don’t expect the temps to be arctic, you should be fine with layers.

BTW, nice shoes... ;)

Julie your run around the lake sounded gorgeous. Our leaves are almost done for the season, but I’m enjoying them (and the sun!) while I can. Keep that foot happy…

Betsy, great job with the race! If I had been closer, I would have joined in. :) Your energy level is amazing, you must be pretty organized to be able to pull off something like that (Ms. Director!) When are you heading to FL?

KathyB, doesn’t it feel good to “do better” when you decide on a short run?! There’s something about actually getting out there and running which makes me want to run for longer, too. I have to quell that urge occasionally as, last week, I told DH that I would return in 45 minutes, was out for a little over an hour, and he was getting in the car (!!!) to come looking for me when I returned. ;) He claimed that it was because we were at the lake house and I was running rather unfamiliar, practically-deserted country roads, but I know that he’s also a bit of a worrier… Your nice running weather has probably changed by now, like ours has.

And, in response to your keeping the windows open in your bedroom overnight, thinking that needing to sleep in a cooler room may be due to your age… I just hope that part of my life happens for me in the winter because all I need is to be internally roasting in our un-airconditioned 85-degree bedroom in August!

Susan Congratulations!!! :D How awesome, to run for 26 miles in a 4 ¼ hour period. Hope that the legs (and poor blistered toe) are feeling lots better today.

Robyn having only skied in very cold conditions, I smiled when I read about your jacket being too warm for the day (and, hmmmm, the pants are too big, eh? Good work this summer!).

So how is midterm week treating you, Les? And did you get that sushi tonight???

I love the term discretionary internet time, Nat. :D Hope that you’re not working too hard!

Meg You were, like, way too cheerful, even “on paper”, at 6am!!!

Yesterday was another fun-filled day of painting outside, but one more day and that outdoor fall project will be complete. Then on to the next item… But I did take a break in midafternoon to run. I forgot to use my inhaler, and haven’t been taking the Singulair because (I reasoned) that the hard frost had eliminated the pollen, but around 25 minutes began to get wheezy so I turned around and went home (total time 30 minutes).

The trails are so pretty, gold leaves falling as I ran, huge bunches of bittersweet all ready to be picked (maybe later this week). And no sign of bow-hunters around! But today I am paying the price of hanging upside-down on a 14’ ladder, painting, with a sore back. I did some upper-body weights, and yoga to stretch the back, so hopefully will get in another run tomorrow.

Hi to everyone!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Another busy day here...
Carrie - one of the biggest culprits for achy knees (at least in this household) is shoes that are past their prime. New scooters may be the thing that gets you back in the groove, just don't try to come back too quickly.
Aggie - Good seeing you again (here at least), it sounds like you've been busy and I hope that you get into the race in Austin - I've heard good things about it.
Susan - Good call holding off on trying for Boston if you've not been consistent. Thanks for your recommendation about the race too. I'll have to see if my coach needs Iowa for his 50 states.
Nat - Laughing about the "discretionary" internet time. I kind of know the feeling right now. Hope things are weel in your neck of the woods.

A shout out to Meg, Kathy B, Vicci, KValley, and the rest of the gang.

I skipped my workout today. Not totally on purpose but the "short" doctor's appointment for LW (nothing serious but I went along with her for support) ended up being a lot longer than expected. Doesn't help going in 45 minutes late for the appointment then having to wait for prescriptions for another 45 minutes. So the time had to be recouped on campus (no test today). Then decided that we'd go and hit the Japanese place - the sushi was good, the company was better, and the cause was quite right. Because of the cause I'm happy to go out for dinner on a week night.

Tuesday is coming to a close and after tomorrow it's Fall break until the following Wednesday.

Hope all are well and staying warm etc. Happy trails and/or recovery,
Les

[Natasha]

Les, I'm glad LW's app't wasn't for anything serious. That's nice that you were able to go and give her moral support. I'm sure it helped a lot. Sounds like sushi night was a winner all around!

Vicci, you're so productive - all that painting! Must look great now though. I know you've mentioned that your property looks like the woods I tromp through, so I can imagine that it's gorgeous running terrain this time of year.

Kathy, it's the particular stuff I'm working on right now that's keeping me busy. I hadn't thought about hospitals being busy as we head into winter but that makes sense. Glad you're still not there yet (and also glad it's not winter yet - sorry Robyn! ;))

Carrie, hope the scooters do the trick. I had 2-3 people tell me I had runner's knee a couple of years ago, based on my symptoms, but it turned out it was a jammed hip flexor (and the one opposite the knee that was bothering me). Anyway, hopefully your thing will resolve itself quickly and easily. Please keep us posted!

So, glancing at a local running publication open on my kitchen table, I saw a marathon calendar and noticed this unique event:

http://www.marathons.be It's the "In Flanders Field Marathon".

There's info on it in English as well. It looks amazing - I'd be tempted to do it someday, though I'd probably bawl through the whole thing :o I grew up memorizing that poem. That reminds me that Nov. 11 is coming soon.

On a completely different note, and with apologies for the quick jump from the serious to the trivial, I forgot to mention the other day that we added to our stable (of bikes). DH got one of these (see link below). We'd been gawking at them for months and always talking (half joking) about getting one each, and DH got one for a nutty low price at a bike show. He tried to persuade me to get one too, and I was tempted, but refuse to sell my wonderful road bike and just couldn't justify it.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/Cervelo_P2C_2008/lg/P2Cmain.jpg

I was tempted to get it just for the paint job! I figured since we have so many avid riders on this thread, you would be interested :)

Hi to everyone else and sorry if this post is a bit disjointed. I'm a bit tired and need some dinner! Tonight I'll do a spin or maybe a run - probably a spin.

[Robyn1007]

On a completely different note, and with apologies for the quick jump from the serious to the trivial, I forgot to mention the other day that we added to our stable (of bikes). DH got one of these (see link below). We'd been gawking at them for months and always talking (half joking) about getting one each, and DH got one for a nutty low price at a bike show. He tried to persuade me to get one too, and I was tempted, but refuse to sell my wonderful road bike and just couldn't justify it.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/Cervelo_P2C_2008/lg/P2Cmain.jpg

I was tempted to get it just for the paint job! I figured since we have so many avid riders on this thread, you would be interested :)


http://www.theskidiva.com/forums/images/smilies/drool.gifhttp://www.theskidiva.com/forums/images/smilies/drool.gifhttp://www.theskidiva.com/forums/images/smilies/drool.gif

I'll do a report tonight after my workout but saw that and had to drool!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Nat - Nice picutre of the bike - I can see why DH was drooling over it. That must be a nice riding bike - and you must have had a ton of self-control to not grab one (even with the price) but I can also see why you couldn't sell your nice road bike to get that one. Tough call. Hope you got a spin in today. Thanks for the link to the race in Belgium - I had problems getting to the site - my firewall didn't like something on the site. Still what I could see would be so very gut-wrenching. I'll probably mull that one over in the coming weeks - not so much the race just the sentiment.

Hope your day went well to Robyn.

Quiet day (unplanned initially) but got overcome by a funeral on campus (not for anyone on campus - the 97 year old wife of one of our former bishops). I worked at the reception - about 110 people. An amazing lady from what I could hear - so it was an honor to be with the folks at the reception. I'll definitely try to run tomorrow, even after getting up really early to take one of the assistant Dean's to the airport for a business trip (too early if you know what I mean).

Happy trails all,
Les

[1MegMeg]

Susan - Thanks! Now that I am registered and know it's official, I am definitely extra motivated. :)

Carrie - I like your new shoes! How's your knee feeling?

Julie - The Yak Trax look great! I don't need them now (not too much snow and ice in Florida), but when we move to CO I think they'll be very useful since I am the biggest klutz ever when it comes to snow and ice hehe.

Vicci -lol! I am a morning person....funny that my morning-ness and cheerfulness even comes through the internet. :p The trails you run on sound beautiful! As the seasons change on the calendar it's so nice to see the physical transformation in nature.

Les - Glad your wife is okay! I empathize with the half-day hoopla at the doctors office though. No fun, especially when you thought it was going to be a quick appt. Did you get to run today....after your extra early morning trip to the airport?

Good morning Natasha, Kathy, Eva, and Robyn.

I ran two miles on Monday, Wednesday, and this morning....will be taking a break the rest of the week because this weekend DBF and I are going to The Food and Wine Festival at Epcot (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents?id=EpcotInternationalFoodAndWineFest ivalSpecialEventPage). Yay! We live locally in Orlando, but we are staying the weekend over at Disney and making a mini-vacation out of it.

We are going rock climbing at the gym tonight and again (hopefully) Sunday afternoon. Have a terrific weekend everyone!

[SusanMac]

MegMeg - Food & wine festivals are always a good thing!

Les - 97 y.o?! I hope the funeral was a celebration of a wonderful, long, happy life. We should all be so lucky

Nat - Congrats to DH on the new toy! Those Cervelo's are sweet. Belgium is on one of our places-to-visit list. But, I'd never heard of that marathon. What a great find

Well, I have no workouts to report, as you might guess. Doing lots of stretching. I might try to find a yoga class this weekend for something different. Whipped up a loaf of banana cranberry bread last night to treat ourselves. Yum!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Susan - The celebration was just that, a celebration. You arent kidding - 97 years is a long time and the lady was a true lady and stood for all things good in the world. "Just stretching" is acceptable at this point in my book.
Meg - Have fun at Epcot this weekend, sounds like a blast. Should try to do something like that here (in DC) with LW. Good workouts too for the week.

It was a mixed day again here. Very early oout the door, cooler than I like (~38 when I left) and getting up at 4:30 (awake at 3:45) made for a weird morning. Caught about an hour sleep before trying to get out of the house to meet with my spiritual director. VOTED [early] today (took all of 3 minutes) and came home and rode. It wasn't too bad when I headed out - about 58 degrees and little breeze, but that was before the clouds set in -- it got downright cool, definitely cooler than I like for riding considering I was only wearing a long-sleeve technical shirt (dry fit-like). Still zipped around for just over an hour. Came home and made dinner (Tofu and mushroom stir fry with thai-peanut sauce) - always a lovely dinner.

Now I'm struggling to stay awake a little longer so I'm not up at 3 am (again). But need to do some "setting up exercises" (core/abs) and hit the next meal. So until tomorrow - happy trails.

Les