Virtual Running Buddies w/o 10/24: w/o MCM [Archive]

Leslie Ferguson

10-24-2008, 06:57 PM

Well, it's Friday evening and I have a run to report for today so I'll start with a run of about 45 minutes. The excitement during the run was the 4 fire/rescue trucks and LifeFlight helicopter in a park near my house. I so desperately wanted to run by and see what was going on but know that I didn't need to (the EMTs don't need Looky-Lous when they're working on folks) so passed it by.

Tomorrow, if the rain holds out I'll probably ride in the morning or if not, then I'll run sometime around noon. Tomorrow evening LW and I are joining a bunch of my running friends from Norfolk/Virginia Beach for dinner. They are in town for the Marine Corps Marathon (on Sunday) so it will be nice to catch up with them a little tomorrow (but won't run with them on Sunday :( ).

I wonder how folks are - there was a lot of good news last week: snow, runs, recovery from marathons, keeping stretched, races, and riding/spinning. Maybe this trend will continue. A shout out to the rest of the runnahs out there (I wonder where seathyme and Legolas are these days?).

Hope everyone has a good weekend and I'll see you later. Happy trails,
Les

SusanMac

10-25-2008, 05:00 PM

I don't have much to report, but thought I'd check in to say hey. Nice Bode walk today. Beautiful autumn morning with crunchy leaves on the ground :-)

Then I've spent most of the day sewing window treatments again (same room, i'm just moving slowly) and setting up my new Mac! It's very exciting. I'm moving from PC to Mac for the first time in about 12 years!

Les - very glad you voted. But....I just have to ask....are you from the American part of Virginia ? ;-) (couldn't resist)

I forgot to tell you that, last weekend at the marathon, we got to watch Spirit of the Marathon movie! It was showing as part of the race weekend. We really enjoyed it. I was expecting something different, but it was good.

OK, now I can't remember anything else from last week's thread. Hope everyone's having a great weekend.

Leslie Ferguson

10-25-2008, 07:04 PM

It sounds like a productive day for you Susan. I think I'm from the American ;) part of Virginia but then again I may be a fake American myself... oh so difficult. I wish I could have gotten to the movie whenit was showing on the first (only) run. Maybe I can catch it sometime later. Sounds like a nice day for you Susan and I hope that you made the best of it.

I ran this afternoon before heading over for dinner with the gang. I wish I could have gotten more distance in but a little (huge) GI issue hit - something that I've been fiddling with for the past two days (and I hope it finally passes - no pun intended). Still got 35 minutes in in the POURING rain - so much rain that the 5-year old is thrilled! Nice dinner at the oriental buffet - new ownership (since last year) and they had better stuff this time, including steamed mussles, clams, crawfish, crab (not "real" crabs from PacNorWest but blues from the Chesapeake - but one can't be too picky). Long day tomorrow (like all Sunday's these days) so off to nurse my achy knees (I think I don't like my shoes :mad: because they make my knees hurt when I run) and get ready for tomorrow. Until later... happy trails,
Les

newsomz

10-25-2008, 07:29 PM

Hi All, Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Les - Glad you were able to get in a run despite the rain. I hear you about the shoes - I was very ready for my new scooters!

Susan - I think you'll love your new mac :) I switched a few years ago and don't think I'll be going back to PC. Have you installed Quicksilver? It is a great little app that makes launching other apps much faster!

Well, I have no weekend run to report yet (going tomorrow morning for 14mi) but I didn't report my Thursday run from last week... I ended up going about half a block in my new scooters but decided they were defective due to a bump in the left shoe. So, I went for a run in my old scooters - only 30 minutes since I could tell it was killing my knees :( Then went to the store to get my shoes replaced. Luckily, they had another pair in my size so after running around a little outside the store I swapped them out! I am planning to wear them on my 14mi run tomorrow.. A little nervous since I haven't run in them yet.. However, I really have no choice since I waited so long to buy new shoes :) Anyhow, off to do some stretching and then heading to bed early.

Happy trails!

Kathy B

10-25-2008, 08:11 PM

Glad to hear you got your shoes taken care of, Carrie. Hope they serve you well for your 14 miles tomorrow!

Good job on your run, Les. I don't suppose you can even go watch the marathon on Sunday, as they usually take place in the mornings, and I imagine you will have other obligations. At least you can enjoy catching up with everyone over dinner. Enjoy!

Sounds like you had a productive and low-key kind of day, Susan. Congrats on your new Mac. DS is sure he wants one, and DH keeps telling him he doesn't! :p

Yoga, weights and EB yesterday, yoga and running around at DS's last CC meet today. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Probably nothing tomorrow...we have church in the AM, then we are going to see "W". I haven't heard anyone comment on it here or IRL which seems odd since it has been out for a week. Not sure what to expect.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Leslie Ferguson

10-25-2008, 09:02 PM

Glad to hear you got your shoes taken care of, Carrie. Hope they serve you well for your 14 miles tomorrow!

Good job on your run, Les. I don't suppose you can even go watch the marathon on Sunday, as they usually take place in the mornings, and I imagine you will have other obligations. At least you can enjoy catching up with everyone over dinner. Enjoy!

Ditto to you Carrie. In my case I'm a little put off because I've only been running in these shoes since the middle of August and definitely not enough miles on them to warrant new ones yet. I have a sense that they may have the wrong mechanics for me.

You're right Kathy B , Sundays are out for doing much except for church at least for the forseeable future. I get the chance to sleep in a little tomorrow because I'm not on for 7:45 (have to leave the house at about 6:50 to get there in time for the early service). My first is at 9:15 tomorrow but will be at church until after our 5:00 service (sometime around 6:00) so makes for a long day and no running.

Enjoy seeing W tomorrow and have a good remainder of the weekend, it sounds like you've started it in good order.

Happy trails,
Les

VictoriaL

10-26-2008, 07:26 PM

Hi everyone

Les, 35 minutes running in a downpour... how very industrious! The 5 year old in me would have stayed indoors and... read. Eaten circus peanuts, maybe? I can't remember what I liked to do at that age but, perhaps since I was a little girl, playing in the rain was not one of those things? :p Anyway, I'm glad that you had an enjoyable evening with your friends (how come I've never been to an oriental buffet which features crab? Must find a new place...) and hope that your Sunday services went well. Time to relax and recoup for the upcoming week, right?

Susan, doncha just love crunchy-leaf walks in the fall? Bode must have been thrilled. :) And your curtains can't be going slower than the needlepoint I started as a gift for my Dad in 1980...

Carrie how did the run today in the new shoes turn out?

I've not seen or heard any reviews of "W" yet, either, Kathy. How did you like it? The previews I have seen were amazing in that Josh Brolin really nailed W's mannerisms and speech patterns.

I spent last week, every day, either painting or recovering from painting. I am sorry to say that no runs came into play, but the front porch and windowframes are done! Well, except for scraping my "mistakes" off of the glass... Anyway, we went to the lake for a couple of days and returned midafternoon today. Because it was an incredibly gorgeous day, I spent a few hours in the woods, picking bittersweet to decorate the house. Afterward, I put away some of the outdoor items (patio torches, birdbaths, low iron fencing, etc.) and then, because I just didn't want to come in until the sun set, I ran. And a glorious run it was. 40 minutes and my heart rate was nice and steady-- it felt so good!

Now a question. I hesitate to ask because it seems like such an odd question, but I don't know how else to get the information!

I need new running shoes, trail runners since I run mostly on trails. I've read reviews, but so many of these note that you should be fitted for shoes at a reputable running store. Since I bring comparison shopping to a true art form, I don't want to have someone at a shop take the time to "fit" me then not buy the shoes at that place. I need to go go to different stores, then online, to make certain I am getting the best value. How can I do this?
What do you all do??? I'd appreciate any input! (I'm frugal, I consistently tell myself, not cheap!!!!) :o

Leslie Ferguson

10-26-2008, 09:08 PM

Les, 35 minutes running in a downpour... how very industrious! The 5 year old in me would have stayed indoors and... read. Eaten circus peanuts, maybe? I can't remember what I liked to do at that age but, perhaps since I was a little girl, playing in the rain was not one of those things? :p Anyway, I'm glad that you had an enjoyable evening with your friends (how come I've never been to an oriental buffet which features crab? Must find a new place...) and hope that your Sunday services went well. Time to relax and recoup for the upcoming week, right?
Truth be told, I loved to play in mud puddles and the rain ever since I can remember. Of course, growing up (at least before age 7) in places that were "in the south" (Norfolk, Mayport, San Diego, and Long Beach) it was always warmer playing in the mud. Then as I got older it was just about getting muddy. :D The buffet is well turned out and this is the first time that I've been at a buffet like this - lots of seafood on the buffet. Of course, most of the crab was stuffed so I'd bet there was a bunch of filler and pieces of crab meat stuffed in crab shells. Still...
Now a question. I hesitate to ask because it seems like such an odd question, but I don't know how else to get the information!

I need new running shoes, trail runners since I run mostly on trails. I've read reviews, but so many of these note that you should be fitted for shoes at a reputable running store. Since I bring comparison shopping to a true art form, I don't want to have someone at a shop take the time to "fit" me then not buy the shoes at that place. I need to go go to different stores, then online, to make certain I am getting the best value. How can I do this?
What do you all do??? I'd appreciate any input! (I'm frugal, I consistently tell myself, not cheap!!!!) :o
You wouldn't be the first person who walked into a reputible running store and had walked out without buying something. I've done it before and bet that others here have done it too. I chock it up to part of the service of stocking good shoes that may cost a little extra. My only caveat is if I find a pair that I like but might be able to get a little cheaper I'll still buy the first pair at the place that fitted me then get the bargains on the second pair. I know that's probably not too helpful but you could go with Road Runner Sports - they have a fairly unique (the last time I looked) way to fit shoes which included tracing your foot on paper. The bonus is they'll take shoes back if they dont' work (if you purchase them on line). So, I wouldn't sweat not buying shoes if you try on a bunch of pairs - most places worth their salt will have something that will work for you too.

No workout to claim - 6 hours (plus) at church today. No classes tomorrow (fall break until Wednesday) but that doesn't prevent me from probably going in to school for a while (maybe to log 3 hours of work in the Computer Lab).

Happy trails all,
Les

VictoriaL

10-27-2008, 05:58 AM

Truth be told, I loved to play in mud puddles and the rain ever since I can remember. Of course, growing up (at least before age 7) in places that were "in the south" (Norfolk, Mayport, San Diego, and Long Beach) it was always warmer playing in the mud.

You wouldn't be the first person who walked into a reputible running store and had walked out without buying something. I've done it before and bet that others here have done it too. I chock it up to part of the service of stocking good shoes that may cost a little extra. My only caveat is if I find a pair that I like but might be able to get a little cheaper I'll still buy the first pair at the place that fitted me then get the bargains on the second pair. I know that's probably not too helpful but you could go with Road Runner Sports - they have a fairly unique (the last time I looked) way to fit shoes which included tracing your foot on paper. The bonus is they'll take shoes back if they dont' work (if you purchase them on line). So, I wouldn't sweat not buying shoes if you try on a bunch of pairs - most places worth their salt will have something that will work for you too.

Les, that was it-- I grew up in central PA where it was usually rainy and cold! I'm glad that my lack of rain-playing fun was not due to being a book-geek and avoiding exercise at all costs... ;)

And yes, if the shoes at the store which fitted me are just a little more expensive I would buy them there, that would add in the "cost" of the salesperson's expertise and I'm fine with that. I'm going out today and will see what is available in my area (probably not much, but there is always hope!) Thanks for your input.

1MegMeg

10-27-2008, 04:21 PM

Les - Kudos to you for running in the pouring rain! I am afraid I'm going to slip or lose my footing or something else bad in the rain hehe. Your oriental buffet dinner sounds delicious, especially all of the delicious seafood and real crab (as opposed to krab :)).

Susan -You're weekend sounds nice, especially crunching leaves. *happy sigh*

Carrie - Glad you were able to switch out your shoes! How'd the new new pair do on your run yesterday?

Kathy - how was W? Do you practice toga at home, or in a class? Just curious.... :)

Vicci - Hooray for getting all your painting done! Painting is hard work! Every time I do it I always forget how hard, physically, it is. Did you get to check out any good shoes today?

DBF and I had a *wonderful* weekend at the food and wine festival at Epcot. We ate and, ahem, drank so much fantastic stuff! I won't clog the whole thread, but one of my favorites was a seared elk tenderloin with Rouge River blue cheese bread pudding, swiss chard, and walla walla shiraz reduction. Very rich and decadent, but so good! I'm glad they were just small appetizer sized portions hehe.

Went rock climbing on Thursday and didn't do any running or climbing over the weekend. Lots of walking in Epcot, but I think my body appreciated the little break. Ran 2 miles again today. Cardiovascular-wise I feel really good, but I don't want to push my leg and knees too hard too soon, so I am trying to be gradual.

Question - My 5k is December 6th. How soon before that do I want to be running 3 miles? I'm assuming I will have want to run 3 miles at least a couple of times prior to the race? Also, how many days should I rest before the race? Thank you!

Have a terrific evening!

mcgeiger

10-27-2008, 05:35 PM

Leslie Ferguson

10-27-2008, 06:27 PM

I don't often post here, but I do lurk:o

I've been running off and on since second year of vet school (3 years now). I ran my first half (http://www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com/PDF/HHM_final%20profile.pdf) back in April (first race actually)...
anyway, I've recently moved and am running a new path. This path takes me on some two lane 55 MPH roads:eek: I really don't have a choice about this unless I want to drive someplace to run:(...

This was okay in the summer, but now it's dark in the AM and I'm looking for some reflecting shirts to be seen slightly better (won't depend on this, but every little bit helps!!!!). I've looked at REI and Title Nine...no go. Any other resources?

Run by without a run or time to totally check in...

Meg, one of the benefits of logging a lot of miles running in the rain over the past 10 years and also running on asphalt and concrete.

Hey mcgeiger, you can check out Road Runner Sports (www.roadrunnersports.com), especially http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ILL103/crosssell/ - the sleeves are reflective on the shirt. I'm sure there are other reflective (retro-reflective) items there.

gotta fly for now - hope all are well. Weather was not conducive for a run... rain, wind, and cold. Any combination of two of the three would be fine but all three together, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Happy trails,
Les

SusanMac

10-28-2008, 09:22 AM

McGeiger - hi there! I remember you talking about your half way back when, but had forgotten about it. I'm really surprised you didn't find anything at REI. But, you might want to look into a reflective vest as an option. That way, you don't have to worry about having that particular shirt clean & available. You might feel geeky at first, but it will be worth it. They also have a lot of really, really tiny portable lights these days. Check out some biking stores for a good variety. You can typically clip them to your shirt or shorts.

MegMeg - OMG, the food fest sounds awesome! I would love blue cheese bread pudding. I would personally feel best having 1 or 2 3-milers under my belt. Although, in all honesty, if you don't, you should still be able to finish if you're distance is close. For your first 5K, I'd stay to keep your workouts easy for a full week before the race. But, you only need to fully rest your legs 1 or 2 days prior to the race. Hopefully that makes sense.

Victoria - I'm one of those people, too, who would feel guilty! If you really like a store and the people are helpful, but honest & tell them their competitor has the same shoes for $10 less. If they're great, they will give you that same price to get your business. If not, then I figure they don't care all that much.

I'm itching to go for a run this week. And, my toe blister is still there, but no longer painful, so I think it's OK to run on.

Yes, we actually had snow flurries yesterday! Yikes

Kathy B

10-28-2008, 12:50 PM

3 miles for me this AM. Beautiful day, but a bit chilly (for me) so I went back in the house and put an extra shirt on before I left...good call! I told myself I only had to go to the library and back (2 miles), but ended up doing my 3 mile loop. I have the feeling this will be my mantra as the colder weather moves in ("just to the library and back!"), and I'll re-evaluate enroute. Of course, when it gets really cold, I'll be back on my trusty TM! :cool:

Can't believe you are having snow flurries, Susan! I suppose we will be following suit before long. Hope your toe is better and you get your run in this week! I'll bet your leaves are close to peaking about now, huh?

mcgeiger, until you get your reflective shirts, you might consider putting some reflecting tape in a large X across the back of your shirt or jacket, maybe around your wristbands, too. Any hardware store should carry it, or maybe Walmart.

Meg, Susan's 5K advice sounds good to me. One thing to remember, is that your body may want to take off faster than your normal pace at the beginning, because the excitement of the race gets everyone's adrenaline going. Just be aware of that and try to reign yourself in so you don't run out of steam before you get to the end! :) I usually do Namaste Yoga from FitTV. We have a DVR, so I just FF through the commercials and it takes about 20-23 minutes. I really enjoy it, and it is short enough that even on busy days, I can often fit it in. Did it this morning as a matter of fact, while everyone was getting up and around.

Les, hope you are enjoying your fall break. Nice to have a few days homework free! (Or are you using it to catch up, which is what I always did!)

Vicci, congrats on getting all of your house painting done...that has got to feel great! "W" was ..... kind of sad, really. Not an excellent movie, by any means, but I am glad we saw it.

Tonight, end of the season CC banquet. I was already planning to bring a meat dish as requested, but then DS asked me to make his favorite chocolate mint cookies to take as well, so I have had a busy morning in the kitchen. Few more things to do before the kiddos get home, so I better sign off. Hope your weeks are going well!

Leslie Ferguson

10-28-2008, 01:49 PM

Les, hope you are enjoying your fall break. Nice to have a few days homework free! (Or are you using it to catch up, which is what I always did!)

Catching up, especially after finding out that I misread a syllabus and had a project due last Wednesday (that I thought wasn't due until 11/19). :eek: That and realizing that I'm going to be traveling a lot in November so I need to study when I can.

mcgeiger - I hadn't thought about the vest which is odd considering I wear a retro-reflective vest all the time when I ride (regardless of season and light conditions). They are (1) cheap, (2) indestructible, and (3) don't have to be cleaned (like Susan said). So I'd second that if you can't find an appropriate reflective shirt.

Windy to beat the band today: 25-35 with gusts in the 45-50 mph range. :eek: Still may run but certainly won't ride (might get blown over on my bike).

Happy trails,
Les

Leslie Ferguson

10-28-2008, 07:23 PM

Back-to-backs...

Susan - Don't tease me with a report of snow, I'd love a little of the white powdery stuff here. Glad you're blister is getting better and I hope that you did get out to run.
Kathy B - not the dreaded TM... ;) Whatever it takes to get your runs in I guess. Best to DS at the CC banquet - those are always fun.

I claim success today, and ran this afternoon for about an hour, even with the cooler temps (that's good) and the blustery winds (gusts to 45 mph - that's bad). Still having minor GI issues but hopefully they've passed (no pun intended). Afterwards I had a pleasant dinner of broiled mahi mahi and white potatoes. Now some reading and early to bed tonight (much earlier than this morning).

I hope the remainder of the week is good for all and that someone shuttles some of that white stuff to me. Regardless happy trails and strong runs,

Les

aggie94

10-29-2008, 12:30 PM

Hey all,

No great runs to report here. I was in Las Vegas last weekend and am barely getting back into the swing of things.

Kelly, I second Susan's recommendation of a light. I have a white cap that I run with when it's a dark, and it has a little light built into the front of it. Not only does it help other people see you on the side of the road, but it helps you see the road in front of you so you don't accidentally stumble on uneven ground. This one is very similar to mine:

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/trisports_2026_58811854

I have a question for experienced "racers." Has anyone participated in an event where they actually enforced a headphones ban? I understand that officially, USATF no longer allows headphones in sanctioned races. I am thinking about registering for the Austin marathon but there is a note on their registration page that headphones are prohibited from the course. I'm just wondering if it will actually be enforced. Unfortunately for me, I can't run without music. :(

SusanMac

10-29-2008, 12:47 PM

I've found that more and more races specify upfront whether or not they'll enforce it. For example, Grandma's & Twin Cities have publicly confiscated devices or pulled people from the course. For the Des Moines marathon last week, their website stated that there is a USAT rule in place, but they would not enforce it. They had guidelines for responsible headphone use (don't use it at the start so you can hear the announcer, keep volume low, stay to the right of the course, be alert, etc), but very openly said they wouldn't enforce the rule. I didn't run w/headphones, but actually thought that was a really cool way for them to approach it.

Has the Austin marathon site stated either way? It would be worth sending an email to ask.

Also...fyi....the rule is up for a revote again in Dec, I think. There have been several stories in Runners World on it.

aggie94

10-29-2008, 01:01 PM

The language on the Austin Marathon's website is vague:

Does the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon allow headphones?

No. USA TRACK & FIELD, the governing body of running events, recently prohibited the use of IPODS, MP3 players and other audio players.

This quote from The Dallas News regarding the banning of IPODS and MP3 players sums up the rationale for this policy:

USA Track & Field spokeswoman Jill Geer explained that this year�s change is �fundamentally a safety and liability issue.�

�When runners are competing in a race they need to be aware of their surroundings for their safety and others,� she said. �Our rules are in place to ensure a fair and safe competition.�

The AUSTIN MARATHON recognizes this ban. We do hope our participants will operate under the rules of the honor system and comply.

I'm wondering if the bolded statement (which I bolded, not them) indicates that they are not going to enforce it but will instead rely on the honor system. Thanks for the suggestion to email the organizers - I think I will do that.

Robyn1007

10-29-2008, 02:33 PM

Hi everyone!

Not much out of me. I've been doing okay in my workouts. Got out for a short ride yesterday (30 minutes) and tested out some new goodies I got at Velo Swap on Saturday. I have new road shoes, Look style pedals, lights for dusky light and yellow lens sunglasses for the same. All went well although I'm really not used to the one sided entry into the pedals so that needs some serious work so I don't kill myself. :eek:

FYI, for anyone doing multisport races (triathlon or duathlon) the iPod rule is more strictly enforced with these, especially during the bike portion. Many of these courses are open to traffic and it's extremely dangerous when you have passing and such going on to ride with headphones.

SusanMac

10-29-2008, 02:35 PM

Finally organized enough to have posted a few marathon pics online. Most of the official race pictures were lame :-)

http://photos-673.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v368/119/5/1050896673/n1050896673_183574_3800.jpg
Just before the finish line

http://photos-673.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v368/119/5/1050896673/n1050896673_183575_4044.jpg
Me & my chocolate milk. You can see the state capitol bldg in the background. At the start of the race, we ran directly toward it. Very pretty

http://photos-673.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v368/119/5/1050896673/n1050896673_183569_2561.jpg

Just after the finish line. My fav photo! DH has his Half medal, but I think it got cut off

Robyn1007

10-29-2008, 02:54 PM

Susan, you look obnoxiously fresh after running a marathon. And I mean that in the nicest possible way. :D

Oh, I forgot to mention. My coach sent me next week's plan which is a testing week. At the end of the instructions for the run part she tells me "Don't puke because you'll feel like you want to."! Is this supposed to be encouraging? :eek:

VictoriaL

10-29-2008, 07:49 PM

Well Susan I feel that I must echo Robyn's observation. C'mon, did you really just run a marathon?!?!? :D

Les, I admire your running in those wind gusts! Hope that you're feeling much better by now.

KathyB, I am expecting that box of chocolate-mint cookies in the mail any day now... and I took my first spin on the EB today, so I understand your delay in starting the TM!

Not being made from as strong of stuff as Les ;) , I eschewed running in the cold, wind, and flurries today and eeked out a half hour on the EB this morning. I need a t-shirt to wear when I do this, one that reads "I'd Rather Be Running". :p

We are leaving tomorrow afternoon for a long weekend at my parents. I've been invited to my nieces' elementary school on Friday to watch the annual Parade of Costumes, and my Mom wants to drive out to the boonies to pick up some fresh-dug potatoes on Saturday. A full weekend, for sure! :)

I hope that you all have at least this many good times in your weekends!

1MegMeg

10-30-2008, 07:35 AM

Good morning every! Hooray it's almost Friday!

Kathy and Susan - Thank you for your advice about the timeline for getting to three miles.

Susan your marathon pictures look fantastic!! Have you done a marathon in Florida yet? Any plans to? There are a couple at Disney and one on the Space Coast (it's Florida's oldest marathon). Come visit! :)

Got some experience running in cold weather this week. I know I know, I live in Florida, but yesterday and this morning it was 45 when I ran at 7:30. I wasn't entirely sure what to wear, but I dressed in layers, covered my ears with a fleece headband and was quite comfortable.

I increased by distance from 2 up to 2.36 this morning and it felt great. I will probably stay there 3-4 runs and then increase another .35; stay there 3-4 runs, increase, and then I'll be at 5k!

KValley

10-30-2008, 10:10 AM

Hi all,

It's been such a busy week, with more to come, so I've been scarce around these parts.

Susan- beautiful photos- your energy and joy are infectious!

Les Kudos for your run in the rain! Your crab experience reminded me. Sunday, I was running along Queen Anne Ave, early morning. Just me... and a crab that was tucked under a seat at a bus shelter. I didn't look too carefully- crab was wrapped in a plastic bag, so I'm assuming his life's journey had ended some time before. But a crab? At a bus shelter? :eek:

Vicci- so glad you've had beautiful weather to inspire you on your runs and relaxation. Have you found a new pair of runners? I'd also second Les's vote for Road Runner. Although I received not such great fitting advice (it took a trip to a sports podiatrist to set me on the right path), RR took back my shoes without question and fit me with a new pair. I'd never hesitate to say where you found the same shoes for less- the sales person or manager has the power to override their shelf price.

Meg Your Epcot adventure sounds like such fun. And the rock climbing- how cool. Something I've never tried but would love to.

Hi Kelly! Brooks has some reflective gear I've got my eye on, particularly a water-resistant jacket since I will be biking to/from work in the dark. I also have a simple mesh reflective "vest" - it's not a clothing item (as in no warmth/coverage) it's purely an agent of reflectivity! It's orange mesh with yellow reflective strips- it snaps together at the sides and is super light- I just wear it atop my jacket/shirt.

Kathy, Eva, Robyn, Natasha, Carrie Hello and Happy Runs to all!

I've had good steady runs this past week. Though the PF is present it really seems to be diminishing. I've also released myself from the pressure of performing even remotely well at the 1/2 marathon (November 30). My quest now is to simply enjoy the experience- to have fun. Keeping up with long runs are beyond what my foot can handle right now and I've stopped enjoying them. So I am focusing on fitness and getting the most out of tempo 5-6 miles and speed intervals at 4-5 miles. Since I made this decision, I've enjoyed running more, because I've returned to doing it for the joy and fitness of it, rather than sticking to a training plan that is causing me pain.

We continue to be blessed with gorgeous weather. September/October have really been fabulous, really. Tonight we are promised rain, so perhaps our luck has run out!

We are moving- just across the Ship Canal to the Ballard neighborhood. We are tickled to bits. As lovely as the Queen Anne neighborhood is, Ballard is a better fit for us (not to mention our rent will 1/3 less than current). We'll still be within walking distance to work, but without a massive hill to climb, we can now break out the bikes. In fact, we're so close to the Burke Gilman Trail- a 27 bike/walking trail that runs from Fremont to Redmond- that biking will now become a regular event for us- can't wait. About a mile down our new street is Green Lake and to the west is Shilshole Bay, Golden Gardens park. Ballard is a funky-cool neighborhood- we can't wait to settle in. So that's our project for the next two weekends.

In the meantime, it's our Friday and I need to make lunch before heading to "the office"

Have a wonderful weekend all- happy trails!

Julie

Leslie Ferguson

10-30-2008, 11:17 AM

We are moving- just across the Ship Canal to the Ballard neighborhood. We are tickled to bits. As lovely as the Queen Anne neighborhood is, Ballard is a better fit for us (not to mention our rent will 1/3 less than current).
Julie

That brings back memories. A good friend lived on the Ballard side of the locks. Spent a few afternoons sipping a local brew and watching boats lock up to the lake.

Just passing by...
Les

ktg0930

10-30-2008, 01:53 PM

Hello runners.

I've been a slug over the past couple of weeks and then I end up not posting at all. Last week, I didn't run at all, but this week has been better with 3 runs so far, some weights, and a walk.

Susan, you do look amazingly fresh after running a marathon. The picture of you and DH is fun.

McGeiger, I also have a reflective vest--mesh with velcro straps and several reflective bars on it. I like it because it was cheap and I can wear it over anything.

KValley, good luck with your move. It sounds like it will be a better location for a lot of reasons.

Vicci, have a fun weekend with your nieces and your parents!

MegMeg, good job in running in the cold. It's been near freezing here the past couple of mornings and it's hard to adjust.

Sorry for the short post, but I need to finish up my work so I can go vote since it's the last day for early voting here.

SusanMac

10-30-2008, 02:05 PM

MegMeg - I find that my head temp is super important. I'm much more comfortable if my ears are warm, even if my arms or legs are a bit chilly. I've looked into the Disney race, but it's quite expensive. It's all about the brand, I know. DH did Ironman Florida in Panama City a few years back. That was a super fun trip! Beautiful & relaxing beaches. We have good friends in Melbourne, so I know we'll be back some time.

KValley - I hit that mental spot w/my recent race too. it's soooo freeing when you take the pressure off yourself. No one puts that pressure there but you. I've found that most people don't even ask what your finish time is. A friend of mine once said "it's not about the time you finish, it's about the time you have." Love that.

Victoria - the parade of costumes sounds so cute!

Kathy B

10-30-2008, 04:26 PM

Did some weights at the CC this AM, then a little over 3 miles later in the AM. Another nice day, I was almost too warm towards the end.

Thanks for posting your pics, Susan. I love seeing race pics from VRB's, and it looks like you had a fantastic time! I will have to share your quote with DS. Now that CC season is over, he wants to train for a half.

Good job getting back into your routine, Kathy! It takes some stern self-talk sometimes, doesn't it? ;)

Vicci, have a nice weekend with your family. I am sure your niece will be excited to have you there for the parade. :)

Hope your first day back to school went well, Les, and that you didn't get into too much trouble for turning your project in late. I am sure my kids would suggest you ask your instructor about extra credit that might be available. :D

Working tomorrow, so that's it until the weekend. Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!

Leslie Ferguson

10-30-2008, 08:44 PM

I'm in the laying low crowd today (and yesterday for that matter). Great pictures Susan definitely like it when people finish races and they aren't grimicing and you definitely look like you're having a great time. Reminds me of some of the looks in Cincinnati (although it was cooler and there were a couple fewer smiles).
KValley - Good call, if your PF is acting up that much then do what you can, look at finishing and having a good time in the race - that's probably all you can do at this point in time besides hurting yourself.
Vicci - Love the image of the Halloween parade, you running on the treadmill with a I'd rather be running t-shirt, and all.
ktg - Sorry about your runs not being with it - hopefully this week's performance will be the start of a good thing.
Kathy B - I'll be happy losing a 1/3 of a letter grade on the project and doubt he'd give me (or anyone) extra credit. But it may be worth it to ask if I can get something, maybe cleaning out the erasers. ;) (Did I just show my age???)

As I said, laid low tonight - had some packing to do since I'm going to the mountains on the VA/WVA border this weekend with my internship parish, that and I needed to put some good mileage on a sermon I'm delivering next weekend at my home parish in Norfolk (the 9th). Probably won't run this weekend but will do tons of walking/climbing (trails but steep ones).

Have a great weeknd all and sorry I couldn't give personal responses to all.

Les