Virtual Running Buddies - Week of Oct 31 - Happy Halloween!

[ktg0930]

I'll start this week....

I got up early today to go to the hospital to get my flu shot during the last clinic of the week. I just finished a lovely run....it's fairly warm and sunny out today. It's been quite chilly in the morning, but in the 60s by the afternoons. We are supposed to get to the low 70s over the weekend.

Tonight, we'll hand out candy and then have shabbat dinner plans at 7. i hope all the cute neighbor kids come before we have to leave. We didn't get the invitation until last night and I had already purchased all the candy, so the kids will get big handfuls. I can't have all that leftover candy around the house!

Other than that, I plan to run tomorrow and Sunday. Next week I am headed to Minneapolis for a couple days for work. Then we are headed off to Costa Rica for a week.

[Natasha]

Happy Hallowe'en, everyone!!

I didn't have a chance to read last week's thread but the thing that stuck out from my (very) quick skim was Susan's photos. Awesome pics, Susan! You looked great and like you were having a ball!

Still busy here... but I biked yesterday and plan to run or bike today. It is gorgeous out - perfect for the trick o'treaters. Sunday is a run club event so I need to figure out what to make.

Hope everyone is doing well. Kathy (ktg), have a good trip to the Twin Cities and a lovely vacation in Costa Rica!

[KValley]

Taking a break from packing - ugh ugh ugh -

A day off today- both from job and training. I had a massage this morning- heavenly. M worked hard on my tight shoulders and overworked lower back- I caught myself drifting off and drooling at one point :p

Tomorrow morning, while Brendan sleeps (we normally have Fri/Sat off, but he offered to work tonight since so many asked for Halloween evening off :rolleyes: The store where we work is in a lively neighborhood, so I imagine he will have an interesting night...) I will go for one of my last runs around Queen Anne. I will miss runs in this neighborhood. Besides being beautiful (homes and views), it's chock-full of hills and stairs- it's a runner's dream or nightmare, depending upon your mood and energy level on any given run.

Then a partial day of moving- we're setting a time limit so we don't spend all day in drudgery- next weekend will be the big push- and an afternoon of relaxing. I need to get to Super Jock and Jill to return one set of insoles and get the running bra I've been waiting for...

Kathy- have a wonderful trip to Costa Rica!

Natasha- Good to see you here. Enjoy your gorgeous weather and weekend do with the run club!

Have a lovely weekend all. I'm back to my boxes...

[SusanMac]

Hi runners! Happy weekend. It is absolutely gorgeous here. I'm still being a bit lazy, but just 'cuz. I'm running tomorrow w/my winter running group, which is being revived at the perfect time. I definitely need a change of scenery from all the long mile typical routes I've been doing over the last few months.

KTG - wow, Costa Rica sounds really awesome right about now.

KValley - I made your oven polenta last night, with rave reviews! It's so good & easy, I might start making polenta more often. Although I learned that "6 servings" really means about 12 :-)

We had our very first dinner guests since finishing our great room remodel. Everything was a huge success, and I've got the entertaining bug again!

I'm rambling b/c I'm not running...and procrastinating a little work I need to do :-)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

[kwormann]

Hello gang! Just wanted to say hello and that I am back to trying to run again and I read you guys everyday for inspiration :) Thank you for helping :D

[Leslie Ferguson]

Hey gang... Thanks for starting this week ktg, Great job on your run and getting all the other things done in preparation for your trip to Costa Rica.
Nat - Good seeing you again I bet there were a ton of trick or treaters in your neighborhood with all the kids we saw when we were there. Lots of neat scary places too. :cool: What did your running group end up doing today? Hope it was a nice run. How are things weather-wise up there? I have a sense that things may be in the wonderful running weather range for you up there because things have been pretty nice here this past week.
Susan - Yahoo! for your party. I'm glad that everything went well in your remodeling and the party came off without a hitch.
KValley - I don't envy moving but considering where you are and where you're moving to I would carry the boxes on my back if needed.
kwormann - Welcome and thanks for unlurking and I'm glad that we can provid motivtion for you.

I've been away from running these past couple days but I've been pretty active. I've been away in the mountains of western Virginia at a place called Shrine Mont (http://www.shrinemont.com) for a retreat. I did get a great climb. The total distance to the top of the mountain is about a mile but there are some pretty steep grades. (in the 18-20% grade in sections) Probably about a 600 foot rise when all is said and done. After the 2 mile round trip I did some other "flat land" walking with folks and probably put in about 6-8 miles in and around the hills here.

Leaving the hill this afternoonand heading back to the flat lands of Alexandria. Woudl you believe that it was 77 there yesterday? :eek: It's November for goodness sake!

Hope everyone has a great remainder of the weekend and I'll see you all later on.

Happy trails,
Les

[aggie94]

Hey everyone,

Sounds like most of you are enjoying beautiful running weather! Unfortunately for me, it's still warm here. I met up with my running group from the Y this morning for a 5-miler, and it was in the high 70s when we started. Our daytime highs are still in the 90s. :eek: :( Nevertheless, I had a great run.

Julie, the pictures of your new neighborhood were lovely! I hope you guys had a relatively smooth moving day.

Kathy, have a wonderful time in Costa Rica! My colleague just returned from there, and he had surprisingly cooperative weather for this time of year, so I wish you the same. My bosses own two condos down there and have been offering the use of them to DH & I. Maybe next year we will take them up on the offer.

Les, your hike sounds fantastic! Did you get any pictures? Our running club has been talking about mixing it up on the weekends by incorporating some hiking. If only the weather would cool down.

Hi to Susan, Nathasha, Kim, and everyone else, and have a great week!

[Kathy B]

Hi, all! Today, 4.5 miles and it was very comfortable. Did some yoga Saturday AM, too.

Over the weekend I was hoofing it a lot with DD taking GS cookie orders. DD does all the work, I just hang out on a nearby corner with my book so she is not all by herself. We did cover a lot of territory, though.

Later I was out with DS doing some campaign canvassing to "get out the vote!" He agreed to do it when asked, then wanted me to go along. :D I am glad to see him so excited about the elections, so I was happy to do it. I have never really been personally involved in election activities until this year, but in trying to get the kids interested, we all became more active....and it has been a good thing.

Glad to have you join in, kwormann!

Aggie, 90 degrees! Wow! :eek: Good for you for getting in your 5 miles.

Hope the packing is going well, KValley. We moved a few times when I was a kid, and my mom used to throw handfuls of candy into some of the boxes while we were packing. It made it easier to get us kids to help UNPACK later on! ;)

Natasha, what did you end up making? I always like to know what people make to take. :)

Les, sounds like an active retreat! I would definitely believe 77...it is supposed to hit 76 here today. I am not a cold weather person, so no complaints from me! :D

Have a great trip to Costa Rica, Kathy! Planning any beach runs?

Susan, hope you had a good run with your group. Glad your dinner party was a success!

Hi to all that follow. Wishing everyone a great week. (Don't forget to vote! :p)

[ktg0930]

Hello everyone! Thanks everyone for the good vacation wishes! I hope the weather cooperates. I guess I should throw a pair of shorts and a tee in my suitcase for running. we are definitely planning on hiking so I have to take hiking shoes. Shoes are the biggest pain in packing...I finally decided I would wear my running shoes (even though that's a pain at security) and take hiking shoes and sandals.

Kathy, I'll buy some GS cookies :) My neighborhood doesn't have any GS and without an office, there are no cookies to be had. I guess that's good in some ways.

Aggie, it IS still hot there...I'm surprised! Good job on the 5 miler.

Les, the hike sounds cool, but those are some steep grades.

Susan, glad the entertaining was successful and that you finished your remodeling project. Did you do the work yourselves?

Kim, glad we can offer some motivation...I'm certainly needed it myself lately.

KValley, hope the moving is going well.

Natasha, did you have a lot of trick or treaters? We didn't have too many which is not good because now I have all this leftover candy tempting me. Next year, I'll have to remember to buy less.

It's a beautiful day here and I had a nice run today and also a good one yesterday. The weather is supposed to be decent (temp-wise) in Minneapolis, my destination for tomorrow.

[Natasha]

Happy November!

Me too, me too (for the GS cookies) ;) We have different cookies here that the Girl Guides sell. I'm sure I'd like the ones there just as much :)

Kathy, so great that your DS is so into voting. How did your election party go (the one you'd posted about on the food board)? Did you post a review there? If so, let me know and I'll go find it so you don't have to repeat yourself :)

We got about 80-90 trick o'treaters. I made rocky road bars (w/o marshmallows, but w/some leftover chocolate bars, chopped) for the run club event, then wondered if that was a stupid thing to do right after Hallowe'en. Needn't have worried - they were disappearing fast. Totally addictive so I am glad I got rid of them! The recipe is on the November cookie thread.

ktg, safe travels to Mpls and can't wait to hear about Costa Rica!

KValley, congrats on your move!

Les, the retreat sounds awesome.

Kim, wonderful to see you! Sounds like you are having some exciting times lately.

Hi to Susan, Eva, Vicci, Robyn, Carrie, and everyone else!

I ran yesterday and rode the day before. I think today I'll do yoga and start a new craft project (though I need yarn first).

On an unrelated note, this morning DH and I were mildly disorganized and I forgot my lunch at home. I called DH when I got to work to gripe, because I had been quite looking forward to it. I told him I had non-stop meetings and was going to be stuck with the food in the building, then shrugged it off and went on with my day. Well, there I was in a small meeting a few minutes to 12 when the receptionist called to tell me that my lunch was here. I told her I hadn't ordered lunch, figuring she had me mixed up with someone having a big lunch meeting. Well, you guessed it... DH had ordered me lunch! So I ended up with a nice hot lunch after all, and there was enough for leftovers tomorrow. I'll have to give him an extra hug when he gets home :) Figured you foodies might appreciate a story about meal delivery ;)

Well, happy voting (for those who didn't vote early) and Election Eve to one and all. I'm stoked to see what happens tomorrow, myself.

[SusanMac]

Nat - That is the sweetest story. Your DH is the best. Thx for the election wishes. I just got back from voting. I want to take the rest of the day off to watch election news!

Les - your event sounds cool. Glad it was worthwhile. Does LW enjoy the single-girl weekends??

KWormann - so good to hear from you again! Is your puppy new? I don't remember that avatar from before.

Aggie - Wow, I couldn't deal w/90s in Nov. I'm sure it's just a mental adjustment.

I had a great trail run w/my rowing buddies on Sun. We ran at a park that I love but don't go to very often. It was very hilly, and they went at a faster clip than I wanted, but that's OK. A friend who moved away last year was in town & joined us for a surprise. The post-run coffee lasted longer than the run itself. V fun.

Yesterday DH and I went out for a very easy run. Just 40 min. Just what we both needed.

BTW, I have a 10K coming up this Sun. It's a trail run in a beautiful area N of town. I did it last year & it's become one of my fav's. It's definitely a no-pressure, just do it for fun & enjoy the autumn scenery run.

Later :-)

[newsomz]

Kathy - Glad you got back into the swing of things. Have a wonderful time in Costa Rica. Is this your first trip? Central & South America are still on my list to visit.

Natasha - Wow! You got a lot of trick-or-treaters. We weren't home this year, however, last year we only had 15-20. That was very sweet of DH to order you lunch ;)

Susan - After Natasha's comment I went back to last week's thread to get your race update. Wow! You did look amazingly fresh after finishing. Nice job :) Sounds like you are already moving again! Good luck on the 10K this weekend.

KValley - I didn't realize you are moving to Ballard! Very nice. I have a friend who lives in Queen Anne and the past two times I've visited we've gone over to the Saturday farmer's market in Ballard (I guess it runs more of the year than the one in Queen Anne). She's also taken me to the beach in the NYT Story and the Locks! Anyhow, I know you'll have a blast in that neighborhood!!!

Kwormann - Welcome! Nice to see you on the VRB thread. I hope you'll stick around :D

Les - The retreat location looks fabulous! Were the leaves at peak?

Aggie - I am also surprised you all still have daytime highs of 90! In Florida it has cooled down quite a lot.. though of course it is beginning to warm again. Nothing close to 90 though! Good job getting out for your runs despite the warmer temps.

KathyB - A coworker of mine has been doing the "get out the vote!" thing. She has been having a blast. I hope you and DS enjoyed it!

Okay, so I did run last Thursday in my new shoes. I like them quite a lot and think they'll do just fine. We went out of town this weekend and when we got back on Sunday I wasn't feeling well so I skipped my Sunday run. Turns out I caught a cold :( So I skipped my Tuesday run as well! Hopefully, I'll be back on track by Thursday because I'd like to get in another run before my half marathon on Sat. We'll see. Right now I figure it is better to rest up than run since the race is so close. Luckily, it is my first so the only goal is finishing.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Les - your event sounds cool. Glad it was worthwhile. Does LW enjoy the single-girl weekends??

BTW, I have a 10K coming up this Sun. It's a trail run in a beautiful area N of town. I did it last year & it's become one of my fav's. It's definitely a no-pressure, just do it for fun & enjoy the autumn scenery run.

Later :-)
LW wasn't quite "single" this weekend although there are times that she probably felt like it. She attended the retreat with my/us (the Church) but because I was "on" a lot she didn't have my attention for good portions of the weekend. I hope that your run this weekend goes well.

Carrie - The colors were weird. Parts were past peak and other parts were just coming in. But what was weirder was one tree had leaves on Friday when we arrived and by Sunday most of it's leaves had fallen. Go figure.
Nat - That's a completely cool story about DH. Somehow, I don't doubt that he would do something that considerate for you. 80-90 kids sounds like a pretty busy night for you on Halloween.
Eva - It was a blast and a picture link (on Facebook) is attached below.
Kathy (ktg) - It's amazing just how steep some of those pitches are. Even more scary to realize that the first time I made that climb (when I was in high school - 1977) I made it in the dark in November without a flashlight. :eek: And I lived to tell about it too.

Crawl by...
No run today although it is perfect outside - drizzle and about 60. But there was a bad night last night - the sermon I was working on last night disappeared into electronic ether. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth I recovered it though and 2+ hours of work was saved (and the entire text I might add). Then to top that off I got the "honey, why isn't the toilet filling up?" question almost simultaneously. :rolleyes: When all was said and done it was nearly 1:00 am before I fell asleep and I had to get up early for a doctor's appointment (Audiologist - looking at my failing hearing aid). Nothing big but moving forward.

However, I have a link to the pictures from this weekend (at least the scenery ones). You all should be able to see them on my Facebook account Photo album (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48577&l=f98d0&id=654239289).

Gotta fly - hope everyone voted who can.

Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

A quick hello this evening. Our weather has been fabulous and, as a result, DH and I decided to tackle another outdoor house project. The scraping and painting cycle just isn't going away! With luck, we will be finished before the rain predicted for Friday afternoon arrives.

But, alas, other than a 45-minute run on Sunday, I haven't had the energy to run or bike. And time, too, since every half-hour counts toward finishing the project at this point.

I am envious of your activities! So, for the next couple of days, I shall live vicariously through you all.

Now, back to paperwork since there is no time during the daylight hours...:rolleyes:

Run for me! Bike for me!!! :D

[KValley]

Carrie and Susan- best of success for your races this weekend- have a wonderful time! Carrie- I hope your cold runs its course before you run yours! How fun that you have visited my new neighborhood :) Yes, Ballard and Fremont both have great year-round markets!

Susan- so glad you had a lovely dinner. And that the polenta was a hit! I'd forgotten all about that recipe until I read your OP on the Good Food board.

Les - thank you for sharing the beautiful photos. I'm so glad you were able to recover your sermon and I hope the toilet issue has been resolved, as well!

Eva I have as great an aversion to running in the heat as you do to the cold :D It just doesn't seem right that October/NOvember would find temps in the 90s! But I'll envy you the warmth come February, to be sure!

Kim SO WONDERFUL to see you again!

Kathy & Kathy, Vicci, Robyn, Natasha (90 T&Ters WOW!), everyone- have a wonderful weekend.

It's been such a busy week, full of many distractions and alas- lots of rain. Tomorrow and Saturday we move (last weekend was cleaning and packing, moving a few things into the kitchen). Fortunately we don't have a lot of stuff nor do we have far to go, but this is the 21st move DH & I have made in 16 yrs. I'm tired... :rolleyes: :p

And I have to find a new gym. That's always a tough transition- you get used to your w/o buddies, where things are. I'm not a fitness class person, but I do hope my new gym offers yoga options. I've got a couple in mind- one is just around the corner from work- but just haven't had the time to check them out.

Brendan and I also need to take time this weekend to outfit our bikes with flashing lights- back and front- and I want to get a light for my backpack. We will be biking to-from work- at least one of the trips will be in the dark. Fortunately the main thoroughfare has bike lanes and we can hook into the B-G Trail...

I'm working a split shift today 9-1 and 5-9 (evening wine tasting) so I hope to get out for a power walk in the afternoon. I'd planned to pack, but I think I need the mental/emotional break. A good speed interval run earlier this week at the gym and a nice outdoor-hill run Saturday morning. Tomorrow will be my last run around Queen Anne before shaking Brendan awake to get the move underway.

[Robyn1007]

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been around much. I guess I'm just not feeling very social these days. :( I hope everyone is well though and it sounds like some interesting plans going on.

I have been progressing in my plans. I am now alternating elliptical/treadmill on my run/walk days so that's good. Foot is still causing some pain but it's not unbearable thanks to the new shoes. I did my first spin class last night. It's held at my LBS and we bring our bikes to put on trainers and are taught by my tri coach. Funny, everyone else got to choose their gears but she thought I was taking it too easy so made me shift up. :p We also did a one legged drill that was definitely interesting. She said we'd meet our hamstrings this morning but fortunately I have just a twinge in the left one. Tonight is my first "exam" and this one is swimming. I'm not feeling great today so that doesn't bode well for good performance but we'll see how it goes. Tomorrow is bike and Saturday run. Sunday I'll ski for active recovery. :D

[aggie94]

Les, gorgeous pictures!! I do envy those of you who get to experience the changing colors of fall.

Kathy B, is it GS cookie time already?? I will have to keep my eyes peeled for them in my area. We generally have someone in the office with a kid selling them but nothing yet. I did not stockpile enough Thin Mints last year and ran out months ago. I'll have to double up this time. :)

Susan, good luck and have fun with your 10K this weekend! My running buddy is trying to get me to run a local 10K with him this Sunday. I'm still uncommitted.

Carrie, good luck with your race on Saturday!! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Julie, good luck with the move this weekend!

Robyn, sorry you're not feeling well. Hope you feel better soon, and good luck with the swim tonight.

As for me, what a difference a few days makes!! All of a sudden, our temps have taken a big dip. When I went out this morning for a run at 7:00, it was in the high 40s. :eek: Quite a change from Sunday! And no, I'm not complaining at all. It was wonderful. I got in 4 miles before work and will head to the gym this evening for personal training. I'm planning for a 6-miler on Sunday morning, either on my own or with my running buddy if I decide to join him in his 10K. Election Day messed with my workout schedule this week :o so I am trying to get back on track.

Hello to everyone else!!

[newsomz]

Hi All,

Finally, I get to swing by and report a run! I am feeling almost 100% better so I was able to get my run in today. A nice and slow 45 min run to get my muscles moving again. I guess all the rest worked since I recovered fairly quickly from my cold :D

Sounds like everyone is moving along. Good job and keep up the good workouts!!! More this weekend after the race.