Virtual Running Buddies- Week of 28 Novembe

[KValley]

I'm getting us started again this week- just up and about and ready to chat!

Picking up the end of yesterday's posts:

Robyn Atta girl! on yesterday's Turkey Trot! It sounds like you had a blast and that the fresh air was a shot in the arm mentally and physically!

Kathy- how was your feast? I hope that it was all hands on deck for the dishes and cleanup. You deserve a rest today!

Vicci- Spooky sounds adorable- how nice to have a little company :) And continued good luck with your celebration planning!

Safe travels, Nat- enjoy your trip!

I had a lovely early bike ride yesterday- caught the rising sun on the Olympic Mountains as I biked down to and around Golden Gardens Park. Just me and a few joggers- it was chilly and I sought out the uphill climbs just to stay warm.

This morning back to the gym- it was eerily quiet at 5:30 ;). It felt good to sweat and work off a bit of yesterday's pumpkin cheesecake and that second helping of stuffing! Only 3 of us in yoga, which was great- lots of personal attention/correction by the instructor and a terrifically relaxing/challenging session. I'll do weights and yoga tomorrow, then a long walk around downtown with Brendan before a quiet evening and a good night's rest. It's pouring rain now, but the forecast for Sunday is still good! C'mon sun!

Have a lovely, peaceful weekend runners!

[Natasha]

Hiya Julie! Thanks for starting us off again this week.

Just popping in to say HI and that I hope everyone's long weekends are going splendidly. I just did a run - an easy lope (well, I sped up in the second half) of about 40 minutes. I also had a pretty intense spin last night.

Talk with you all later in the week!

Best,
Nat

[Kathy B]

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Ours has been quite nice.

The Turkey Trot was a lot of fun. DH wasn't planning to run, and DS and I both planned to take it easy. DD was gung ho! It was pretty chilly when we got there, but with all of the runners milling around, the adrenaline started pumping. DH decided to go ahead and run, and DS and I both ended up giving a pretty darn good effort because once we got going, we both felt good. I scored a better time than I did at the Scarecrow run, and DS's time was consistent with his CC racing times. DD continues to decrease her times and had another PR. She ran most of the first mile before walking, which is new for her. Afterwards we saw lots of people we knew, so that was fun, too. The weather warmed up a bit, and it was beautiful for the run. Running in cold weather might not be so bad....did I say that?

The family dinner went fine, and we all ate too much of everything as usual. In the evening, some of us went downtown to the plaza for the plaza lighting ceremony (a pretty big deal in KC). We watched it from the roof of a nearby church that sponsors a plaza lighting party for the public every year.....the plaza lights up and then there are fireworks for several minutes. We had a perfect view!

Julie, great job keeping up with your workouts over the holiday! Pumpkin cheesecake sounds yum!!

Hope you have a good trip, Natasha! Nice work on your spinning and loping. :D

Hi to everyone else, and we are looking forward to hearing from you! :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

Quick check in after being at my folks house over the Thanksgiving holidays. Quite the relaxing time and did a lot of work around their house as Dad prepares to retire from his small church in Appomattox. Made quite the haul around the house and I'm trying to catch up but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

Thanks for starting Julie - congrats on your workouts, and Nat and Kathy B (and her DD's run too).

I had a good run on Friday - about an hour on the rolling hilss around Appomattox. Felt good during and mostly after - a little twinge in my ankle that is bothersome right now but not too bad.

Staring at 6+ hours in church tomorrow and I need to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed so off to bed but I'll see you on the 'morrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[KValley]

Well, right about now we should be part of the masses swarming the recovery area, shivering with adrenaline and sweat, eating bagels and bananas and walking around to keep our legs from growing stiff, but instead we are at home :(:(

Around 8:00 last night, Brendan was huddled in the bathroom, suffering from alternating bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. He wasn't running a fever and I was able to tuck him in on the sofa by 9:30. Amazingly, I slept deeply until about 2:30 when his next round of stomach distress began. He's in bed now- feeling much better but finally getting some real sleep.

We don't know if it's food poisoning or a 24hr flu. Both are possible. One of my brothers left the Thanksgiving dinner table just as dinner began, succumbing to the flu that his kids had earlier in the week.

But then again Brendan and I had lunch out yesterday, after we picked up our race packets and wandered through the Expo area. We both had large salads with grilled chicken. I feel fine, but the last time we both fell ill it was food poisoning and I succumbed about 36 hrs after Brendan. Either way it really sucks. I feel so badly for him- and he has to work tonight. We're both so disappointed about the marathon, but there wasn't even a question. I turned off our alarms when I went back to bed around 3:30 this morning.

I'm waiting for the fog to lift, then I'll head out for a run around Green Lake. Though I won't wear my marathon shirt. That might seem a little odd.

As disappointed as we are, the bright side is that as underprepared as we've been feeling, we probably should not have undertaken 13 miles. I'm feeling the urge to run again and the recovery period for my PF would probably have knocked the wind out of my sails. This way I can pick back up with an easy run this morning and a return to treadmill speedwork this week.

And there's always next year. Sigh.

Rock on, Runners.

[SusanMac]

KValley - I'm so, so sorry about DH and your both missing out on the race!! Yuck! And we've all been in his situation, just feeling like crud and nothing you can do but wait it out. I guess the only small silver lining is that, it's best this didn't happen when you were both in the best shape ever & expecting to rock the race. That would have been doubly disappointing. Hope he gets healthy soon...and you get to fend it off.

KathyB - your race sounds awesome for the whole family! Yes, running in the 'cold' is absolutely wonderful & highly recommended. No gross salty sweat. it's a good thing.

Robyn - Nice job to you, too! With this past summer's tri season under your belt, I hadn't realized this was your first 'adult' running race. Very cool!

No turkey trot for me, as expected. Tday w/the in-laws was fun. And all the 4-legged creatures got along great and played til they had to drop. We hiked for over an hour on Thurs & Fri at the dog park. then DH & I did a low-key 40-min run on Sat.

I'm in Tel Aviv now. I know I should go for a run or walk to fend off jet lag, but it's dark, my tummy's grumbling, and I still have work to do, so will just have to save that til later in the week. I definitely have my running shoes, tho!

[aggie94]

Julie, so sorry about the race. What a bummer to have to bail at the last minute, but having run a half before when I wasn't feeling all that great and then seriously regretting it afterwards, you did the right thing. There will be plenty of other races, when you're both at 100%.

Kathy & Robyn, nice job on the Turkey Trots!! What a fun way to start off the holiday.

Susan, how long are you in Tel Aviv? Looking forward to hearing some run reports from abroad!

Hi Nat, Les, and everyone else!!

Met up with folks from the Y on Thanksgiving morning for a 10K. Unfortunately, after a night of heavy rains, the path along the canal was washed out in places. We sloshed through as best as we could but hit a dead end about 2 miles out and were forced to turn back. So we ended up only doing 4 miles but it was probably a good thing - about 10 minutes later as I pulled into the grocery store to pick up some last minute things for dinner, the rain started coming down in buckets.

We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving with friends - just 6 of us. And the best Thanksgiving desserts EVER. I made both the Pumpkin Caramel Toffee Pie from Southern Living and the Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake with Caramel and Cream Cheese Frosting from Bon Appetit, and both were TO DIE FOR. Good thing I had gotten in a run that morning. ;) Afterwards, we watched a brutal beatdown of our Aggies by the Longhorns - the worst margin loss in over a hundred years. :(

Friday we headed down to Tucson to spend the day with BIL and his family. Fantastic news - after 5 months of grueling chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including a mastectomy, SIL is CANCER FREE!!! We are absolutely thrilled. It was great news to be thankful for this holiday.

This morning we got in the 10K we had to bail on Thursday, although my legs felt like dead weight and my knees were achy. So it wasn't a great run, but I slogged my way through it. Hoping it was just an off day.

Have a great week, runners!

[Robyn1007]

Aggie, so glad to hear about your SIL!!!!!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Eva - I'll second the cheer for your SIL. I hope that your legs thing is just a momentary thing - it probably is.

Susan - Have fun in the Holy Land for me. Shwarma and Orange Juice - that's the ticket!

Lots of time at church today. Not enough studying so... off to the books. Joy of joys too - an early birthday (or late birthday for LW) present - a new coffee maker! :cool: The old one was on it's last legs so now a nice, new, unclogged coffee maker and we're in hog heaven.

Happy trails to the rest of the group. Maybe before bed tonight...

Les

[KValley]

Eva- what wonderful news about your sister-in-law. An extra-special thank you to the powers that be for her healing! I'm glad you had such a mellow T-day. Wish I could have been there for dessert(s)! And here's to slogging through your run today!

Susan I'm glad you decided against a run in the dark. Hope you had a delicious dinner and an uninterrupted night's rest. Did you map out runs in the city? Can't wait to hear your reports.

Les You had a flat-out busy day today. Hope all went well and glad that you had such a good run Friday. Take care of that ankle.

Kathy Your Turkey Trot sounded like such fun and the tree-lighting ceremony was really lovely, I'm sure.

Another SIL checked in this afternoon. My brother was in the same state as Brendan, it just hit him early Sat. morning. My SIL was also not feeling well yesterday, but no loss of stomach contents, fortunately. So, it appears that Brother #1 shared his stomach flu (which he received in turn from my niece and nephew) with various members of the family. I'm still knocking on wood.

I had a really peaceful, lovely 5 mile run late this morning. It's so warm- mid 50s still- I ran in shorts. The last day of November, I could get used to this! I was feeling pretty melancholy having missed the marathon and worrying about Brendan, but the run cleared my head and Brendan was up & about when I got home.

Tomorrow is another day.

Hello to Carrie, Meg, Nat, Kathy, Terri, Vicci- everyone!

[Natasha]

Hope you're having fun, Susan!

Julie, so sorry about your 1/2 :( but definitely the smart call. Hope things are better now for you and DH!

Eva, yay about your SIL!!!

Les, happy belated birthday to LW and I can only imagine how much you must both be loving the coffee maker, coffee fiends that you are :D

Hi to all from Calgary! I had a great run this morning. It was almost an hour and mostly by the river. Reminded me a bit of other Canadian cities, yet still quite different from home (not bad, just different!). Amazing weather, too. Then my friend and I went to a local dog show, and there were lots of dogs of the same breed as my dog, which is quite rare but was most welcome since I miss my pup! There are lots of gear stores out here and I enjoyed some shopping and chatting with fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

Anyway, hope everyone is generally well... talk with you later in the week!

[1MegMeg]

Nat - I hope you're enjoying Calgary! I was there last summer and just loved it! Such a beautiful city.

Julie - I am so sorry about the 1/2, but I think everything works out for a reason. Your DH definitely couldn't race and I think your body and PF foot will thank you for not running 13 miles. I know it's disappointing though!

Les - Hooray for the new coffee maker! That sounds like a wonderful present!

Eva - Your thanksgiving sounds wonderful, especially the news about your SIL!

Susan -Tel Aviv?! Fun! How long are you there for?

Kathy - Glad you had a nice turkey trot! It's very cool that your DH, DD, and DS ran too! A great family event!


This year was my first year hosting Thanksgiving and it was fantastic. There was 8 of us total and other than a little incident with brining the turkey on Wednesday (the original container I had the turkey and brine bag in wasn't big enough and the brine overflowed above the edge of the container, the side of the brine bag fell over, and we had the brine river on my kitchen floor hehe! :p) everything turned out fantastic! It was so nice to have both of our families together.

This coming Saturday is my 5K! I am very excited and feel ready for it.

[Robyn1007]

Hi VRBs. I'm very sad. I was all set to start back on my workouts today after finally not waking up during the night last night but my cough seems to be back with a vengeance this afternoon so I'm putting it off yet another day. It makes me very, very sad and I feel very antsy not being able to workout. I really want to run or swim or bike or something. But, alas, I shall not tonight. I shall go pick up some chicken noodle soup, bread or crackers and go home to sleep. :(:(:(

[mabvt]

Hello runners!

Checking back in after a loooong hiatus. I was posting on this year about a year ago and then I got pregnant! I was very sick at the beginning of my pregnancy and so I gave up running for the duration. I did have some running dreams during though! Little Neal was born on Oct. 6. I have NOT been running yet. But I'm checking the thread in order to get pumped up and motivated! It is much needed in very cold and snowy western mi. I am fitting into my prepregnancy jeans for the first time today :D but would love to feel as good as I did a year ago when I could run 8 miles.

Melissa

[newsomz]

Hi All,

It has been busy, busy, busy around here so I haven't had much time to pop by the VRB threads! It seems like everyone had a good Thanksgiving and is still getting in their workouts. Way to go :) Just have time for a few personal words and a quick update.

Julie - Sorry to hear about the food poisoning/missed half. Hope everyone is feeling better now.

Aggie - Congrats to your SIL!!!!

Susan - I will be interested to hear how running in Tel Aviv goes. Sounds like it could be quite an adventure...

Kathy - The turkey tot sounds like a blast. I was looking for one around me but didn't find one :(

Les - Yay! New coffee maker. Is it fully automatic?

Natasha - I'll be interested to hear what new gear you ended up with ;)

Meg - Congrats on a successful Thanksgiving. Good luck on your 5K. Is it in Orlando?

Robyn - (((((Hugs))))). I hope you feel better soon.

Melissa - Yikes! Running in Michigan!! And WELCOME.

Okay, update for the last few weeks - I can't believe it is December already! I got out for two 45 min runs the week of Nov 17th. I also did a nice run of 10 mi or so that Saturday. My iPod is on the fritz so I've been running without it. Oh wow did I miss it on the 10 mi!!! I also got in one 45 min run last week but didn't have time on Thursday/Friday with all the weekend traveling to get out :( Too bad as I could have used it with all the Thanksgiving eating :o. However, I did visit both my & DBF's family and go to the UF/FSU game. Plus, DBF decided to put his house on the market so we were frantically scrambling to get house things done before he left for a work trip today. Anyway, I have two more 45 min runs and a 14 miler planned for this week. Plus, my class is wrapping up so I have lots of studying to do. I'm just ignoring the packing/straightening I should be doing :eek: So.. looks like my appearances here may be scarce over the next month! I'll try to pop by with updates.

Happy trails to all!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Short note...

Carrie, the coffee maker isn't fully automatic - still has to have grounds put in it but the big deal is a timre to start the coffee (a good thing on these cold mornings). I hope that everything comes together this week for you too.
Welcome back Melissa it sounds a little chilly up your way for running but I'd still venture out. Congratulations are in order too I think.
(((Robyn))) Sorry you are still under the weather - hope you bounce back soon.
I hope you're having a good trip to Calgery Nat. It sounds like a fun place to run in.
Meg - Good Turkey story is one for the books. Almost as funny as cooking a turkey on the Weber while taking the lid off all too often - took 3 hours longer than it should have. Grace to you on your run this weekend.

I've had a couple decent days and even got a workout in today - more later. I finished my last sermon in class yesterday, a nail-biter because I tried to do it without notes. I made the mistake of writing out a sermon then trying to do the sermon without notes -- not a good thing for me. Still, got through it though. I spun this evening for an hour and even got some core work in too.

Off to read some more theology stuff and hit the hay. Long day in class tomorrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

A quick one this evening, alas...

The anniv. party is a short three days (actually less than that!) away and I'm getting a little panicked. So what else is new?

I do need to report that, after 9 hours in the kitchen today, I actually got a half-hour run in late this afternoon! I wanted to take a nap so badly, but since we leave for the lake house tomorrow I figured that this would be it until Monday after we return (provided there is no snow on the ground). It was a nice one, 45 degrees and I finished during a beautiful sunset.

Hope that you all have a good rest-of-the-week and weekend, and I'll be back early next week. DH asked me this afternoon what I wanted to do on our actual anniversary day (next Wednesday) and I couldn't think of a single thing except relax. :) I'm sure I'll think of something before then, though...

And GOOD LUCK MEG, at your race on Saturday!

[Natasha]

Vicci, I'm sure your big party will be a smash hit! Happy anniversary in advance even if the big day isn't for 6 days. Love your plan to just RELAX on the anniversary itself!

Les, great avatar!

Carrie, wow, you've always got lots going on! Hope DBF's house sells quickly. Enjoy the runs, especially the 14 miler.

Meg, GOOD LUCK this weekend!! Thanksgiving sounds like fun, brine river aside ;)

Welcome back, Melissa! Hearty congratulations on the birth of little Neal, and on fitting into those prepregnancy jeans so quickly :D

I got in another run before leaving Calgary. The temp dropped 20 degrees Celsius in 12-16 hours, no exaggeration, and that's without taking the wind chill into account. Plus the wind picked up so we went from sunny and balmy to frigid. There was also a light dusting of snow and ice so I had to tread carefully on my run, but it was still good. Bracing and invigorating were the words that came to mind :p

Hope everyone else is doing well. Cannot believe that Christmas is 3 weeks away!

[Robyn1007]

Wow, it's quiet around here this week!

Welcome Melissa!

Natasha I really enjoyed my cold weather run in Vail last week so I know what you mean about invigorating. I hope to do more of those this winter but am thinking I might need some Yak Trax or something to help me out.

Carrie good luck this month, hope it goes well for you!

Vicci Good luck with the party!

Les you've got to be about done with classes for the semester right?

Well, I'm slowly getting back into the workout mode. I did a spin last night with the spin class. I didn't quite go as hard as everyone else (it was a hill climb session) but I didn't totally wimp out either. I had a couple of dizzy/stars moments due to lack of oxygen and would just back off the resistance and slow down the cadence a bit to catch my breath and push on. Spun for 64 minutes so really I was ecstatic about that. I think I'll take tonight off (and the roads will be bad since it's snowing) and then do another light workout tomorrow night. It sure did feel good to get back out there. I found during the off time that my workouts have now become my stress relief and I truly thought I might go postal if I didn't get one in soon. ;):p

[newsomz]

Vicci - Have a great anniversary party!!!

Robyn - So glad to see you are feeling at least better enough to work out. I also have become addicted to exercise as my stress release...

A quick 40 min run for me today before the sun set. We've had some great cooler weather lately :)

[KValley]

It's Friday night! Let's party! All right, it's MY Friday and I will be in bed by 8:30 :rolleyes:

Nat Glad you had a good week in Calgary. One of my brothers went to college in Three Hills, a ways north of Calgary- he has funny-odd-fond memories of w/e in the big city :p I LOVE bracing runs- when your nose hairs freeze and your lungs are on fire :D

Meg Your first 5k on Saturday! go Meg GO! Have a wonderful time! and I have brine disaster stories I could share- just know you are not alone

Robyn I am so with you on the frustration of being sidelined with illness (more on my week below). I'm glad you are feeling better- just know that you will return to training stronger than ever for the rest and recovery!

Melissa Welcome back and congratulations!

Carrie Good on you for making it through some good runs w/o your IPOD! WHen do you leave for France? I'm reading your posts re: language schools in Paris. I returned for a summer in 2003 to work on my French- I did 2 intensive advanced programs, but not in Paris (Tours, Gaillac) so didn't have much to add to the advice. If you live near a university, you might see where they send their students...

Les Kudos on the sermon writing and improv! Will you continue writing through the semester break? Sounds like you've had some great workouts despite, perhaps because of, the pressure you've been under.

Vicci Happy Anniversary and have a fantastic time this weekend.

Good run Sunday and good x-train/weights on Monday. Then came Tuesday. I spent the day curled in a fetal position on the sofa, 101 degree fever. No vomiting, thank heavens, though I went for 36 hrs unable to eat. Yes, it appears that every member of the family who was present at my B and SIL's Thanksgiving dinner left the table with an unexpected gift- the 24-36hr flu. Thanks for sharing. :mad: :rolleyes:

I was well enough to work Wednesday, but then tossed and turned last night. Worked today, but w/o have tanked. I'm so exhausted. PLan is early to bed tonight, yoga tomorrow a.m. and long bike ride with Brendan tomorrow. Run Saturday, then yoga and walk before work on Sunday.

Irony is, this WAS supposed to be my post-1/2 marathon recovery week. Not quite the recovery I'd envisioned. On the upside, my PF is completely silent.

Have a great end of the week, everyone!

[Natasha]

Robyn, running in Vail must have been fun (but tough!). I love my YakTrax (well, except one of mine broke after a couple of years of use). Since buying the treadmill almost 3 years ago (wow), I admit that I rarely run outside when it's icy out. Glad you managed to work out! You must feel much better inside and out as a result.

Got in a fabulous if short (40 min.) spin. I hadn't seen my bike in a week!

Carrie, great job on your run.

Hi to Julie, Les, and the rest of the gang. See you on next week's thread!

[Leslie Ferguson]

A flurry of activity today...
Robyn - It's good to see that you're out and about even if only to spin. Sorry about the shortness of breath and smart of you to cut back a little. Classes are in session until the 19th. I have one final to do sometime during the week (it will be posted on a site called Blackboard and I'll have some amount of time - probably 2 or 3 hours to complete it) and I have a final the morning of the 18th the last paper is due on the 19th. I hope that I'm done with my paper before the end of next week so all I'll have to do is study for the exams - the one on the 18th will be a killer (or at least might be more difficult than any I've had so far).
Vicci - Happy anniversary to you, I hope your 25th day is as enjoyable as ours was here. How is the snow doing up there too?
Nat - Sounds chilly to me in calgary but it sounds like you were a little prepared for it.
Julie - Thanks, workouts have been sporadic but enough to keep me in battery. Nothing like I am used to but I hope that I can get around the corner in the next term and get on a good schedule both running and riding/spinning. Sorry that you aren't recovering from your 1/2 but it sounds like you are coping none the less. And good news about your PF.

Laid a little low today - not because of illness or pain just putting the finishing touches on a presentation I'm giving to 12 of my classmates in the morning. Our study group (and study groups are not only ok they are encouraged) is briefing all the theologians we've covered this year I'm responsible for a week's worth of lectures that talked about something called Liberation Theology. I was finishing up a distillation of ~225-250 pages and ~4.5 hours of lecture into about 5 pages of notes. But it was good for me to go through it and I think it will be appreciated in the morning. Sometimes life takes front seat doesn't it? ;)

Hope everyone has a good Friday and I'll see you on the 'morrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[Robyn1007]

Robyn I am so with you on the frustration of being sidelined with illness (more on my week below). I'm glad you are feeling better- just know that you will return to training stronger than ever for the rest and recovery!

Eek! Your illness sounds more miserable than mine. At least I could function partially while I was sick. :rolleyes: I keep telling myself I'll be stronger but it's frustrating and nerve wracking after all the time I've put in.

[1MegMeg]

Good morning! Just a quick drive-by from work. :)

Picked up my race packet this morning so I am all ready to go for tomorrow. I had an easy 2.25 mile run yesterday (and so weird, but good weird! My per-mile time was an entire minute faster than usual...not overall time, but each mile!) and will maybe do some yoga this evening, but otherwise I'll be resting up for tomorrow. I am very excited!!

[Robyn1007]

Good luck tomorrow Meg!