Virtual Running Buddies January 16

[KValley]

I started to post on the 9 Jan thread, then realized it was a new week.

Susan, well shoot- EVERYONE east of the Mississippi and north of, what, Arizona!?! Hang in there as you freeze your tushes off. Stay safe and warm. Susan, again- the African restaurant sounded so good. And what color did you decided upon for DH's IPOD? A big handclap for the Grandma Marathon. June isn't so far away (was it June?).

Les- your energy is a wonder. I hope you have some down time to rest and rejuvenate.

I can't remember what everyone else is up to- it was kind of quiet around here last week. Eva, what about the marathon this weekend?

Foggy, dreary and cold today (relative- today's high is projected to be 40, balmy compared to the Midwest, I know).

I had a great w/o this morning, on the evil treadmill (Robyn, I hear your pain about forgetting the IPOD and being at the mercy of TNT reruns on the TV). I ran 3 miles at different paces, then cranked up the incline, slowed down the speed and ran sideways, backwards, sideways, forwards repeats- for about a mile. I might have looked like a nut, but it was an endorphin-inducing challenge and fun! Followed by an hour of yoga- I felt really strong today, like I've crested a plateau.

And I thought of 2 more favorite stretches that really get into the hips, back, groin to share:

Ananda Balasana/Happy Baby (http://yoga.about.com/od/yogaposes/a/happybaby.htm) I like the name almost as much as the pose HAPPY BABY! What I like is that as you really stretch your hamstrings and your groin, your lower back releases gently into the floor. It's very calming. Nice back massage if you roll side to side.

And I think Virasana is one of the best poses for runners. It's both challenging and restful; Virasana one of yoga's classic meditative poses but it's not just for yogis! It's an incredible hip opener and core/back builder- the focus is keeping your spine straight by using your core muscles. Just work up and into it slowly. Even if you have knee issues- use a pillow under your hips to take the pressure off your hips and knees until you can work your sit bones to the floor. Here's a cool animated video about how to correctly form the pose. Virasana (http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/heropose.asp) As the video indicates it may take months to achieve the full pose, but then you will realize how strong and open you have become.

And now for the rest of the day: laundry, grocery shopping, Brendan to the dentist, me to the library, wine tasting, and I'm hoping we have energy to go to a lecture downtown tonight...

Have a great week, everyone.

Julie

[SusanMac]

Thx so much for kicking off the new week, KValley. Sounds you have had a very productive day.

Work has gotten really busy for me this week, but that's a good thing. Both of my clients are having layoffs, so it makes me feel productive to be doing lots of projects (knock wood). Tough times.

I just wrapped up a good bike spin, some weights & core work. I started doing lunges & boy can I feel 'em!

Staying home for pasta & a movie tonight. Oh, and wine night too! We are trying to cut back on alcohol/calories, so it makes me really look forward to wine night :-)

Happy weekend everyone! I'll run again one day when the temps are back up, I promise

[VictoriaL]

Julie, thanks so much for the link. I usually repeat the basic yoga poses I learned from a video years ago, and did take a class last year (a 45-minute drive), but needed something new. And I like the simple instructional animation that my dial-up can handle. :o
Looking at your "to do" list, I'd say that you have a bunch o' energy, too! Hope that you were able to make the lecture this evening.

Susan,I've let the lunges go by the wayside (I really was loading up on them while rehabbing the ankle), and you reminded me that I should start again. Really, what else is there to do??? :rolleyes:

A half-hour EB tour yesterday and some weights/yoga this morning. I forced myself out of bed, saw the -4.2 temp reading outside, and almost went back under the covers! I can't believe that I ran the trails just this past Tuesday. It really seems as though we've been living in Antarctica for months....

My new running shoes arrived and, although I've been wearing them around the house to break them in a bit (no need, really, since they're really comfy), I will wait for "better" weather to try them out.

http://www.zappos.com/images/736/7366908/8521-604350-d.jpg


I like Asics because they run narrow (which I need, since I could locate no narrow trail-running shoes), and I ordered a half-size bigger because my old Asics seem to be the littlest bit too short. I cannot wait to run outside again!!!

Hi to everyone, and I hope that you all have a nice, warm (if need be) weekend. :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks for starting this week Julie. I checked out those poses and I think the Happy Baby would kill me, at least right now. Maybe something to shoot for when I grow up (oh, that's right - I'm never growing up :D ). I'd give quite a bit for ~40 degrees since it was 9 when I left the hose this morning (-1 wind chill) which is not as cold as the midwest but for DC that's downright FRIGID! You sound like you've got a big day planned and I hope you made it to the lecture this evening. Sometimes my energy comes from a huge desire to escape and often it's just part of what I need to do to take care of myself; anyway, thank you. I think I'll get a recharge in the next couple weeks - probably a real charge the week of the 26th (more later).
Vicci - You can always come join me outside tomorrow when I run. ;) Nothing that a whole bunch of layers can't combat. But seriously, Asics are great shoes in my book and I like them for the same reason - a snug ride in the heal in my case. I hope it warms up for you tomorrow too.
Great ride Susan, and it's good that you do have a job with two clients who are laying folks off. have a great weeekend.

A shout out to the rest of the troops. Did I see that robyn is running a race tomorrow? Howdy to Nat, Eva, Kathy B, ktg, Meg, Carrie, and ...

It feels good to be done with class for a couple weeks then it's back to the regular grind for a while. This week was a neat class but 15 hours of contact in 5 days is just a bit much. Next week should be an interesting one for me - I'm planning on escaping to points south again (Appomattox for my next spell in the hopper). I'll be out of town for the Inauguration (darn! ;) ) but will be back by the weekend.

The following week I'm heading for a short road trip to Boston - going to an Episcopal Monastery in Cambridge for the day and I'm going to take a couple days on either end driving up and back. That should be the thing that sets me up for the new school Semester that begins on 2/2.

I spun for a short ride tonight, only about 30 minutes. If the wind behaves tomorrow I'll probably run when it gets balmy - the high is supposed to be 22 tomorrow which will be fine running weather.

Happy trails to all and another plea to stay warm
Les

[KValley]

Thanks for starting this week Julie. I checked out those poses and I think the Happy Baby would kill me, at least right now. Maybe something to shoot for when I grow up (oh, that's right - I'm never growing up :D ).

Just a dash in, but Les, I had to share this giggle. Brendan's back was really bothering him yesterday, so I tried to get him to do Happy Baby. He's in shape, trim and healthy but as tight as wire. Me: "You have to open your legs, no, OPEN them, BEND your knees!" Brendan, flat on his back, legs about a centimeter off the floor, sputtering "I am I AM!"
He may have done greater damage from laughing so hard in such a vulnerable position. I keep trying to convince him of the joys and wonders of "healthy pain"(ie yoga). He envisions his hamstrings and groins snapping at the first forward bend. :p

So sorry that the nasty weather is keeping so many of you trapped indoors. :( We are under an air stagnation warning...

[SusanMac]

It's so funny how each body is so different. Happy Baby is easy for me (that does feel good, KValley! Thx for this one), but I can't do the Virasana to save my life. My legs just refuse to go in that direction. Is it just a matter of continuing to try until they loosen up?

[Leslie Ferguson]

That's funny Julie. Ok you two, now I've got to try the Happy Baby to see if I can pull it off without pulling myself.

It's warming up finally - looking at 20 degrees in a short time. Maybe it will be time to go for a run. :cool:

Les

[aggie94]

I only have a quick minute before I dash out for errands, and I still need to catch up on this thread and last week's. I went ahead and stopped by the Health & Fitness Expo today and registered for the Rock & Roll Arizona Half Marathon tomrrow. :eek: I'm feeling at about 85% and couldn't pass up the race opportunity, my first in two years. Not to mention the gorgeous weather we're expecting. Should be about 50 at the start, warming up to a gorgeous 70 in the afternoon. Perfect running temps for me.

Anyway, I am not expecting a PR (esp. given that my last long run of 9 miles was before Christmas and the longest I've done since then was 6 miles two days ago) but plan to go out and have a good time and do the best I can. I'll be starting out with the 2:22 pace group, and I'll just see how I feel and go from there.

It looks like this year they will have live stats online, so if anyone wants to track me at www.rnraz.com, my bib # is 34931. Gun time for the half is 8:30 a.m. (Mountain time). I'll try to post a race report in the afternoon.

Have a great weekend, my VRB friends, and for you northerners, bundle up and stay warm!! :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

Sending positive vibes to Eva for the race in the morning. You'll do fine. I'll probably miss the start of your race since I'll be at church but I'll be thinking of you regardless (I'll probably be between services at that point in time).

Claiming a run today, just like I hoped. I trudged out and had a blast. It was chilly but nice on the outward leg - of course the wind was at my back. I would be lying if I said that it wasn't cold either because I was wearing 3 long sleeve (technical fiber) shirts and a tank top, a stocking cap, mitten/gloves (the ones that have mitten tops that can be velcroed back exposing your fingertips), heavy weight running tights and wind pants. My arms were a little cool on my walk breaks (I'm running 7/1 on Saturdays) but all in all I was happy during my run. Of course, my face got a little chapped/wind burned during the run so it feels like my face is slightly on fire. :rolleyes:

News from the home front - Dad is having issues with Vicodin and ended up with what appears from here to be a panic attack this morning about 12:30 am. His doctor prescribed Lopressor to help regulate his heart rate (spiked during his anxiety/panic attack) so I hope that he gets past the panic/anxiety. I think it's partly because he came off the Vicodin after about 10-14 days of taking it. He took ES tylenol and that seemed to help him calm down which leads me to believe that his issue had to do with pain in or around his incision. Still, a pretty frazzling day down there and up here. Good for mom that LW was there with her and Dad.

Oh well, this has gotten long and I think I'm going back to my Intern parish (a week early) tomorrow morning for three services so I'll sign off and see you in the funnies.

Happy trails and warmth to all,
Les

[KValley]

Les My prayers for your Dad today. I can only imagine how bewildered and helpless he must feel. Strength and peace to him and to your family.

Eva I wish you fleet feet! Oh- you must be finished by now! My condition and frame of mind for the 1/2 I ran in June sounds exactly like you yesterday/today, and I had a great time. Something to be said for relaxing and enjoying oneself!

Susan Have you tried Virasana with a pillow/blanket under your sit bones? Or just sitting on your heels and gradually opening your feet out and letting your hips sink down? It looks so easy, but it just isn't.

AFter all my griping about the clouds and fog, I stand happily contradicted. The sun came out yesterday around noon. B & I took a walk at Green Lake before our salsa lesson, we salsa-ed then walked around Queen Anne. It is so beautiful it hurts. I speak in the present tense because today dawned as clear as yesterday finished. It's cold but gorgeous. He's on the phone to friends in Germany, but we're off in a moment for a long- 5-6 mile- walk through Magnolia to Discovery Park. I have the day 0ff- a 3 day w/e, but B works at 4.

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. Julie

[Natasha]

Hi all! Quick check-in to see how my running buds are doing.

Eva, good luck with your race!

Susan, Grandma's sounds awesome. Congrats on getting in! My good friend's ex-BF did it a few years back. I didn't see pics from that race but presume he was properly dressed for it... you don't want to know how he was dressed (if you can call it that) for Bay to Breakers. :p

Vicci, glad you are enjoying your new shoes.

Les, enjoy Boston! Lucky you. I love Boston.

Hi to Kathy, Carrie, Robyn, Julie, and everyone else.

Last week was less than stellar for training because there was so much else going on, but it was extremely productive and I now have 3 days straight of training to report so that's good. I was in endorphin withdrawal there for a little while ;) Not easy for this endorphinoholic.

Best to all for the week ahead :D

[Kathy B]

Weights and EB to report from yesterday, and yoga today. That will be it for a while as the next few days I'll be out of commission, so thought I better check in with my report.

I'm glad you got some workouts in the last few days, Natasha, but a productive week is always a good thing, too!

Julie, nice that you have the time off with beautiful weather to go with it. How often does that happen? Salsa lessons sound like fun....have you had a chance to use your talents outside of the class?

Good job on your run, Les! Sorry your dad is having a tough time. I am sure your mom was very glad to have your wife there with her for support! Hope things are looking up soon.

Hope you had a great race, Eva! Looking forward to your report! :)

Vicci, nice work on the yoga/weights/EB! I hope you get a chance to use your new shoes soon. We have had some nice days off and on, but inevitably I am at work or have some other conflict on those days. It's frustrating, but spring is not too far away, so I will be patient.

Susan, what was the movie for movie/pasta/wine night? We rented Flawless with Demi Moore and Michael Caine to watch this evening. I've never heard of it, but it sounded pretty good and got "two thumbs up" in the reviews, so we'll see. How much snow does WI have right now?

Spent the afternoon helping DD deliver GS cookies and then gave her a second driving lesson. She just got her permit, and she is learning on our stick shift, so it was a little bumpy. :p There is a church with a large parking lot near my mom's house where we practice, and we circled it so many times in 30 minutes that I was actually starting to feel a little sick.:o She is getting the hang of it, though, and the last part of the 30 minutes was definitely NOT as bumpy as the first half!

Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday afternoon/evening.

[SusanMac]

Happy MLK Day, runners!!

Les - So sorry to hear about your Dad. It can take a while to figure out the right meds. How stressful for you guys! Glad you got a run in, though. Good thing you have so many clothes to layer ;-)

Aggie - Thx for checking in w/the RNR heads up! How did it go? Man, that does sound like perfect race weather

KValley - I'll try the pillow. Good tip!

Nat - we were wondering where you are! Glad to hear another good review of Grandma's. Yes, I'm sure he was properly dressed...this race has a reputation of being very strict on rules ;-)

Kathy - We watched Being Julia. Annette Bening acted great, but the film was just mediocre, really. I had higher hopes. And, to answer your other question....we've had more than 50" so far this season. Around a foot in the yard right now. Good skiing snow right now, too

We got outside for a run on Sat. Our first in over a week, and I could tell. Felt great, tho! Followed up with a good bike spin on Sunday. Weights & core, too. I can already tell a difference in my arm strength, and can hold the plank longer than a few weeks ago.

[sunnyshine]

KValley: Wow, your treadmill workout sounds like something that would turn me into the winner of America's Funniest Videos.

VictoriaL: I agree about the Asics and the price is right for them. I love the fit and I feel like I can replace them more often because they aren't super expensive.

Les: How do you balance your time? You always seem to be on the go.

Kathy B: Girl Scout Cookies already? So much for New Year's resolutions. I remember being cookie mom and having to buy all the leftover boxes.

Aggie: How did your run go? Sounds like a fun race.

SusanMac: I love to see the results of strength training. I've let my strength training go lately. No time. I always feel like cardio is more important. My husband and I used to have plank competitions at night while watching tv.


I'm still on the mend but I can happily report I've been running! I've gotten in a few 5 milers and a few 4 milers. It took me a while to get the hang of running while not swinging my left arm. I'm sure I looked funny but if I swing or twist my arm it really throbs. How do you get your dedication back after taking so much time away? I'm finding more and more excuses why I'm not going to run today. UGH!

[1MegMeg]

Sunny - Good for you for getting back on the running train! Just be careful and don't hurt your arm more!

Susan -Sounds like you some good variety in your weekend workouts! Isn't it exciting when you finally notice the strength training paying off? It's one thing to do it because you know it's good for you, but another to actually see results. Yay!

Kathy - So fun that you are teaching your daughter to drive! I wish my Mom would have taught me. And a stick too! I still don't know how to drive a stick very well.

Nat - Glad you got some training in last week! It's so easy to let it go when we get busy.

Julie - Salsa lessons?! Fun!!

Les - You and your Dad continue to be in my thoughts. I hope he continues to get better.

Eva - How was the race?!

Vicci - Love your new shoes! I have asics too, they are fantastic.

Feeling kind of mopey today.... I have shin splint on my right leg (well I think it's shin split), so I will be resting today and probably tomorrow. I haven't run since last Thursday, but I biked on Saturday and climbed yesterday. So I know I need a good few days without any activity. I know it's the right thing to go, but I get grumpy and mopey when I get out of my running routine and get random injuries. <done with pity party>

More exciting though...can't remember if I mentioned it, but I am doing the "Race Around the Universe" 5K on January 31st. It goes through Universal Studios. It's not sanctioned (no chip time, official results, etc.)...more of just a fun run. A couple of my friends at work are doing the Couch to 5K program and are at various stages and they both wanted to do this race so I am doing it with them. It should be fun! :)

[TKay]

Just lurking a bit. Wanted to pop in and tell you, Les, that I've been thinking about your dad and sending out good thoughts and prayers.

I can't believe the bitter cold so many of your are dealing with. It's been unseasonably warm here (which I'm sure some of you won't be happy to learn :rolleyes:).

I've been doing very little in the workout arena--two 20 minute brisk walks per day with the pup. I'm mentally gearing up to get back at it though.

Happy running all. :D

[SusanMac]

TKay - It's so good to hear from you!! The crazy cold snap is over & we're back to normal temps. So, it's OK for you to talk openly about heat waves now w/out any threat of virtual backlash :-)

Also, if my memories of our puppy days are correct....you have been extremely active & on the go lately!

[TKay]

Also, if my memories of our puppy days are correct....you have been extremely active & on the go lately!

LOL. You are correct. We have an active and busy puppy in our home. She's four months old now and doing great. The way she jumps when the food bowl comes out makes me think we could have a frisbee champ on our hands. ;) I'd love to do some outdoor training with her other than just walks.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Les: How do you balance your time? You always seem to be on the go.
I'm not sure that I'm doing a good job of balancing my time lately because it doesn't feel like it. I've been doing a lot of escape running these past few weeks. The only blessing is that I'm not in classes full time yet - last week was just an 8-week class jammed into 5 days (the good thing is the pain was over pretty quickly - the bad thing was there was 15 hours of instruction in 5 days). Part of my efforts in the past couple weeks is trying to get back into a swing and getting workouts in when I can (even short ones) trying to restart the habit (see more below). But to answer your question balance is not one of my strong points when it comes to working out and right now a third of my runs/rides are thinking periods to process all the junk that's going on.
I'm still on the mend but I can happily report I've been running! I've gotten in a few 5 milers and a few 4 milers. It took me a while to get the hang of running while not swinging my left arm. I'm sure I looked funny but if I swing or twist my arm it really throbs. How do you get your dedication back after taking so much time away? I'm finding more and more excuses why I'm not going to run today. UGH!
A couple years ago I would have said it comes back pretty quickly but since I've been off the routine for most of the past 6 months I can say that it's hard to get back into a groove. But I once you start getting back-to-back good workouts then it's easier to convince yourself to run or workout. Just thinking aloud - do you have access to a deep-water pool (like a YMCA) because you can do deep-water pool running (not touching the bottom of the pool). If not you might want to think about cycling if you can work that out too.

Thanks to you all for your wishes for my Dad and my family.

Nat Glad to hear that you're back among the living as it were. Endorphin overload sounds like a fine place to be. I'm getting jazzed about Boston too - maybe I'll get a chance to look in on seathyme while I'm there. I hope things settle down for you and DH.
Susan - Great runs/rides this past weekend. I'm with sunny - I need to get back into my lifting too (like I have time for that on top of classes :rolleyes: ) since I haven't seriously lifted in over a year.
Meg - Your race sounds fun and even if it isn't "official" I'm sure you'll have a blast!

A shout out to the rest of the folks - sorry I don't have time to hit all the rest of you with a personal response. However it's good to see you TKay after your long hiatus. A shout out to Kathy B too.

I did a bunch of house cleaning and threw out about 150 old 3 1/2" floppy disks (I don't have a computer that can use them). They aren't worth anything anymore and all the useful information is elsewhere anyway. I did descend into "the pit" and spin for over an hour this evening. After that - some packing for my trip down south tomorrow morning. For which the bell is tolling and it's time to hit the sheets so until tomorrow...

Happy trails,
Les

[SusanMac]

Nice bike spin & weights session last night.

But mainly I'm stopping by to say...


Happy happy historic hopeful inauguration day! The crowds, coverage & vibe are amazing to watch

[TKay]

What an amazing day this is. Forget the history being made. I bought a TM! ;):D

Looking forward to re-joining the land of the runners soon. Happy day to all.

[Robyn1007]

I don't have time to respond to everyone individually but I'm here and reading.

I have 2 runs to report. Yesterday, outside 2.59 miles at an 11:49 min/mile pace and today 2.77 miles at 11:27 min/mile pace. Both had hills. I'm very, very pleased with it. Tonight I'm planning to lift and swim.

[1MegMeg]

Les - 150 floppy disks?! Fun! You could have done something creative with them....a floppy gingerbread house? :p Hope you had a safe trip today.

Tkay - What breed of puppy do you have? I dream of the day I can have a dog, but I know now is just not a good time, lifestyle-wise. Excuse my ignorant question, but what is a TM? Ohh...I think I just figured it out, a treadmill? If so, very cool!

Susan - Today is such a wonderfully historic day! :) I watched on the TV in the lab waiting room at my hospital.

Robyn - Nice job on your two runs! Hope you're having fun swimming!

I have no runs to report as I am still resting my shin split/tendonitis/whatever it is. It still hurts, but not as much as yesterday so that's good. Between Christmas and New Year's I fell off the wagon of doing my strength exercises for my left leg (the one I broke), got back on the proverbial wagon on Sunday and did some more strength exercises tonight. Hoping to be able to run on Thursday....would love to tomorrow, but know I shouldn't.

[Leslie Ferguson]

What a day it has been. A huge Inauguration of monumental proportion. Oddly, it was nice living near DC for a little while today - we actually had a fairly quiet morning, which is uncommon because I live about 50 yds from the main N-S Interstate that goes past the Pentagon into DC and the Mall. Traffic was cut off at an early hour this morning - good for me to have some uninterrupted time getting out of the house. Oh, and there was the Inauguration wasn't there? ;) LW and parents said it was grand time and Obama pulled it off well - even with the lapse on the part of the Chef Justice.

Congratulations on your TM purhchase TKay, I hope it helps you get back into the swing of things and serves you well along the way.
Hey Robyn it's good to see you over here - I've seen a few posts on FB and it's nice to know that you are well.
Meg - Smart call on resting especially if you are having shin pain still. I had thought about recycling the floppys and there is actually a web site that talks about recycling by way of making desk implements (pen holders, coasters, etc.). But I don't have the time or inclination to do that, nor would I know what to do with a few score of pen holders. :p
A shout out to Susan and the rest of the gang.

I had a good trip, uneventful (but that's the great thing of hitting the road 2 hours before the Inauguration - everyone was focused there). Dad looks good and is coming back up, two days in a row on the positive side and almost up to 30 minutes of walking in 2 blocks (that should be tomorrow). I even got a run in this afternoon, it was a bit brisk but it's always nice to run around Appomattox with its rolling hills. But, alas I ended up with a little GI issue (from the antibiotics I think) but nothing that a quick stop didn't solve. I can't wait to be done with these pills on Friday at lunch then my body can get back to its old self again.

I hope to do a little something tomorrow - maybe a little/lot of walking or maybe another run. Thursday will be Dr's day which will probably take most of the daylight hours preparing, driving 45+ minutes each direction, appointment time, etc. Going back to the surgeon for the first checkout. Crossing our fingers.

Hope everyone is staying warm and having a good Inauguration day. Happy trails,
Les

[aggie94]

Thank you all for your good race vibes!! I've concluded that my inner competitiveness makes me totally incapable of just running a race "for fun." :rolleyes:

I had planned to run with the 2:22 pacer but was feeling good from the start and just went ahead from the get-go. Everything was going GREAT, even though temps were about 10 degrees warmer than predicted. At my 10K split, I was feeling awesome and convinced I was on pace to run 2:15, easily better than my goal time of 2:20. But then it continued to get warmer (ultimately into the 80s), and then there was a headwind, and then a slight hill, and having only run a long run of 9 miles (four weeks ago no less), I (not surprisingly) hit a wall at 10 miles. From that point on, it was all I could manage just to keep moving one foot in front of the other.

Despite all this, I still managed to better my PR! My offiical chip time was 2:20:24, only 24 lousy seconds off my goal time. I was trying to do the calculations in my head at each mile marker (having checked the gun time when I crossed the start line almost 25 minutes after the official race start), and I realized at about mile 12 that there was just no way I could pick up my pace enough to come in under 2:20. Had I realized just how close I was, I might have tried harder to muster up that strength - 24 lousy seconds!! :p

All told, I did still have a good time and, for once, ran my own race (even though I was still competitive with myself). I never once worried about who was passing me or who I might want to try to pass. I got completely in my own zone, enjoyed the spectators and music, and just ran the best I could. Haven't decided on a next race, but I know there will be one soon. I forgot how much I missed the energy of racing!

Hope all you northerners are getting back to more normal temps. I feel guilty complaining about the heat when you guys are experiencing temps 100 degrees colder! :eek:

[Kathy B]

aggie, congrats on your race and new PR! Way to go! I think the racing environment just causes such an adrenaline surge that it is very difficult to stick with "just for fun" plans when you get going. Sounds like you had a great time....I love it when I get into a zone and the running is almost automatic. Congrats again!

Hope your leg is feeling better, Meg. Shin splints are the pits! You are wise to give your leg a few days of rest.

Sunnyshine, one thing that helps me get back in the exercise habit when I've been out for a while is to just plan SHORT workouts for a while. i.e... a 10-15 min slow run OR a 30 min brisk walk OR 20 min of weights OR 20 min in the pool, etc....
Commit to 3 short workouts a week and go from there. Gradually you will feel like doing a little more or a few more, and it can grow from there. HTH!

Yoga and 35 min on the TM for me today. Take care all!

[TKay]

Aggie - Great race report. Congrats on your fantastic time! It's so awesome that you ran your own race.
Kathy B - Enjoy your yoga/TM workout. Sounds perfect.
Les - Glad the news of your dad is good. Hope you get in that run/walk.
Meg - I've had my share of shin splints in the past. They are such a pain--literally and figuratively. Here's to quick healing. We got a yellow lab pup. She's four months old and the picture perfect greeting card dog. I think she's going to keep me going! Yes, TM is treadmill. :D
Robyn - Great going on your back-to-back runs. I'd be really pleased too--especially since there were hills involved.
Susan - Your updates always remind me about weight-training. Oh, I have so much to get back to.

I am happy to report a 45-minute weight walk today. I took out the tiny weights since I'm just starting back. The TM is still in the back of the truck. My sister and I tried to unload it yesterday but it's ungodly heavy. Will have to wait until dh returns from a work trip. I'm looking forward to ramping back up.

[Robyn1007]

I have 3 words for y'all:

Boot camp hurts!

:eek:

[Leslie Ferguson]

Drive by, it sounds like folks are having a good week. I laid a little low today - working on 3 days in a row even with dad not sleeping well last night. Always a good sign. Helped break down the office and did a little cooking and shuttling around town. Made dinner that was well received: ground turkey with country mustard and worchestershire sauce on whole-wheat tortillas (it would have been better in pita but can't be picky). Tomorrow is the first follow-up appointment with the surgeon - hoping and praying that it goes well.

Maybe, if we get home from the doctor's in time I'll sneak out for a run.

Time to hit the skids and turn in for my beauty sleep.

See you on the morrow. Happy trails,
Les

[Kathy B]

Weights and 35 min on the EB this morning. Got a lot on the schedule today, so needed to get it in early.

TKay, I would definitely wait for your DH to move the TM! It's one thing to drag them across the floor, something else entirely to lift it off of a truck!!:eek: You don't want to injure yourself getting READY to exercise!!

Hope you have recovered from your boot camp Robyn! :D

Good vibes for your dad today, Les.

Hope everyone else is having a good week! :)

[KValley]

What a week it's been. Monday while running on the treadmill at the gym and watching a Martin Luther King, JR. tribute on CNN, I started to cry (but kept running). Wednesday, back on the treadmill watching highlights from the inauguration, I started to cry (but continued on!). My goal for tomorrow's run is to get through without shedding a tear, though considering the state of the Dow Jones, I may be crying for a different reason!

Les So glad to hear your Dad is doing better.
Eva Hip Hip Hooray for your great run!
Robyn No pain, no...oh, phooey on that. Pain is pain! Hope you are having a wee bit of fun!
Meg Take care of that shin/tendon- are you going to have it looked at? Rest Ice Compression Elevation!!
Tkay Cool about the TM purchase! I think they are the greatest tool- and no excuses!! Weather be darned. Are you going to start taking cod liver/fish oil supps?
sunnyshine I'd echo what others have said about short but steady. You'll notice improvement faster if you are consistent and planning shorter workouts won't be so overwhelming. Mix it up- x-training presents a lesser risk of overtraining/injury.
Kathy Great workouts! You are my yoga inspiration :)

Susan, Terri, Carrie, Nat- wishing you all well. It's amazing what this week has done to everyone's spirits (even our dear north of the border friends!). It feels like a rebirth.

A wacky week for me. Didn't get home from serving at the PCC Board Dinner until 11 pm on Monday night. I had a great w/o that morning- running and yoga, but Tuesday was a bust. I was so tired. Walked to work and had a physical day schlepping beer & wine, but no gym.

Running/yoga Wednesday and mixed cardio, lower body weights/core this morning. I worked at the office today until 1:30 and I leave home again at 4:30 for a wine tasting tonight (until 9). I'm determined to make it to the gym tomorrow am for running and yoga. Although it's my weekend, I'll put in 2 hrs at the office tomorrow, catching up on paperwork. Ugh. But I was supposed to cover a shift at the store on Saturday; my colleague has cancelled his ski trip to Whistler because there is no snow! So I have a reprieve and my weekend back.

[SusanMac]

Finally...a workout to report! Whew. I missed the last 2 days. Tues, no good reason. Yesterday - oi - work. One of my clients was acquired this morning at 2am my time, and I was disclosed yesterday around 10am so the rest of the day, night & today have been a crazy whirlwind. It's fun, though, in a weird way.

So I just had a reprieve & worked off some steam on the bike trainer. Followed by weights, lunges & planks. Felt good.

Tomorrow is a new week! Looking forward to it :-)

P.S. The mental attitude thread has been interesting. Nice to explore random issues & strategies like that every once in a while. It's been a while since I had thought about it. I love the sharing of ideas!

[Leslie Ferguson]

A wacky week for me... Walked to work and had a physical day schlepping beer & wine, but no gym.
Walking to work and schlepping beer and wine count for a workout in my book. :) Still, sounds like you've had a good week all around, even if a little whacky.

Congratulations Susan on getting back to a workout after a couple days off too. Feels good doesn't it?

A shout out to the remainder of the gang. Good day at the doctor, progressing really well. Got back for a late afternoon run - another hour on the rolling hills of Appomattox. I could really love living here if it were a little closer to somewhere the size of Richmond.

A little more to close up around here (mom and dad's) so I may be here through Saturday but I don't really know. Hope everyone is well and I'll see you in the funnies tomorrow.

Happy trails,
Les

[TKay]

Super quick check-in for me. I'm at my desk late tonight (it's after 9:00 p.m. my time), but I had to tell you all that dh got home last night. I told him to please, please, please just feel how heavy that TM was in the back of the truck. So he goes out and comes in with it on the dolly. :eek: I convinced him to leave it downstairs last night, but today he not only got it up the stairs but completely set up. I'm a lucky girl.

Took the dog for a 20 minute walk, then did a 20 minute walk/run on the new TM. It was fantastic. Nearly 9-year-old ds was on and off the thing for over an hour this afternoon. Funny, he was in a great (endorphin-induced) mood after that. No problem with the homework at all. ;) This could be good for both of us. :D

Hello to everyone. More tomorrow.

ETA: Oops! KValley, I didn't answer your question. Yes, started on the fish oil supplements. Just got some at Costco to try them out. I'm doing an inventory of all the things I really need to be doing, but am not.