Virtual Running Buddies - 6/26

[SusanMac]

I'll kick off the new week and can report a great bike ride this morning. I was woefully slow, since I haven't been on the bike in over 2 weeks. But it felt good to get out, the weather was glorious, and I put in 25 miles w/some challenging hills.

Forgot to add another foodie tidbit from my trip....

The Bizarre Foods guy was on my return flight from Singapore to Tokyo! He was in line in front of me at one of the airport shops. Sounds like they shot a Singapore episode a while back, so maybe he was here just for fun? Not sure. He travels business class, btw ;-) And looks just the same as on the show....hiking boots, shorts, floppy straw hat, very friendly.

Any fun plans for the weekend?? Our big annual fireworks show is this Sat. It's a favorite every year.

[VictoriaL]

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Welcome back, Susan! What an great adventure you must have had. :D

I just have to report a run :p Only 2 miles, and not my best time (although, surprisingly average for me), but I did this after 2 solid days of washing windows. Yes, every single window in our lake house is now clean on the outside, thanks to DH who used his design abilities to concoct a series of ladders and platforms to allow me to safely reach even the tallest windows.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3662643134_47ac0e6c73.jpg

Anyway, I was incredibly proud not only of the windows but because I ran instead of soaking in the shower and moaning (I did, however, moan every time I moved during the past 2 nights...). I sucked it up and did my exercise-- yay!

So today, we shall play. :) I'm making food for a whole day out on the boat. Must remember sunscreen...

Have a good weekend, all, and I will check out the last part of the previous thread before I return for any "new news".

ETA:

GO ROBYN!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

[SusanMac]

Beautiful photo! Please, please come do my windows. I"m too embarrassed to say the last time they were washed.

Oooh -- thanks for reminding us!!

Sending good race vibes to Robyn!!

[Robyn1007]

I. AM. SO. EXCITED!!!!!!!!! I can barely stand it!!!!! Will catch up from last week this evening during my chill time. It's been really busy with my mom and step father here and we were in Vail indulging in a night at Dish Thursday.

I'll come back and give more details after the race expo today.

[TKay]

Go, Robyn, go! I can't wait for the race report. But you do what you need to do and pop back in when you can. Enjoy!

Vicci - Beautiful shot, beautiful house, beautiful windows! :D And good going on taking care of you.

Susan - So glad you are getting back into the groove. Sounds like a great ride. Enjoy the fireworks show.

I got in almost 50 minutes on the TM yesterday. Felt good. We may take the kiddies to the beach for a bonfire later. Not sure if I will work out beforehand or not. (The problem with the beach fire is you have to get there early to reserve a ring. We haven't decided if we're up for that or not.) The boys (and dh) slept in the tent in the backyard last night. I think they are tired today.

Happy Saturday, all! I'm off to prep a lunch full of fresh fruit from the farmer's market. :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

Go Robyn - you'll do great. If you check back I have a hint for you for the tri. Depending on how long before you have to get to the start before you race you might want to freeze your water/sports drink bottle and put it in the cage. I did that in my second race and the bottle was thawed out by the time I rode (it was about 2 1/2 hours from the time I took the bottle out until I rode). Grace and speed to you this weekend.

Thanks for starting Susan and it sounds like you had a good ride.

Love the picture Vicci, you are a better person than I to wash all the windows to the top. I hope you had a good day at the lake on the boat.

Good job on your TM today TKay. Having to get to the fire ring early was a good reason in my book to NOT have a fire at the beach.

I wasn't quite as with it as Susan and I only did 21 miles today. It was a nice afternoon but I would love to have the other bike the next time I try that loop. Didn't do much yesterday except walk to and from the local cemetery, walk all over the cemetery (and take pictures).

Preaching tomorrow (I'm here to print my sermon) so I'll see you in the funnies.

Happy trails,
Les

[newsomz]

Wow! Everyone's been so active despite the hot weather. Good job!!

Les - that church is soo cute. I love exploratory bike rides...

Robyn - can't wait to hear about the tri!

Kathy - I'm on FB... friends with both Robyn & Les.

Vicci - Sounds like you have some really nice trails to run on at home! I'm not sure what I'd do if I came face to face with a deer.. they scare me.

Susan - Sounds like an awesome trip! I can't wait to see the pics.

TKay - I'm very envious you're so close to the beach.. well, I'm assuming you're closer than me if you're going that often. I'm about 1.5 hrs so I don't get there very often. However, I am going for July 4th! It's going to be hot but hopefully I can get some wave riding in after watching the fireworks.

My trip was fabulous! I had a great time hanging out in our Paris neighborhood and Berlin was absolutely amazing. One of my favorite cities yet. There is so much to see and I loved the contrast between communist-era buildings & the modern Berlin. DH & I rented bikes for two days and ended up on 10+ hr bike rides each day. Luckily we were stopping lots and going slow. We found a great beer garden on the banks of a canal in the big city park. Great food & a great location. I also have a run to report from this morning. Was feeling groggy so it was slow but it did feel good to get out.

[oceanjasper]

SusanMac - Welcome home! Good job on getting out there on your bike. It has been ages since I have ridden my bike, even though it is sitting in my kitchen! Have fun watching the fireworks!

VictoriaL - What a beautiful lake house you have! No wonder you go there often. Is it made of stone? Cleaning those windows would be a daunting task for sure. Probably one that you don't want to do too often! Enjoy your sunny day out on the boat.

Robyn - Good luck!

TKay - A bonfire on the beach sounds wonderful. Did you end up going? I went to the farmers' market yesterday, too. I hadn't been in awhile due to another committment on Saturdays and I had forgotten just how fresh and wonderful everything is.

Les - Were you taking pictures at the cemetary for a special reason? There is a really cool cemetary near my place and I have gone in there to take pictures before (for no reason). Hope your sermon went well.

newsomz - Glad to hear that you had such a nice trip! Which part of Paris is "your neighbourhood"? What a great way to explore a city. The beer garden in the middle of a 10+ hour bike ride sounds just about right! I'm filling out my passport application today, as it is up for renewal. I am hopeful that I will get to travel somewhere this fall - no plans yet!

Well, you all cracked me up with your various wildlife sightings - foxes, cranes and even turkeys! I have been a bit of a slacker since my race, but got back on the wagon this past week with a couple of runs. My calf is a bit sore after my run today, so I might just have to relax out in the sun the rest of the day. :)

Seems I can't get my first run off my ipod, so I will track that down and post my stats separately in a bit. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Carrie - 10+ hours on a bike two days in a row, even with stops, makes my tush hurt just thinking about it. :D I'm glad you had a good trip to Paris and Berlin. Good run to you.
OJ - No real reason to take pictures in the cemetary. It's an old cemetary and in this neck of the woods a lot of the people in the church have families buried there. It's interesting to see how the family lines interweve through the years: families "I," "E," "G," and "R" have sons or daughters married across family lines. It's really neat to see who is related to who. I also get some of the best pictures in a cemetery, lots of very human things to see there - family sayings; headstones in the shape of trains; small headstones (a brick with a laminated card) within 50 feet of a obelisk; etc. Sorry your calf is a little tight and probably good to rest.

I didn't claim the wildlife sightings yesterday - mostly because I think I've already claimed the deer. But there were signs of snakes and fish (not in the same place). The snake was well done (hit a while ago) and the fish was jumping in the Nottaway River.

My sermon went well today - well received (and posted as a note on FB for those who may want to see it there). I also had the pleasure of going to my 3rd "elders" (it's called a Vestry in the Episcopal Church) meeting of the month at church this morning after preaching. The sun looks very inviting and I think I may head out and be outside since I've been inside all day.

Happy trails,
Les

[ktg0930]

I forgot about my wildlife sighting a couple weeks ago--I rescued a small turtle that was trying to cross a busy road. I knew it would never make so I took it across the road to the grass near the stream. Otherwise, I usually don't see much on my runs.

It was so humid this morning but I did get a run in. I had been lazy for the prior 2 days. DH and I moved a couple plants today and I did some weeding. Otherwise, it was a pretty quiet weekend.

I'm looking forward to the short week and we are doing the Firecracker 5K on Friday night.

Les -- glad your sermon went well. I'm glad it was well-received also.

Carrie -- Sounds like a wonderful trip! I've never been to Berlin. Bikes are a great way to see the sites.

OJ -- did you enjoy the sun? :)

TKay -- did you do the beach bonfire? Your boys' tent night sounds like fun.

Vicci -- you are a brave soul to wash those high windows. Your lake house looks beautiful.

Robyn -- looking forward to the race report! How's your new job going?

Susan -- how were the fireworks?

Hello to everyone else!

[Robyn1007]

First, today was absolutely beyond my dreams amazing! I'll post more details soon but I'm still beat. To start you off here's a video with music of my pics from the race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwWZocAbkqE

[ktg0930]

Robyn, congratulations! The video was very cool. Good job on the triathalon!!

[SusanMac]

Robyn - Congrats! Way to go! Kudos! Woo hoo!

It was fun watching the video. that's awesome your mom got to share this w/you...and get so many good shots. She's beautiful! You look a lot like her. Can't wait to actually hear about the race. I'm on the fence about signing up for one in august, but your video helped inspire me!

[TKay]

Robyn - Wahooooo! I got chills as I looked at the shot of you getting into the water for the first time. Then I got chills of a different kind as I saw you finish. So exciting. Congrats! You're a rock star.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Robyn - Congrats again. I'll have to check out the video when I get a better connection (don't ask). I hope you feel like you're walking on air today.
ktg - Good rescue on the turtle. Box or snapping? Humidity - gotta love it. :rolleyes:
Susan - Fireworks already?

A shout out to the rest of the gang. I'll claim a run this evening. Just over an hour. Tonight was an oddity for this time of year. Departing at 5:15 it was 84 on the bank thermometer. Returning ~6:20 it was 89 on the bank thermometer. :eek: Not my idea of fun and what's up with that, getting warmer that late in the day. Thank goodness I was running back into the wind or else it would have been no fun.

Off to get cleaned up - have a great day tomorrow,
Les

[TKay]

Les - What the heck? The temp climbed while you were out? Now that's just not right. Glad you stuck with it anyway.

Ktg - Lucky turtle! You're a brave soul to run with such humidity. No, we never did go to the beach over the weekend. We've got it in our back pocket for one of these days.

OJ - I hadn't been going to the farmer's market either! I kind of just forgot to go. But I've been the past few weeks, and I'm really appreciating all the deliciousness. :) Hope the calf is feeling better.

Newsomz - A beer garden in Berlin? Oh, what could be more fun? I'm so glad your trip was good and memorable. I do live close to the beach. It's about 9 miles from us. Far enough to not have to deal with the coastal fog, but close enough to go anytime. It's a win-win. :)

Got in a solid 50 minute run on the TM today. Felt good. Need new kicks though. Happy Monday all!

[VictoriaL]

Okay, I had time to go back to the last thread and there are a few comments I have to make in addition to those in this week’s thread:

KathyB, I hadn’t thought about it but, yes, my wildlife encounters are with progressively larger animals… hmmm… I guess that I should be glad that the elk herds are located 3 hours north of here!

Thanks, Les for posting the photo of the log cabin church, it’s so cute. :) I’m watching the progress of a log cabin restoration on our way to the lake house (can’t imagine how anyone knows how to ***** a log cabin anymore, but the job is looking quite good and authentic!). I have to get to your FB page to see the rest of the photos. And it looks as though our area will be in the mid-to-high 60’s for a few days, so perhaps you’ll cool off a bit there as well. Running in heat and humidity is not a lot of fun!

Uh oh, it looks as though the word c-h-i-n-k is a bad one on this site. Maybe they don't like the stuff that is gooped between the logs on a wall!

Tkay I am one of the few I know of who use a scale often (2x/week). For me, it’s simply a matter of keeping an eye on my weight and, when I notice it creeping up a bit, I cut back on meal portions, cut out snacks, and toss in some extra exercise. I’ve learned to use the scale as a tool rather than as a torture device. ;) I envy you your beach-closeness, as I have mentioned (whined about?) before.

By the way Susan, the last time I washed those top floor windows was July 2001! Just gotta do it… every 8 years or so… I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself in Singapore and arrived home safely.

Carrie your trip sounds as though it was fabulous. You’re so lucky!

OJ yes, the lake house has a stone exterior (and stone floor interior, and stone wall with fireplace) because we wanted to use local materials and have it look like part of the landscape. It does blend in well with the surroundings— most people don’t see it from the lake unless the sun is hitting the windows. Good for you, getting back on the running wagon!

Yay to you for saving a turtle Kathy! :D Feels good, doesn’t it?! I took a quick look to see if there was anything like a Firecracker 5k in my area but it is not to be. Sounds fun, though.

Way to go Robyn! Unfortunately, on dial-up, I am unable to access the videos but I will imagine… :p

Today, DH and I went on a bike ride. I am still a little achy from the window washing (????) but committed to 10 miles or else. And it was a good one, I shaved 2.5 minutes from my best time on that exact route. I celebrated by going shopping where I found a king-size comforter for our new bed that I absolutely love (and I rarely love bedding) that was marked down from $300 to $130. :)

Sooo, any big plans for the upcoming holiday weekend?

[SusanMac]

Vicci - I weigh myself every day, using the scale similar to you. Just ensuring that everything stays in line. We used to have a log home w/chinking when we lived in Colorado. We absolutely loved it! Nice job on the bike ride!

TKay - I'm very impressed w/50 min on the TM. My brain would give in long before 50 min

Les - nice job getting a run in. So much for running at night when it's cooler!

Newsomz - your trip sounds fab! That went by quickly. I feel the same way about Berlin. We are headed to Paris in Sept. Can't wait!

I've had 5 days of workouts in a row now, so hopefully back on a good schedule after getting sidelined w/work & jet lag. Sat & Sun DH and I had some great trail runs. Took DH to a new park he had never explored. Very fun and gorgeous weather. Mon night I went on a 22 mile ride w/my bike club. It was wicked windy, but I committed to go, and very glad I did. It wasn't as bad as I expected.

We've got a 5 mile July 4 race this Sat. This is a race we did several years ago & I'm excited to be doing it again. It's 5 miles of solid hills, so will definitely be a challenge. It's a very small community race with a fab parade afterwards!

Where the heck is Natasha these days??

[TKay]

Vicci - Congrats on the new bike riding time, and on the comforter. I'm not a huge bedding person myself, but I do enjoy a great purchase now and then. Hope the window-washing soreness subsides.

Susan - TV. That's what gets me through the TM runs. I get to indulge in the daytime TV I'd never watch otherwise (not that there's anything all that compelling on, mind you :rolleyes:). You've been putting in some great workouts lately. The trail runs sound especially fun. Good luck with the upcoming race.

The scale. Oh, how it messes with my head. I used to weigh myself all the time, but stopped because it didn't really function as a motivator for me. Instead, I'd be up a few pounds and then beat myself up for it. I would get depressed. "All this working out and I'm still up?" This last go-around was classic--and really sad actually. I found myself up significantly (as I posted last week). I was so blue! It did motivate me, but it also really affected my mood. I am not kidding when I say I looked in the mirror and saw a fat person (which I am not). Dh tried to convince me the scale was wrong. The next morning, in order to prove I weighed what it said, I hopped on the scale again. The reading? "Low battery." I replaced the batteries and the result was a 15-pound loss. Here's the scary part. I looked in the mirror and thought, darn it all, I do look good! Is that crazy, or what? NOTHING had changed but the number on the scale. And that, my dear VRBs, is why I don't weigh myself often. :rolleyes::D

Doing a TM walk with weights this morning even though my hands have been sore. I think I'm getting a touch of arthritis.

I second Susan's question. Where is Nat?

[Kathy B]

Hi, all! Sorry to be so late to the thread. I worked a 12 hour shift both Sunday and Monday, then had to go back in this AM for office stuff. I had more to do, but had to leave to pick up DD. This afternoon I need to take my mom a few things...she is in short term rehab following knee replacement surgery. Hoping to get in a workout before dinner, but I have nothing planned for dinner, so not sure how the day will go....

I wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!! to Robyn. Sounds like a great day, and I did enjoy watching your youtube video. A very nice assortment of pics and they really captured the day for you!

I'll check back when I have something to report (and more energy to post)! Keep running, all!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Hey gang, how is it that I'm sitting in the church office after 9:00 doing VRB again? I've heard from Nat offline and shes doing well - busy but well.

Vicci - I've got some pix on FB and I'll have more tomorrow or Thursday (depending on when I get to the coffee bar with WiFi next). It is really funny which words get dinged on CL, I'd have never thought that word would get *'d. I actually think the cabin is original but haven't been around the back. It's definitely in a place that it could be 100+ years old without difficulty.
TKay - Not laughing at you, laughing with you. That's great about the scale being off and it's good to know how those things affect you. I hope you get new scoots soon.

A shout out to all the rest of the gang - Susan and her runs and rides. I bet your jetlag is wicked.

I rode this afternoon, took some new roads and ended up on some "End of 35 M.P.H." roads (a little scary). Had fun finding some new places around town. Only critter sighting was the "sleeping" Racoon. I was going to mentino that I don't weigh myself all that often but I have one of the best scales attached to me - my wedding ring. I can tell within a couple pounds how much I weigh just by how easy/hard it is to take my ring off (if at all). I'm odd I know.

Happy trails all, time to head home for the evening.

Les

[Kathy B]

OK, now I can report a little over 3 miles, and the weather was beautiful! HIghs only in the 80's this week, so I am hoping for a few more outdoor runs before the heat returns.

You should know your way around pretty well by now, Les, with all of the exploring you have done between runs and rides. Nice little added bonus to getting in your workouts! :)

Tkay, I go in spurts with the scale as far as how frequently I check in, but one thing I know is that your weight can fluctuate by a coule of pounds from one day to the next. It's best to look at the trend over time. Having said that, however, I would have been alarmed at a 15 pound jump myself! Nice when a battery change is all that's required to achieve your weight loss goals! :p

Susan, I can't say that I would be excited about "5 miles of solid hills", but I know that the small local races are a lot of fun! Have a great time (literally and figuratively) :D! BTW, we are still waiting for at least a couple of Singapore pics....

Vicci, nice job on your ride and your bedding! I don't get too excited about shopping for that kind of thing, but I must admit it is nice to put it to use. Kind of gives the room a whole new look! I agree with OJ, your lake house is gorgeous!!! No wonder you go there frequently.

Kathy, the Firecracker 5K in the evening sounds great, too! There is one evening race in the summer in our area, but we always end up being OOT when it happens. I would love to try it one of these summers. I know it ends on a track that is all lit up, and I am SURE it is cooler than running in the daytime around here. Have fun!

OJ, good job getting "back on the wagon" with your runs. Hope your calf is feeling better. A rest day is always a good thing when I start having aches and pains.

Carrie, glad to hear you had such a great trip! Biking around the city sounds like a wonderful way to see things. My sister and I biked in The Netherlands for a couple of weeks when I was in college. It wasn't work at all (well, not most of the time! :p), because there was so much to see that we didn't mind the exercise involved. I remember it was extremely biker friendly, too, with separate lanes and signs for cyclists. Was Berlin pretty good/safe for biking? I know it's a big and busy place. Was it very hilly?

Hoping to get to the CC this afternoon with DD. Planning to do weights. Think that's it for now...

[SusanMac]

Kathy - Berlin is where the marathon world record was set last year, so at least the race/inner city is quite flat. Not sure about the outskirts of town or where Newsomz might have been exploring.

Yes, I have been a bit remiss with the photos. Ok....here are a few of the foodie ones..

http://photos-b-3.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs103.snc1/5018_1171522122149_1050896673_522873_33345_n.jpg
This is the dough-throwing noodle chef! He had a knife, and slices fresh noodles directly into the pot of broth as each person orders a new bowl of noodles. Very cool, very yummy, and very cheap!

http://photos-f-3.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs103.snc1/5018_1171530922369_1050896673_522893_3156459_n.jpg

I have no idea what these were called, but they were good. Sticky rice things with beef in the middle. There were tons of food vendors like this. It was very fun

[VictoriaL]

Susan, did your log home have the logs exposed on the inside walls or were those drywall? How cool to have lived in one!
And thanks for posting those wonderful photos-- love the dough-throwing noodle chef! What a fun time you must have had. Are you feeling any regret at all for missing the marathon to go there?

Les you have some very weight-sensitive fingers, there! Be careful riding on those high-speed roads, please. I like my rails-to-trails just for the reason there are no cars on them. :)

KathyB, We are getting a new bedroom set, and a larger bed, so I had to find a cover for it. I don't enjoy shopping much, this was one of the first I looked at (and the price was unbeatable). Now, on the other hand, I accidentally scorched the comforter for the bed at the lake house in the dryer and have bought and returned 3 already, looking for an appropriate one. :rolleyes:
Good going on the run, we are having cooler weather too and I am really appreciating it!

I went out to run the trails late this afternoon and 2 minutes in it started to rain. So I returned to the house and gave the EB a try. Unfortunately, I still have a rather sore behind from our bike ride on Monday and I only lasted 5 minutes. By then the rain had stopped, so out I went again and this time got in 3.4 miles. And noticed that I have to add another thing to the to-do list for tomorrow-- picking black raspberries! Yes, the calendar says that it is July (although the temps in the mid-70's belied that) but when it's time to pick raspberries it really is summer. Yay!!!

Waving to all... :D

[TKay]

Susan - Great photos. Makes me want to get out there and explore! Ds #2 (who is 7) is absolutely fascinated by all things Asian. He would love to go to Japan. I'll have to show him your pics.

Vicci - You have such a lovely life. Picking black raspberries? What a thrill. I enjoy your stories so much. :)

Les - I know what you mean about the wedding ring, although I don't think mine's as accurate as yours. Glad you got in an exploratory ride.

KathyB - Hope you make it to the CC today.

Got in about 4 miles on the TM yesterday. I'm happy to be lengthening my runs a bit. I may do a weight-walk this morning, or go play tennis with the kids. Maybe even both. Gotta get out there before the heat hits full force. It's been in the mid 80s.

The only wildlife sightings I've had around here are the ducks in the channel behind our neighborhood. We ride bikes there and have spied several ducks with what appear to be teenage ducklings (not quite full grown, but certainly not babies). I know that's not exotic, but it's all I got. :D

Happy running.

[SusanMac]

Vicci - the house was bare wood walls, no sheetrock. Loved it that way. Our logs were whitewashed and square cut. The roof was dark blue tin. Pikes Peak in the background. Very cute & scenic. I have no regrets about missing the marathon, but am feeling like I need some big athletic goals for later this year to keep me going, so am on the hunt.

You had quite the triathlete workout!!

TKay - you've been quite steady w/the workouts lately. That must feel great! You should definitely play tennis....tis the season, with Wimbledon and all. Is your household ramping up for the Tour de France this Sat?? We recently canceled cable, so will be in withdrawal! They don't allow live web streaming of TdF, just the summary clips....argh

I'm so excited -- I swam this morning!! Don't laugh, but this is my very first swim since Ironman, 1.5 years ago. I've been meaning to go, and finally wrangled up a few friends. It felt much better than I expected. My aerobic stamina felt fine, but I haven't been doing any arm workouts. So, I just took it slow and took several breaks. But, got in 40 minutes. Very excited.

Oh Robyn.....where is that race report?? I think you started the new job this week, though, so we'll give you a reprieve. Just don't forget about us!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Susan - Love the picture of the noodle thrower. I don't think I saw him or his stand when I was in Singapore but many brain cells have died since then. Good swim, isn't it weird getting back into the water after a lay off. You think you can swim like you used to but not to be had. It's been almost 2 years since I swam and I am not looking forward to my first swim whenever that is.
TKay - Teenage ducks - those hoodlums. ;) :p I am weird aren't I when it comes to weight and my ring but it works. Good TM stuff and tennis - I hope you got out before the heat hit.
Vicci - I'm with you, I don't care for riding on those roads and I love the W&OD R2T route. I'm very careful and can be seen forever away because of the bright colors I wear and the reflective vest. Still better to get on side roads. I'm laughing about the rain because I really hoped it would rain on me this afternoon - I'd have given a lot really.

Speaking of which - I claim the last run of the thread week. I ran for an hour this afternoon. Not too hot, middle 80s and ~60% humidity. There was a small sprinkle then the clouds broke... oy vey! But, another run in the bag. Of course, it's 9:00 and time for me to get cleaned up.

Happy trails all and who starts the next thread?
Les