Virtual Running Buddies - 9/25

[SusanMac]

I'll kick off the new week because......I ran today! Woo hoo! DH went, too, which helped get me out the door. This is my first day this week w/out early morning meetings. So it was nice to get up and run first thing b4 meetings pop up and the to-do list starts getting too long. I didn't even log onto email first (which seems to prompt the procrastination!)

We did 45 minutes of hilly trails out at the dog park. I haven't been motivated to do my typical routes out the front door lately, so this was a nice change of scenery. It felt quite good, too. Not sure how long I can workout just 1-2 times/week and still feel strong :-)

Last night I went to hear a lecture by Michael Pollan (the Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food author). He was so entertaining, and quite funny. A really great evening. Glad I went.

Les - nice job on the bike ride. I'm sad about it getting dark earlier, too. I love the temp changes in autumn, but want it to remain light out!

Anyone heard from KValley or Seathyme lately? Wonder what they are up to.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Anyone heard from KValley or Seathyme lately? Wonder what they are up to.

Interesting you should ask, I sent Seathyme a note a few weeks ago and never got a response. I wonder... As forr KValley, I see her on FB once in a while.

Great run and I'll try to pick up the running thing this afternoon too. Maybe it won't gget too warm (although it's 73 right now).

See you soon,
Les

[Leslie Ferguson]

...adding...

Had a decent run this evening. A nice hill or two and a run of ~56 minutes. The weather actually behaved, perfect temp for shorts and a tank and not being all sweaty at the end. I'm unsure what I'll do tomorrow - getting the last couple things ready for my anniversary (on 10/1) that I won't be able to do during the week. Still may take a longish ride, question is where.

Happy trails all,
Les

[Robyn1007]

So, I did something I've been wanting to do but terrified to try for awhile. I joined a running group this morning. I really enjoyed meeting a bunch of new people and everyone was really friendly and encouraging. Unfortunately, I'm slower than everyone in the group right now but the coach is pregnant so she hung back with me and we ran about a mile further than I had in the current ramp up (and about 16 minutes longer, there was a big hill to start the run that really slowed me down!) It was great getting to know her and chatting (something I've never done while running so a good measure of me effort) and the 56 minutes didn't hurt as bad as I'd thought it would. After the run we sat around, had breakfast and chatted so it was a good morning. The coach is a full time running coach who's husband is an elite cyclist.

The shop this is out of is owned and run by Alan Culpepper (called Solepepper) and has a PT group come in every couple of weeks to do some diagnosis and preliminary work on injuries. I've been having a difficult time with this one spot between my hip and groin and tomorrow happens to be a day they'll be at the shop so I think I'll go by after work.

[SusanMac]

Robyn - congrats! That is very very cool! I was nervous b4 doing my first club run, too. but learned that I really like, and actually need, the diversity and group effort at times. I've read about that shop. The Culpeppers seem like a really cool family.

I ran this a.m. too. 35 min through the hood with DH & Bode. all benefits gained there then squashed with a giant Mexican lunch w/some friends visiting down in Chicago. We are so full that I think we might not even have dinner. Oi!

Sun is cooking club. I'm making a mushroom bread pudding. Looking forward to trying this one. I haven't decided about Sun a.m. run club yet. It will be 9 miles, which I know I can crank out, but don't want to injure myself. We'll see what the morning brings.

Vicci? Kathy? Newsome? Wassup?

[Leslie Ferguson]

Robyn - I'm glad you enjoyed your running club. I know that I really miss the group that I've run with in Norfolk and can't wait to get back (and they can't wait for me to get back). How fortuitous to find a PT who can look at your nagging aches. I'd love to find someone who can check out my hip - it started bothering me on Thursday and felt pretty tight this morning after I ran yesterday. Working on Sunday? Too bad, I thought I was one of the few who worked on Sunday regularly.
Susan - Good run today and too bad about the lunch to blow the run. Take it easy in the morning - 9 miles is doable but don't tweak anything. Enjoy the mushroom bread pudding - that a first for me because every time I hear about bread pudding I think of sweet with raisins etc.

No run today. I have a really tight hip right now and my ankle is bugging me - time to get back to PT for my ankle and probably not enough stretching for my hip. That and I'm woefully out of cross-training strength. There's been no weights in my life in almost 2 years and I can tell.

It was a neat ride this morning. I almost made it all the way to Mt. Vernon. I needed to pick up about 2 3/4 miles (out plus the same on the return) but I wasn't ready for another 5+ miles. Still ended up with 26+ today. Felt pretty good even with the overcast and wanna rain. Tomorrow will be a long day at church so off to bed. See you all in the funnies.

BTW I talked to KValley off BB and shes doing ok. It's been a wild summer for her but things seem to be shaping up. She thanks you all for asking about her.

Talk soon,
Les

[Robyn1007]

Oops, Monday, PT and work on Monday. Tomorrow is going to be my total slacker day. I got to have dinner tonight with my friend who had the liver transplant and had a delightful time. Such a fantastic guy and so neat to be with him, give him a hug and hear his stories.

[Leslie Ferguson]

I figured that was the case Robyn but one never knows these days, especially since you just started a new job. No update per se, I'm sitting at church waiting for the next service to start and I'm "killing time" by studying.

Anyway, I realized I forgot to post my pictures from RnR half. I'm not in all the pictures (in fact not in many of them) but you may be able to pick me out in my standard running rig (chili pepper shorts and green shirt). Interestingly, you can see me in both of the group pictures at the start. In one the easiest way to find me is to look to the left of the guy wearing the white tank top and yellow visor (that's my coach), I'm under the 1/2 on the first group picture and on the second group picture I'm in the copyright watermark - still to the left of my coach.

Back to studying, I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Susan, I'm envious of your attending a Michael Pollan lecture. He seems to be a fascinating person to me. Add me to the group of those who are bemoaning the early dusk at this time of year. :) Did you get out for a run this morning? And brave you on the mushroom bread pudding-- it doesn't even sound good to me (although I recently had a banana/chocolate/rum bread pudding that I swooned over!)

Les, I'm looking at my computer screen at all angles and just can't seem to locate where the link to the photos is. :rolleyes: I love the idea of chili pepper running shorts! Hope that you had a successful Sunday.

Robyn your new running club sounds fun, and motivational as well! Hope that you can find some ways to relieve your pain at the PT tomorrow.

Ahhh, back from vacation. We left on Saturday morning with temps in the mid-70's and sun, returned home and temps were in the mid-50's and it was raining hard. :( I wanna go baaaack!

I am very unfulfilled with my beach runs this year. I started very well, then a head/ chest cold caused me to miss five whole days! But I did get a few days in at the end, and while DH went out with me he urged me to run ahead while he walked fast. My longest was 5.25 miles.

DH was on the beach one morning (taking artsy shots of the terns...) and snapped a pic of me as I started running:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d706b3127ccef8639b7c8ee900000040O00AZNG7Ro4cuG IPbz4S/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400

*sigh*

Back to reality. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I will resume my trail runs (while attempting to remain upright). I couldn't believe how long it took for my side to stop hurting after my fall a few weeks ago! But it wasn't nearly as painful as a few years ago when I fell into a hole (don't ask), and my ribs weren't even cracked then, so I figured that I was okay this time. Just bruised. ;)

Hope that everyone is having a good weekend. Fall is in the air! I smelled that "fall leaf" smell this morning, so I guess it's time to get the long-sleeves out and put the patio furniture away.

[Leslie Ferguson]

I guess it would be better if I attached the link wouldn't it. :eek: DOOH!

RnR 1/2 pictures. (http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=45791&BIB=4133&S=230&PWD=)

Peace,
Les

[SusanMac]

Vicci - great photo! I took a similar shot of DH while running in Paris. Have been very slack on posting photos online! (I really need an automated service for that). So sorry to hear your vacation is over. Enjoy your woodsy train runs. And please don't trip on any holes!

Les - your bike ride sounds fab! It's been about a month since I've ridden, and I'm itching to get out. I think work will be a bit more sane this week (knock wood), so hope I can get out.

Well, I didn't end up running this a.m. Some GI issues popped up overnight and, well, I won't go into any details.

But, you should all know that the mushroom bread pudding rocked! Think more like Thanksgiving stuffing than New Orleans bread pudding with raisins. Think of mixed wild mushrooms with fresh basil, oregano, sage and thyme, along with multigrain rustic bread. Very yummy. It was a big hit.

Now time to get off the PC, do a bit of reading and enjoy the autumn day

[Elisabeth13]

Susan, I'm jealous that you got to hear Michael Pollan speak! What a great opportunity. Mushroom bread pudding sounds great - I'm all about savory bread puddings. I make one with Vidalia onions when they're in season that I love.

Les, happy anniversary! Thanks for sharing your RnR pictures...very cool.

Robyn, congrats on finding a running club! I can totally see how that would be intimidating - great motivation, though.

Vicci, great photo!

I've had a nasty cold all weekend and have taken a break from running. I've had lots of rest, though, and hope to get back to my running schedule tomorrow after work.

Wishing everyone a pleasant start to the week!

[Robyn1007]

Susan where is the the mushroom bread pudding recipe from? It sounds like a great winter dish.

Les great pics! Sorry your ankle and hip are acting up. Have you tried a foam roller for your hip?

Elisabeth sorry you haven't been feeling well. But good for you for maintaining your resolve to get back out there. Many people fall off the wagon getting sick so early in their program.

Vicci so glad you enjoyed your vacation and I love the pic, I think it's one that should be framed.

Not much for me today, just an hour of weight lifting. Pushed harder lifting than I have in awhile knowing tomorrow is a planned rest day to go to the PT. Figured if I was sore I would be okay. I also started doing something new which was jumping up to these stool things to work on explosive moves needed for skiing (which should start in 3-4 weeks!). Unfortunately the more I think about the pain I'm having the more convinced I am that it came from the Turbo Kickboxing so I'm not sure I should keep doing that. :( So, I need to find some other stuff to work the explosiveness needed for bumps and powder skiing. I started with a short stool and just two foot jumping up and down. Eventually I hope to increase the height of the stool and do some side jumps as well. Yeah, I'm all about mixing things up.

[SusanMac]

Woo hoo - I have a run to report! 45 min today w/DH and Bode. Just a neighborhood run, so no hills. Our first run in pants, as we're having a bit of a cold burst. I'm sure it won't last long.

Please send good health vibes my way! Feeling a bit sluggish and sinus-y today. DH has had a bit of a mild cold, and a woman at cooking club on Sun was recovering from the flu. She was fine, but you never know what germs are still floating around.

[VictoriaL]

Okay, Les, where do you find chili pepper running shorts? Honestly, DH needs some running style badly if he is serious about doing this (especially with me!).

Robyn, this skiing training regimen which you have started sounds tough. Will most likely be very effective, but *ouch*! ;) Hope that the appointment with the PT was enlightening and helpful.

Good Health Wishes being sent to Elizabeth (recovering) and Susan (resisting)!!!

And Susan, we are having the same weather, although I flat-out refused to wear long pants while running today. Heavy, long-ish shorts, though. Geez.

A week ago I was basking in sunny mid-80 degree temps and today it's 54 and rain (btw, I have a couple of vacation pics on my blog if anyone is interested, and a recipe for crunchy French toast which a visiting friend made from a CL recipe for breakfast one morning and it was awesome).

And quite a change it was from flat sandy beaches to a grassy, hilly trail! I managed 3.25 miles before the rain became too much for me to deal with.

My HRM is acting up. First, I have cinched the chest strap to its tightest but, being 3+ years old, it is losing it. A couple of times this morning, while running, it fell to my waist. :rolleyes: But I also noticed that it was giving inaccurate readings, much higher, then much lower, than what I would expect. I wonder if the inaccuracy is due to the chest strap not being "seated" correctly? I'm going to see if I can sew the strap, make a loop to tighten it a little. If that doesn't work, then I have to figure that it may be the battery. But how do you determine if the problem is the watch battery or the transmitter battery? Does anyone know?

Back to the kitchen. Even though I was away, the garden continued to produce and this afternoon I'm making tomato sauce from the 30 pounds which I picked yesterday. :D Fun Times!

[SusanMac]

Vicci - I have a few safety pins in my chest strap for that very same issue! Jog bras also help (can't slip down past them) Your wrist battery is likely to go out b4 the strap battery. Plus, you can change the wrist battery yourself. So I'd try that first. If the readings are jumping around (and you're on the same route as usual....ie, no new strange power lines to interfere), then it probably is the battery.

Good luck with getting DH in style!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Vicci - Great picture! That's a keeper of you running on the beach. Somehow, I never look that put together when I have running pictures taken. I'll have to look for chili pepper shorts since I've had these since 2000. I got them from a race expo (or maybe LW bought them at my first marathon). However, you can find neat shorts if you google chili pepper shorts - they just won't look like mine (blue and yellow).

Elisabeth - Thanks for the wishes on my anniversary. Hard to believe it's on us again Thursday. I hope you recover quickly.
Susan - It must be nice to have decent running weather. I think we're finally heading to the lower 50s and may stay there for a while. Still in the 70s during the day so... Good 45 minute run with Bode.

I rode this afternoon, wonderfully cool and not enough time to wrangle a run but enough to ride. ~ 45 minutes before the sun left completely.

Studies call... see you later,
Les

[Kathy B]

Sitting here waiting for SYTYCD to start (DS got us hooked on it), and I thought I'd check in. I don't have a lot to report as I have had some bothersome issues the past several days. Which are hopefully behind me... I felt pretty darn good today. Didn't want to push it, so I did a short bout on the TM yesterday, and today some walking. Gotta work myself back into things.

Vicci, I loved your beach picture! I agree with Robyn...get it framed. :) I hope you didn't have too much tomato splatter to clean off the walls. 30#, wow! Good job on your trail run.

Thanks for posting the race pics, Les. Here's a question for you...if you wear the same thing at every race, do you have a hard time telling which race is which after a while? ;) Glad to hear Julie is doing well...thanks for letting us know.

Susan, hope you don't succumb to anything! Did you get a flu shot? The mushroom bread pudding sounds interesting. Where did you find that recipe? I am sure DH would be game to try it as he loves mushrooms. Glad to hear it was a hit.

Robyn, an hour of weightlifting does not sound like "not much" to me!

Hope you are feeling better Elizabeth! Take care!

Hoping to go to the CC in the AM...we'll see.

[SusanMac]

The mushroom bread pudding is a BA recipe from a giant cookbook DH got for me. I'm slowly making my way through it. Haven't looked to see if it's posted online.

Kathy - I know you're a nurse and this might be blasphemous, but I'm not a fan of the flu shot. The only time I ever got one.....I got the flu. Plus, I'm not in the high-risk category, so never do it. I know this isn't the flu b/c it's this mild, in the background kind of a thing. Hoping it stays that way!!

[Kathy B]

Kathy - I know you're a nurse and this might be blasphemous, but I'm not a fan of the flu shot.

:eek::eek::eek:


;)

45 min on the TM this AM.

[TKay]

Hello, runners! It's been a while since I posted here. That's mostly due to the fact that I've been incredibly busy. Whew! Things have been nuts. Combine the schedule with my old jalopy breaking down and a family trip coming up. I've got a full plate.

My workouts have been spotty this past week. Hoping for a TM run today. Come on, girl, get up those stairs and run. :p

I'm off to read all your updates. I hope you've all been well.

[Robyn1007]

Hey all,

Guess I'm getting a life gets in the way rest period this week. Light run on Tuesday night and nothing since then. Was thinking maybe this morning but I haven't eaten much over the last couple of days and I'm beat so I'm thinking no. I'm registered for Race for the Cure Sunday and I'm still hoping to be there for that.