VRB - Week of 4/30/10

[TKay]

Hello Runners!

I can't believe that an MIA VRBr like me is the one to start this week's thread.

I've been crazy busy with work and haven't had a chance to post at all. I did get in a great combo workout on Wednesday, but had to lay low yesterday. Got a little intestinal bug. I'm fine today and did almost 60 minutes on the TM. If felt great.

I'm hoping to have time for personal replies this weekend. We have family stuff and a baby shower and...and...

What are your weekend plans? Anyone have a race scheduled? Enjoy yourselves, whatever you're doing.

[SusanMac]

Thanks TKay! I wouldn't call you MIA at all. Thx for kicking off the new week

Thurs - It was my turn to be ride leader for my cycling group. I'm glad, too, b/c I would have blown off my workout otherwise! We had 25-30 mph winds. Oi. But, 4 other women showed up, so we headed out & rode 28 miles. Someone got me chatting, and the next thing I knew we were headed back with a tailwind. Good strategy :-)

Fri - 30 min swim. My first in about 2 weeks. I was tired & grumpy, and the swim definitely felt good & lifted my spirits.

Here's one reason I was grumpy.....Sarah Moulton was in town today giving a cooking demo! I saw it in the newspaper & was so excited! So, I showed up at 1pm (just like the notice said) and found out there was an error. The demo was actually 11am - 1pm (not 1-3pm). I was so miffed! Sarah was still there signing books, so I saw her, but it's not the same. Oh well. Cest la vie

Happy happy weekend everyone!

[Robyn1007]

Just a quick pop in to report a 6 mile run tonight. Normally my long run is Saturdays but I'm skiing tomorrow so I had to do it tonight. Two of my running buddies from my training group joined me and we ran a trail that went along a creek and had ducks, geese, cows (including babies!), rabbits and a coyote. The clouds were incredible as storms have rolled through all day, temps delightful around 50 with sun peaking through. Pace was only slightly faster than last week but it felt much easier so that was good.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Quick check in here too. I'm the blessed one of the weekend I think - I've got friends from the Great White North visiting for the weekend. We walked all over the Mall and spent a bunch of time in the Air and Space Museum. I will be going on a run with one of the VRB tomorrow (and maybe with her DH) then to spend time doing something tomorrow.

Check back later -- eh?

Happy trails,
Les

[jjsooner73]

Thanks for getting this started Tkay! Glad you are feeling better.


Susan, that would make me grumpy too! I'd love to see Sarah Moulton.

Robyn, that sounds like a great run! I envy your setting. I hope you have a great weekend skiing!

Leslie, enjoy your run today!

I went out for a quick 3 miles run this morning. About 1/2 mile in, it started raining. I wasn't sure if it was going to let up, so I finally decided to come back home (I run with my iPhone for tracking and am not keen on getting it wet)! I picked up the pace and set a PR in the process. My final distance was just 1.21 but with a 9:19 pace. I don't think I've ever run a mile faster than 11:00 or so.

As Robyn said previously, the cool thing about starting off so slow is there are lots of opportunities for PRs!

I'm off to make a smoked salmon omelet and then get ready to head to a wedding in the Tulsa area. DBF and I were going to make a weekend of it, but he has a very sick dog so I'm going alone and just doing a day trip. It'll make for a long day, but I'm excited for my friend and am looking forward to seeing her family and other friends.

[SusanMac]

JJ - too funny that the rain prompted a PR! Maybe you should run in the rain more often :-) Salmon omelet sounds sooooo good.

Robyn - fantastic wildlife sightings! Enjoy your ski day. Next weekend is your last one, I think

Les - have a fantastic weekend with your guests! Do you realize that this is Flying Pig weekend?!

Bode & I got in a good 60-min run today through the neighborhood. It's really lovely outside. My legs felt pretty sloggy the entire time, tho, which is kind of a bummer.

The weather looks like it will be good for our fundraiser bike ride tomorrow! So, we are lubing chains & packing energy bars for the trip. It's about a 45-min drive from here in the a.m. The ride will raise $$ for a local no-kill animal shelter. They always have fun t-shirts w/cats & dogs on them :-) It will be my GF's longest ride ever, which is always a fun milestone. Keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't bonk

[VictoriaL]

I hope that you all are having a non-soggy Sunday. :)

Tkay, a "little intestinal bug" one day, and 60 TM-minutes the next? Great effort, there!

Susan, could the heavy-duty 28-mile bike ride have had anything to do with the "sloggy" legs yesterday?! I hope that they're behaving better today, and that you had a great race. And that GF was able to keep up through the whole thing.

Robyn, so how was the skiing this weekend? Your Friday run sounded fun, especially with the animal sightings. ;)

Les, what a fun weekend you (and a certain VRB-er) planned! Did you two get in a run, or just decide to take it easy and do some fun (non-exertion) stuff?

Jennifer, being caught in a rainstorm while running is kinda fun, isn't it? Too bad that you didn't get in the entire anticipated distance, but better some than none, right?

I was able to get in a 2.8 mile run on Friday and a 2.6 mile yesterday, but today is a bit damp and dreary for much more than weights and some stretching.

My asthma has been giving me breathing problems in the last couple of weeks, and I've discovered that (for some reason) if I run over 3 miles I really have difficulty for a day or two. So I've been keeping it low until my dr appt tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get some answers this time!

Off to bake some bread and make a pizza crust for dinner. I'm so glad that it's pouring today since I otherwise would have tempted to pull weeds... :p

[Kathy B]

Hi, all! A 4 mile run yesterday for me, and hoping to do a bit on the TM here in a few minutes.

Vicci, it is thundering outside as I type! I did get some herbs potted that I picked up at the farmer's market yesterday. Just in time for the rain to water them for me! :p Sounds like a good plan to keep your mileage low until the doctor visit. Hope he is able to help! What kind of pizza is on the menu?

Susan, glad the weather was good for your ride! How did your GF do? Hope the 60 min run wasn't too much for your legs pre-45 mile bike ride!

Jennifer, hope you had a good trip to Tulsa and a fun time at the wedding. Great job on your mile run! I have signed up to run the mile for the KC Corporate Challenge, and I have NO IDEA what kind of time I will make. :o I haven't run "the mile" since it was required in HS! Oh, well, I have until June to get ready for that one....

Les, hope you have a great time this weekend!

Robyn, I can almost visualize that run! It sounds wonderful!

Tkay, glad the bug was short-lived! Great job on those workouts!! Hope all of the weekend plans went off without a hitch.

Busy week ahead (as usual), so we'll see what kind of workouts get fit in. I am running a 5K in the KC corporate challenge next Saturday, and the Mother's Day 5K with DD next Sunday. :eek: Not planning to PR, just hoping to survive. ;)

Have a good week everyone!

[Robyn1007]

Les what adventures to experience with friends! How was today's run?

Susan so fun to be with a friend as they make milestones.

Vicci I'm sorry you are continuing to have asthma problems. I wonder if it's contributed to by allergies and being out for more than 3 miles just gives you more exposure? When things are bad here (which they have been lately) I use a saline nose spray after workouts to clean out the allergens from my system. I wonder if that would help you?

Kathy Two 5ks next weekend? You're a rock star!

Jennifer Sorry DBF couldn't make the wedding with you but hopefully you had fun.

Yesterday's ski day was fantastic. We had knee deep powder in places and I was on my new skis. I was a bit tentative on them at first but then got into a groove and LOVE them. Then the girls egged me into the shop at the ski area and I bought a new pair of ski pants. My defense is they told me my butt looks good in them. How do you walk away from that. The other part is that they don't know is this is a brand whose pants I've tried in the past and couldn't put them on so it represents weight loss and fitness too.

Today I was instructed by my coach to add back in Thursday's recovery run (which was canceled so I would be ready for Friday's long run). So, I invited Mcgeiger along with me and we ran a beautiful trail here that looks at the majestic Flatirons the whole way out then the plains coming back. It was slow and short at about 2.5 miles which was just what I needed to be ready for tomorrow's progression run. I'm hoping that I can pace the progression run better than I have in the past.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Yep Susan - we were reminiscing about the anniversary of the Pig this past weekend. It's hard to believe that it's been that long since we ran together (5 years?). Hope your ride went well today.
Vicci - Yep it was a VRB IRL this weekend. Actually most of the stuff we did as a group may be considered "non-exertion" unless you count eating as exertion. ;) Good going for your workout and sorry that you couldnt' pull weeds. ;)
Robyn - Congratulations on your new ski pants - that is a milestone. Good run too.
Kathy - I hope you have fun with your mile run - I ran a 1/2 mile as part of a 2 mile relay race a couple years ago - Oh Boy! Never want to do that again.

We had a bunch of fun and didn't get a real run in but spent a lot of time walking around DC and Mt. Vernon Friday and Saturday. Tried to go to the Spy Museum ($18/person) and said no, went to the Air and Space Museum instead. Had Sushi and chilled a little. Yesterday was walking all over Mt. Vernon after brunch ~11:00 nice to just kick around the house with friends. Spent ~4 hours walking around the grounds in the heat yesterday so I'll count that. Then TJ's for grazing dinner last night. Had Nat and DH at church then brunch afterwards (leg 'o lamb and yams) before putting them on the plane for back home. After getting home took a 14+ Mile ride because it was 88/80% humidity.

Tomorrow begins the last full week of classes and just 18 days until graduation! :eek:

Happy trails all and a shout out to the rest of the gang.
Les

[VictoriaL]

Kathy, a 5k next Saturday then another 5k on Sunday? You rock! I don't care what your pace is!!! :D
Tonight was Thai chicken pizza, DH's favorite. And it is still raining!

Thanks for the suggestion about saline spray Robyn. Allergies never affected my breathing until last fall, so this is something new. And I do not like it!
So funny about how you chose your new ski pants, though. :) And big congrats on fitting into that particular brand!

Les, it sounds as though you and LW (and a certain VRB-er and her DH) had a great weekend! And only 18 days to graduation-- wow... It's going to be a difficult 2-1/2 weeks for you, in many ways, isn't it?

Hope that you all had fabulous weekends, and start the week nicely as well. :D

[Natasha]

Hi all!

I'll write more personal notes tomorrow but for now just wanted to check in and say hi, and report on the weekend. We just got home a little while back. As Les said, it was a wonderful time (thanks again, Les and LW!). Les summarized the activities very well. Going to church was definitely among the highlights. I did get in a run this morning but Les was already at church so I went solo.

Take care, everyone, and have a good beginning of week.

[Robyn1007]

Vicci part of what I do is to come home spray a few sprays up both nostrils and blow them out. Then I repeat the spray once I get into the shower. I'm not sure it does a huge amount but it does help with nasal congestion.

Thanks on the congrats on the pants all. Really, I needed another pair of pants (remember my pants get 30+ days a season on them) so getting them for half off was a steal and being cute and coordinating with my plethora of ski jackets key. :p

[jjsooner73]

Checking in quickly....

Les and Natasha--sounds like an amazing weekend! I'm jealous. :)

Robyn-congrats on the new ski pants! A good fit is always a plus, and such a bonus when they are on sale.

Kathy--wow, two 5Ks in a weekend?! That's impressive!

Susan-hope the ride was a good and dry one today! How did your friend do? Such an awesome milestone!

Vicci, sorry about the allergies. I hope you get some answers and relief soon.

I think my run yesterday was a fluke. :) I didn't get up and run this morning, even though the weather was perfect. I was tired and cozy and had a lazy morning after driving 300+ miles yesterday (all worth it though)! Then DBF called me and asked if I wanted him to pick me up to go watch his best friend's daughter play soccer (they live in Tulsa, so don't play down here often). On a whim, I told him I'd meet him at the fields and I'd run there. It was warm by then and I had a really sluggish 3.1 mile run. Still, it was a run and I'm glad I did it.

I hope to hit the gym tomorrow for some strength training. I'm getting out on the bike Wednesday for the first time in a while. Fortunately, a guy I used to teach with has volunteered to ride with me. I think he almost considers me his project. :)

Have a happy Monday everyone.

[SusanMac]

Les & Nat - what a fantastic weekend! Glad the weather was good for all of that walking. Food sounds yummy, too. OMG - last week of classes ever?! Amazing

Robyn - Glad you love the new skis & new pants. I thought of you yesterday as I took an icewater bath after my ride. It was probably 2 hours post-ride, but I do still think it probably helped.

Kathy - Your weekend of races sounds great! Not sure a mile race would be my thing. I'm definitely a big fan of long & slow, vs short & fast. I always admire the short-distance runners

JJ - Glad you enjoyed the wedding. Great idea to combine a run with the soccer outing!

Vicci - Thai chix pizza is a regular in our house, too

Well, the bike ride yesterday was a huge success! Perfect weather - 60-ish with gorgeous blue skies. This is the most beautiful ride we do each year, I just love it. Super, super challenging hills. Well organized. Great rest stops. Really nice people. There were 4 of us riding together, and we definitely had fun. My GF did really, really great! She tackled the tough hills well, stayed hydrated & didn't blow up. My goal was to not walk the last, toughest hill of the ride (like I did 2 years ago). There were other people walking, but I made it up slow, steady & with no problems at all. So did GF. We were all very happy with our achievements! Topped it off with meatballs, mac & cheese & homemade cherry pie at the finish :-)

Oh, and I actually gained a pound after the ride! I rode for 4 hours/55 miles & gained weight! DH says that's good b/c it means I was properly hydrated. I know it could be muscle gain. But still....

[TKay]

Wow, busy board. I love it.

I have to brief. Decided to devote yesterday's energy to some spring cleaning. Today, I'm at my desk, still in my workout clothes, hoping...hoping. Alas, my client has kept me hopping and it's almost pick up time. I don't think a workout is in the cards.

I will catch up with everyone as soon as my client lets me be. In the meantime, here's to a week that rivals everyone's great weekend!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Quick check in, not much time to give personal notes (again). The time was divine this weekend and I can say that the weather held out - it was HUMID today just like yesterday. :rolleyes: It is absolutely hard to imagine that I'll be done in that short a time and I won't say "for the last time" since I keep going back (although I hope this is my last masters).

I really made a mistake today - not too bad but a mistake none the less. I thought of riding this evening but the pending rain made me think the better of it so I (foolishly) went for a run. Oy vey! It must have been ~95% humidity and what felt like 85 degrees (at 6 pm). Yuck - I'm not ready for this but I better get ready because I may end up living in a warmer (and potentially more humid) climate in the near future.

Shower and bed call -- busy weekend and packed week to come.

Happy trails,
Les

[TKay]

Run by. (Sorry for not having time for individual replies. I do care!)

Happy to report a stress-busting 60+ minute run on the TM today. Boy, did I need that. Ended up being occupied by work all day yesterday, so I really needed the outlet.

Just quickly, I wanted to say I'm thinking of you, Les, as you head into your last week of class. Inconceivable. Well, almost.;)

[SusanMac]

We're definitely all thinking of Les this week. What a milestone!

Yesterday was happy, happy rest day! I just returned from a 25-mile bike ride with DH. It was extremely windy today, but gorgeous otherwise. I figure I shouldn't really complain about the wind b/c it's been very dry & warm so far this season. We're really quite lucky (although not so good for the farmers perhaps)

Wondering how Kathy's race was this past weekend? Or maybe it's coming up this weekend?

Happy Tuesday everyone.

[Natasha]

All I saw from a very quick skim was TKay's stress-busting long run. Way to go!

Like TKay, I do care enough to do personal replies :) but that didn't end up happening yesterday and it won't tonight either. DH and I had dinner with my mom and sis and now I need to do stuff before bed. So I'll content myself with saying that I hope everyone's doing wonderfully! :)

[Robyn1007]

Maybe it's the week of run by's? I'm going to join the trend as I'm still not feeling great. Yesterday before my run my stomach started not feeling well. Did just a warm up, 2 mile progression and very short cool down. At least I managed to pace the progression run better. Went to dinner at Mcgeiger's for our weekly No Boys Allowed supper club (sorry Les!) which was delicious but I still didn't feel great and then ended up staying home today to try to get things to settle down. I'm sleepy again and think I'll manage an early night to bed.

[Leslie Ferguson]

I'll claim a spin by without personal comments (sorry)... finished my next to last paper tonight (due next Monday), all I have left is a Sermon to preach on Sunday and one last final project and it's all over but the shouting. And I may have a line on a place of employment - can't say officially until I go and visit the Church... loved my interview and the looks of the Church. Rode for an hour-ish... to bed.
Happy trails,
Les

[Kathy B]

A little over 5 miles for me this AM. Planning a 2 miler tomorrow, working Friday and then the racing begins! Such as it is. :p The bottom line is that I wanted to do SOMETHING for KC corporate challenge this year, but when I signed up for something I would get an email saying it was full. So I signed up for something else. DD wasn't sure she wanted to do the MD 5k, and I really wanted something to shoot for. Then all of a sudden, people were cancelling and DD changed her mind, and I have a full schedule! I guess that's one way to stay motivated with my workouts!

Les, hope the possible employment works out for you if that is what you want. Exciting to see the light at the end now. Wishing you a smooth ride to the finish! :)

Hope you are feeling better Robyn. Sounds like an early night was a good idea!

Susan, congrats on your bike ride...it sounds like a blast! What fun to do it with a group of friends. Did you gain the pound before or after that delicious meal?? ;)

Tkay, you sound swamped. It's great that you are using your TM time as a destresser...managing two things at once. Great job!

Jennifer, I have had a fair number of those sluggish runs, myself. At least you did it, and afterwards you can be satisfied that it got done, even if it wasn't great. And the next one is usually much better! How was the biking?

Natasha, glad to hear you had a nice visit with Les and his wife (although really, that's a given, right?). Dinner with the family is usually always relaxing, too. Hope things are going well as you wind up your busy stretch!

Vicci, hope you are breathing a little easier by now. Have you been to the doctor yet? Allergies are pretty intense in our area right now. The other day I walked across a big lawn between buildings, and my shoes were covered with yellow from all the dandelions! Hang in there!

Now to clean up and get into the office...web conference on Conflict Resolution at noon (always a useful skill!), then a meeting to follow.

Take care all! (And try to relax a little when you can....:))

[SusanMac]

Zoom....drive by for me...

Just finished a good 40-min run. Combined it w/an errand, as I had to buy a bday gift for my in-laws dog, who is coming this afternoon for a visit. I love it when workouts can be extra productive.

Will be MIA for the rest of the week. We are taking the in-laws for a long weekend up in Door County, the beautiful shoreline in NE WI. Hoping to get a few runs in while I'm up there.

Kathy - have a great race-filled weekend!

Sounds like everyone is doing well this week with workouts, work & life in general :-)

[jjsooner73]

Another drive by...

I got on the bike today for the first time in almost 2 years. The guy I know rode to my house and we went from here. Only have time for about 40 minutes, but it was a decent ride. I'm not comfortable riding by myself around here (crazy drivers). We got honked at once on a two lane country road with little traffic. :rolleyes:
Anyhow, as we were almost back to my house, I wrecked. Sigh. First one of those in over 6 years. It was a corner and there is always a bit of water there. I knew it was going to happen before it happened, but couldn't do anything about it. Anyhow, what's another scar? I think this one will be on top of another. . .
Now I have to get my bike to the shop before I ride again, as the thing that connects the wheel to the frame is bent in.

I was going to run a couple miles now, but I think I'm going to go finish making my niece's tutu and crash early.

Happy running and riding everyone! Personal comments next time...

[Natasha]

Jennifer, scary drivers freak me out too. I can be a nervous rider.

Kathy, how was the 2 miler? Another race already - wow!

Les, LAST DAY tomorrow!!! Not that I have to remind you. Must be a bittersweet time. Personally, I think I'd miss that gorgeous campus (and the friendly folk) - but you'll meet great people wherever you end up going. BTW, I forgot to give my mom the prayer book I bought when I was over there yesterday, so will have to do it the next time I see her.

Vicci, how are you? Did you go to the doctor yet? Concerned minds want to know! Are you watching the game?

Hi to Susan, Robyn, and TKay!

Had a very good day today. Really, really good. I'm kicking back with a beer now and just "being" (and watching the game). Also planning a walk but I think that'll be it exercise-wise.

Hope everyone else is doing well! :)

[Leslie Ferguson]

A little longer stop by today...
Vicci - I'm interested too, did the doctor get you any more information? If you're like we are it's been a terrible spring for pollen; there's been this terrible yellow pall over everything for weeks. I hope you bounce back once you figure things out.
Jennifer - I get a little wigged out by drivers too (once in a while - I'm pretty fearless anymore). Glad it all worked out with your run and fie on the driver. :mad: Part of the reason that I like to carry an extra water bottle when I'm out with lots of traffic - they make great projectiles. ;)
Kathy - Good luck on the next race. Conflict resolution... that's a good thing. Almost reminds me of class today when the student asked the instructor how to deal with passive-aggressive disruptive people. I had a lot of good techniques that worked in the Navy (get your hips open to make sure you drive them over the fence...); those skills are no longer essential though (not that they were in the past either).
Nat - Not quite one more day - my last actual class is on Monday, grades have to be turned in by noon on Wednesday so the Wed and Thu classes are cancelled. Glad your day was good even if not exercise filled. Enjoy the brew and being. I hope your mother likes the book whenever she gets it.

Good day today - had a good session with my prayer partner of 3 years (maybe 2 more sessions - we meet once a week on Thursdays which puts the "last" one on graduation). Had a long chat with the Dean of the school then wrapped up one more class.

Even worked in a 50 minute ride (wish it would have been longer but I still didn't sit down to dinner until 8:00).

I'm feeling a lot more drawn to the ministry position - just need to see it and sign my contract and I'm placed. I'll give a hint that it's south of Virginia - farther south than I've lived on the east coast. Other than that - I'm really drawn to working in that church.

Happy trails all and I'll check back a little later - need to wrok a sermon for my last Sunday as a Seminarian.
Les