Virtual Running Buddies - Week of March 31 [Archive]

Kathy B

03-31-2006, 11:28 AM

Well the good news is, I finally got outside for a run! Had planned to do it tomorrow, but it was so sunny out I thought I better get it in while I could.

The bad news is, I have no feel whatsoever for what kind of pace I am setting. I ran 2.4 miles in 25 minutes, which is too fast for me to maintain, and I had to walk up two hills. It was hard to tell how fast I was going, because the first half of the run I was running into the wind, so I really thought I was going pretty slow. Oh, well, I guess I have a few weeks to get this figured out. :confused:

Note to self...ALWAYS take Kleenex on outdoor runs, especially on windy days. :rolleyes:

Question for everyone....how do you keep the jacket that you start out with and end up tying around your waist from constantly slipping?

Les - I second the good luck wishes for the Duathlon! Hope you have great weather. :)

Susan - Way to go on the 30 minute swim. The film festival sounds like a fun way to spend your Saturday.

Natasha - hope you have a good run today! What kind of pup do you have?

Scout - Hope your 20K goes well tomorrow, and that it isn't too wet.

badunnin

03-31-2006, 02:41 PM

Hooray! Off to a busy start here!

No running for me until after I see the podiatrist, but I'm trying to develop a weight training plan. (Natasha, stop giggling and clapping). It's been a while for me, and when I last trained (for hockey) I had access to facilities besides my basement. So, we'll see what I come up with.

Scout - nice to see you around!

Kathy - yay for running outside! I'm an outside runner by nature, and think that you will eventually develop a feel for pace. I always feel like I'm running faster on the treadmill, but find that it's actually about the same pace as when I'm outside. As far as the jacket, I usually dress cooler than what feels comfortable when I start, knowing I'll heat up quite a bit. I dress one layer lighter than what I would do for just running errands, etc. That way I don't need to undress.

Pig related - my kids are huge fans of my pig prototypes. ;) I'll let you speculate... I will make reservations this weekend. What are we at - 8?

Hello to Susan and all the others who happen through here!

Leslie Ferguson

03-31-2006, 03:19 PM

Pig related - my kids are huge fans of my pig prototypes. ;) I'll let you speculate... I will make reservations this weekend. What are we at - 8?
There are 2 from here - me and Kathy.

Kathy B - I'm with Bethany, I try to dress a little on the cool side when I run (unless I'm headed out at dusk or when I'm going to be out for a long time). The way I figure it I'll be generating heat anyway but then you do know what my pace is so... there's no good way that I know of to tie off a jacket to keep it from falling down. If I'm doing an out and back I'll try to pitch my extra stuff somewhere out of the way so it doesn't get grabbed. If that's not an option then it may be easier to have something like a long sleeve t-shirt that you can carry in your hand as opposed to a jacket (just thinking out loud). As for pace, it is very hard to get a sense of pace unless you have one (that sounds weird but I think you may get my drift). The best thing I can think of to "learn" a pace is to try and run on a known distance (like a track :eek: ) so you can figure out just how fast you're going. Or you can mark off a distance in your car and go that way if there isn't a track nearby. You'll get it sooner or later - it only took me 5 or 6 years to get my sense of pace down. ;) :D Another way to help your body "figure out" the pace when you do a bit of treadmill running is to place the mill on a slight (0.5 - 1%) incline. That level of incline won't appreciably add to your effort but will take away the assistance provided by the belt.

Good seeing you scout. It sounds like there may be rain in the offing a few places this weekend - luckily around here it is only supposed to be on Saturday.

Thanks for starting us Natasha and greetings to all the other VRB. Have a good weekend and I'll be in touch - I've got to go fiddle with my bike(s) a little.

Happy trails,
Les

Natasha

03-31-2006, 07:06 PM

Quick message before I head off to walk the dog and get an early night's sleep...

Kathy, good job on the outdoor run!! You'll find that over time you'll run at a pace that just works for you. Keep up the awesome work! :) Like Les and Bethany, I dress so I'm a bit cold at the outset so I don't overheat towards the middle/end of the run. Oh, and my pup is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (one of a handful of native Canadian breeds). He's a hoot! Do you have a dog? :)

Les, GOOD LUCK with the duathlon!!

Scout, have fun at El Cajon. Speaking of new scooters, I need some too. A trip to the local running store is in my plans for tomorrow.

I did get in my run today - just over 5 miles. It felt so nice to have a real run for the first time since Sunday.

Two here for the FP Sat. night dinner: my "half marathoning" husband and me!

Take care, all,
Natasha

Leslie Ferguson

03-31-2006, 09:13 PM

... I'm trying to develop a weight training plan. (Natasha, stop giggling and clapping). It's been a while for me, and when I last trained (for hockey) I had access to facilities besides my basement. So, we'll see what I come up with...

Hello to Susan and all the others who happen through here!
I missed (or failed to comment on) the first time around. What kind of weight routine are you looking for? One for general strength training? To support your running? I have a routine that I use and have used for most of the past 5 years and I like it. It isn't something that pushes tons of weight but rather pushes a reasonable weight a bunch of times (3 x 15-20 reps). The "basic" focuses on lower body (one days worth if you want to break it up) and the more advanced portion works the upper body. If you'd like I'll send you or post (again I think) what the different exercises/muscles I work (the plan was built by my coach - a certified personal trainer so it has credibility). You'd be surprised (maybe) what you can do with a little weight - you don't need a bunch of stuff or lots of equipment.

Your festival sounds like a lot of fun Susan and that's a great job swimming for 30 minutes without stopping. With that amount of swimming you'll be set for your tri.

scout - Good luck in El Cajon. Where is the race run? I hope it isn't too wet tomorrow for you.

My mountain bike is well and boy how much better it rides when the tires are full (only 50 psi in the tires to start with which is within the range for the timres{45-85 psi}) but on the road 50-55 isn't enough air to keep the bike ridable. So I filled them as far as the pump would go (pneumatic at the gas station) and topped off at 80 psi - how much better the bike rolls now. I'll work on my racer tomorrow, may even take it to the store where I bought it for a quick tune-up before Sunday.

Have a good weekend all.

Happy trails,
Les

badunnin

04-01-2006, 07:10 AM

I missed (or failed to comment on) the first time around. What kind of weight routine are you looking for? One for general strength training? To support your running? I have a routine that I use and have used for most of the past 5 years and I like it. It isn't something that pushes tons of weight but rather pushes a reasonable weight a bunch of times (3 x 15-20 reps). The "basic" focuses on lower body (one days worth if you want to break it up) and the more advanced portion works the upper body. If you'd like I'll send you or post (again I think) what the different exercises/muscles I work (the plan was built by my coach - a certified personal trainer so it has credibility). You'd be surprised (maybe) what you can do with a little weight - you don't need a bunch of stuff or lots of equipment.

Les - I'm really looking for general strength training (sorry, it IS all about looks when it comes to my arms! I'm looking to tone them) and a lower body routine to support my running. Mom's an occupational therapist and recommends resistance bands for upper body, and wants to hook me up with one of her therapists about a lifting routing. I'd love to see your routine though! Most likely I'll end up with a hybrid that is something I can stick with. ;)

Good luck on your event tomorrow! I need to take my bike up to have it checked out as well - no racing, mind you, but in the summer I like to drive it to the grocery store.

Kathy B

04-01-2006, 01:08 PM

Woo!Hoo! Did a 3.1 mile run outside today with NO STOPS! :) Took me about 36 minutes which I was happy with, a much better pace for me!

It helped immensely that there was a light breeze instead of the "gusty wind" I was battling yesterday. It also helped that I strategically planned my run to avoid a couple of bad hills. Thanks a bunch whoever posted that link to MapMyRun a while back! ;)

Bethany and Les, thanks for the tips on dressing for running outside. No jacket today, and I was very comfortable after the first couple of minutes. Hope your race went well, Les!

Natasha, I looked up your dog's breed, and what a pretty dog! We have a shitzu that is 5 or 6 years old (stray from the pound). He isn't all that much to look at, but that's what makes him cute, I guess, and the kids love him to death!

No running for me for the next few days. Three days in a row was a lot for me, so I'm taking a break. Besides, it is supposed to rain tomorrow, and I work a 12 hour shift on Monday. See you all in a few days!

Leslie Ferguson

04-01-2006, 02:25 PM

WOO! HOO! Way to go Kathy B! 3.1 miles without stopping. And that's not a bad pace either for your first attempt at the distance. Glad you did a better job dressing for the weather today.

Ok Bethany, I'll post my routine again (but not now). I think there are lots of ways to "skin the cat" of weight liftinjg and what works for you is the best program in my opinion. I hope your bike tune-up is without issue, I know that one of my bikes is a bear when it comes to tuning it up (of course it is the one that I ride in the mud, rain, and nasty weather so... go figure).

I'm looking forward to the race tomorrow and I hope all the "bad luck" is gone after today. One of the ladies I was riding with this morning tripped and split open her chin. I think she'll need a couple stitches to close it. Another lady stubbed her foot on the trail (different place) and tweaked her ankle/knee. :( Then the final lady I rode with locked her keys in her car. That may sound hard but for some reason she ended up with two keys to a Honda in her pocket so when she stopped for a PowerBar she dropped one of the keys in her car and lokced it. Little did she realize that the key she kept wasn't to her car. :eek: Needless to say I drove her home (her DH is in the military so I was the only one who could get her on the base where she lives). Hopefully that three hiccups is all for the weekend. But it was productive for me - I rode about 14 miles on my mountain bike at a reasonably slow pace but nice to remember what it is like to ride outside.

I'm off to pick up another basket/water bottle for my bike. It may be smart to have two bottles for the race tomorrow since it may be quite warm and the race is 32km. :eek:

Check back tonight.

Les

Leslie Ferguson

04-01-2006, 08:44 PM

Final check in (it's almost midnight now - with the hour loss). New basket hung, gear in my 5-gallon bucket, bike tuned (for free) and air in tires, sleep on the way.

I'll let everyone know how things go and if there's information on the Du site (www.virginiaduathlon.kalerunning.com) my number is 331.

Sleep calls and 5:45 comes early. It's almost an hour down to the start and I would like to be there between 7:30 and 8:00 (probably closer to 8:00).

Hope everyone had good runs today (if that is their bent).

Happy trails,
Les

Natasha

04-02-2006, 07:28 AM

Congratulations Kathy on that great run!! :D

Your dog must be adorable too, and of course it's great that he's such a good companion for your kids :) I think one of the other VRBs, Terri (TLee4), also has a Shih Tzu, but I could be wrong.

Les, hope the race is going well! I'll be very interested in the report, particularly since I've had my eye on a particular duathlon for maybe 4 years now and haven't gotten around to going for it for a variety of reasons ;) Maybe your race report will inspire me to do so! :p

On a related note, I'm a bit surprised that they scheduled a race for the day the clocks go forward. I hope nobody showed up late for the race start and missed it! :o Wouldn't that be a pain?

Bethany, yay for weight training! :D

Yesterday I walked, did an elliptical workout at the gym, went for a hike, and did abs. My husband ran, went for his initial mountain bike of the season (he's already taken out the road bike), and swam. We went out for dinner afterwards and spent a leisurely evening - very nice indeed. Today I plan to do a "short long" run of 16 km or so, while my husband does his long ride.

Have a great day, all,
Natasha

SusanMac

04-02-2006, 10:10 AM

Happy rainy Sunday, runners!

Got in a great run yesterday. 35 minutes, with a few fartleks thrown in. I have been worried about keeping a race pace for my 10K next weekend, as my runs have felt sluggish lately & my HR has been too high for my effort. But, yesterday's farlek workout felt really easy, switching between fast & slow.

In fact, my Sat overall was great. Got up early, cleaned, played w/the kids (dog & cat, that is), walked the dog w/DH, ran, killer double feature at the film fest & dinner at a good new restaurant. Today is rainy, and my first rest day in 11 days. So, should be pretty lazy.

Kathy - Congrats on your steady, nonstop outdoor run! That feels great, doesn't it? A good sign for the long summer running season ahead. And, yes, I hate tying jackets around my waist, too. Long-sleeve shirts tend not to slip as much. So if I need to layer, I try to do it w/shirts. Post a pic of the puppy when you get a chance.

Need to go check in on Les' race....

Leslie Ferguson

04-02-2006, 02:12 PM

Hey gang - back (after a long hot shower and lunch) from the du. What an interesting race to participate in. The day couldn't have been much better except for a little less wind in our faces for most of the opening 16 km of the bike. The venue is weird for the race, they run it at a Police training area that's almost in North Carolina (the sign said Creeds Corner {the place where the race was} 1 mile, N.C. 5 miles) near the storied "Blackwater" (I can explain if necessary). The run is competed on an old airstrip that hasn't seen any maintenance in eons. I think it would almost have been better to run on the dirt trail where I normally run on Saturdays but still not a bad place to run (one other thing to note - if there's going to be wind at an airstrip it will be blowing into your face at some point in time). We had wave starts for the run, the first group was men under 40, the second group was men over 40, and the third group was women and teams. There were 5 minutes between waves going out so things weren't too clogged up. I think that was wise so the transition area wasn't totally clobbered during T1. The bike was more or less out and back on the roads in southern Virginia Beach (actually Pungo if you know the area). This is the first race I've done where the roads weren't closed to traffic so you had to contend at times with cars passing on a two lane road.

With that background I will say that I had a good race and was pretty much "on goal" for the runs. I finished the first run in 21:10 (by their clock) and the second (when you exclude the potty break - more on that later) of about 21:55. My goal was to be about 21 on the opening 5k and "not too much on the second." I figure ~6:50/mile pace opening and ~7:06 on the closing pretty good. It's hard to judge the bike ride because today was the first time I raced ~20 miles. Lots of interesting things go on at about 15 miles of hard peddling. Regardless, I did the ride in 1:09:34 (by my bike calculator). Throw in 4 mintues of transition and it was a great race. The transition took a long time because I had to change shirts (added one for the bike) and untie my running shoes - something you really don't worry about going run to bike or bike to run: it would have been good and helpful to have EZ-laces today - oh well, next time. Another interesting tidbit I learned today, Gatorade melts faster than water does (I froze both bottles last night to avoid having them warm for the ride). The water bottle was still mostly frozen about 3 miles into the ride ~ 10 am after having taken the bottle out of the freezer at 6:15. By the time I tried to drink the Gatorade about 15 minutes later it was fully thawed but nice and cold! Great idea I was given to freeze the bottles. Important safety tip, don't drink too much on the bike during a 32 km ride. It was almost painful getting started on the second run and I certainly wouldn't have made it if I hadn't stopped in the port-a-john.

It felt a little weird, more so than "normal" in the bike to run transition in the triathlon going back out on the run. Legs were wobbly and the full bladder didn't help either. But thank goodness for the running miles I normally do - I cruised the second run when lots of folks (except for a couple speedsters) were struggling their way around the course.

Regardless, it was a great race and I'd do it again. But training would certainly be a little different and I'd try a couple run-bike-run transitions just to be really prepared.

The final stats:
179th overall
17 in my age group (there are tons of 40-44 year old males)
5k #1: 21:10
bike: 1:09:34
5k #2 (sans potty break): 21:58.

In all a good day but boy do my gleuts and upper hams ache right now.

To answer our question Natasha I think the only "casualty" of the time shift was a guy who got up a little late - not because he didn't reset his clock but because he didn't set his alarm! But as best I could tell everyone showed up and no one was too put out by the time change. Of course, the race didn't start until 9 am so... a truly gentlemanly hour for a race.
Related subject: Susan or Natasha - I have an interesting question about the bike that I'd like to refer to either of your DH. It has to do with male physiology/anatomy and the ride - suffice to say...

I hope everyone else had a great weekend - I certainly did!!!

Happy trails,
Les

Natasha

04-02-2006, 03:44 PM

Les, wow, great race report! Glad you had such a blast! :D (and that there was only one time casualty, and that, not due to the time change ;)). Congratulations.

Susan, good job on the run yesterday!

Today I did my 16k run. I'd planned to run outdoors but life kept getting in the way (you know how that is) and I stuck to the treadmill because I was waiting for a phone call. That's okay, though. I did about 20 minutes of the run at varying inclines up to 5.5 (the rest of the run was at my standard 1.0 incline), and I did maybe 10-15 minutes of running at a quicker-than-normal pace, so it turned out to be a varied and challenging workout. I also went for a nice long walk and caught up with a few folks and we did an errand or two. Les, I sent you a PM with my husband's e-mail address. He'd be delighted to help you out :)

Hope everyone's enjoying the rest of their Sunday.

Natasha

badunnin

04-02-2006, 04:13 PM

Sounds like everyone is having a successful weekend! I got in about 30 minutes yesterday between the elliptical and the treadmill, without too many problems. Went up north with mom, and had a nice little walk on the beach. I'm realising that I start to get antsy now when I can't work out when I want to! :o Podiatrist tomorrow.

Happy Sunday all!

Leslie Ferguson

04-02-2006, 09:06 PM

Bethany - That's promising that you were able to get 30 minute workouts in on the treadmill and the elliptical machine this weekend. That bodes well for a simple, or at least simpler, solution. I know how you feel about getting antsy when you can't workout when you want to. But like the Fram Oil Filter commercial - you can pay me now or you can pay him later. I hope your Podiatrist's appointment tomorrow is productive.
Susan - Sorry I didn't comment on your Saturday. I'd call that a red letter and banner day. A good run, playing with the kids, a double feature, and dinner with DH. What more could you ask for? I hope you enjoyed your rest day today.
It sounds like you had a great workout today Natasha. Glad you could get it in without too many disturbances from life. That treadmill workout sounds like a killer too. Almost makes me want to give it a try when I'm recovered.

In Mary's absence I had the "you know you're a duathlete (multi-sport athlete) when you know that Gatorade melts faster than water.
... that Body Glide really does melt when it sits in the sun.

With that digression I'll call it an evening and turn in. Legs are beat and it's been a long day.

Also, need to update the standing. I wasn't 179th rather I was 176th. Neat report from the race director - I was 93rd and 95th in the runs respectively (out of 286 participants).

Happy trails,
Les

scout1222

04-03-2006, 01:30 PM

No rain this weekend, but now we're expecting some tonight through Wednesday. I thought I lived in Southern California! Sheesh.

Race report: great weather, not too hot. Good time, probably 2 minutes better than the last time I ran it.

The El Cajon 20K starts and finishes at Granite Hills HS out in El Cajon. It mostly runs through neighborhoods in that area, which are seriously hilly. Miles 3-4 have an uphill that isn't steep, but it isn't easy, either. Then there follows a Looooong downhill that allows you to buy some time. Flat for a bit, until mile 8.5. Oh man that is a tough mile. Steep hill and boy is it long. I ended up walking for about a minute two times during the hill. Once you get to the top of that, it's flat all the way in, with a slight downhill finish.

I finished just under 1:58, and ended up 12th out of 41 in my division, which sounds pretty good to me.

Legs were awfully tired, and after running 8 miles yesterday, today was a well-earned rest day.

badunnin

04-03-2006, 03:36 PM

Scout - sounds like the rest day was well earned!

Les - Congrats on placing well. Sounds like you were pleased with your performance.

Well, back from the shortest doctor's appt ever. 9 minutes, in and out. He took me at 3:32 for a 3:30 appt and apologised for the wait! Love the guy. Have a pair of stock orthotics to start with - they can be tweaked and bent and ground out, so we'll try these first. If they don't work, we'll go to customs. But, I don't have a huge pronation problem, and he said that I should see/feel results almost immediately. :D I have lesson plans for done for the entire week, so tomorrow, when I have an unusually long break between classes, I hope to get a run in. Yay me!

SusanMac

04-03-2006, 03:38 PM

Scout - thx for the race report. Sounds like a fun & successful one for you. We have a 20K race here, but it's the same day as the Pig, so will have to wait til next year for me. It sounds like a fun distance.

Bethany - That's awesome you can still do the treadmill w/your problems. Keeping our fingers crossed for a productive podiatrist visit today.

Natasha - Congrats on your 16K. That sounds too far for me on a 'mill.

Les - Your race sounds awesome & great fun! Congrats! How did your bike legs feel after the first run?? I've never trained w/run 1st, then bike. And, sorry to say, you can't subtract your potty break from your race time! It just comes w/the territory. You should consider yourself lucky -- just think how much tougher it is for girls to stop & do that in a race (although DH saw one of the IM pro women do it in last year's race. She just walked right up to a tree, pushed her shorts aside & went. She must have wanted 1st place pretty badly :-) Love the idea to freeze the Gatorade! So, which do you like better....tri or du??

Had a good swim today. Should probably go run, as well, but have got a lot of work to do. Two other fun updates: 1) bought a new bike saddle today! woo hoo. Had some chafing issues w/the previous one. 2) Decided to join a master's swim class in June. Really looking forward to having some coaching! (even tho I"m not looking forward to swimming w/ a big group. I guess it'll be good for me)

Leslie Ferguson

04-03-2006, 04:08 PM

Thanks for your race report scout. I know the layout by Granite Hills - not an easy place to run. Great job on the race.

Susan - Yep, I know that you can't cut out the potty break from the race time but for my time purposes (what matters to me - especially when comparing run #1 to run #2) I'll take the time out. If you want to see interesting facilities usage you should see what goes on before the start of the Boston Marathon. The first year I ran there (2001) my running partner (female) couldn't wait for the port-o-john to open (nor many of the other ladies for that matter) so they just "popped over into the bushes and..." you can use your imagination. I didn't have too many issues with the run first and the transition to the bike. I think because I had a short break (only about 2:30 but still that is quite a lon break in the grand scheme of things) to change from running shoes to biking shoes, untie my running shoes, and put on my shirt then push my bike out of the transition. I think the hardest part was running again after the bike and the first run. My legs were pretty beat after the first run and really pretty wobbly after the bike. I think I like tri's over du's but they are fun in their own way - but the perspective of the tri is you only have to do each event once.

Bethany - That's great news about the podiatrist. Just remember that it will take a little while for your feet/legs/knees to get used to the orthotics (it took me a couple weeks). But you should feel some difference right after you put them in.

Resting today - go figure. Gleuts are still a little beat-up and I need to do my taxes. :eek:

Until later,
Les

Natasha

04-03-2006, 04:53 PM

Bethany, thanks for the update on the podiatrist and good luck with the stock orthotics!

Les, yeah, I can see why you'd take a rest day today ;) Enjoy! I can see why you'd take the break out of your calcs for the purposes of comparing the 2 run times (both of which sound seriously speedy to me!).

Scout, great job on the race!

Susan, yep, I would have preferred to do my 16k outdoors over on a treadmill but as I said, life got in the way and it was that or no run :) I truthfully don't mind longish runs on the treadmill, especially when I can mix it up as I did yesterday with lots of hills and some bursts of speed (well, speed relatively speaking). :p Guess I'm such a running geek that I'll take it any darn way I can get it! ;)

Today I did 40 strong minutes on the elliptical while reading a newsmagazine and then did my lower body weights. Abs to follow (I'll do them while enjoying a double feature of Corner Gas. It's a sitcom - not a side effect of exercise ;)). Tomorrow's a rest day as I enjoy a nice evening with family, so I'll catch you all on Wednesday!

Piggers - how 'bout we exchange e-mail addresses (through PMs or what have you) and start a list of everyone's hotel info, cell phone nos. if they have them, etc.? Up to you guys - just thought it might be a way to get in touch with anyone in Cinci if we need to. (Of course, the ever-organized Trudi has probably already got a list like this started - gotta love you Trudi!! :D)

Take care, all,
Natasha

badunnin

04-03-2006, 07:55 PM

Les - I actually used to wear orthotics (from this same guy) when I did the Breast Cancer 3-Day. I just lost them when I moved. :o :o

Nat - great idea! I don't have a list yet, but if everyone wants to PM me, I will compile.

G'night!

Leslie Ferguson

04-03-2006, 09:45 PM

Bethany - That's great that you have worn orthotics before - that way you won't have to fool around with your new ones that long. Never know what folks have done with their shoes/inserts etc. And you've done a 3-day event before, my hat's off to you! I'll take running a marathon any day over that. I'll send you the "vitals" for Kathy and me. FWIW - we're confirmed Kathy Ferguson (one time) and Leslie Ferguson (two times).
Natasha - Sounds like you had a good workout today and you've earned a day off tomorrow. I'm glad to rest today - needed it to get my legs and gleuts happy again. I'm like you, I don't mind doing a bunch of miles on the 'mill as long as I can break them up somehow - different speeds and inclines make the mill more palitable (SP? - I think my brain is on vacation right now). The sitcom sounds funny too - sadly, it must be a Canada thing. :(

Another reason that I may be brain dead right now is my taxes are finally done. Thank goodness for electronic tax programs, but those things still need a lot of "banging" to get everything input. But I think tomorrow may bring an easy run - something to check my gleuts and decide if I'm going to do my physical readiness test this week or next.

Until tomorrow - happy trails,
Les

scout1222

04-04-2006, 10:06 AM

Managed to make it out for a run this morning. It was supposed to start raining last night and continue through Wednesday, but so far...nothing. Which means I didn't have to run in the rain this morning. Thank goodness.

I need to check my training group's website to see what's on tap for this weekend. Distances are increasing, and since I'm not currently planning on a marathon, I might have to jump down to the half-marathon group. As much as I love to run, do I really need to run 16 miles for the heck of it? (Granted, I've done it before, but I'm thinking this weekend...not so much.)

I've always wanted to do the Chicago marathon, but my job has always been super busy and stressful in October, so it's never been an option. This new job I started in December has a different fiscal year, so October isn't anything crazy.

I'm sort of playing with the idea. I at least need to visit the website and see what's up. But I think I might be ready to start thinking about the next marathon. Thinking!

badunnin

04-04-2006, 10:21 AM

Little bit of panic (understatement) as a result of my run today. Took advantage of some time in the middle of the day and went to mom and dad's to try out the orthotics. Dropped the TrudiPod, though, while I was on the 'mill and ended up cutting my run short (it was still 45 minutes) because I was so freaked out. Luckily, the folks at Apple intended for them to shut down when they are dropped, and I just reset it. Everything is fine, you can all breathe again. ;)

Back to work - class starts in an hour.

Kathy B

04-04-2006, 12:00 PM

Les, Congratulations on a great race! And thanks for the detailed report, too. I enjoy reading about them as it gives me an idea what it is like to do those kind of runs.

Bethany, Glad you got your feet issues figured out. How did your new orthotics work during your run?

Scout, Congratulations on your race as well! You know, my sister tells me that you are 80% more likely to do something if you write it down. I think posting your thoughts of the Chicago marathon would certainly count as writing it down! Keep thinking!!! :)

Susan, Hope you are having good weather to get ready for your 10K this weekend. Is it Saturday or Sunday?

Natasha, Sounds like you have been working hard. Hope you enjoyed your day of rest and family today!

Just got back from my cooldown walk with the dog after running my 3.1 mile route again this morning. Don't know my exact time because once again I forgot to look at the clock right before I left, but generally think I ran the same pace as Saturday, which was good for me. My shins were pretty achy the past two days, but OK today. I'll have to see if they start bothering me now that I've run again. Looked up a few exercises to help strenghthen the front muscles of my lower legs, so I'll give those a try, but it does seem like my warmup and stretching time gets longer and longer!

Supposed to rain the next several days, so I don't know if I'll get outside or not......I will do something, though!

SusanMac

04-04-2006, 12:29 PM

Scout - I'm seriously considering running Chicago this year, as well! From what I hear, it typically closes some time in June. The race is later in Oct than usual, which hopefully is good for you.

Badunnin - Whew! My heart skipped a few beats there for a minute. Thank goodness you were able to recover :-)

KB - Nice job on your workout. Did you run the whole way??

I rode on the trainer this morning b/c I wanted to test the new saddle w/out taking it outside (it's still returnable this way). Felt OK. Arrrrrgggh - I hate saddle shopping. It's just like shoes -- you can't *really* know how they feel until you've used them a few hours.

TLee4

04-04-2006, 12:40 PM

Congratulations Kathy on that great run!! :D

Your dog must be adorable too, and of course it's great that he's such a good companion for your kids :) I think one of the other VRBs, Terri (TLee4), also has a Shih Tzu, but I could be wrong.

De-lurking and surprised to see my name since I haven't run since Sept! :) Yes, we have a Shih Tzu and we are crazy in love with that dog. We are hoping that we love this upcoming baby just as much! :D They aren't running dogs, but they are sure perfect, aren't they?!

Ok, back to lurking.
Terri

Leslie Ferguson

04-04-2006, 01:05 PM

Thanks for de-lurking Terri. Glad to hear that you are coming to term shortly - I bet you can't wait for the day. :p How have you been doing with your other workouts?
Muy bueno scout on a run not in the rain this morning. Never any fun to get up early just to slog around in the rain (unless you really want to like me in the mud but I digress). I hear tell that Chicago is a fun marathon to run - I hope you enjoy it (I know you'll plan for it now that you're on the hook to us :cool: ). And you're right, why run 16 just for the fun of it? 12-14 is just plenty.
<<<Heart skipping a beat>>> Whew! Bethany luckily they make those things to take a beating. Good for you to make a run too.
Great job Kathy B on another fine run. Odd how you "forget" to check the clock. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about the time as long as you feel like you've gotten a decent workout. <Thinking aloud...> Has your shin problem just popped up or is it something that has been around for a while and I've just missed it? There are a couple (normal) possible causes for shin problems if you'd like... Stretching is helpful as is some strength training of your quads and hamstrings (it may seem funny that your shins are impacted by your upper legs but they are). Honestly though, shoe age is the number one cause of shin and knee pain.
I laugh at your saddle shopping comment Susan because you should have seen me shopping for my mountain bike saddle a couple Christmas' ago. I was in the Sporting Goods store and put the different saddles on the floor and then sat on them. I figured that if it was comfortable enough to sit on the floor then it would probably be good enough for the mountain bike. It worked but you should have seen the looks I got. :p Now I've got to figure out if my saddle was the cause of my "issues" on Sunday. If it was then I may be in the saddle shopping mode too.

Looking forward to a little run this afternoon. I'm still trying to figure out a cause for a little rib cage/sternum pain over the past couple days. I hope (again) it isn't from my bike. Time will only tell.

'Til later,
Les

SusanMac

04-04-2006, 01:51 PM

TLee - wait - wait! Before you go....how early/late did you register for the Chicago marathon when you did it? If I hold off my decision until May, will it be too late? Also, any tips, particularly for navigating the runner chutes & race start, would be greatly appreciated!

(you should be due any day now, shouldn't you??)

TLee4

04-04-2006, 05:12 PM

Ok, I'll de-lurk one more time! :)

Chicago was SUCH a fun marathon to run. (As most of you know, I have nothing to compare it to..it was my only one, but it was great). Susan, I can't remember when I registered but I'm sure it wasn't THAT early..I would think that you will be fine in May. I didn't find it hard to deal with the start line at all...they had it really well organized and you just started in the area with your pace group (there were signs) so I probably lined up with the 10-minute milers (there were a lot of them!) Even though it was a huge race, I found the route (at least in 2004) easier than a couple of the half-marathons that I did. Those seemed to jam up in certain areas moreso than the full marathon.

8 weeks to go until baby Lee! I am feeling great and still teaching Spinning. I hope to teach through April. People look at me and say "you're STILL teaching?!" (I am big!) but they leave the class huffing and puffing so that is good! :) Other than Spinning I am doing Step aerobics twice a week, a group weight training class twice a week, and usually walking once a week.

Terri

Leslie Ferguson

04-04-2006, 09:22 PM

Terri - I was going to ask if you were still teaching but figured that teaching might be a touchy subject for you. Sounds like you're keeping the kid busy and getting him used to working out. I wonder if exercising is like music - if you exercise during pregnancy does the kid like to exercise too? ;) 8 weeks left??? I thought you were closer than that but now that I think about it you said you'd be about a month out when Flying Pig happened so... You can unlurk once in a while to let us know you're still out there too.

I had a good run and I think it will be better to not do my physical readiness test tomorrow - legs are just a bit sore/tight. And I do have a follow-up appointment with the Gastroenterologist at 1030 so the last thing I need is another thing to take up my attention tomorrow morning. But with that said I had a decent run - not rocketing but then I wasn't looking for speed but rather for a cruise.

The first cut on the Virginia Duathlon (http://www.triduo.com/searchraceresults.php?race_id=1201&bib=331&s=e) pictures are in. One of the pictures shows just how rough the course was (I think it was labeled 1st 5k on the course). If you can believe it, I was running on concrete (more or less) in that picture. The only bike picture (co far) was right before the dismount line - not a great picture but if you notice there were no helmet numbers for the 300s so all the other bike shots that were more head on didn't get my bike number. So I'll have to go digging to see if I can find anything else.

To bed earlier tonight - need to sleep and rest my ribcage. Maybe there will really be sleep too.

Happy trails,
Les

TLee4

04-04-2006, 11:27 PM

Cool pics, Les! OUCH on the concrete!!!

Terri - I wonder if exercising is like music - if you exercise during pregnancy does the kid like to exercise too? ;)

I hope so..this kid can use all the help he can get when it comes to my family genetics. My family is NOT into exercise. I was talking to my (very overweight) 10 year old niece. She was saying how her ankle, etc hurts when she has to run in P.E. I was telling her that the great thing about running is that if you start to do it regularly, it won't hurt like that anymore. She says to me, "yes, but I'm more like a lazy type of person". :rolleyes:

SusanMac

04-05-2006, 07:04 AM

TLee - OMG, it makes me sad that at only 10 years old, a little girl would say she's lazy :-( You keep up the good fight against your genes! And, thx for the Chicago info.

Les - thx for the pics. I think you are the only Piglet where I actually know what you look like ahead of time. BTW, loved your Boston start-line impromptu potty stories.

Aggie - Are you getting excited about the Ironman this weekend? I'm so anxious for my friends. They got their care pkg yesterday & loved it. I know you'll be out there cheering for friends, too. Have you decided on a tri for this year yet?

I ran yesterday afternoon. Woo hoo! My first 2-workout-day day. I felt really strong. I think today will be a short ride outside. It's the best weather of the week, and I'm ready to test the saddle outside.

Took CL's raspberry stripper cookies to my bike club mtg last night & they were a big hit :-)

badunnin

04-05-2006, 02:24 PM

Just a quick pop in and out here. The orthotics are lovely things - no pain in the knee at all today. I have class tonight so it's usually an off night for me, but I got dinner in so that I can stop at mom and dad's for a bit of time on the mill. Not training, just stress relief - lots of speed and incline, but no goals/expectations for distance or time. One of our freshmen committed suicide yesterday, and it was quite an emotional day for all of us. Keep my kids in your thoughts. :)

seathyme

04-05-2006, 02:50 PM

Bethany, *so* sorry about the suicide. :( I'm sure you're playing a role in helping the kids come to terms with such a traumatic thing.

Terri, good to hear from you! Congrats on getting so much exercise this late in your pg. And I agree with Susan that your niece's comment is sad. She's so young to have typed herself like that.

Good job to everyone on all the good runs and other workouts! It's fun to read your news, and to feel your mounting excitement about the Pig. :D

Still no runs to report here. Yoga and walks are doing it for me. Now I've managed to pick up a head cold (these illnesses are so out of character for me -- I'm assuming it's the stress of deciding and announcing my departure, but it could be a message to get my butt back in gear and start running again!). No major complaints, but more of a nuisance.

Weird weather report for the day: it snowed all morning here! Huge, clumpy spring-type flakes that won't last, but still. Bring on the spring, please!

<waves to the VRB's>

Natasha

04-05-2006, 04:51 PM

Terri, it's nice that you delurked! :) Even if you haven't run in a while, you're still a VRB and it's great to hear from you :D Glad all is well.

Seathyme, ugh about the cold. We had the odd flurry here today, but that was about it.

Les, great pics!

Bethany, as you know I'm sorry to hear about everything going on at the school :( Hope the run tonight is therapeutic.

I did a tempo run today - about 6 miles. Abs to follow, I think.

Take care, all,
Natasha

SusanMac

04-05-2006, 05:59 PM

Nat - Tempo runs are so fun, aren't they? I love em.

Badunnin - yikes. this is high school, isn't it? that's waaaay too young.

Seathyme - wonderful to hear from you, as always. keep up the yoga.

Rode outside today for just under an hour. Shoulda gone longer but wimped out (the downside of the out&back route). But, it felt good. So far, good success w/the new saddle. Am also sporting a new jersey from my cycling club. I've never had a real team jersey before. Kinda exciting, in a geeky way.

Natasha

04-05-2006, 06:08 PM

Rode outside today for just under an hour. Shoulda gone longer but wimped out (the downside of the out&back route). But, it felt good. So far, good success w/the new saddle. Am also sporting a new jersey from my cycling club. I've never had a real team jersey before. Kinda exciting, in a geeky way.

Ohhhh - very cool about the jersey! What's it like? Enquiring minds want to know! ;) Also, what's the new saddle like? I got a new one last year (I think). It's a women-specific Serfas and I love it. Much comfier than my previous seat.

And I agree with you that tempo runs are fun (usually). Sometimes they're just hard ;)

Off to figure out what we should make on Saturday night (we're having friends over). I love poring through cookbooks!

Natasha

Kathy B

04-05-2006, 06:24 PM

Hi, all! Wasn't sure I would get to run today with rain in the forecast, but I did a 2.5 mile as soon as I got home from a half day at work (after stretching thoroughly of course! :D ). I haven't had any more shin aching after my last two runs, so I think those new stretches must be really helping. And I did both of the runs (yesterday's and today) without any stopping, so I was pretty happy with that. Don't want to push it, so I think I will wait until Saturday to run again.

Terri gets the exercise GOLD STAR! I am amazed how consistently you have stayed with it, Terri. Way to go! :)

Glad your new saddle is working out, Susan!

Bethany, so sorry to hear about your student. That is really tough. Hope your treadmill time is helpful.

Les, I think the reason I forget to check the clock, is because the time isn't my primary concern as I leave the house....I am more preoccupied wondering if I can really make it through the run! :o I am getting a little less anxious each time, though, and starting to look forward to getting outside.
Thanks from me, too, for the pics!

Feel better Seathyme!

Natasha, What is a tempo run?

Leslie Ferguson

04-05-2006, 09:39 PM

(((((Bethany))))) YIKES! That must be tough - my heart goes out to you, the kids who've been left to deal with the suicide, and the community as a whole. Sometimes you just wish there was some real sign (neon-type) that would give more than a hint but I know there's not. I hope your run was cathartic. Accept my prayers and condolences.

After that most everything seems inconsequential but we must continue.

That's a tough comment coming from a 10-year old Terri. I hope you can provide a positive influence on her and your soon to be child.

Susan - A two workout day yesterday and a great ride with a new seat today - what more could you ask for? And a cool new riding jersey - Woo Hoo!
seathyme - Thanks for the check in. I hope your cold is the byproduct of your stress like you believe it is. I know that stressful times are manifested in different ways in different people. Take care and I think your running will come back soon enough. Snow? :confused: It is April now. Maybe that will bode well for good weather for the Marathon - not like the past two years. :rolleyes:
Natasha - A hard tempo run makes you remember what is fun about running. Good job on 6 miles too.
Kathy B - Great job on a continuous run for the second day in a row. And I was joking about conveniently forgetting to check the clock before departing on your run - I'm a person who always runs on the clock (although I'm running more for time than distance these days). I think it might be wise to take a day or two to rest your "hooves" - no need to really press your legs this close to your first race. I'll let Natasha tell you what her tempo run is because there are a couple different "flavors" of that drill. In my case a tempo run starts at an easy pace (not quite long run pace) to warm up then ramps up to 10k pace for about 200-400m at the middle of the run - for instance if I do a 45 minute tempo run I'll ramp up for about 21-22 minutes until I'm at 10k pace and I'll hold that pace for about 1:45 give or take - then I'll ramp down to my easy pace for a 3-5 minute cooldown. There are a couple other tempo runs - running at your race pace/tempo for instance - but I'll have to defer to Susan and/or Natasha for their type of tempo run.

Mixed news from the doctor earlier today. There's nothing obviously wrong with me - even with all the testing, poking, and prodding they've done. :( But the good news is there's nothing terrible that is causing my condition. The moderately bad news is I'm on another monitoring program - blood work and gastroenterologist follow-up every 6 months (to go with my anemia and liver enzyme blood test every 6 months) but in the grand scheme of things I'll accept a "you're healthy" from the doctor (and an "I'm stumped" too response).

I followed that nifty report with a good 8.25 mile run. Probably will be my last run before the PRT - I'll do that Friday so I need to have fresh legs for that. Plus I'm having a little ache from my races and the last two runs so aspirin and ice have become my friend - again.

See you all tomorrow. Be good to yourselves and tell those who are close to you how much you love them.

Happy trails,
Les

TLee4

04-06-2006, 06:54 AM

I'm sucked back in to the VRB's..just can't stay away! :D Actually I've been enjoying reading about all of your training and races, etc. all along.

Thanks for the nice words re: my exercise. It hasn't seemed hard at all to just stay in the groove. I'm more worried about what happens post-baby, but I'm sure it will all work out!

Yes, I am very sad about my niece's self-view. Unfortunately I live in IL and she lives in CA so I can only say so much. But I try to plant the seeds wherever I am able.

Have a good day, all!
Terri

SusanMac

04-06-2006, 01:54 PM

Natasha - You are being way too nice showing interest in my jersey. I actually am not wild about the style (some co called Potico or something), but the design is very cool. Light blue & purple.

Kathy - I don't build up quite so slowly for my tempo runs the way that Les does, but like he said there's a wide variety. You know how intervals are short bursts of really fast followed by a walking or slow running rest period? Tempo runs are where you run longer (usually a mile for me) but closer to race pace. So, you've picked up your pace, but you're not going all out. You bookened this w/slow warmup & cool down. It's a way to teach your body & muscles to get used to going fast, w/out having a really long workout that would wear you out as much as an actual race. When you're having a good day & feeling pumped, they're a blast. When you're feeling sluggish & just trying to get your workout out of the way....they suck :-)

I swam earlier this morning. Then just got back from a 35-min run. My last one before my race on Saturday. It's a 10K for the American Cancer Society. Our rowing club has a group that does it each year. It's a fun one, and surprisingly hilly.

Leslie Ferguson

04-06-2006, 09:05 PM

Hijacking for Susan
Go UW!!! It looked like a good game when I was watching them play Maine. 3-1 when I turned the set off.
release from hijack!! ;)

Susan - With that out of my way, great swim this morning and run too. I have the same feeling about race pace runs as you do tempo. Some days the race pace miles (warm up for 5 minutes, stretch, run your designated miles at race pace, cool down for 5 minutes, stretch) workout wsa the same - I either looked forward to it or dreaded it. On my fresh days it was a great run - especially when I could knock out 10 miles at race pace - others... let's just say that they came and went. Enjoy your 10k.

Tomorrow morning at 8 we'll do our semi-annual PRT. (Up to) 2 minutes of sit-ups (fie on the Navy sit ups), (up to) 2 minutes of push ups, and 1.5 mile run. As you can imagine, the run will be the easiest part for me followed by of all things the push ups (you think? :confused: ). So I'm going to turn in early (no really, this time I'll make it).

On my promise list for tomorrow - my weight workout for Bethany. BTW - how are things at school?

Happy trails,
Les