Virtual Running Buddies - 6/13

[SusanMac]

Was everyone scared to start yesterday b/c it was Friday the 13th??!

I'll start, as I have 2 workouts to report. Friday was a 40-min neighborhood run w/Bode. He was doing OK, but got flustered w/me when I wanted to practice turns while heeling. He just wanted to sniff. We had fun, though. We pass by his vet's office, and he always does something funny or weird right in front (like stop to roll in the grass). Do you think he knows??

Well, today was a long overdue trip down to sculling practice. I decided to ride my bike, and glad I did. It was too windy to row. So, at least this way I got in a 60-min bike ride, plus a quick cruise through the farmer's market. It was lovely.

Sprouts - Welcome to VRB!! I don't eat the gel chewies too often, so don't have any good rec's for ya. Many friends really like the Clif Blocks, but others say it leaves a yucky film on their teeth. I see people sticking them to their bike frames, which grosses me out to no end (I need to add that to the 'weird' thread!) You might want to try the Jelly Belly Sport Beans. I haven't found them to give me too much energy, but I think part of it is mental. I mean...you're eating candy! Good luck.

I have completely forgotten about everyone else's posts so can't comment on anyone's updates :-)

Newsomz - are ya getting back into the groove on a renewed running schedule?

Anyone heard from Seathyme, Legolas or MaryH lately???

Have a great weekend! I leave tomorrow for Montreal. I'm sure I"ll check in some time while I'm there. It's a nice break from the craziness. Hope I don't have to post in French!!

[Natasha]

Hi everyone! I am back from Spain. It was just great all around. I got in one wonderful run and walked about 5 hours/day a few days so will count those as decent workouts for a trip, though I missed my bike Also picked up Spanish running and cycling mags and look forward to delving more into those!

I admit I just skimmed last week's thread but it sounds like everyone is doing well.

Susan, thanks for starting us off this week! Yes, I think Bode knows And oui, you do have to post in French from Montreal! Enjoy la belle province - it's a fun, unique place. Good job on your race last week! I missed a 15k last week that I would have liked to do but with good reason since I wasn't here. Happy belated birthday to you.

Vicci, happy belated birthday to your DH!

Les, hope your internship is going well!

Welcome Sprouts to the boards!! No, there's no cycling thread, as you suspected, but do bring on your cycling questions here as much as you like I think all gels and gel-like products are nasty on your teeth - at least I find that. That being said, I can consume most of them without ill effects. My favourite is apple cinnamon CarbBoom. It seems a bit less icing-like than some of the others. I don't have any real experience with the chewies or jelly beans.

Hi to Kathy, Seathyme, ktg (how was France??), Betsy, Carrie, and everyone else!

Natasha

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks for starting Susan I wasn't away because it was Friday the 13th, just away beacuse I skipped a ride and needed to crash and get sleep yesterday. Glad you rode to your sculling practice that was canceled - at least you got a good ride in.

Welcome sprouts - not much I can add about blocks because I've never used them. I've done the beans and they aren't too bad once you get over the shell. The better gels for me are Gu Plain and Vanilla, and Cliff Shots Vanilla. Hope to see you around here more frequently.

Welcome back from Spain Natasha. It sounds like you had a great time when you were there - running and walking all the time is fun, fun, fun. I'm having a great internship so far - keeping me off the streets too.

Howdy to the rest of the gang, I'm also wondering where MaryH, ktg, and seathyme are off to. I hope they're out there running and just not getting to the computer.

My workout today was a really long bike ride. I headed out on the W&OD trail and ended up doing 26.5+ miles. Oddly, it was 5 minutes faster coming back than going out. I didn't think it was that much of an incline but obviously it was.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend -- here comes the thunderstorms. See you later and happy trails,
Les

[Sprouts]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. I tried the Gu Orange Burst this morning and liked that better than the Clif gel stuff. Picked up some Jelly Belly's, Clif Blocks (margarita w/ salt flavor!), Hammer Gel and some organic honey something or other to try over the next couple of weeks. Got in 16 hilly miles this morning on the mountain bike (although road riding). Did 17 flatter miles yesterday. My legs are happily tired. I should clarify that I'm not one to use the gels or chewies all the time but with this massive two day mtn bike ride coming up I need to get something.

Susan, glad you got a ride in but sorry the sculling practice was canceled.

Natasha, Spain sounds incredible!

Les, my ride yesterday was that way in reverse, it doesn't seem like much of a decline going but then coming back all the sudden it's much tougher.

[Kathy B]

HI, all! A little over 4.5 for me this AM, and it was really pleasant out. Yesterday I did about 3 and then weights at the CC.

The kids and work are keeping DH and I ridiculously busy this week, so not sure if I will get much in. Things should slow down a bit in July, but ...famous last words and all that!

Glad you had a great time in Spain, Natasha. When my sis and I were there (many years ago), we noticed that there were about 3 shoe stores per block (or it seemed that way anyhow)! Of course we had to succumb. What places did you visit?

Good job on your workouts, Susan, and have a great trip to Montreal! Sounds like a nice break.

Nice work on your bike ride, Les! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend after your busy first week at the hospital.

Welcome to the VRB thread, Sprout! I know nothing about gels or shots or any of that. Never even heard of them until I joined this thread. I haven't done any really long distances, though, so I haven't ever had a need for them. After reading the above comments, I'd probably just stick a bag of raisins in my pocket!

Hope everyone's weekend is going well!

[Natasha]

Wow, good long rides, Les and Sprouts!! I also rode today and had a great time, though I didn't go as far as either of you. I'd missed riding and it felt so good to be back in the saddle (literally).

Les, glad the internship is going so well I'm not at all surprised. Please say hi to LW from me, BTW - hope she is well.

Kathy, you are always a whirlwind of activity - I'm impressed. I hope things do calm down for you in July, if that's what you want! Sounds like amid everything you are still fitting in the runs and other activities. Impressive!! I wasn't in Spain for very long so only saw Madrid and vicinity. I figured I'd just see that area properly (which I believe I was able to do), and some other time hope to go back and see the rest of the country. I did see quite a few shoe stores but maybe not as many as you and your sister saw. It could also be that I passed by them without looking as the only kind of shoe that really interests me is running shoes (okay, and other technical shoes). I know, weird...

Best to all,
Nat

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. I tried the Gu Orange Burst this morning and liked that better than the Clif gel stuff. Picked up some Jelly Belly's, Clif Blocks (margarita w/ salt flavor!), Hammer Gel and some organic honey something or other to try over the next couple of weeks.

It has been my experience that certain flavors of each gel are better than others although I have problems with PowerGel of any flavor. I've tried the Hammer Gel and the Honey Stinger - they're both good but not my favorites. The honey gives me a real jolt of energy so when I use it I have to make sure I get plenty of water or they're really hard on my system.

Got in 16 hilly miles this morning on the mountain bike (although road riding). Did 17 flatter miles yesterday. My legs are happily tired. I should clarify that I'm not one to use the gels or chewies all the time but with this massive two day mtn bike ride coming up I need to get something.

Ah the joys of good tired legs, as opposed to my lats after the ride today. I think it will be fine by the morning though. Good luck with your rides coming up.

Natasha - LW waves hi and hopes you are well and is a little jealous. Never been to Barcelona but I hear it's a neat place - in fact I think Charlie has been ther to run a marathon.
Kathy B - I'd say that I had a relaxing day - much to my chagrin - because I turned off the alarm and slept until 8:30. Only an issue because that made me miss an ordination for a classmate who graduated this year. Oh well, I really needed the sleep. Hope things aren't too weird for you these coming weeks.

That's about it all -- have a great Sunday.

Les

[Natasha]

Hi everyone!

Les, too bad you missed the ordination but as you said you must have really needed the sleep. Did you get in a run or ride today?

How's everyone else doing?

DH and I had a very fun ride today. It was my best road ride ever (not that that's saying a lot) We couldn't stay out as long as I wanted because we had to get back to wait for delivery of my luggage that didn't make it back on my flight. Oh, well - it's T-storming now so not good riding weather. Later today we both plan to run but it will probably be on the treadmill.

Happy Sunday everyone!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Glad you had an enjoyable ride with DH today. T-storms up there? I hope they aren't too bad. Lost luggage - that's never any fun but it sounds like they knew where it was, a good thing.

I ran today as a follow up to yesterday's ride. I'll just say this was the worst run I've had in ages. I ended up having to do 1 minute running/30 seconds walking for a portion of the run - I hope it was a combination of hills, slightly dehydrated, and beat from yesterday. I had a few sections that weren't too bad but still did 4/1 for the last 10 minutes of the run. It ended up being 52 minutes but mostly because I the route back was impassible (a huge tree fell across it sometime recently) so I had to get back so how. Needless to say, I'll claim the run as complete and hope that it isn't the first of a bunch of bad runs - I need to get some good ones under my belt so I can keep things sane at the end of August.

Have a great week all and happy trails,
Les

[Sprouts]

Oh, Les, that sounds like a miserable run. Although to newer runners like me it's nice to hear that everyone has days like that.

Natasha, I love those rides where they just feel fantastic. I had a couple myself this weekend.

[tabbykat]

Hi y'all- Sprouts: I am an avid user of gels and electrolyte replacements. Not to say I scarf them up every time I am out for a run or ride but I have had good success with them on my distance legs. (and no I am not a Gu spokesperson)

I started using them 2 years ago and feel they really have helped my training and my enjoyment of long distances. I used to hit the wall after 30minutes running. Just an irritating feeling of being tired and my legs getting heavy. I didn't know what it was and was never into the scientific side of running. I just ran. When I started looking into why I couln't run (with enjoyment and energy) after 30-45 minutes someone recommended Gu. It seriously worked.

Since then I have tried Hammer and Cliff gels which were very nasty and I absolutely can't stand the shot blocks. My go-tos are Gu and Nuun. My favorite flavors of Gu are: Chocolate (if you keep it close to your body, the packet gets warm and tastes like chocolate syrup), Plain, Vanilla, and Espresso- in that order. I will eat an occasional orange, lime, strawberry/banana, and tri-berry but they aren't my favorites. I like Nuun for electrolyte replacement because it has minimal calories, no sugar, no artificial colors (they use beet juice), and is gentle on the belly. My favorite is Kona Kola, and now they came out with an orange-ginger that is yummy. The other two flavors I don't prefer.
On my super long hot races I have been known to use electrolyte/sodium tabs (can't remember the name off hand but if you are interested I can look). I have also tried GU20 and camelbak which are ok but I like a lot Nuun better.
For recovery drinks I like Accelerade and Endurox. My absolute favorite is the premixed accelerade citrus grapefruit. For the powder (both accelerade and endurox) mixes they all are pretty good but orange is the easiest to drink. It has a bit of whey taste to it. I have tried Hammer products but found them to be very sour milk/whey tasting and thick. I am still sampling their stuff so I haven't made any real conclusions yet. After a duathlon last week I did one of their recovery drinks and altho it was hard to drink I felt better that day and the next.
On my six day race in Costa Rica I used the Sports Beans and Luna moons, but I agree with the other poster....they are just candy. I think it was more mental. I ate them for calories because they were easy to stash in my hydration pack and were a nice break from the cliff and mojo bars.

I have tried Cytomax- which I have heard good reviews but it really really upset my digestive tract. I am still going to give it another try, but two out of two times has left a bad feeling.

So, sorry for the long post, but Gu and Nuun are my recommendations. Gu has a thing where if you send in your used packets they will give you either free Gu or Gu Schwaag. Also, I bought (but haven't tried yet) a thing-a-ma-jig called a Gel-bot (?). It is for cycling or running and is a water bottle that has a little compartment on top where you pour your gel into. If you push down the mouth piece you just get water, if you pull it up and squeeze/suck you get gel. Supposed to help avoid having to tear open gel packets and then store the gooey stuff in your jersey. Has had rave reviews online so we shall see.

Take care....have been biking a lot (mostly commuting to/from work) and need to get back into running more, I miss it. Trying to get my swim workouts as my first Tri is the end of this month!
Good luck everyone and keep on movin'!

[ktg0930]

Hi everyone! I am so happy to be spending the next few weeks at home with no work travel! The past few weeks have been crazy so I haven't gotten a lot of running in.

Last week, I was flying back from Toronto through Charlotte. My flight was scheduled to leave Charlotte at 10:25 pm and we boarded late but were headed to the runway just before 11 pm when our flight attendant fell off her chair. She apparently got dizzy and didn't appear to have hit her head or anything. so we went back to the gate, the medics came, and our flight was cancelled. It's always a little plane from Charlotte, so there is only one flight attendant.

Natasha, glad you had a really nice time in Spain!

Susan, have a great trip to Montreal.

KathyB, just reading about your schedule makes me tired. Good job on the workouts.

Sprouts, welcome!

Les, sounds like you are tired and need a break. How's the internship going?

Hello to everyone else!

[Sprouts]

Tabbykat, do you buy the Nuun locally or online? Where do you find it?

Ktg, that flight sounds dramatic!

Tonight is my group ride as long as the t-storms hold out. I love my group ride so I'm really hoping they come either early or late so we don't get rained out.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Welcome tabbykat it's good to have you here. That is a great review of gels etc. and it's always good to hear first-hand reports from someone who tried all the gels. Good job on your riding and good luck on your upcoming tri. Which one/what distance is it? We're always happy to cheer on folks in their races, not just their running races.

Much obliged Sprouts, I'm glad that my run helps you (seriously) because I have friends who always assumed that I didn't have off runs/months. I'm proof positive that it doesn't matter how long (years not distance) you run, there's always something to learn and things never get old.

ktg - What a flight, getting stuck in Charlotte. I know why but it seems odd to fly from Toronto through Charlotte to Tennessee. Thanks for asking about my internship - it's been quite the experience. Lots of fun meeting patients and all but quite taxing and revealing about things that are going on inside (hard to explain, can't quite explain it, and whatever comes out of my processing will definitely be OT for this thread). I may post something when I can get there but I'm really happy with the job.

Yesterday was a bust. Long afternoon at work, a thunderstorm that blew through and knocked the power out for 11 hours at our house, peer review of one of my verbatim reports (last week's thread has a better explanation of what that is). But I got out for ~35 minutes tonight to get myself back together and then have a late dinner.

Time to head home for the evening so happy trails all and have a good hump day.
Les

[Sprouts]

Les, I'm so glad you didn't take that the wrong way!

Tabbykat, thank you so much for your extensive review of the different gel/gu/chewie/drink options. Because I'm also trying to loose weight it's hard for me to think about consuming calories as I'm burning but I know that for my ride in 11 days I'll need something. I really liked the Clif chewies flavor margarita with salt so that might be my go to for this ride but it's good to have ideas of what to go for next time.

[Kathy B]

Not much to report here, although I did get in a little over 3 miles this AM. Beautiful day.

Went to a funeral Monday for a longtime friend/colleague of mine, wife and mother of 3, who finally succumbed after battling a brain tumor for a year and a half. Still feeling a little drained.

Back to work tomorrow, and partial shifts for the next several days as we transition to a new computer system. I'll try to catch up with all of you next week. Wishing you well.

[Natasha]

Kathy, I'm so sorry Hugs to you if you can use 'em.

ktg, that sounds like a dramatic flight! Glad the attendant was okay.

Les, bummer about the bad run. Boo to those! That's good that you got in another run since then that was better.

Hi to all. I need to run but am procrastinating. I just read a bit of the Spanish Runner's World, though, and it's inspired me to get moving. Just read a bit about a 25k in Berlin that sounds pretty neat - and I do love Berlin... but for today, it'll be a regular ol' Canadian run for me

Have a good evening, everyone.

Nat

[Natasha]

Checking back in to report a very strong run of about 50 minutes. I can now resume my magazine reading with a clear conscience Just kidding - I've actually been very good lately about rolling with the punches when workouts get missed or truncated due to that little thing called life getting in the way.

Forgot to mention that I also enjoyed your post on gels, tabbykat. DH bought a Gelbot about a year (or close to two?) ago. It's not bad but he hasn't been all that sussed about it for whatever reason. I've only used it a couple of times myself and haven't formulated much of an opinion on it. I've since seen them on deep clearance so maybe others here have also been less than wowed. I'll be interested to hear what you think.

[Leslie Ferguson]

No sweat Sprouts, I knew exactly what you were talking about. You're right too, you can't skimp on calories when you are at this stage in training. The weight will come off when it needs to - don't fret.
Kathy - My condolences to you and your friend's family (and the rest of the family at the Hospital). I hope that you help take care of the family as well as your golleagues and yourself. Good run too!
Natasha - These days any motivation is sufficient especially when it leads to a 50 minute run.

No run today even though I left work on time today. Someone was pouring buckets off the house when I got home so much so that the street was almost full of water. I wasn't expecting this much tiredness after work each day too - but I guess that's to be expected in the long run. Maybe tomorrow since I did other therapy tonight (cooking with intentional left-overs for lunches ).

Happy trails,
Les

[Natasha]

Les, too bad about the run but cooking - with leftovers to enjoy later! - sounds like a grand consolation prize I haven't cooked much the past couple of weeks and would like to do more next week. We'll see.

Need to spin tonight but first we are having dinner with a friend.

I'll probably not check back during the weekend so have a lovely one, everyone, and I'll see you on the new thread.

Natasha

[Leslie Ferguson]

Hi Nat! Cooking is such fun therapy - hopefully you spun and cooked tonight.

Love to chat but it's late all around. Late arrival from work, lots of good things but you're right about the draining days and finally getting energy back after I get my schedule figured out. Glad you had fun today and the kids kept in check. I hope the swim goes well tomorrow. Today I ended up with a practice Code Blue in one of my units - luckily it wasn't the real thing but I ended up getting charged up (not as much as the docs but...). It's interesting to watch the semi-controlled chaos of a mock code response. Luckily tomorrow is Friday and I can do some normal things then, I may also be able to get a ride in too.

Gotta go bed calls. Happy trails,
Les