VRB News, Reports, Etc. w/o 6/25/10

[VictoriaL]

Finally! I get to start out the new thread with a decent run!

But first, I had to peruse last week’s thread since I was an absentee…

Robyn congratulations on the successful completion of that hilly, difficult race! I hope that both your tendon and your lungs have recovered well.

Les, yikes, 17 miles on the bike in DC in midafternoon in late June is quite the accomplishment. I did something similar the other day, got caught up in another project and realized at 3pm that I should run. Fortunately, a thunderstorm rolled in before I could get out. Oops, did I say fortunately??? Hey, when’s your family reunion? My Dad’s side is having their first since the mid-80’s and I’m excited. I’ll be running ragged with MIL’s birthday dinner on the 2nd, we leave for my parents’ on the 3rd, and the reunion is on the 4th—it will be a welcome break!

Kathy to what parts are you headed off to next week? Business or pleasure?

Tkay hope that you have a safe and fun trip to Phoenix! Actually, I’d like to have the chance to be a fair-weather wimp.

Susan welcome back. You do travel to interesting locations, and running along the Danube—wow! And I’ll bet it felt good to be back in open water again, and you’re having great weather for it.

Well, I had something light to eat this morning, did my stretches, then went out and managed an almost-3-miler. I wish I could remember all of the distances on all of the different legs of my trails since I was only .06 mile short of 3 and could have done that rather easily. Anyway, I got in a run and a sauna—those woods trails were literally steamy this morning! Ah, summer…

About the party. The new apartment complex that MIL is now living at has a private dining room where we will have about 12 (immediate family) guests. I offered to make the dinner after seeing how much caterers charge. Now, for reasons I won’t get into here, I thoroughly regret that decision. But it’s all on track: braciole (steak stuffed with proscuitto and provolone and simmered for many hours in tomato sauce, making the best darn pasta sauce I have ever eaten!). cool little flower-shaped pasta with the sauce, chicken with roasted red pepper sauce, lemon rice pilaf, herbed breadsticks, mixed green salad with strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, grilled tomato and scallion salad, and for dessert a (purchased) raspberry-filled coconut layer cake and a chocolate-almond torte which I have been dying to have a reason to make (!). I’ve already made and frozen the braciole and sauce, and the breadsticks. Next week will be very busy and I will absolutely need some long, stress-relieving runs!

So what’s on for the weekend, everyone? We are (drum roll, please!) going to the lake house for the weekend. It’s been many weeks (since before MIL fell and went into the hospital for 2 wks) and I feel that I am on schedule enough with party preparations that we can do this. I will refuse to think about, or talk about, the party or any of my inlaws while lazing on the boat/ dock/ deck with my rum drink of choice! And I’ll definitely get in a run while there, too.

Have a fun, safe weekend, all!

[Natasha]

Hi everyone!

Vicci, thanks for starting us off this week and I'm glad you can claim a run (to use a Lesism). WOW about your menu. You are amazing. Can't wait to hear how wonderfully it all turns out. Enjoy the lake house. You have so earned it!!

Kathy, have a great trip, wherever you are going

Susan, welcome back! You always go on such cool trips.

Robyn, congrats on the hilly run.

Les, sounds like you're keeping up with the biking. Good to see.

Hi to Jennifer, TKay (hope Phoenix is good), and everyone else.

So. Up and down week here. Crazy busy, a bit of stress, and yes, an earthquake to boot. Susan, I didn't know they had those around here either I was actually travelling on business and was quite close to the epicentre. It was a really good day - truly memorable. (Seriously!) Not comfortable writing all the details here but suffice to say it made for a good story.

The training took a bit of a dive this week but that's okay. BTW, I've decided not to race this year, so maybe I shouldn't call it training, but I still do out of habit.

Looking forward to a pleasant weekend. I'd like to spend some time poring over photos with DH and choosing ones to print out and hang up. Other than that - relaxing with friends, puttering around the house, farmers' market visiting, and a bit of cooking all sound good to me. And a run, and a ride, and some yoga!

Take care, all, and have a wonderful weekend!

[SusanMac]

Vicci - Your party menu sounds fantastic! I would have done the same thing, btw....thought it was a good idea, then second-guessed myself :-) Have fun at the lakehouse

Nat - You should absolutely still call it training. You're training for life!

Just got back from a bike ride that was, well, kind of cruddy. It was really windy, I feel quite tired & just not in the mood to workout. I got in 22 miles and a decent workout, but heart just wasn't in it. Know what I mean? Oh well. Some days are just like that.

It's a gorgeous summer day, so we are headed downtown in search of lakeside music & some al fresco dining. Have a great weekend everyone!

[Robyn1007]

Vicci enjoy the lakehouse! You deserve a break.

Nat I'm with Susan, it's good to train just for training!

Susan I've defintely had some of those workouts! Sounds like a delightful evening.

It's been a kind of up and down week for me too. Tuesday was so hot and I was supposed to be doing a 5 mile tempo run but had to call it at 3. I was just too hot and having severe issues. It was dissappointing but I'll get over it. Yesterday was my first track workout. Holy hell that hurt (and still hurts today) but I did it and got through some long held mental barriers from junior high school.

Up next, 9 miles. Bright and early tomorrow I meet my running buddy Barb and off we'll go. Doing the first 5 just the 2 of us then meeting the group for the final 4. Mainly going early to avoid some heat. It was 99 degrees here today.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Checking in from Hot-lanta!

Thanks for starting this week Vicci. I'm impressed with your menu and agree that you've earned your weekend at the lake. A run and a sauna together - sounds lovely. Enjoy a rum drink and a run too. My reunion - started today. (More later)
Nat - I had to check out the earthquake on Google - I didn't realize that one hit up there. I haven't felt an earthquake since I was in California years ago - sometimes they aren't bad and other times... not my cup of tea. Ditto the sentiment on training - training for life or maintenance training for the next event (whenever that may be).
Susan - I liked your report on Budapest - makes me want to run there sometime. Sorry your ride wasn't anything to shout about but miles are miles and sometimes things are like that. Maybe next ride.
Robyn - 99. that's really hot and very much east coast weather right now. Good idea to head out early to beat the heat if you can. Enjoy your run tomorrow.

As I alluded to earlier I'm in HOT Atlanta (although it's a little cooler here than it was in DC and Charlotte yesterday). The first official events of my family reunion, complete with a 6 x 1 foot family tree (just 3 generations). We saw a Braves game tonight (they won over the Tigers 3-1). Tomorrow we'll slog around the golf course in the morning for the "Morast Sisters Memorial Open" before heading to a cousin's house for a pool party and cookout.

Not much running since Tuesday - I was feeling really wiped out on Wednesday, kind of wobbly, so I took a break. Yesterday was a 7 hour trip from DC to Charlotte and today was 4 1/2 from Charlotte to Decatur/Atlanta. Still thought I'd check in and give a shout. Have a good weekend; keep cool and hydrated.

Les

[Natasha]

Les, wow, the family reunion already?? When LW mentioned that to me it seemed so far away. Time flies.

Susan, how was your evening out?

Oh yes - I do plan to keep calling it training, since as I said it's a habit to do so, and also because I feel like based on past experience I've earned the right not to call it "working out" or something "Training for life" struck me funny, though - I think by this point in my life I should have the training to live

I had a splendid ride yesterday - tons of energy. Today I plan to run. We just got back from the farmers' market. It was good but it's drizzling a bit. I bought some nice-looking organic kale and plan to make the kale chips everyone raves about.

Editing to add that I got in my run (5 miles and a bit). It was pretty good and I'm happy to have it done and the afternoon stretching ahead of me.

Take care, all

[Leslie Ferguson]

Time certainly has flown... no run (no kidding). Walked 9 holes today up and down hills in Atlanta, then fiddled around with about 40 of my relatives. It's been a great reunion, even though we've had a remembrance for 3 relatives who have died since the last reunion. One not too unexpectedly (~88) but one very unexpectedly (50). Tomorrow... wrap up and head towards home.

Happy trails all,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Nat, have you had the time to go through photos this weekend? I like "fit to live"-- that says it all! We also felt the earthquake tremors here, it was very odd. I meant to mention it when I wrote Friday. And I've meant to make the kale chips, but that will have to wait until fall when I can turn on the oven again...

Well, Susan, I would certainly consider it a reward to have some lakeside music and alfresco dining after a "cruddy" (cough, cough!) 22 mile bike ride and workout. Hey, you hung in there!

Robyn, congratulations on breaking those long-standing mental barriers! I still have a few from way back then, and probably always will (junior high and high school-- you couldn't pay me enough to go back there!). And I'm surprised that it reaches 99 degrees in those mountains, never thought it would. Hope that you got in a long run (early!) yesterday.

It sounds as though you're having a very nice time this weekend, Les. No run, but all of the walking you have been doing certainly counts for something, right?!? Hey, do you know much about the Northern Neck area of VA? DH and I are considering taking our vacation there later this summer rather than at our "usual" place in DE. We've never been anywhere on the Bay other than St. Michael's (MD) so any little bit of info you may have would help.

Darn, I love it here at the lake! It has been 6 weeks since we last were able to stay, and I got a little grumpy this morning, realizing that today we would have to return to... everything else. Other than some organizing and roasting 4 pounds of red bell peppers for a sauce, I've done nothing for the birthday dinner. Did a bit of weeding, but mostly relaxing. I was able to get in a run of a little over 3 miles yesterday morning-- wow, these hills are tougher than I remembered. But it was good.

Also, thanks to everyone for the comments on the menu. The positive feedback really helps (esp when I found out on Friday that SIL's 2 teenagers, ages 17 and 19, will probably eat nothing...). It's gonna be a crazy week!

Hi to everyone else out there, and hope that you all are having a great weekend! Isn't summer just wonderful?

[Robyn1007]

Les I hope your family reunion is continuing to create lots of fabulous memories.

Nat I hope you enjoyed the kale chips!

Vicci I actually live next to the mountains and we get this hot every summer. In fact we almost always have a handful of 100+ degree days. Sorry you have to leave your peaceful respite. Hope you get back there soon.

Well, another mileage bump in the bag. On Saturday I did 9 miles! I was definitely sore getting started from Thursday's track workout. A teammate said today that she was annihilated by said track workout and that puts it about right. The 9 miles went pretty well except that it was a bit slower than I'd hoped. But, I have to remember that it's hot right now and that really drains my speed. I love that my team is so ready to cheer for my little victories. One of my teammates won the Run for Congo Women in Denver today and we also took places 3, 5, 6 and 7 and I got to go down and cheer for them but they cheer just as loudly for me.

I've got an easy rest week coming up with no weeknight group workouts. I only have 2 4 mile runs, a 3 mile and a hill sprint workout on the schedule. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself.

[Natasha]

Robyn, awesome run! It feels sooooo good to kick down those barriers, doesn't it?

Les, I'm sorry to hear about the remembrances (especially for the 50 year old) but am glad your reunion is going well overall.

Vicci, may I have whatever your SIL's teenagers won't eat?

We did go through photos and now have a lovely Nova Scotia collage and so on. We went there so long ago but only got around to doing the collage now. We still have wedding photos we want to print and frame, for that matter

I did a shortish spin today and lots of weights. We also had a barbecue with a friend which was a lot of fun (and the food was delicious).

Hi to Kathy, Jennifer, Susan, TKay, and everyone else!

[SusanMac]

Happy Monday runners!

Robyn - Sounds like more fun w/your running group. Remind me what is next on your race calendar. I think I remember talk of a half-marathon? Any tri's this summer?

Nat - Grueling matches for both US and England this weekend :-( We went out to watch the US match w/some friends, which made it much more fun & bearable. I hadn't thought about 'training for life' making it sound like you actually need practice - doh!

Vicci - I've never made or eaten braciole before, but have heard of it. It sounds a little sinful...is it?

Les - Your weekend sounds fabulous!! Our family is not big enough for reunions, so I'm always a bit jealous when I hear of others

I had a really great weekend.
Sat - 30-minute open water swim w/a GF. Followed by an 8-mile run. My run felt really, really smooth, like I could have kept going, which was a big confidence booster. I think I could be a bit farther along in my long runs, so this was much needed

Sun - started w/t-storms, so missed an organized group ride that I was really looking forward to :-( But, once the rain cleared, a GF & I headed out on a 55-mile ride. I wasn't in the mood at all, but DH convinced me to go, and I'm so glad we did. Nice to have it out of the way.

Mon - happy, happy rest day :-)

[Kathy B]

Hi, all! Had a busy weekend at work, not many patients, but the ones we had kept us hopping! Now I am off to the CC to squeak in some weights before I have to pack and leave this afternoon. Heading to Texas for a two day conference, then after a meeting Thursday AM, DD and I are heading out for Wisconsin for a couple of family reunions. Who planned this schedule anyway??

Should be fun, though, and I do enjoy road trips with my kids. Hopefully we may run into a VRB while we are there, too!

Honestly, I have no business being on the computer with the to-do-before-I-leave list laying beside me, but I wanted to check in before we leave.

You should feel very self-satisfied after that weekend, Susan. Enjoy your day of rest!!

Natasha, whenever people start talking about pictures, I immediately feel guilty. You wouldn't believe the size of my box..! Good job on your spin. I echo all the other comments about "training for life"! That's why I don't get TOO excited when I miss a month or so of weights or yoga or whatever....I just start up again when I'm ready and go from there. The BBQ sounds fun!

Robyn, congrats on the 9 miles. I wouldn't worry too much about your speed. Longer runs are not usually meant to be fast from what I have read, until you are actually racing. They are more for building endurance, getting your muscles/body used to going for longer periods of time. Enjoy your rest week!

Vicci, glad your lake visit was so rewarding! You deserved that relaxation. Your meal sounds like it will definitely be lovely. I really admire the way you have it so organized and much of it done ahead. What a great planner!

Les, aren't family reunions fun? We have two ahead of us, one on my dad's side is huge. Lots of farm families in the family tree, and most of them had BIG families. Then a much smaller one on my mom's side with just my mom, two aunts, and 5 cousins. My sibs and I with our families make up more than two thirds of that group! If it weren't for reunions, though, we would probably never see a lot of these people, so I always enjoy going.

Hope you are having a wonderful time on your trip, Tkay!

See you all next week, sometime!

[TKay]

Hello, VRBs. A quick pop-in from me to just let you all know I'm around and surviving. No runs to report. Not a single one. I may have mentioned that ds got sick last week just before school let out? Well, I was lucky enough to be the next recipient of his fantastic bug. Ugh. I am still not up to snuff. I haven't been this sick in a long, long while. I felt deathly ill (severe body aches, skin tender to the touch, headache, foggy) from last Sunday through Thursday. I'm grateful the body aches subsided, but I continue to have a serious head and chest cold.

Phoenix was wonderful nonetheless. I can't say a six-hour car ride was pleasant with the illness, but it was tolerable. The weather was 112, but it's a dry heat. The hotel was lovely and the pool nice. The best part, of course, was dh's graduation ceremony. Although he'll have class work to finish up through October, it was exhilerating to see all his hard word pay off. We were especially happy the boys got to see what their dad's been working on all this time.

My body really misses running. I was tempted to climb aboard the TM express this morning, but I just couldn't do it. Hopefully, tomorrow.

Great updates from all.

Vicci - Your dinner does sound divine. As someone with an extremely picky eater, I'd recommend you simply ignore the needs of those teenagers. They'll find something and if they don't, it's their loss. Glad you made it to the lake house. You deserved that.

Susan - Your trip sounds lovely. Not sure I commented on it last week. Great training too.

Nat - Your ride and your kale chips sound wonderful. Odd about the earthquake.

Robyn - Nine miles?! You're my hero.

Les - Did you make it home safe and sound? Sorry about the heat and the sad part of the family reunion.

KathyB - Enjoy your trip/reunions. Funny how somebody comes along and books all your time for you.

Hope to be around more this week.

[Natasha]

Quick hello to all.

Les, are you back?

Kathy, safe whirlwind travels! Will you get to see Susan in WI?

Susan, nice job on the long ride!!

TKay, welcome back from Phoenix and congrats again to your DH.

Had a good run and am just cooling down. It's a fairly hot one out there today.

Hi to Vicci, Robyn, Jennifer, and everyone else.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Back safely... it was a great celebration. Saw the Charlotte Pops last night and got home after driving through a torrential downpour. I'll post more in the morning but it sounds like a busy weekend for all.

See you soon,
Les

[SusanMac]

Checking in to report a great workout day.

a.m. - 30-min open water swim. Not a ripple on the water!
p.m. - 24-mile tempo bike ride (I improved my pace from last week!), followed by 20-min run.

In other news, our CL cooking club got together last night to celebrate our 10-year anniversary! We decided to go out to dinner for a change. Spanish tapas. What a fun evening with what has become a good group of friends.

[Natasha]

Welcome back, Les!

Contemplating a day off training today, though I do plan to go for a good walk. It's GORGEOUS out!

Hi to everyone else

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thanks everyone. Your training events sound great Susan especially the 30 min open water swim in calm water. That's too bad that you don't have a big family to have great BIG reunions. My father's family, if everyone was able to attend, would be ~80 (just including the children of his mother and her 3 sisters). LW's first exposure to the family was a reunion of 100+ people.

TKay - Sorry that it was so hot when you were in Arizona. Also sorry that you got sick from DS. I'm glad it passed quickly. I hope you can get back to running soon.
Kathy B - Have a good trip. And it's a crazy schedule that you've gotten yourself into.

It was a great trip to Atlanta and a blast with my family - they're still as crazy as ever. Even with the three remembrances it was a great visit. Lots of friendships were reinvigorated. We had a little of everything - baseball, golf, the High Museum, and a car show. Oh, and a water ballet by my cousin's wife and three of her friends. It was a HOOT!

I'm back in the swing of things, slept late; decided that I need to run if I won't get out before 11:00. It's way too hot to run at noon. Made just over an hour's run - about 85 when I started and who knows when I finished. Tomorrow, I'll try to ride just not sure when.

I got a note from my dad that he had a thoracentesis this afternoon (removing excess fluid from the chest cavity). Maybe some excess fluid (~ a quart vs. ~20 ml) that is going to be tested.

On an up note, I got a call from the church in Suffolk and they want me to come and preach on July 18th. Looking good... more will follow.

Time to go and clean up after dinner.

Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Robyn, congrats on the 9 miles! Good "bump"!

Nat, I shall send you a care package of leftovers... there may be a lot, I tend to over-estimate (which is, I think, better than under-estimating!). You are enjoying the same kind of weather that we are-- we had August weather in May, now it's May in late June. I'll take this one!

Susan, the braciole that I made is flank steak pounded to 1/2", sprinkled with a Parmesan and herb mix, then I layered proscuitto and provolone on top, rolled it, and simmered in a tomato sauce. I don't eat red meat (pounding the steak made me queasy, don't think I'll attempt that one again) but DH tasted a little and said that it was absolutely delicious. Yes, I think that it's a bit sinful! The sauce is delicious, too.
And, hey, you followed your Rest Day Monday with Exercise Till You Drop Tuesday? And you keep your stamina up-- how???

Kathy, wishing you safe travels. Good heavens, Texas then Wisconsin then back home to Missouri? I'm tired for you!

Les, glad you're safely home! Was the pops concert outside? I love summertime outdoor concerts.

Tkay, are you feeling better yet? Take it easy now, don't climb aboard the TM Express 'till you're absolutely ready! I shall follow you advice about the picky kids. Actually, they aren't kids- ages 17 and 19. I plan to put a bowl of plain lettuce at each of their places (SIL will bring some bottled ranch dressing since the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette is not wanted) but it will be difficult to see them scraping the roasted red pepper sauce off of the chicken breasts. Or picking the proscuitto out of the braciole. Oy.

Okay, the weather was so over-the-top beautiful that I took a 4 mile run and was disappointed to see it end. I hope to get out early Friday since the next two days will be packed.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Les, glad you're safely home! Was the pops concert outside? I love summertime outdoor concerts.

Yes, the concert was outdoors. It was nice too because there was a great thunderstorm that dropped the temp about 10 degrees before the concert started. So it was great to be outside listening to great lover's music.

Les

[TKay]

Les - Glad you got a temperature drop before the concert. Great news about the invitation to preach. Hope your dad's going okay.

Vicci - Your run sounds beautiful. I would eat that meal, beef and all. I do know what you mean about watching the picky eaters scrape off the sauce. There are times when I'm heartsick about all the great flavors ds is missing out on. But it's his choice, I guess.

Nat - Enjoy the gorgeous weather.

Susan - Wow, great workouts. Sounds like you earned your share of tapas. How was dinner?

Getting on the TM for a very easy walk/possible run today. This will be my first foray back into exercise land. My body so needs to move, even though I'm still congested and gunky.

Have a great one, all!

[Leslie Ferguson]

TKay - How'd the TM effort work out? I will assume that no news is okay news for Dad - I read it takes 1-2 working days to test fluid so I guess we'll have to wait for tomorrow or later. Longer is probably better than shorter in this case (not bad news).

I made a huge mistake - I ran yesterday when it was hot and today it was about 10 degrees cooler and I rode. I did 17.5 miles today felt good and smooth. I'm hoping to run a little tomorrow since it's supposed to be cooler again.

See you all in the funnies - happy trails,
Les

[Robyn1007]

Quick drive by for me. Did some hill sprints in a 3 mile run yesterday and then an easy 3 miler with mcgeiger tonight. I'm crazy busy at work this week so really glad that my easy week coincides. Of note, I ran 64.59 miles this month which is my first every 60+ mile month. And, half way through the year I'm at 263.67 miles for the year. So, unfortunately it's highly unlikely I'll hit my goal of 1000 miles for the year but I'm still quite proud of the miles I'm putting in!

[SusanMac]

Yes, we all ate tapas & sangria until we could burst! It was very yummy.

I get to report a Wed morning 30-min swim, and an afternoon 5-mile run. It was a different route for me, too, which was nice. DH & I had to run some errands. So, after we hit the grocery store, I ran home from there. We keep making jokes about how he made me walk home from the store & wouldn't give me a ride :-)

Hope everyone is enjoying lovely weather this week like we have here. My brain is already in long-weekend-holiday mode!!

[Natasha]

Hi everyone! Sounds like some good activity going on. Vicci, that braciole sounds intriguing and very rich. Not sure how it will travel in the care package though

Les, I also hope your dad is doing well. That's good news about Suffolk. I was wondering if you'd heard anything back.

I took advantage of Canada Day to get in a morning run. I did 52 minutes or so and also jumped on the bike for a few minutes afterwards, just 'cause. It's still lovely out today. The evenings have been almost cool. That won't last, though.

I lay down to read and stretch after my run and ended up taking a 15-minute power nap Decadent... just right for a long weekend.

Now to putter around the house a bit and then meet a friend on our porch or in our backyard at 5 o'clock sharp for a drink!

Hope everyone else is doing well and gearing up for a fine long weekend

[Leslie Ferguson]

Sounds like a great evening Susan. And I'd say that your workouts sound fun too. Nice to be able to do errands with DH too.
Nat - Happy Canada Day! I'd say that you've had a good day too - a run, a nap, and a tasty beverage at 5 o'clock. Thank you for the well wishes for Dad, so far so good. As I'm learning the church doesn't move at the speed of heat or even sound. But things move slowly but surely. As things are going right now there will probably be one church coming open about every month - allows for a steady strain and little confusion during interviews.

It was gorgeous this morning and after my weekly session with my prayer partner I hit the pavement for an hour's run. Nice, cool, and low humidity bathed the morning (73 at the start and 75 at the finish). The only thing that would have been better about the run would have been the lack of GI issues at the end of the run. But the fun got smoother as I went so I won't complain.

This afternoon I had a lot of fun shredding a ton of old Navy things (and a CD and a couple old credit cards) and some stuff that needed to go away permanently. Then I picked up some bike accessories at the LBS (handlebar tape and an insulated water bottle).

That's all that's fit to print today... not sure what's up for the weekend but I'm sure there will be at least a couple runs and rides included. So until tomorrow... and a new thread.

Happy trails,
Les