Virtual Running Buddies August 2012

[Leslie Ferguson]

Back-to-back... claiming a run after a torrential downpour. It was a wild day in Tidewater today. More rain and LW saw something new - hail in a thunderstorm (she's a pacific northwest girl so we have to give her a pass). I was able to take a 45 minute run and it felt pretty good. Interesting, in the first 2-3 minutes it seemed like I couldn't get a good breath but then after that, with the exception of running up the bridges it was okay. Odd, but then I am.

Happy trails and I hope to sleep tonight.
Les

[Natasha]

Les, you're so funny ("odd, but then I am"). Sounds like some storm. Good on you to run.

Got in an almost 30-minute run and another adjustment. Also some more socializing for J and me. The week has just flown by - lots to do and lots of fun. Still spending a lot of time s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g too. Will do that right now actually as I sit here in J's room as he sleeps in his new mini crib. I don't want him to wake up in a strange environment and not have me there.

How is everyone else doing??

Nat

[VictoriaL]

Les, does it not hail in the Pacific northwest? Just wondering...
Some days, the "equipment" doesn't perform as well as it does on others. I'm glad that your breathing problems were short-lived and you were able to get in 45 minutes in obviously humid conditions.

So, Nat, how small is a mini-crib? I figured that, being what they are, they all would be small... this coming from a person with almost no "crib experience", though.
So how long did Mr. J nap, and did you stretch the entire time? Or did you also take the opportunity to nap as well??

We had a nice time at the lake, and returned to the farm in mid- afternoon. The thermometer said 73 degrees this morning, but when I got out in it I realized that the humidity was sky-high. But I did finish 4.5 miles even though, for some stupid reason, I went out wearing my "heavy" yoga pants instead of my running shorts. A bit sticky!

Any plans for this weekend, all?
It's supposed to be cool tomorrow, so I'm planning on doing a little cooking. On Sunday, DH and I are meeting an online friend (and her hubby) IRL for the first time. We "met" on another cooking site a few years back, and she's in town for a wedding. Should be fun!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Nat - I hope your recovery is going well and that your stretching helps. I too wonder how small/big the mini-crib is. Smaller than the one you had when we were there? I knew you'd like that comment too.

Vicci - not much hail in Oregon. They don't get nearly as many thunderstorms in the western part of the state and the conditions aren't conducive for hail most of the time. Good for you to make your run, even in less than optimal conditions.

I'm on for 10 miles in the morning (short week this week). Today was 2.5 hours of lawn mowing and edging. The yard looks fabulous and no more brushes with p.i.

Time to turn in... 5 am comes early on Saturday.

Les

[Leslie Ferguson]

Didn't sleep well - one of the potential side effects of Prednisone so given the options I'll take it.

Not bad 10 miler this morning. A new runner who did a 4:09 in the Richmond marathon (24 year old). She could give me a good run for my money but I think I'm up to it. Nice to have a little cooler (not a lot mind you but not nearly the middle 80s for the run). I can't wait for September.

Happy trails,
Les

[Natasha]

Hi everyone,

Les, sorry you're on Pred - hope it won't be for long. 2.5 hours of lawn mowing means your lawn is clearly bigger than mine 10 miles - isn't it great when that feels short? Nice about the training partner too.

Mini crib is a travel crib, about 2/3 the length and slightly narrower than his normal crib. I'm at a cottage with friends this week So nice up here! Right now Mr. J is sitting with one of our friends and being a charmer. We are watching a movie (well, obviously I'm not watching too closely as I'm surfing ). It's the Hunger Games and I don't think I can watch it.

Vicci, how was your visit with your online friend? How cool!
I hate those errors in running clothes judgment, BTW. Nice job on the run regardless!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Good hearing from you Nat - although the prednisone is a tough drug it beats the heck out of scratching my skin off. My yard is at least 1/3 acre and with lots of growth from our rain. Even if I only cut the grass it's either 30-45 minutes. 10 miles is a great run and I was ready to do a little more but that was fine.

Happy trails all, coming down a little from the pred and a decent day at church. Happy trails all,
Les

[Leslie Ferguson]

It's been quiet - but then I think at least one of the group is "away" for a little but. It's been a whirlwind week of sorts and filled with unexpected events that have gotten in the way. Luckily, I had the opportunity to get a mind clearing ride in this evening. 10.5 miles on the road bike felt great.

On the poison ivy front - almost done with my prednisone (thankfully) and the rash is nearly gone.

Anyone out there? Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Hi everyone!

Les, how many more days on the Pred? I hope that those nasty poison ivy blisters are shrinking rapidly.
Great to have someone new in the running group to pump things up a bit, isn't it? I also am enjoying this "cooler" weather!

Nat, ah, a cottage crib! How long will you be visiting your friends?
I hear you on Hunger Games and their ilk. Give me a lighthearted comedy or a nice, non-violent drama any day!
So what's the terrain like at this cottage? Are you getting in any running?

The IRL meeting went very well. My friend and her husband joined us for lunch on Sunday at a church that was converted into a microbrewery and pub, then we showed them some local sights for the remainder of the afternoon. It was great fun.

I went out for a run on the trails on Monday morning and it was such perfect weather that I could have run all day! Well, with regular napping intervals... But I managed about 4.25 miles before my mental list of "things to do" got in the way.

Monday through today, we've visited my parents. I took running clothes, my mp3, the hrm, but forgot the shoes. Mom lent me a pair of her walking shoes but since they were 1/2 size too small, I decided on a rather brisk walk with her this morning (about 2.5 miles) instead of a run. So that was my exercise for today (yesterday was an all-day "event" with my sister), and since we are back at the farm I'm hoping to get a "real" run in tomorrow morning.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Hey Vicci - it sounds like you've had a good couple days. I'm down to 2 more days of pred - 4 more pills! The blisters are gone for the most part, just the remainder of the raw skin left over from the horrible rash. I'm looking forward to even cooler weather, especially since there's still a ton of miles to run.

Have a great day tomorrow.
Les

[hrk]

Hey all,
Back from Maine, but this week has been crazy!

Les- I am so sorry to hear about the bout with PI but glad the prednisone helped. DH gets nasty rashes from it as well. Hope the runs get a little more steady and I hear you on the cooler weather.

Nat- Hope you are enjoying your time at the cottage. I remember the days of lots of extra stuff when you went on trips. We had a portable crib that has been all over the world with us. Hope the adjustments are working and you are feeling better.

Vicci- Glad you had a nice time at the lake and hope you are enjoying your visit with your mom. How is the garden coming? We picked three gorgeous red peppers and a small but very sweet cantaloupe, along with a yellow neck squash when we returned home. It has been great eating this week.

Well Maine was wonderful. We had a house that was right on the ocean and we slept with our windows open every night listening to the waves. As our boys are getting older we are exploring more, so we got in two great hikes and two great bike rides in addition to a wonderful day at the beach. Leg held up fairly well, but at the end of the day it was definitely tired.

Kids return to school next week so things should settle down. We are headed to LA for Labor Day to help the family celebrate my grandfathers 90th birthday, but that will be it for traveling for a while.
No PT last week or this week, but I am up to 20 minutes on the elliptical and doing ankle stretches with bands on my own. Thanks for the tip on tracing the alphabet, I do that as well.

Hope everyone else is well.
Heather

[VictoriaL]

Les, only one more day of pills to go! Have you been sleeping with difficulty all of the time, or just those days when you were taking the maximum dosage?

Heather, you vacation sounds like it was great fun, and I'm glad that your leg wasn't hurting after your activities. I love to sleep with the windows open when we are at the ocean! Where did you go?

No run this morning. I made a list of what I wanted to accomplish in the next couple of days of sunny, not-humid weather and I thought that I would get in a nice long day of yardwork. Which I did, after some weights and stretching this morning, but I am completely wiped out. My ankles hurt! And my back, which is expected after a day of working outside, but my ankles??? Tomorrow will tell if I get out for a run or... whatever...

Can I go to bed before 9pm? Or is that setting a dangerous precedent?!?

[Leslie Ferguson]

How do you feel today Vicci? It's not too odd that you might have sore ankles from doing yard work. I hope you got out today to run or something like that.

Heather - I'm glad you had a good time in Maine. I was up near Brunswick/Bath a few years ago and it was gorgeous. I'm glad your legs are holding out too, hopefully the sign of good things to come.

Vicci - I've had trouble sleeping ever since I started the pred. I'm not sure if it's a phase or actually associated with the drugs. I'll know soon as last night was the last pill! A weird week at least for training - but good none the less. I'm busy getting ready for my mom to spend the evening. It'll be a fun time.

This morning's run was a gas. The temps are breaking somewhat - only 75. Started at 5 am and got 22-23 miles in. Nice to have the miles done and I hope to rest a little before mom comes tonight.

Happy trails,
Les

[VictoriaL]

Les, so how much more do the temps have to moderate before you go back to the "later" 6am runs? Great mileage, too. Have a nice visit with your Mom this evening-- doing anything special?

I didn't run yesterday. Apparently my body was thoroughly unhappy that I had spent the previous day heavily into yardwork, and even with icing my ankles and back before bed (plus alieve) it was a restless night.
Today I planned to go out before breakfast but then changed to after. Not a good decision-- it was sunny and dry, but 88 degrees at 11am and was quite draining. I got in almost 4.25 miles, then returned and watered the garden.

It was a very scenic run, though, as DH has spent the past couple of days trimming the trails and I enjoyed the neat, even paths.

We plan to go to the lake tomorrow for a couple of days, and I will run at least once while there.

So what's on everyone's agenda for the remainder of this weekend?

[Leslie Ferguson]

It will probably be a while before we move to 6 am for any of our longer runs (20+ miles). It's still warm enough (mid-70s) to run as little as possible in the sun. As much as I hate getting up at 4 am, I dislike running in the sun and 70 degree heat. We didn't have much planned with my mom except a crab feast on Sunday evening (at church). She ended up staying an extra day because of some really ugly weather and lots of standing water. It's always neat to have mom around and in reality, she's only 45 minutes away. I hope you have fun at the lake.

Ran this afternoon, 5 1/4 miles even though my quads were tight from Saturday's run.

Time to do a little around the house stuff... I'll check a little later. I hope that folks are out there and having good runs/rides/etc.

Les

[VictoriaL]

Les, I'm glad that you had an enjoyable, and "surprise extended" visit with your Mom. It is nice to have them around, isn't it?!
I just noticed a day or two ago that it is still pitch-dark here at 5:45am (Spooky was being playful), so I figure that you're getting an earlier sunrise over there. It isn't dark when you go out on Saturdays, is it?

Heather, have you been harvesting more from your garden? We have been buried under pattypan squash and green beans!

Nat, are you back from your friend's cottage yet?

We had a quick, yet fun, trip to the lake. Friends joined us on Sunday afternoon for swimming, and SIL and her husband arrived Monday through this afternoon. We returned to the farm this evening. *whew!*

I had a very productive day yesterday, exercise-wise. I started with weights and yoga before breakfast then, later in the morning, a 5 mile run with a swim afterward. I was exhausted last night, but managed to stay awake with DH and our guests until almost 1am. Needless to say, today's featured activity was an extended yoga-and-stretching session.

Tomorrow will probably be a run, since the forecast is for sun and a high of 77. Then, because of the same forecast, a day working outside.

[VictoriaL]

Back-to-back posts for me today!

I've gotten out of the early-morning run habit, and I must return to it. If I go out in late morning, it's never a very good run. Today, which was supposed to be cooler, really wasn't...

To say that today's run was difficult would be an understatement. My legs felt like lead the entire time, and I just couldn't get "into" it, but I finished a bit over 5 miles. Almost quit a few times, but I kept on going. Hope that I get that running mojo back next time!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Good run and swim too boot. All that and stayed up until 1 am? I bet it felt good to get back to the farm. Did you get your run in today?

It's still very dark at 5 am when we run. Luckily, we run for a short while on a side road without lights but then we end up on the Virginia Beach boardwalk - lots of light there.

Last night was an absolutely horrific night. We had a slow moving cold front blow through and there was a ton of rain and wind last night. There was 5+ inches at church and 4++ here. I can't wait to have the rain slow down a little bit.

I picked up a run this evening - a 4 mile fartlek (10 1 minute quicker pieces). Nice to run again - need to make sure I get enough runs in to prep for the marathon.

Happy trails,
Les

Co-posting with Vicci - sorry your legs were tired today. I hope you get your running mojo back too.

[VictoriaL]

Good run and swim too boot. All that and stayed up until 1 am? .

I'm thinking that this may have been the reason why I was so "off" today-- still recovering!

Running in the dark (esp at 5am) doesn't sound enjoyable, but it must be great fun to run on the Boardwalk!

Send rain. It has been awhile since we've had any.

[VictoriaL]

Yet another crappy run today. I got out early, and the temps were in the low 60's, not humid, sunny-- yet my legs felt as though I had weights around my ankles. I did manage 4 miles, but it felt like 40!

Unless another VRB-er chimes in, this may be the last post of the month. September already?!?!?

Now for a few hours of yardwork...