Virtual Running Buddies 8/29- 9/4

[msxy75]

Hey gang just noticed no one had started this weeks thread so here goes. Well no run for me today instead did a 5 km walk around a place called Greenlake. It's very nice and a runner's haven for a nice scenic run around a lake. I hadn't been before so I opted to just go for a walk around it with good old faithful Sierra. She of course loved it with lots of other dogs and smells. It is very nice.

I won't be around much the next week and a half as I'm headed on vacation to Tennessee. I may check in a couple of times but won't be back home until the 10th. So happy running to all. To those of you that are racing good luck you'll do fantastic.

Les I hope that you find shoes that make you happy. That's terrible that those new ones broke down so quickly. I had a pair of Nikes that did that, I kept blowing the little air pocket after a couple of runs. Hope your feet feel better.


michelle

[Leslie Ferguson]

Michelle - Greenlake - be still my heart. You really know how to hurt a guy. Hope your run was enjoyable. Where are you headed to in Tennessee? I've only stopped in Chatanooga and Bristol in all my travels. It was a gas running in Chatanooga with all the hills (having come from a real "flatland" locale at the time).

Calling Natasha from last weeks thread too
The shoe problem is a first for me which, after running 3-4 times a week for more than 10 years, is pretty amazing. I've never had a pair of shoes break down this fast. But I can say that I went shoe shopping today. The whole event was pretty underwhelming. Sometimes it is hard to be a runner that needs no support - they don't make too many of those types of shoes unless you are looking for racing flats (and those won't work for long runs like I do). I'm going to give a pair of New Balance 752s a shot. This will be the first race (maybe ever) that I've run in untested and unworn shoes. It should be interesting. But as the clerk said today - I'd have never made 13 miles in what I was wearing.

Resting today and tomorrow for the race on Sunday. But I may try to shuffle my shoes a little to get them stretched out a little before the race.

Have a safe and sane weekend. Peace,
Les

[MaryH]

For what its worth I LOVE the NB 752 series (but I thought it was up to 755s now.) I tried an 800 series and its ok but the 750 series is an awesome shoe. The only negative thing I have heard is that it tends to be more "snug" than some other shoes - across the top though as the toe box is usually larger than most other brands.

Plan for this weekend is a 4 mi "watermelon" race at the local Cal State campus benefitting their track team and a "slow" 6 miler on Sunday.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Originally posted by MaryH
For what its worth I LOVE the NB 752 series (but I thought it was up to 755s now.) I tried an 800 series and its ok but the 750 series is an awesome shoe. The only negative thing I have heard is that it tends to be more "snug" than some other shoes - across the top though as the toe box is usually larger than most other brands.

That's perfect for me. I've always liked shoes that were considered snug by most people. I've been wearing them today while I've been walking around the house and running errands - I'd agree that they are a little more snug across the toes than recent pairs but in general they feel pretty good. The other thing I like is the feel of the heal cup. But the real test will be tomorrow during the race.

Plan for this weekend is a 4 mi "watermelon" race at the local Cal State campus benefitting their track team and a "slow" 6 miler on Sunday.

That sounds like a gas. Anything special about the race - like carrying watermelon or the like?

Tomorrow's race should be a lot of fun but we'll have to see. Looks like the weather is going to be hot and steamy - even at 7:00 am.

Ciao,
Les

[MaryH]

Originally posted by Leslie Ferguson


That sounds like a gas. Anything special about the race - like carrying watermelon or the like?

Nah, they just serve it at the end. It was pretty funny though because 95% of the runners were under 25. Let's just say they're a lot faster than me and the two friends that ran with me. We joked with the guys monitoring the track that we were in the back to make sure no one got injured. And for whatever reason I kept thinking the course was designed by a demented track coach who insisted it was only 4 miles, when in actuality it was more like 5 miles. (At least that's what it felt like this morning. )

Good luck on your race and I'm pretty sure you'll really like the shoes.

[msxy75]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Leslie Ferguson
[B]Michelle - Greenlake - be still my heart. You really know how to hurt a guy. Hope your run was enjoyable. Where are you headed to in Tennessee? I've only stopped in Chatanooga and Bristol in all my travels. It was a gas running in Chatanooga with all the hills (having come from a real "flatland" locale at the time).

Les I'm headed to a little place called Franklin, that's were my brother lives. I fly out on Tuesday so am looking forward to that. Good luck on your race! Hope the new shoes worked out well for you.

michelle

[SusanMac]

Michelle - DH just got back from a vacation there. He was doing some bike riding with friends, and has a buddy who lives in Franklin. He's in the same neighborhood as Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw/Faith Hill (might have to be a country fan to know who they are....but heck, it *is* Tennessee). Said it was blazing hot. But, downtown Franklin was cool and they took a few trips to tour Civil War battlegrounds. Have Fun!!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Hey gang - what a day. The conditions were brutal on the course and most everyone that I talked to after the race did worse this year than they have in the previous 2 years. In fact one of my fast buddies (and he is a 3:05 marathoner) did 10 minutes slower than 2 years ago which was his slowest 1/2 marathon to date. I was a full 4 minutes slower (which in retrospect isn't that bad but still...). I came in at 1:38:15 which is just a little faster than my marathon pace But it had to be about 80 degrees and 75-80% humidity when we started, light rain before sunrise, no wind, generally oppressive. But I'll take the time and chock it up to history.

On a positive note the new shoes seemed to work out - at least they didn't kill my feet. Funny thing, they buffed part of the callouses off the balls of both feet. I didn't have any more wear on my feet which isn't atypical for new shoes anyway. Now the real test - will they hold up and not stretch out once they get wet (and they were soaked today!).

Micellle - Franklin TN - a real music capital in the south. Especially within the Christian Music community. Never been there myself but to mingle with the likes of musicians like the ones that live there - be still my heart.

In closing - I feel pretty good about the race and really am no worse the wear for it. I guess there is a lot of truth to the statement from a friend of mine - he likes running 1/2 marathons because they really don't take that much out of you (when compared to some of the longer runs for a marathon of 20+ miles).

Ya'll have a god Labor Day and I'll check you in the morning.
Les

[Laura]

Finally, I had a good run. I ran 13 (or a little over) this morning and felt really good the whole time (except for my right knee, it was not happy the last 2-3 miles). The weather was perfect (sorry Les) overcast, about 60, and the sun only started to peak through the clouds the last mile. We finished in 2:13:03, which is really good for me. I only hope I can do that well in the actual 1/2. I hydrated myself well yesterday and think I have the early morning nutrition down.

Les, sorry your conditions were so tough. My running partner is moving to Virginia and really dreading that aspect of running.

Have a great rest of the day everyone.

[Jodi]

Hey, gang!

Sounds like everyone had a productive running weekend. I'm traveling again, so I've been spending some time on the treadmill, since one, I'm unfamiliar with the area where I've been and two, the weather's been miserable -- humid, rainy, etc. (Sound familiar, anyone? ) I've been making myself stick with my routine, though, since I have a 5K on the 14th in Philly and am still not feeling 100% when running; my stamina isn't quite where it was!

I'm headed today to my hometown in northwestern PA for some work-related stuff. I'll be staying at a B&B right next door to the house I grew up in. I cannot wait to take a running tour and see how things have changed since last year when I was last there!!

Have a great week, everyone - -I'll check back in later this week.
Jodi

[SusanMac]

Ok, this isn't running related, but thought I'd share with the group anyway.... I completed my longest, hardest bike ride to date on Sunday and am really pumped! This was an annual group ride called the "Wright Stuff Century" (named after Frank Lloyd Wright, since it goes by his Taliesin school) held by a local bike club. We did the 70 mile route since I didn't train quite enough for the century. Did I mention that maybe only 5 miles of this was flat?! It was really beautiful, scenic hilly country. Some of the course is the same as the Wisconsin Ironman, which is held this Sunday. Doing a bike tour is so different from a running race. In running races, you tend to pass people (or get passed) a few at a time. A few times Sunday I was passed by groups of 20 riders at once. Very humbling! I did pass one woman on the day's toughest hill and felt good about that. The whole day was a great learning experience for me. Riders are also extremely serious about food at rest stops, too, btw. Wow.

I definitely want to find more bike tours now that my confidence is built up. But, I'm headed out for a run today as I'm feeling serious withdrawal from having my feet (and new shoes) hit the pavement!

[Sashasmom]

Hello all. I'm finally back in action after a couple days off. I had to spend some quality time with the kids and know they are off to school so I can get back on track. I did a really easy four miles today it was on the treadmill the weather here is still too hot to go outside. Does anyone have any advice on how to increase to 13 miles? Does everyone follow the 10% rule?
Les congrats on your race sorry about the conditions. It has been pretty humid here too and in Arizona having it 108 and humid is really tough to bear
Melissa

[Sashasmom]

Thank you Laura! When you started from ground zero how many days a week did you run?
Melissa

[Laura]

Melissa, when I first started back at running, I increased my time by 5 minutes every two weeks. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I was pretty much starting from ground zero. Once my long runs got to 6 miles, I would increase the long run by a mile each week. Even though my long run is 13 miles right now, I still don't run more than 6 miles on any given day during the week, and I only do that once. Once I got to 6 miles I kind of followed Galloway's plan on increasing my distance as I prepared for my half. Only two more weeks of increasing my long run, and then I get to back off! Yippeee!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Laura - What part of Virginia is your running partner moving to? The range of climates in VA is amazing - on the coast and a little inland it can be very humid all summer while in the Shenandoah Valley the weather is less humid but can be more hot in the summer and cold in the winter (no protection provided by the ocean once about 100 miles inland). Good to hear that you're doing so well on your runs - that's the right attitude to have too, 2 more "new" long runs and your done with training. Youlll do wonderful.
Melissa - Though I've never looked at it I'd say that I don't typically increase my overall mileage more than 10% a week - at least I didn't when I was first starting out for sure. But as my coach says - your fitness level and running ability/experience wil have a lot to do with the speed that you can increase your total mileage. The only thing you risk by trying to increase miles too fast is an injury (no time to recover after each run). 108 plus humidity - you can have it... I think 90s and humid is terrible and I don't even want to think about upper 100s.

Susan - Always looking for/like hearing about new ways to get out for exercise (yes I know that's the other thread but still... good to find new excursions wherever they may show up). Hope your running shoes like the pavement.

Speaking of which - I think my new shoes really will work (I hope desperately). They did well on the 1/2 and my short easy run yesterday so one can only hope.

Ciao,
Les

[MaryH]

Melissa, I started from ground zero a year ago and basically started with walking/runnning 2 mikles. When I got to the point where I could run it wihtout walking (about 6 weeks or so) I would then add one 3 mile run a week and so on. Laura was an inspiration and I am currently training for a 1/2 at the begining of November. Check out www.coolrunning.com for training programs for 5K (couch potato to 5K), 1/2 and full marathons.

Les, well I figure my shoes bit the dust this morning. I did 8 miles with my training partner on Sun and it started to feel like the shoes were losing their "uumph" (I know, such a scientific term). This morning I did 4 and really felt it, so it's time to retire these and start with the new ones. The ones I had were a NB 800 series that did not seem to last every long. The new ones are NB 756 (I think, I always get the numbers mixed up) and hopefully will last a little longer (then again I am putting more mileage on them a week than I did before, so maybe I shouldn't complain.)

[Laura]

Melissa, when I started running I was going 3 days a week (that is still my average although I strive for 4). I would run/walk for 2 miles. I think it took me about 6-8 weeks where I could run 3 miles w/o stopping as well.

Les, my running partner is moving to Charlottesville. She lived there before, but hasn't lived there for 4-5 years.

Mary, I have to say, that I am so flattered that I "inspired" you to run a 1/2. , I am blushing

[Leslie Ferguson]

Laura - Charlottesville, I've only been through the city once but it is a beautiful, college town. I hear there's a bunch of running places there too.

Todays race-pace run went well. I have taken to the treadmill to ingrain the pace into my mind and soul in preparation for the race in November. I hope that it works. I just can't do it for much more than a 4 mile at race pace (about 7 miles total). Longer than that on the treadmill would be a killer (go completely batty).

Have a good day - torrential rains this evening but I hope the go away for tomorrow.

Peace,
Les

[Laura]

Well add me to the new shoe club. My feet were really feeling it after the 13 miles on Sunday, so I went and got new shoes. I liked the Asics I was in (GT2080) but they didn't have my size, and I was a little concerend about all the blisters they have given me. I went back to the Addidas Supernova, and will see how they work. I am fighting a bit of a bug, (sore throat, fatigue) so we will see how the rest of the week plays out. I am going 14 on Saturday, so I kind of feel the need to rest between now and then. Depending on how I feel, I might run an easy 4 this evening as opposed to the harder (hilly) 6 I had planned.

[SusanMac]

It must be new shoe season! My Brooks are going ok. They don't feel like they have as much cushion as I'd like, but that could also just be me. I find that I tend to overanalyze new shoes for about a month before I really settle into them.

Great, solid, steady runs this week. I don't have a race planned, so am enjoying just getting out there, not worrying about time/distance, etc. I would like to find a race this fall, but for now I'm just enjoying being in a groove. I did take 2 minutes off of a regular route this week, so that felt pretty good.

Autumn hit here this week, and I'm loving it. Mornings in the 60s, afternoons at 80 at the most. I know we'll get another blast of summer, but this is such a great time of year to run.

Did I mention that we have an Ironman competition here this Sunday?? It's the 2nd year for Madison to host this. Last year was a blast to watch. So inspiring! Definitely an awesome reality check for not whining about my little one-hour runs!

[Leslie Ferguson]

Originally posted by Laura
Well add me to the new shoe club. My feet were really feeling it after the 13 miles on Sunday, so I went and got new shoes. I liked the Asics I was in (GT2080) but they didn't have my size, and I was a little concerend about all the blisters they have given me. I went back to the Addidas Supernova, and will see how they work. I am fighting a bit of a bug, (sore throat, fatigue) so we will see how the rest of the week plays out. I am going 14 on Saturday, so I kind of feel the need to rest between now and then. Depending on how I feel, I might run an easy 4 this evening as opposed to the harder (hilly) 6 I had planned.

I can tell you that this is a typical time to start to get sick - about 2-3 weeks out from your race. Something about your body getting broken down (especially in your first race). Hope you keep healthy for the remainder of the week and until the race. You're almost there.

Peace,
Les