Becoming Lean, Mean, Endurace Event Machines in 2008

[deekaypee]

Hi, guys! Sorry I continue to be missing. It's nothing serious, just LTO/WTO as the start of the fall semester approaches in less than a week. And still no contract, just promises, promises, promises. (If you've got some spare PD, I sure could use some for that situation.)

Anyway, I'm in the time crunch for lots of prep, etc., in addition to my other work, and that leaves me with little time for fun. I've been keeping up with the WOs, on the eating, but no online fun until next Wednesday (not even reading). And fingers crossed for the schedule clearing up earlier.

I miss you all and hope to be back soon and posting regularly. That's Wednesday, August 27 at the latest--not that I've marked it on my calendar or anything. That's the plan, anyway, to push through on the work crunch so that I can get back to my slacker work self and back to WISHing ASAP!

 

[KeenHo]

Tonight...

Miles: 5.04
Time: 44:46
Pace: 8:53

Splits:
9:01
9:01
8:42
8:48
8:56

Happy training! For our soggy friends in Florida, hang in there! You are in my prayers.



Howard

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I only have a quick moment tonight, so let me tell you about the paralyzed squirrel...

About 3 am dh and I hear this crash through the trees, and then a big thud. We're so tired, we don't think much of it. The next morning I get up and there's a squirrel on our deck below -- but it's not moving. DH throws a soda can at it to be sure.

I go downstairs and look closer, and it is moving, but can't move it's back legs. We call ASPCA, and the tell us to get it into a container, and they will come pick it up. It is terrified, and we are not calming it in any way.

So, our true natures come out, and we call our neighbor. We are extremely fortunate. The City of Boston has exactly two animal control officers, and one lives on our street. Luckily it was his day off so he was home. You could tell it was all he could do not to laugh at us, but he "contained" the squirrel for pickup -- ie put a trash can over it.

He told us another bird of prey must have had it and dropped in from quite high, I guess we weren't the first people with this problem (squirrels generally don't fall from the heavens).

I don't know why our yard is the local Mickey D's for the bird population, but twice is 2 times too many for us to have to deal with their snacks.

I'm just glad our cats are inside animals...

We have out of town company until this weekend, so I'm still going to be sporadically posting. I promise to do better next week -- oh, and I promise to actually get back to my regularly scheduled workouts as well!

Maria

 

[princessrunner]

Morning Meaners!! Just a quick fly by. I will have a longer post later when I can sit down with my new Triathlete magazine and write out part of an article that they had in there about sensible splurging rules. I found it quite interesting the parameters they put on the spluge and am going to try and incorporate this into my lifestyle.

Debra: Glad to hear it is just a LTO/WTO issue for you. I had a picture of you in a dark room with dark sunglasses on all dressed in black hovering over your screen play, determined to finish it before your head imploded!!

Howard: Once again, smoking run!!

Dave: Yay on the clothes and boo at the same time. I have a pair of my favorite Michael Kors crop pants that are too big so....I bought a belt. I just cannot give them up yet!! And, once again, I am going to have to speed up just to keep up with you!!

Stacey/Tracey: The KC meeting was just my DH dropping something off, him being at the mutual friends house, "hey come have a margarita", "okay" picture the duh look on my face here and them talking about the virgin islands and people there while DH, DD and I sat there nodding our heads and me chugging my margarita. Sorry, can't hook you up but I do know where to send you on St. John if you want to find him....

Connie: I hope this option works for you. I did the same thing when my knee was bothering me. I opted out of MRIs, CAT scans the works, just operate and be done with it. It worked out for me so I will that you get the same results.

Vic: Hey everyone, look, it's Vic. Now if we could just find where we left Bill. Maybe it was that last Exxon station when we took a potty break....

Everyone else: GET OUTTA BED YOU SLEEPY HEADS!! lol, not everyone is as sickly sadistic as me getting up at 4 am to work!!!

From the Great North Woods, down on miles down on sleep down on myself second crop hay dropped yesterday for pickup tomorrow . This week is just a total bust for me. Deep breath here. Sunday starts a new week right....

 

[princessrunner]

Okay, on a more upbeat note, here are your 9 tips for sensible splurging. See if you find them as insightful as I did...

1. Accept your spurge foods. Don't feel guilty when you have them but enjoy this simple pleasure in life.

2. Prepare the food yourself and fo gor flavor boosters. Instead of cheap grocery store brownies, go for homemade brownies with gourmet chocolates, local cream and fresh eggs. The homemade treats will taste better and are better for you.

3. Take time to taste the flavors. While slowly eating your splurge, consider all of the joyous flavors that are triggering the pleasure receptors in your brain and contemplate why you love this food.

4. Have a plan to be a conscious eater. Any food can fit into a healthy overall training diet as long as you have a plan. Plan to eat splurge foods on an occasional basis and only in moderation.

5. Go for quality not quantity. Instead of hastily throwing 5-6 Muhcnkin donunts into your mouth at work, consider sitting down after dinner and having a small piece of homemade apple pie. You will ejoyy this treat considerably better than downing donut holes.

6. Splurges don't have to be high-calorie and high-fat bombs. Consider reaching for a handful of fresh local strawberries or pherhaps a fancy olive oil to drizzle on a tomato and mozzarella salad.

7. Compromise and save yourself a bunch of calories. The reap the pleasure benefits of a creamy frozen dessert, consider low-fat frozen yogurt instead of real ice cream.

8. Structure your splurge around activity. Allow yourself the pleasure of the food splurge but do it on a training day not an off day.

9. Splurge after a healthy meal. Head this suggestion to prevent overeating your splurge.

I found these tips to be of particular interest in that you get to have your cake and eat it too as long as you set rules for your cake!! I find the rules to be very simple and extremely reasonable. How does everyone else view these rules???

 

[Creativebeth]

Good morning Meaners! Well, Thursday's here and work hasn't slowed down yet........have I mentioned that I miss my df Nancy? Work is off the hook without her. She is defintely my rudder down-stream!

I have been holding on to my good eating habits this week......only because the kids ate all the Lucky Charms! I was heading for a big bowl of them the other night, but alas the bag was empty. I was REALLY mad, but now I am glad! (((((don't tell them that though!)))))) ((((Have I mentioned that I LOVE Lucky Charms????)))))

Howard:Have I mentioned that you are giving us a bad name???? Way to speedy!!!!! You and WWDave will both be at the finish line waiting for the rest of us!

Lisa:Your life is off the hook too! When will it slow down?????? I am hoping that it will slow down before I retire!

WWDave: Ihope Erica's dentist appointment went ok! The deep cleaning thing is the worse.....very sore gums afterwards! I also hope that your sales start soon! Don't want any wardrobe malfunctions to happen at work!

Maria:What is with the wildlife in your neck of the woods. The critters would scare me half the time, especially if they are falling on my head from the sky!

Debra:I hope that your fall class works out.....they sure are waiting for the last minute, aren't they???? Nothing like a 'smooth' transition! Look forward to next week when you can update us!

To the remaining Lean Mean Brigade.......Bill, Big Vic, Jeanne, Wendy, Amy, Julie, and everyone else......have a great Thursday!

beth

 

[amykab]

Morning Everyone!

Debra for your job situation! I hope it all get figured out soon!

Lisa Sorry to hear about your week being a bust for you. Sunday DOES start a new week!

Maria about the paralyzed squirrel!

Beth After several unintentional experiments with hydration (or lack there of) and running, I am totally convinced it makes a HUGE difference in how the run goes.

Howard Again, on those splits!

Tracey on the core workout!

to everyone!

Some good news to report on the weight loss front! The scale FINALLY budged this morning to 199! Needless to say I was very very happy about that! The last time I lost a significant amount of weight, I got down to about 178. I am 5'11", and that looked pretty good. I'd like to see what I'd look like around 165. Most people can't believe that I am hoping to lose 30 something more pounds. Maybe that means I don't look like I weigh as much as I do?? Hoping to be mid 170 ish for the 1/2 in January!

the wagon walk with DD was rained out last night, but I did do crunches ! I am on my own with DD tonight since DH has his bowling thing tonight, so my run may get pushed off until tomorrow, but we'll try to get in a walk anyhow.

Hope everyone has a good Thursday!

Amy

 

[KeenHo]

Amy & Beth: Thanks, but I don't think they're all that speedy. I think they are good, but not worthy. For training, they are pretty good though. I am training hard so that my many fall races will be able to be finished in a reasonable time and that I am in condition to finish them without kicking my tookus too much.



Howard

 

[Steffwalks]

AMY!! You are in One-derland with Wendy!!!! Yahooo!!

 

[Kira G.]

Hey guys!

Well, I admit it, I have been lurking on this thread for quite a while. Don't think of me as a stalker, just someone interested in what you all are talking about!

And now I'm finally jumping in.

I am definitely interested in (ahem) losing a few pounds. Currently I am at about 153 (it seems to fluctuate a bit daily), but would really like to be at 140 pounds. I can't seem to get below the 150 pound mark for more than a few minutes. I go up a bit, I go down a bit, but 150 seems to be the current stable point.

The thing that bugs me is that a few years ago that point was about 145! I can see the future, and it is bigger than I like!

So I need a bit of support. I have never really taken this on before in my life. For many years I was one of those annoying people who could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight. After 4 kids, and 44 years on the planet those days are gone, but I have not really adjusted to it.

I am ready to learn!

So hello to everyone, and it is great to be on a journey with such terrific folks!

 

[mkymsehi]

Ho hum

Another 9 1/2 miler, 9:03 average per mile. Guru Les had some side stitch issues, so we "took it easy."

 

[princessrunner]

Good morning meaners!

Kira: to our humble little group. We are happy that you have come out of lurkdom to commit to a new and wonderful you!!!!

Amy: Yay for entering One-derland. Set your sights high. You have overcome a great hurdle and there is more good to come!!!

Howard: You deserve so much more...

Beth: Yay for good eating. I like Lucky Charms too but my weakness right now is Buffalo pretzel pieces. I could eat a whole bag at a time.

Everyone else: Hmmm, it was quiet here yesterday. Did someone take a wagon side trip and not invite the rest of us?

From the Great North Woods, hay today, yuck The good news is it is only around 800 bales this time. The bad news is that I am crazy allergic to second crop and all the pollen therein. I have to take Benadryl before I go into the field and then I am so lacking energy it makes haying more of a chore for me. I got out on my bike yesterday. I figured the running plan was a bust so I would just do something that made me happy. And it did. I went 13.12 miles in 1:01 and my hip flexors are thanking me this morning...not... Anyway, I feel a little better about my workouts this week. Add 4-5 hours of throwing hay bales to that and on the whole, it is not that bad. Sunday starts serious titrating up of my mileage for the HM in Hollis. How else am I going to keep up with AmyBeth????

Have the best of best days Meaners and when things start looking bad, just think, you could be standing in the middle of a hay field!!!!

 

[JustSmile]

Good mornin'!
Amy...Yay, Yay, Yay!!!! for ONE-derland!We are so proud of you.
Beth...Yum, Lucky Charms! I admit to being a Boo-berry fan myself.
Panda... I went to Dillards yesterday and they had an extra 40% off sale prices. Pretty good sales! Our Dillard's is renovating and pickin's were slim, but I'd go this weekend. Happy Shopping!
Debra...busy, busy, busy time of year. Hopefully, you'll get a definitive answer about your film course soon. Sending lots of ixiedust: your way....oh and apparently...lots of fragments!
Howard...take it for what it is....true admiration from your friends who aren't quite as speedy as you are . My son, who consistently runs his mileage in the 5 min range is always looking to get faster. You boys are all the same!
Maria....company again? You are quite the hostess. All of our family lives within 20 min of us, so we never have family staying with us. Oh, that poor little squirrel (have I mentioned that I'm an animal lover ). I'm going to believe that they fixed his "temporary" paralysis and he's happily back and playing somewhere in the Boston area. Yep, now I feel better.
Lisa...St. John, huh! Is there a race there? Maybe we should all go! A surprise meeting....it sounds so much more mysterious (let's just forget that you were chugging a margarita and getting ready to wet your pants). I'm sure that he was entertained by your lively conversation skills, amazed by your running skills, and mesmerized by your stunning abs! Ooooooo and your DH was insanely jealous! Yep, that's the story I'm sticking with.
Kira.... we're glad you're here. I'm nearing 40 and realizing that suddenly everything is changing and it's a lot harder to take off the pesky pounds. You'll find some great motivation and support over here.
Jeff...Ho hum, you say! You're another speedy man, take the you deserve it!
Stacie, Mike, Connie, Vic, Wendy, Cindy,Julie, and everybody else...

I have Pilates and a 3 miler on tap for today. And, I'm so glad It's Friday!!! Anybody else? We have 2 parties this weekend and a bunch of yard work to catch up on......I'd rather be in St. John, looking' for KC on a boat with a margarita. Oh, of course, my DH would be there....he likes boats and margarita's too!

 

[princessrunner]

Tracey... I like your rendition of my story much better than my own. It was actually more like me nodding, chugging, nodding, smiling, trying not to look like I am staring or smiling..um or chugging. No talk of running or abs or the like just whatever they were talking about, nodding, chugging...

 

[JustSmile]

Lisa....Ssshhhhh! No one needs to know it was anything less than stellar! Actually, from the looks of him, he has a pretty good core routine! I wonder what he does. I would've been staring and trying to busy myself with my drink, as well. But, you have to admit....my side of the story makes it a bit more intriguing! If he could only see you bale hay! (Take care of those allergies. )

 

[Creativebeth]

Quiet yesterday here on the wagon! Thank goodness that Lisa and Traceystopped by or I would have thought I killed the thread!

Okay, so I fell off the wagon......and I hate to admit that......and again it has to do with the Lucky Charms! I found the box hidden (((((by the kids, and hidden from me!!!! Pesky kids!))))) And I substituted a bowl of cereal for dinner......ugh! I stretch a little on my own, and felt sick again (yes, Lisa, I didn't get the Tums yet) and didn't feel like eating. Well at 9pm I am starving, and the Lucky Charms were calling me. Oh well......I'll do better today.

Lisa:Yuck for the allergies. Nothing like baling hay with a runny nose! But WTG on the bike ride!

Tracey:I, too, am glad it's Friday!!!! One more week of working full time and Nancy's home!

Howard:We all need a hero, and here on the wagon it's YOU! Won't Cam be impressed?

WWDave:So do I sense a shopping trip this weekend? No wardrobe malfunction for you!

Maria:Any more adventures in Critter-Land? You are so full of stories!

Kira: Welcome to the Wagon.

To the rest of my lean mean buddies......Have a lovely weekend, won't you??

Guess we need a wagon tip of the day (for the coming weekend): Stretching. I am finding a great benefit from my stretch class. I am taking a full class (1hr) 2x a week at the gym, and then I am doing the same routine at home 1 time a week. I am gaining greater flexibilty from the consistent stretching.......it's really amazing. I walk taller and check my posture more often throughout the day too! If you don't stretch adequately, you lose alot of flexibility and over the years you get shorter!!!!!! (((I don't need to be any shorter)))

Beth

 

[windwalker]

Tracey I went to Dillards yesterday and bought some pieces to finish off my wardrobe that now fits. I bought the silm, tapered, fitted stuff.

I meet with the Total Fitness folks on monday to workout our arrangement.

Connie good luck with all your shoulder issues and Jon's back stuff to. Your fall sounds like it will be like our spring was.

Everyone have a super day.

Leaner Panda

 

[amykab]

Hey Lean Meaners!

Fay has graced us with her presence today. It's not too bad where I am, just a bit squally, but it is quite bad a couple counties north of here. They cancelled school and all that. I had a rest day yesterday, but got in W6D2 this morning in between fay rain bands. I covered about 2.4 miles in 33 minutes, this includes my warm up and slow cool down. During the 2nd 10 minute interval I was running into the wind so this slowed me down a bit, but all in all I felt good about the run.

Another scale victory to report, down another 3 pounds this morning! So in the last month, I've lost about 10, it's just unfortunate that half of that loss was losing what I gained on vacation. Thanks to everyone for their congrats! In celebration, I ordered 3 new bondi bands. One in a limey green and black pattern for TOT!

It looks to be a pretty soggy weekend here, so I am not sure what we'll be doing. Hoping to get in a long walk and W6D3 on Sunday.

Kira

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[KeenHo]

Hi everyone! Sorry, I don't wear the "Hero" title too well. I am too humble for that. I will just be happy to be among you all. Hope all is well in your world. Here is the info for my efforts tonight...

Miles: 7.03
Time: 1:01:27
Pace: 8:44

Splits:
8:45
8:56
8:38
8:52
8:44
8:47
8:30

If anything, I am fairly consistent in my pace. It didn't fluctuate much tonight. Of course, I am laying it all out there the whole time so it should be close to the same pace most of the time.

Tomorrow I have 6 on the schedule and for Sunday, 10.

Have a super weekend! Happy training! Happy everything!



Howard

 

[mkymsehi]

Copying from another thread...

Tomorrow night is the Marathon so we'll be glue to our tv .

I had to catch the women's marathon on NBC replay site. Unfortunately there is no commentary, just the race.

Did anyone else catch Paula Radcliff take a detour to the side of the road just at the half marathon mark? She had to squat down, pull her shorts to the side, and PEE!!! There is even a slow motion replay of it. Fortunately it wasn't a close up shot.