February 2009 - Walt's Warriors!!

[mkymsehi]

Weekend warriors.

12 miles; 1:45:14. Whew, I was dusted by two guys aged 58 and 63. Oh, did I mention their both Boston qualifiers?

 

[mkymsehi]

And one last thing: has anyone tried the Nike+ iPod thing? Since most of my training is speed-specific right now I would love to have something that measures my pace as I run, and I really can't afford a GPS watch right now. I've seen such mixed reviews of the Nike+ iPod as far as accuracy goes, but I'm thinking it might be worth the $30 as an experiment to see if it works for me. I have an old iPod Nano (2nd generation) that I could dig out to use with it, so that isn't a problem. I also happen to have a pair of Nike+ shoes right now.

Marcia and I use this nice little gizmo, http://www.switcheasy.com/products/Runaway/Runaway.php with our Nike+ footpod. Works with any type of shoe.

I don't care for Nike shoes, since they're too narrow for me.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Marcia and I use this nice little gizmo, http://www.switcheasy.com/products/Runaway/Runaway.php with our Nike+ footpod. Works with any type of shoe.

I don't care for Nike shoes, since they're too narrow for me.

How have you found the accuracy to be, Jeff? I've seen reviews that put the accuracy as anything between 60% and 99%. And there's really no point using it if it's going to record a mile as 0.6 of a mile. But it seems to really work for some people, so I'm almost ready to give it a try.

The narrowness of Nike shoes is about the best thing about them for me; the model I have is also very well-cushioned, which is perfect for how I run. I would consider buying them again, except that they feel a bit... cheap? I guess, compared to other shoes that I've tried. I've only put 200 miles on them, but I'm almost sure that I won't get more than 300.

Anyway, thanks for the tip on the holder gadget, because, if I get a Nike+ iPod, I will be needing one once my Nike shoes wear out!

 

[Mooshu]

I actually wore my ipod+ and my garmin on a few runs and if you set it correctly it is pretty accurate. Mile 1 was right on and each mile thereafter was about .1 short. But you have music and you can plug it into a program to give you splits.

 

[dsnyfan21]

Sarah: I found the cushioning to work just fine as I think for me, the cushioning is in the right "places". I walk/racewalk so I use the whole foot starting from the heel and rolling right off the tip of the toe. Being that I'm in South FL I like the lighter thinner part to help keep my feet a bit cooler.

Racey Tracy

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Hey guys - just checking in because life kind of took over this weekend.

Hope everyone's doing well.

Lily- Thanks I haven't signed up yet. WVU hasn't put up their spring schedule for next year- so I have to wait until I know I can be there for sure. Our semester usually starts around then- it would be bad to miss the first day of school! lol

 

[deekaypee]

Monday Mixers w/ Team 'Ohana

I thought I'd let the Warriors know that Team 'Ohana is inviting their WISH family to come visit its thread on Mondays. We thought this would be a good way for people on the teams/threads to get to know other WISHers better. Plus, 'Ohana like to think we know how to throw a party and we always like new guests! The drinks are free, if virtual, and no one will tell you when you've had enough.

I'll post a reminder on Monday, with a loose question/discussion topic to get the conversations going. There's no need to stick to the topic, of course, as it's really your sparking, non-alcoholic but still intoxicating presence that is requested. So, if you have a little time for socializing with your cousins, please stop by 'Ohana on Monday!

We invite you to visit Team 'Ohana for the Monday Mixer! Stop by anytime today (or anytime, really) and say hi. The mixer starts here on the 'Ohana thread.

Our loose topic for 'Ohana's first Monday Mixer is "What song made you laugh out loud the last time you heard it?"

Of course, you don't need to stick with that prompt. You can talk about the last thing that made you laugh out loud, period. Or the Oscars, Nascar, Pixar. Or the meaning of life, the universe and everything. (Although we over at 'Ohana already know the answer is 42. You'll learn to love our geekdom. )

 

[MiaBanda]

How are my fellow Warriors???

Sorry I have been MIA lately...lots of LTO going on around here this week.

Tuesday was my last "run", but on Wednesday we did something new...
SKYROBICS! It's an hour long aerobics class (even though ours went long) done on trampolines. It was so much fun! They say you burn about 1000 calories in the one hour class! It was too much fun...didn't feel like a workout at all! (Until the next day... ) You totally feel like a little kid just playing around. No mileage to count but and hour and 15 minutes of a crazy workout!

Finally got back out there today for my long run. 11 miles...and once again...it was raining!!!!! But I guess I can't complain, I do love running in the rain! But mother nature must have gotten wind of that fact...

Three more weeks until my 1/2!

Have a great week Warriors!

 

[hoosmi]

Michelle- I am so jealous- skyrobics sounds like so much fun!

Sarah Rose- I loved my Nike+ thing when I was training for Goofy. It was extremely accurate at 5ks (like within 15 seconds overall). Unfortunately, it wasn't accurate over long distances or slower runs. I was absolutely crushed in my first half when the clock showed my pace was about 1 minute slower than I thought (I knew it was a little off, but not that much). I ended up getting a Garmin and taking about 6 months to deal with the reality of my pace. But, it was a powerful motivator in the beginning, it was inexpensive, and I never fiddled with it to make it more accurate.

Jim & Jeff-- wow! I need to work on adding more miles too (but nowhere near as many as you two!) You're both going to be crazy fast (not that you aren't now...)

Speaking of fast-
Kate- when you consider your training and the whole race excitement thing, you've got 2:00 in the bag for the Princess!! You are so fast! You've been so consistent in your training.

Going to try to post a little race report from this weekend- trying to download a couple of pictures.

Jen in GA

 

[hoosmi]

OK, Warriors- here's my 10k report.

So, thankfully, my Warrior peeps had me dressed appropriately for 30 degree weather! I was in a thick turtleneck, pants, gloves, hat, and vest. I was much more comfortable than I expected (in normal life I would have waited until later in the day to run, since it reached 65 by mid-day!)

We picked up my packet Friday night at an elementary school. I picked it up early to get it over with, only to find out you had to get the chip the morning of the race. I thought that was weird. Turns out it took all of 20 seconds to get my chip that morning, so no big deal. Anyway, they said get there 30 minutes early to get your chip, so I had roughly 29 minutes to kill. I took some pictures on my phone. As usual, I was the only doofus taking pictures...

The view

So, I'm studying the map, thinking this is farther than I really wanted to go, when a random woman starts talking to me. She's asking if the course is well-marked. I have no clue, but we kind of chat a bit. She's wearing a big coat and sweatpants; she's older, and kind of has that perfect older lady hair. I think she's either a leisurely walker or a spectator...

We all wander down towards the start. Hard to find- this is it:

People are standing around chatting. I'm texting and checking my facebook. Again, doofus. The race starts with a quick airhorn blast. I see it coming, yet I jump. So embarassing to be so twitchy!

This was my plan: start the first two miles at about 9:45, then try to creep towards 9:30 for the middle, then push for 9:00s for the last two miles. I really just wanted to break an hour. (Previous 10k best was 1:08 but I haven't run one in a long time without the complications of pregnancy or a friggin' bridge).

I start running, and find myself behind an older steady guy. My first mile is 9:02. The second was 9:07. I knew I couldn't keep that pace, but I was in that delusional stage of racing... Third mile, 9:11. The old guy is trying to kill me, so I have to let him go on his merry fast way.

I walked a bit through a waterstop. Might have been a mistake...
Fourth mile was 9:35; fifth mile was about the same. By mile 5, I was sending my mom text messages about my distance so she could find me (she had the kids). I tried to text her "kill me" but accidentally sent through "kills" which I thought was actually more appropriate.

Mile 5, guess who's cheering and yelling that the finish is around the corner? My friend who looked like a spectator! She took first in the 50-54 category with 47 minutes- D'Oh! I loved that- so fun when someone totally surprises you!

Mile 6, there are some kids cheering. I manage to smile a bit, but nothing like my usual, friendly racing self. Then I look up and see the boys in the stroller with my mom and Emma jumping up and down. That did make me happy, although not faster... The last little bit is up a curved drive- the only hill has to be there? It's in the same 9:30 range.

So, I finished with a 58:38. I felt good about my effort level, but I need to do some more training. And drop some pounds. That would help. I taped a pace chart to my phone and checked it each mile- that was really good. I spent all of mile 4 wondering where I could add the extra seconds I gained by not running at an average pace of 9:27 per my chart. Stupid, but distracting, and sometimes distracting is all you've got.

We wandered down to the coffee shop and then watched the 5k. The Coast Guard was running. Some were really fast, but then a big group was running in a sort of chain following the flag. Very cool.

I made everyone linger for the results. According to my calculations based on last year's results, I had a chance for a medal. The fastest people in my group last year moved up to another age group. Yeah, I was 11th out of my group!! What was that all about?! I'm so taking those people next year...

And that's pretty much it.

Jen in GA

 

[dsnyfan21]

Great report Jen.
I'm sure it was great to see your family along the way!! NIce photos also!!

Yes, double time and miles for you!!

Tracy

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Hello Warriors!

2 miles today - 30 minutes. I extended the 3rd week of C25K into this week. I tried to start the 4th last week and... well it didn't go well. lol But today felt good.

Jen- great report!

Michelle- Skyrobics sounds so fun! I'll have to see if there's any of that around here!

Have a good day everyone!
Kat

 

[smileyk8]

Marcia and I use this nice little gizmo, http://www.switcheasy.com/products/Runaway/Runaway.php with our Nike+ footpod. Works with any type of shoe.

I don't care for Nike shoes, since they're too narrow for me.

Sarah I use Nike Plus still and have never worn nike shoes. The sensor sits in a little pouch on top of my asics. It's generally pretty spot on with my garmin... well it was until i got a new sensor and obviously calibrated it wrong! One bit of advice calibrate it on the surface that you run on e.g. TM for TM running or road if you typically run outside.

Michelle skyrobics sounds so cool! Bouncing around and you burnt 1000 calories? I can see why you suffered the next day!

Jen Thanks for your encouragement as always! I think it will just depend now whether my leg can hold out for the 1/2. Your race report's amazing and the pictures are stunning. Good job on the 10k.

Tracy brilliant 12 miles and what lovely socks! Taper time now, whoop whoop. Those new energy things sound great, i've just got my order of clif shot bloks and they work for me more than anything else i've tried so far.

AFM: went for a swim to try to loosen off my legs- think it did the trick. 1.55miles in 30mins, with a little bit of lane rage! Why is it that some people CANNOT be seen to swim in the slow lane!?!? I went in that one in the end because it was quieter, but some people just won't shift out of the middle one. Sigh.

 

[ImMarcik]

Jenn that is a good idea about taping the schedule to your phone. Congrats for under an hour!!!

 

[ImMarcik]

Speaking of socks, what is everyone's favorites? I've been running in asics but I would like to experiment some. I have 3 more weeks until I hit my goal and I promised myself a whole workout set (socks, shorts & top) for reaching my goal.

 

[dsnyfan21]

I know, you're saying to yourselves, "Tracy usually never posts on Mondays, it is her rest day."
That is true, but today I had off from work (haha Jeff!) and I was waiting for my car which was being serviced so I did 45min of some Wii. A little yoga, balancing work, strength training, tennis and bowling.

Went to get my blood drawn for a yearly check and then I have my appt with the doc next Monday. Figure I would do it all right before I turn 40!!!!
Just remember everyone to get your checkups and such regularly!!!

Keep up the FANTASTIC work all you WONDERFUL WARRIORS!!!!

Tracy

 

[mkymsehi]

"Part time Tracy" - that's your new call sign.

 

[JimB.]

Happy Monday Warriors!!!!

Today I ran 7.3 miles in 68:30.

I was going to ride this afternoon, but it was too windy & cold.

Global warming my a**. It's late February. It's Florida. It's Cold.

Al Gore is full of it. Work tomorrow. Hopefully bag some good mileage Thursday & Friday.

ESPN 5k on Sat.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Ok, first a great big to everyone who responded to my Nike+ iPod question - I think the verdict is that I need to keep saving my pennies (and with my wedding coming up in 4 months, pennies are really all I have to save! ) for a Garmin 305 (because they're only $150 now compared to the 405's $350) to keep track of my pace. I'm running anywhere from 8:00 to 12:55 miles in my training right now (on purpose, of course ) - the Nike+ would be ideal if I was training the same way I was last year, running all my runs at 10:30-11:00, but it sounds like it won't be accurate enough for my purposes, with the high variance in speed.

Jen: Congrats on your 10k and thanks for the fantastic race report! Congratulations on running it in under an hour!

Marcie: As I said before, I swear by my Thorlos. Haven't tried the Asics ones, but I find that the majority of socks that I've looked at don't have the level of cushioning that I need. I swear that my Thorlos were the only reason that I made it through the Disney half last month, when I'd dislocated a bone in my left foot 10 days previous! Heck, I was even wearing my Thorlos running socks for walking around Las Vegas (yes, I dislocated a bone in my foot in Las Vegas. No, I wasn't even drinking. ) right after the dislocation, before I'd seen my doctor to pop it back in, and they made the difference between spending all day in the hotel room and being able to actually walk around and see things. Anyway, I think they're perfect for helping pamper your feet a bit during the long runs.

Jim: Al Gore would say that it is because of Global Climate Change that we're getting the extreme weather that we're having... Ok, so I might have just watched An Inconvenient Truth last night, but saying that is probably too close to politics, which is enough to get me kicked out. And well, when I say "we" (in reference to crazy weather) I don't mean "me" in particular; it's 50 degrees and raining in Seattle today. Nothing out of place, there. In fact, that's pretty much a believable weather forecast 12 months out of the year!

Today was supposed to be a 40 minute cross-training day, but I've been forced to take a rest day (and possibly another one tomorrow) by a nasty stomach bug that hit at 2:00 in the morning. I don't feel too bad by now (5:00 pm) but just have that lingering "I was sick all night" gross feeling. Oh well, it has given me an excuse to spend the day flaked out in bed with my German Shepherd and the Angel DVD's that I got for Christmas and had yet to have time to really get into. There are worse ways to spend a sick day!

Sarah

 

[JimB.]

ooops. Double post...........