Hakuna Matada - Racing into January!

[bunnyfoo]

AFM: I am still experiencing lower back pain. It started a few days after I ran the half. Not sure if I did something in the run or pulled it at some other time.
Using ibuprofen and a heating pad but I would welcome any treatment suggestions. From all of my online reading about lower back pain and running, it appears to be a core strengthening issue.

Looks like we were posting at the same time!

I meant to get a pic with you at Pop but then I was rushing off to dinner Definitely next year, we'll make sure you get to the HK meets!

Back pain can be a glute issue sometimes as well. The way my physio explained it to me was that if you have a weak core and glutes, your knees and back start doing more work and that's how you get pain. Definitely get some rest and make sure the pain is gone before you start training again. Or go slowly if you can't wait. Do you have coverage for chiro treatments or massages from work. Those might help in the meantime. I also like using heat packs like Magic Bag.

I will PM you my physio's blog when I get home. He has some Youtube videos of back exercises that might help.

 

[windwalker]

Ok to start with anyone that saw me training this morning, I wasn't wearing tights, they were track pants. I just have big quads, glutes and calves so they looked tight. Panda don't do tights!

I did my regular 4 mile route, using good technique, I finally got the forward lean fixed by holding my arms higher, feeling the hip drop and the vault over straight knee. I didn't go overly hard just comfortably fast, and I had a new PR by 26 seconds, darn the luck.

I finished up with good stretching and upper body motion drills. I think this is gonna be a good year. Lighter stronger and tougher, Grrrrrrrrrrr!!

I really enjoyed meeting with everyone this trip. I loved the Kona breakfast but can we do the dinner either there also or maybe Ohana next time instead of Chef Mickey? It was ok but expensive for us. Although not having a daily beer tab helped tremendously.

How do you find out about the free dining plan offer? I've been looking at the discount section on top of the wish board and don't see anything about it. We are thinking about coming back in Sept instead of going to Gatlinburg this year.

Dave

 

[bunnyfoo]

Dave - I'm always open to suggestions so we can definitely take a group vote on a different restaurant next time. Whispering Canyon Cafe at WL would also be a good idea - that way people have the option of doing all you can eat or ordering individual entrees from the menu. I also know that they're use to big groups so we'll be okay there too

My only concern with 'Ohana is that it's mostly meat so I don't want to restrict anyone who might be vegan or vegetarian.

There's a free dining thread on the resort board (I think). They usually post about the dining offers as soon as they're released.

 

[windwalker]

WL sounds interesting Vicky, I understand about Ohana good point. Isn't there an interesting restraunt at the AK lodge also I've heard.

Vicky you did great setting everything up, I thought you might like feedback though.

Dave

 

[bunnyfoo]

WL sounds interesting Vicky, I understand about Ohana good point. Isn't there an interesting restraunt at the AK lodge also I've heard.

Vicky you did great setting everything up, I thought you might like feedback though.

Dave

Oh I definitely appreciate the feedback! Thanks Dave!

Boma is at AKL and is a great choice too!!

 

[rubato]

Hi team. Sorry I've been MIA. I'm feeling a little sorry for myself, but trying to get over it.

Dave: Right back in like you never did 39.3! Great job!

Vicky: Great report and good job getting back at it with the workouts.

Elizabeth: Sorry your back is hurting. Could be the back or glutes. If not better within this week, I'd go see someone.

Kim: Great plans for the year. I like your idea of cutting back on the races to foc us on weight. It's too hard to do both sometimes.

AFM: Started back to school today and am going to love some of my classes because of the interesting professors. I HATE my schedule. I decided to take all of my classes on Tues/Thurs so I wouldn't have to drive all the way to campus as often. All 5 classes are back to back and I barely have time to get to the next class and use the facilities (a necessity for me). I didn't get to eat today until 2, and my first class started at 8, with me leaving the house at 7:10! So, I'm going to have to figure something out.

No running yet. I've decided to take all of January off and start over. But, I did manage zumba last night with no knee pain. I hope that continues, because I'm going back tomorrow night.

Eating was great, then the depression over the injury kicked in and I ate like crazy. So, back on track yesterday and hoping to drop this last 9 pounds.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Hello team!

I thought I'd give us a bump back up to the top of the page! Hope everyone is doing well!

Tandy - Sounds like you've got a lot going on in those two days. But I see why you're trying not to go back and forth as much. It's a lot of time and I'm sure the parking isn't cheap either. Can you pack snacks to take with you? Like a ziplock of carrot and celery sticks? If you have a thermos - maybe you can make a smoothie with protein powder the night before and drink it in class. Are you allowed to eat/drink in class?

I'll bet the break from running gives you an easier time on weight loss. I know how you feel. I had to take a couple of months off last year after my ankle sprain. think of how much stronger you'll be when you come back!

Elizabeth - Hope your back is feeling better

Lynn/Scott - I'm seeing the Hawaii and Aulani pics on FB. I'm jealous! Can't wait to hear about the trip when you get back.

AFM - I'm still sore from Monday's workout so I guess I really needed it. The temps here went from being 5C to -5C in less than a day. Go figure!

I forgot to ask if anyone has any resolutions or goals for 2012?

Have a great day everyone!

 

[windwalker]

Good morning guys.

I had an awesome, but frog flippin freezing, training walk yesterday with my group. We went 9.5 miles at a good pace, the temperture was 28 degrees with a light wind and overcast sky. I haven't been that cold since the ice bowl Goofy of 2010.

I posted this on my facebook eastern Walking page and thought some of you might be interested:

I want to share an exercise I learned from Denise Austin back in the 70s that is one of the best I've ever done. It's called waist vacuuming, strange name but effective. When your standing around doing nothing, like standing in line waiting to check out at the market for instance, suck in your stomach as hard as you can. Like your trying to get your belly button to touch your spine, hold for 10 seconds and release. Repeat for several reps, or as long as your standing there. Do it several times a day. It's just as effective as doing crunches for your abdominal muscles. Strong abs are nesessary for powerful walking and will keep you from having back pain also since often back pain is caused by the imbalance of strength between your back and stomach muscles.

Dave

 

[bunnyfoo]

Good morning team!

Has anyone registered for the DL 1/2 (aside from Mike)? Registration opened yesterday and it was $150 (not including the Active.com fee)! As Charlie Brown would say ... good grief! Last year, it started at $120. The Pasta in the Park party is $85 and doesn't even include a park ticket. I know that Disney will continue raising prices as long as people are willing to register for the races but they're starting to move out of my price range - especially once you factor in the hotel, flights and food It makes me wonder what the 2013 race prices at WDW will start at.

Dave - Thanks for the waist vaccum exercise! That's definitely something I can incorporate into my daily routine - standing or sitting. And I know I do more than enough of both.

AFM - I've moved my training session to Friday for the week. I'm planning to meet Sue for lunch tomorrow! Friday lunches are always a great way to kick off the weekend! Does anyone have plans?

 

[Piglet24]

Hi Team!

Tandy- I’m glad you are okay with your decision not to do the ultra. Good to hear your eating is going well! I hope the knee heals and school starts off well. You have been very busy the last couple weeks!! I’m sure you will figure something out for your Tues/Thurs schedule to make it work for you.

Elizabeth- I didn’t get the chance to meet you this time but Congrats on finishing the half marathon! I hope your time for the Princess half will be more what you are hoping for. And I hope the stretching continues to help your back. Have you considered going to a chiropractor and getting adjusted to see if that helps with the back pain? If it’s a core strengthening issue, I’m not sure if that would help, but when I have had back pain an adjustment has helped me.

Emily- Congrats to you and DH on finishing the half. What makes you both like the DL half better than WDW? DH and I enjoyed sitting with you at the Kona breakfast!

Vicky- Loved reading your report!! You’ll have to let us know how you like the Dragon Boat team if you decide to do it! We have not registered for DL half yet.

Dave- Glad you didn't come home to too many surprises. Good luck with the clean eating and the weight loss.

Kim- I hope you’re feeling better. Glad you made it home safely! Good luck with your lifestyle changes and getting off those meds.

AFM, I went for my first run since the races last night. It’s been storming here (which is rain and really heavy winds) so that meant running on the TM for me. I don’t mind the rain, but DH said the winds were gusting up to 80mph and there is no way I was going out in that. The 6 mile run went okay. It was tough though.

It was good to meet most of you at WDW and I am looking forward to catching up with some of you again at the DL half in September! Glad to hear for the most part everyone is doing okay and I hope those who came home sick are feeling better and those who are injured can heal.

 

[windwalker]

We have a new member of the family. Sally bought us a guinea pig and all the goodies that go with it. He's a cute little guy, one of those long haired ones that looks like he was in the dryer to long, really the poster child for a bad hair day.

Yesterday was a rest day for me since I had to work a 12 hour shift and unlike Mike I can't function without sleep.

Today is adventures in oil change and then probably 4 to 5 miles before I do the marketing.

Have an awesome day guys.

Dave

 

[es45]

Happy Friday, all,

Dave: What is the little guy's name? My girls want a guinea pig but I refuse since we already have 2 dogs and 2 hermit crabs. Something has to go before we get another animal! Thanks for the post about the waist vacuum exercise. I've been doing it whenever I think about it.

Vicky: Thanks for the exercise link; it is obvious that I need to do more of these. The back was feeling better and so I intended to go to the gym this morning but I woke up with it hurting more than ever. Heading to the doctor this afternoon.

Regina: Hope to meet you at the next meet! My short visit prevented me from making it to any meet but the POP one and that was only for a few minutes. I hope to add more time on for my trip next year. Thanks for the chiro advice. I'm checking around for local chiro as well as physio and plan to go if my doctor visit doesn't provide relief.

Tandy: Vicky gave you excellent advice. Perhaps you can keep a a couple of energy bars in your bag to eat on the way to the next class. Good luck with the long days!

Still hoping that I can get to the gym today. Perhaps bike riding would be less stress on my back and good for strengthening my glutes (I think you are right, Tandy). After all, it is 34 days until Princess!

 

[bunnyfoo]

Weekend Racers ​

Good luck to our Chicago area runners! Stay warm and go slowly to compensate for the ice and snow! Can't wait to see the bling and read the RR!

January
21 - Chicago Polar Dash Half Marathon - Mike & Liz, Rick

 

[bunnyfoo]

Happy Friday team! I see many of us have some downrigh chilly weather! Brr! I'm done with the (little bit of) snow and cold weather! I want spring ... and more daylight!

Dave - A guinea pig sounds like fun! Do you have a name picked out? I think we need to see some pictures! Thanks for the oil change reminder, I have to get out this weekend to do one as well. I did a few of your ab exercises while in line for a coffee this morning.

I totally agree about Mike and sleep! I get cranky without enough sleep.

Elizabeth - Good luck at the doctor's today! I hope the back pain is something minor and that can be solved with a quick fix! Keep us posted!

It sounds like you have a full house with so many pets. What are the hermit crabs like? What do they eat?

Regina - WTG on the 6 miler! Have you decided what you're going to do with your 3 medals?

I probably will go for the Dragon Boat team. It fulfills a couple of my new year's goals - try a new sport, be more social and do more networking at work. If I go and hate it, I'll tell them that I can't swim! I can but I haven't done any serious swimming in a long time.

Which hotel are you thinking of for the DL 1/2? You can PM/text me if you don't want to post it here. I know nothing about DL or Anaheim. We'll have to make plans to go for food! I'm not paying $89 or whatever it is for the pasta in the park party...

AFM - Funny story...

Yesterday, we had a morning meeting and someone brought donut holes. I didn't eat a single one As I'm eating my lunch, I'm thinking ... Maybe I can have just *one* ... I know! I know! Like anyone ever eats one donut hole, one peanut, one potato chip ... But I really want a donut hole, so I decide to go and have "one" after I'm done lunch. Before I can finish my lunch, my manager comes over and asks me to pull a few files for him. As I'm getting the files, he goes into the meeting room and gets the donut box, brings them out and starts eating them. I look at him and say "Should you be eating those?" Not so much because I wanted the donuts but because he's got type II diabetes. He says "Probably not." and as soon as my back is turned, he takes the box back to his office and closes the door

So my first thought is "Are you kidding me?! You didn't offer me one? You're just going to eat them all yourself?" I see he's scarfing down the box (I think there were maybe 12-15 left) and my second thought is "Thanks! I really didn't need the extra sugar, fat or calories... Enjoy the blood sugar spike and your insulin injection later!" So yeah I was a bit bummed about not getting a donut but I know I'm better off for it!

Anyway... I have my training session tonight. It got moved from Thursday. I have to get an oil change (like Dave) and then I'm going to try and make some Chinese egg tarts for Sunday. Monday is Chinese New Year!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[windwalker]

I had a personal victory this morning when doing my training. I didn't wanna do it. I had spent the last hour at the Ford Dealership waiting for an oil change and a well mustang check. I need ball joints, the thought of the expense put me in the wrong mood for exercising. I went anyway and thought "I'll just do a mile and quit", as I was doing that first mile I remembered conversations I've had with a couple of world class masters athletes. "When you don't feel like it, do it anyway, good intentions don't make you a winner, only actions do. So I sucked it up and did a good 4 mile training walk, then I was able to get on with my chores and feel like I had won, not feel guilty about being lazy.

It's a small victory but there is a Tim McGraw song that has the Lyric, "You get stronger every time you don't give in". That's kinda where I'm at this year, this is a turning point, weather, negative feelings and just being down right lazy will not control my training, I will. Grrrrrrrrrr!!

The little guy's name is Snowball. He is an albino with wild hair. He will snuggle with Sally but chew me, I feel that he has put me lower on the food chain than either he or Sally.

Dave

 

[RunRookie]

I just received an email from runDisney with a link to my race certificate! This is so very cool! As a first-timer to the Marathon weekend, I did not know what to expect. I love this! And you get to pick between two different designs for the certificate too!

 

[rubato]

Dave: I was thinking of your new family member today. I was looking at dwarf hamsters and passed the guinea pigs. They are cute, but I'm not even sure I can deal with the hamsters. Good job getting through your mental block today. I have those a lot lately, due to weather and injury, and I feel so incredibly good when I push through them.

Vicky: What is a dragon boat? Is it like crewing? I think it sounds like a fabulous opportunity for team building for work and a great workout. So, are you doing the DL half? Just can't pass up a race this year, huh? Loved your donut story!

Elizabeth: What did the doctor say? I hope it's not too bad. My son wants a dwarf hamster, but he's not even taking care of our one pet, his dog. I feed, water, walk, pick up poo, play with and groom the dog. I can't stand the smell of stinky cages, so the hamster would be a pain for me.

Regina: Wow, 80 mph winds even beat Lynn's winds! Yikes! Hope the runs get better again soon.

Mike and Rick: Good luck this weekend! Sounds like a cold run. Brrrrrr!

AFM: School is figured out. Homework is crazy, but I'm having fun. Eating is going great. I've lost 2 pounds so far. We have dinner theater on Sunday, so I will be going off the diet a bit. But, it'll be good.

I went for a 3 mile hilly walk today and the knee started hurting again. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I guess going back to zumba has irritated it again. Oh well. Back to anti inflammatories and ice. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Hopefully, we can all stay warm.

 

[Lynn G]

Good Morning Team! We are back from vacation, now I need to catch up on everything!

Vicky - Cute donut hole story!

Dave - I do not know if you ever got your answer on construction behind Fantasy Land in the Magic Kingdom - they have taken out the Toontown area and are expanding Fantasy Land, the castle is the Beast’s castle and it will be a restaurant, and they are adding some rides. There will be 2 Dumbo rides side by side. there are several interesting restaurants at AKL! Does the guinea pig have a name?

Kim - My cholesterol has never been really high, but one year when I ate avocados, almonds and/or oatmeal nearly every day, my level was lower than in previous years. A friend had told me about those 3 foods.

Tandy - Sounds like a taxing schedule - bring munchies with you that you could eat in class. hope your knee pain goes away soon.

Mike - Hope you and Liz had a good race today!

Rick - Great to meet you and congrats on your first Half Marathon!

Elizabeth - Imagine being down in weight after vacation - that has never happened to me! Hope the back pain has gotten better.

Regina - Sounds like you have gotten some of our wind!

AFM - We had a great trip, Hawaii was great, Aulani was fabulous! We got a good amount of walking in daily. We came back to strong winds - 50-60 mph, but so far, today is nice, may get out on the bikes.

Pixie dust to all who are in need!

Have a great day team!

 

[windwalker]

Today is the day of the 50K race walk olympic trials. Everyone that toes that starting line today is a winner. I know that sounds like something we say to our kids but it's true, there is no shame in losing when you have made that elite list. Most of us would just feel blessed to be considered along with that group. To be there and compete at that level makes you a hero and role model to all the rest of us that are trying to figure it out. Most of us adult athletes are like me I think, we imagine, dream, hope whatever you wish to call it, that we are getting close to solving the magic secret that will allow us to bust loose and suddenly get a lot better. When we see athletes like those that will compete today, we get a glimpse of what that dream looks like when the hard work and the desire becomes reality.

This year a lady will be competing in the mens race since there is not a womens event in the olympics. She is there to show that women can go the distance as well as the guys. 50K is a little over 31 miles. So it's the longest event in the olympic games and considered the toughest event contested.

As for me an Sally we will do an hour of walking today when it warms up a little. I feel for all my northern US and Canadian buds who are continuing to get your miles in despite the yucky weather your having.

Dave

 

[windwalker]

Today is the day of the 50K race walk olympic trials. Everyone that toes that starting line today is a winner. I know that sounds like something we say to our kids but it's true, there is no shame in losing when you have made that elite list. Most of us would just feel blessed to be considered along with that group. To be there and compete at that level makes you a hero and role model to all the rest of us that are trying to figure it out. Most of us adult athletes are like me I think, we imagine, dream, hope whatever you wish to call it, that we are getting close to solving the magic secret that will allow us to bust loose and suddenly get a lot better. When we see athletes like those that will compete today, we get a glimpse of what that dream looks like when the hard work and the desire becomes reality.

This year a lady will be competing in the mens race since there is not a womens event in the olympics. She is there to show that women can go the distance as well as the guys. 50K is a little over 31 miles. So it's the longest event in the olympic games and considered the toughest event contested.

As for me an Sally we will do an hour of walking today when it warms up a little. I feel for all my northern US and Canadian buds who are continuing to get your miles in despite the yucky weather your having.

Dave