Is this realistic?

[Waiting2goback]

I got in a run today. It was interesting. I did the first 20 minutes without stopping at all and my pace was 8:23. Way faster than I have ever run and it didn't feel any harder than my other runs. Then my leg began hurting again. At this point I think it is all muscle pain because I got home and did the foam roller and it felt better. I am sore but it is because I obviously pushed myself pretty hard.

During that run I came to the realization that I won't be qualifying for Boston this year. It was a nice goal and I will keep working but I just don't see it happening. We hit May this week and I am basically still 2 minutes a mile slower than I need to be. I just don't see being able to make up that much of a gap by October.

I am back on the bike idea. I think it will help me get closer to my goal of qualifying and I enjoy it on top of it. Dick's Sporting Goods is having a bike sale. I found a nice bike that normally runs $600 on sale for only $300. I might go buy it tomorrow after the dentist. I'm still not sure.

But at this point I am just trying to enjoy this whole process while trying to decide if I can actually commit to doing Boston for charity.

Have a good night everyone.

 

[StayCool]

Waiting, I am glad you are trying to enjoy what you are doing while working toward your goal.

Today was weigh in and I was down 2.8 lbs. I'm doing better tracking although I am not doing it 100% yet.

On another note, my friend bought a bridesmaid dress for me and then told me about it after. The wedding is in 1 1/2 weeks and I had not seen the dress! Thankfully I was able to try it on and it fit! She is the only person I know that can do something like that and get away with it!

 

[Chiomaca]

Chiomaca- It's been hurting for my last 3 runs, or about a week. I have taken a few days off to rest it. I will run tomorrow and give it a test. This is provided my daughter is feeling better, she had a fever at bedtime tonight and the wife is gone for a few days to a work conference. So if she stays home tomorrow it means no run for me.

Hope your daughter is feeling better!

I have some oral surgery scheduled for Tuesday so if it goes as planned it means very little running for me this week. But, I may start P90X3 this week as I can't go without exercise all week. I have been putting it off for long enough, this might be the week to start.

Ugh on the oral surgery. One of my biggest faults is that I avoid the dentist like the plague, which means that they're all bad visits. Something I need to improve on...

During that run I came to the realization that I won't be qualifying for Boston this year. It was a nice goal and I will keep working but I just don't see it happening. We hit May this week and I am basically still 2 minutes a mile slower than I need to be. I just don't see being able to make up that much of a gap by October.

I am back on the bike idea. I think it will help me get closer to my goal of qualifying and I enjoy it on top of it. Dick's Sporting Goods is having a bike sale. I found a nice bike that normally runs $600 on sale for only $300. I might go buy it tomorrow after the dentist. I'm still not sure.

But at this point I am just trying to enjoy this whole process while trying to decide if I can actually commit to doing Boston for charity.

First, great pace! I know it's not where you want to be, but given your sporadic ability to work out, that's pretty awesome. I'm always happy just to stay under 10 min/mile. I think the bike is a great idea - I have friends who have told me that biking definitely helps their running capacity. I'm going to start taking my bike out a bit more often now that it's light enough to go places after work safely. And warm enough, I think warm is more important to me than light, which is funny given that I don't mind running in below freezing conditions. I'm proud that you have worked your way from beating yourself up over Boston to being okay with enjoying the process. I know that is a long haul for you, but I think you're seeing results mentally as well as physically, so go you!

Today was weigh in and I was down 2.8 lbs

Congrats! As for me, nearly a month of tracking and trying to improve my snacking habits and my semi-annual fitness test weigh in...no change. I guess I'm not all that surprised, but it does make me wonder if doing all the work to long things and adjust my diet is worth the effort. At least it's made me be more aware of what I'm eating.

On another note, my friend bought a bridesmaid dress for me and then told me about it after. The wedding is in 1 1/2 weeks and I had not seen the dress! Thankfully I was able to try it on and it fit! She is the only person I know that can do something like that and get away with it!

Wow! That's impressive. My mom could do that, but I don't think any of my friends could.

Limited workouts this week. Partly due to scared puppy and partly because I've started to experience some weird and completely new-to-me pain in the ball of my right foot. My chiro is puzzled, so I'm giving it a few more days and then going to see the doc. I'm hoping it isn't stress fractures, because I'm running the Pixie Dust Challenge in a few weeks. Ballet on Monday wasn't particularly fun with that pain going, but I stuck with the full hour.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Hope your daughter is feeling better!

Ugh on the oral surgery. One of my biggest faults is that I avoid the dentist like the plague, which means that they're all bad visits. Something I need to improve on...

First, great pace! I know it's not where you want to be, but given your sporadic ability to work out, that's pretty awesome. I'm always happy just to stay under 10 min/mile. I think the bike is a great idea - I have friends who have told me that biking definitely helps their running capacity. I'm going to start taking my bike out a bit more often now that it's light enough to go places after work safely. And warm enough, I think warm is more important to me than light, which is funny given that I don't mind running in below freezing conditions. I'm proud that you have worked your way from beating yourself up over Boston to being okay with enjoying the process. I know that is a long haul for you, but I think you're seeing results mentally as well as physically, so go you!

Limited workouts this week. Partly due to scared puppy and partly because I've started to experience some weird and completely new-to-me pain in the ball of my right foot. My chiro is puzzled, so I'm giving it a few more days and then going to see the doc. I'm hoping it isn't stress fractures, because I'm running the Pixie Dust Challenge in a few weeks. Ballet on Monday wasn't particularly fun with that pain going, but I stuck with the full hour.

My daughter just had a fever that night. Nothing else developed. That happens to her a lot where she'll have a fever for one night and it never turns into more. It's strange.

I had a tooth crack a few years ago. I finally had it pulled last year. Now I am beginning the process to have an implant put in, which yesterday consisted of screwing a metal post into my jaw. It is a bit sore but not too bad. Not well enough I can workout yet. Once my heart rate increases is throbs.

I know my bike helped a lot last year. On top of having fun doing it, it helps increase stamina and it works your legs differently so it is good cross training. As for my outlook on Boston. I know I will run it eventually, and that is the true goal. It would be cool to say I qualified for it but it may not ever be possible. But the real goal is to hang that medal on my wall some day and I will make it happen eventually. I don't know why I put so much pressure on myself to do it so quickly. I like running, I like being healthy. I like that I am so much older than my co-workers and I am healthier than all of them. That comes from hard work and that's what I should be focused on, not how quickly I can run one race.

I am sorry to hear about your new found pain. Isn't it so frustrating? Just when you gain some momentum and start to increase miles (although you have been consistent throughout) something pops up. And of course you think to yourself that it is something serious, when it may not be. But, it is just a roadblock and you will fight through it.

Did you sign up for Marathon Weekend?

 

[Chiomaca]

Now I am beginning the process to have an implant put in, which yesterday consisted of screwing a metal post into my jaw. It is a bit sore but not too bad. Not well enough I can workout yet. Once my heart rate increases is throbs.

Ugh. And Ouch. Hope that subsides quickly.

As for my outlook on Boston. I know I will run it eventually, and that is the true goal. It would be cool to say I qualified for it but it may not ever be possible. But the real goal is to hang that medal on my wall some day and I will make it happen eventually. I don't know why I put so much pressure on myself to do it so quickly. I like running, I like being healthy. I like that I am so much older than my co-workers and I am healthier than all of them. That comes from hard work and that's what I should be focused on, not how quickly I can run one race.

I am sorry to hear about your new found pain. Isn't it so frustrating? Just when you gain some momentum and start to increase miles (although you have been consistent throughout) something pops up. And of course you think to yourself that it is something serious, when it may not be. But, it is just a roadblock and you will fight through it.

Did you sign up for Marathon Weekend?

No, I didn't sign up for Marathon weekend. I'm going to try to do the Disneyland Paris Half next year, so at least for now, I'm holding off on big race expenditures for something that I've already done. I can do Dopey the next year. I'll keep doing Avengers, but those two may be my only Disney races next year.

The foot pain confuses me. It's just kind of mysterious and annoying. I've run twice in the last two days - five miles with my new running group last night and then the bi-annual 1.5 miles for the Navy this morning. The foot pain didn't bother me at all during the run, but does bug me walking. No run tomorrow, but I will run Saturday morning. The thing about running with a group that's got an active social media presence is getting called out for the workouts you attend - in my case Wednesday evening and Saturday morning runs. I'm considering joining the Sunday bootcamps, too. It's not rude, just a reminder that people are looking forward to seeing you. And Waiting2goback, there's a chapter in Worcester, if you were interested. Looks like a smaller program, but they do stuff all over that area, too. I see running and crossfit on their page. I know you're not a Facebook person, but here's the link to Team RWB and if you search on a chapter near you, there's a point of contact. StayCool, there are a bunch of chapters in Upstate New York, you should check it out, too. It's a veteran-centric organization, but not exclusively veterans because the idea is to encourage veterans to engage in their community. About half to twenty people out with us last night had no military service. And many of them were slower than me!

 

[StayCool]

The foot pain confuses me. It's just kind of mysterious and annoying. I've run twice in the last two days - five miles with my new running group last night and then the bi-annual 1.5 miles for the Navy this morning. The foot pain didn't bother me at all during the run, but does bug me walking. No run tomorrow, but I will run Saturday morning. The thing about running with a group that's got an active social media presence is getting called out for the workouts you attend - in my case Wednesday evening and Saturday morning runs. I'm considering joining the Sunday bootcamps, too. It's not rude, just a reminder that people are looking forward to seeing you. And Waiting2goback, there's a chapter in Worcester, if you were interested. Looks like a smaller program, but they do stuff all over that area, too. I see running and crossfit on their page. I know you're not a Facebook person, but here's the link to Team RWB and if you search on a chapter near you, there's a point of contact. StayCool, there are a bunch of chapters in Upstate New York, you should check it out, too. It's a veteran-centric organization, but not exclusively veterans because the idea is to encourage veterans to engage in their community. About half to twenty people out with us last night had no military service. And many of them were slower than me!

That stinks about the foot pain. Must be something about the difference in your foot strike. Not cool.

And I agree about the social media stuff. It helps get me going (normally) and peer pressure is positive in this case. lol I will check that link out and see if any are close enough.

This weekend is going to be crazy. I've got work to catch up on that I couldn't get to this week, a bridal shower and outdoor work to get to. I'm hoping to at least walk a 5k this weekend and try to drag the family with me. The weather is supposed to be good so I want to enjoy it. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[Waiting2goback]

No, I didn't sign up for Marathon weekend. I'm going to try to do the Disneyland Paris Half next year, so at least for now, I'm holding off on big race expenditures for something that I've already done. I can do Dopey the next year. I'll keep doing Avengers, but those two may be my only Disney races next year.

The foot pain confuses me. It's just kind of mysterious and annoying. I've run twice in the last two days - five miles with my new running group last night and then the bi-annual 1.5 miles for the Navy this morning. The foot pain didn't bother me at all during the run, but does bug me walking. No run tomorrow, but I will run Saturday morning. The thing about running with a group that's got an active social media presence is getting called out for the workouts you attend - in my case Wednesday evening and Saturday morning runs. I'm considering joining the Sunday bootcamps, too. It's not rude, just a reminder that people are looking forward to seeing you. And Waiting2goback, there's a chapter in Worcester, if you were interested. Looks like a smaller program, but they do stuff all over that area, too. I see running and crossfit on their page. I know you're not a Facebook person, but here's the link to Team RWB and if you search on a chapter near you, there's a point of contact. StayCool, there are a bunch of chapters in Upstate New York, you should check it out, too. It's a veteran-centric organization, but not exclusively veterans because the idea is to encourage veterans to engage in their community. About half to twenty people out with us last night had no military service. And many of them were slower than me!

OK, so what's wrong with me. I missed the whole announcement about the Paris race. I just heard it on MickeyMiles. I figured it would have been a bigger announcement, or was it and I am just oblivious? That would be a cool race but probably pretty pricey.

A lot of my pain works the same way you describe, the pain is gone during the run but comes back when I am done. Makes no sense. I would love to do the running group but with my schedule at work it makes it so hard. On top of that, I started studying for my CFA again after a few weeks off. I have limited time.

My jaw still hurts a bit so I haven't tried to exercise yet. I'm thinking I might go out for a bike ride Sunday morning.

And I agree about the social media stuff. It helps get me going (normally) and peer pressure is positive in this case. lol I will check that link out and see if any are close enough.

This weekend is going to be crazy. I've got work to catch up on that I couldn't get to this week, a bridal shower and outdoor work to get to. I'm hoping to at least walk a 5k this weekend and try to drag the family with me. The weather is supposed to be good so I want to enjoy it. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Isn't this thread all about peer pressure to keep us going? Hopefully you get out for your walk and enjoy the weather this weekend.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Just wanted to check in. It's been awfully quiet around here. The weather is getting better, isn't this when we are supposed to get back on track? I know some of us have been struggling lately but this is when we need to fight through the most so we don't fall back into those old habits.

Anyway, I got myself out of bed early today and went for a bike ride. I did 11.25 miles and my chest was on fire so I got a pretty good workout before even going to work. Tomorrow I will get in another one before work and then my normal run after work.

Now I am off to do some studying. Hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Chiomaca]

That stinks about the foot pain. Must be something about the difference in your foot strike. Not cool.

I'm actually thinking it might be the ballet - I don't normally spend a lot of time on my tiptoes as an adult, you know? Hopefully a little strengthening in the foot and I'll be good. It is still sore but not as bad as last week.

This weekend is going to be crazy. I've got work to catch up on that I couldn't get to this week, a bridal shower and outdoor work to get to. I'm hoping to at least walk a 5k this weekend and try to drag the family with me. The weather is supposed to be good so I want to enjoy it. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

It was super warm here in DC. I was dressed fine for my morning run (3.2 miles, would have been longer but I had a long afternoon with the dogs planned.) I was way overdressed in jeans and a long sleeved tee shirt at the dog event, at least when the sun wasn't blocked by the clouds. We did a different event this weekend - the Congressional Cemetery here is an amazing place that is open to the public a few times a year, and this Saturday was "Day of the Dog" where it was open to any DC person with a dog (normally it's members only and there's a two year wait list), and they bring in a few rescues, some food trucks, some other vendors and silly activities like photo ops with your dog sticking his/her head through a cutout of Dolly Madison or John Phillips Sousa (both of whom are buried in the cemetery. It sounds weird to say I was hanging with the dogs and had grilled cheese and a beer in a cemetery, but that's what I did.

OK, so what's wrong with me. I missed the whole announcement about the Paris race. I just heard it on MickeyMiles. I figured it would have been a bigger announcement, or was it and I am just oblivious? That would be a cool race but probably pretty pricey.

I imagine it will be super expensive. The race was announced a few months ago, I think right before the Princess Half Weekend, but it wasn't anything other than an announcement that is was coming, no fanfare. Flights there aren't that expensive and choosing a Paris Airbnb will make lodging reasonable. I'd stay in Paris and take the train to Disneyland because it's pretty convenient.

A lot of my pain works the same way you describe, the pain is gone during the run but comes back when I am done. Makes no sense. I would love to do the running group but with my schedule at work it makes it so hard.

I don't know if the Massachusetts group works the same way as the DC one, but I suspect it does. It's not like an official training group, it's just people who get together when their schedules work and encourage each other. For example, on Saturday we all meet at 9am then break off. Yesterday, only two of us ran. Another did a run/walk, five or six walked, and another half dozen rode their bikes. We have everything from Boston-type speedsters to folks who take the full hour to do the three mile loop. If you can go, you go, if not, they'll look for you next week. And in our area, there's an event or three every day, usually something early morning and something in the afternoon/evening.

Isn't this thread all about peer pressure to keep us going? Hopefully you get out for your walk and enjoy the weather this weekend.

It is about peer pressure, but for me at least, it's different when I see myself tagged in the Friday afternoon post giving the time and location for the Saturday morning meet-up. It's nice to know someone is looking for you, you know? I usually end up running on my own, but this week I ran with an Air Force guy a few years senior to me, who was quite patient when I needed to water the dog or give him a chance to walk. (And me, dude was about a foot taller than me...and pretty quick.)

Anyway, I got myself out of bed early today and went for a bike ride. I did 11.25 miles and my chest was on fire so I got a pretty good workout before even going to work. Tomorrow I will get in another one before work and then my normal run after work.

Nice bike ride - is that your first real ride of the year? Glad you got it in!

 

[Waiting2goback]

I'm actually thinking it might be the ballet - I don't normally spend a lot of time on my tiptoes as an adult, you know? Hopefully a little strengthening in the foot and I'll be good. It is still sore but not as bad as last week.

It was super warm here in DC. I was dressed fine for my morning run (3.2 miles, would have been longer but I had a long afternoon with the dogs planned.) I was way overdressed in jeans and a long sleeved tee shirt at the dog event, at least when the sun wasn't blocked by the clouds. We did a different event this weekend - the Congressional Cemetery here is an amazing place that is open to the public a few times a year, and this Saturday was "Day of the Dog" where it was open to any DC person with a dog (normally it's members only and there's a two year wait list), and they bring in a few rescues, some food trucks, some other vendors and silly activities like photo ops with your dog sticking his/her head through a cutout of Dolly Madison or John Phillips Sousa (both of whom are buried in the cemetery. It sounds weird to say I was hanging with the dogs and had grilled cheese and a beer in a cemetery, but that's what I did.

I imagine it will be super expensive. The race was announced a few months ago, I think right before the Princess Half Weekend, but it wasn't anything other than an announcement that is was coming, no fanfare. Flights there aren't that expensive and choosing a Paris Airbnb will make lodging reasonable. I'd stay in Paris and take the train to Disneyland because it's pretty convenient.

I don't know if the Massachusetts group works the same way as the DC one, but I suspect it does. It's not like an official training group, it's just people who get together when their schedules work and encourage each other. For example, on Saturday we all meet at 9am then break off. Yesterday, only two of us ran. Another did a run/walk, five or six walked, and another half dozen rode their bikes. We have everything from Boston-type speedsters to folks who take the full hour to do the three mile loop. If you can go, you go, if not, they'll look for you next week. And in our area, there's an event or three every day, usually something early morning and something in the afternoon/evening.

It is about peer pressure, but for me at least, it's different when I see myself tagged in the Friday afternoon post giving the time and location for the Saturday morning meet-up. It's nice to know someone is looking for you, you know? I usually end up running on my own, but this week I ran with an Air Force guy a few years senior to me, who was quite patient when I needed to water the dog or give him a chance to walk. (And me, dude was about a foot taller than me...and pretty quick.)

Nice bike ride - is that your first real ride of the year? Glad you got it in!

The ballet thing makes sense. It is the only thing you are doing differently so it seems to be a logical place to start.

Eventually I may look into that running group. But, at this point I just don't know if I can fit it in to my schedule. I have been so busy trying to fit everything in and that is all on my own schedule. Adding in someone else to the mix will be stressful.

It was my first bike ride since last year. I got the new bike that day I had my dental work done and it prevented me from riding for a few days. I also rode yesterday morning before work, I did another 12 miles. I worked all day and then ran after work, 3 miles. My legs were so sore from riding I had to cut it short. I was tired when I got home so I didn't get on the computer. The legs are still sore today so I took a day off.

But, I have been slacking so much, I feel anyway, that I have decided to kick it up a notch. Tomorrow is sign up day for the BAA 10K. So I will sign up for that. Then I will start picking the rest of my races for the year.

 

[Chiomaca]

It was my first bike ride since last year. I got the new bike that day I had my dental work done and it prevented me from riding for a few days. I also rode yesterday morning before work, I did another 12 miles. I worked all day and then ran after work, 3 miles. My legs were so sore from riding I had to cut it short. I was tired when I got home so I didn't get on the computer. The legs are still sore today so I took a day off.

But, I have been slacking so much, I feel anyway, that I have decided to kick it up a notch. Tomorrow is sign up day for the BAA 10K. So I will sign up for that. Then I will start picking the rest of my races for the year.

You're out and running and biking, so that's great. Rest days are good too, just not too many. I've had a rough week and haven't gotten anything in yet. Not rough personally, just schedule. I started a new job on Monday, same place, same topic, just looking at current operations instead of future policy. But, it entails a whole set of things like moving personal data from one server to another, getting access to the shared drives at the new place, and getting a different building badge. That last one took all day even though in the end, all I had to do was read 2-3 pages and sign a document. The process was painful and because it took all day, I missed my window to run. Ditto yesterday for different reasons. Today I may get out, but probably not, and I fly on Thursday. I might do a quick run Thursday evening at Disney just to shake things out.

I did actually make a costume for the 10k. I've been playing around with sewing lycra since Avengers last year when I made my own top. This time I made a skirt and top. I need to put the finishing touches on this evening, but I am pretty happy with the result. Nobody else dressed as Silvermist is going to have my outfit! For the half, I'm just going with a Sparkle Skirt and top because I'd like to see how I am doing running on my own instead of with a group/friend.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Chiomaca, Sorry to hear about work and all the roadblocks going on. I do hope you have a great time this weekend. So you are running the 1/2 by yourself? Nobody to hold you back?

I ran tonight. Tomorrow I have off and I am planning a bike ride during the day, assuming the weather is good. I signed up for a 10K on Father's Day. It is the BAA 10K in Boston. There will be 10,000 people for a 10K so it should be interesting. But being the BAA I am guessing it will be well organized. I am to tired to spend the time researching the rest of my races to sign up for but I will do it all soon so I can figure out my schedule for the year.

I hope the other ladies are doing well and come back soon. Everyone have a good night.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Just checking in. It's very quiet. I know Chiomaca is at her race. Everyone else seems to have disappeared, which has me concerned.

I ran yesterday and it hurt every step of the way after being on my feet all day at work. I took today off and I will wake up early and do a bike ride in the morning. Other than that, not much going on. Wishing you mothers a very nice day tomorrow.

 

[Chiomaca]

Wow, it is quiet. Dizzy, Darci, StayCool, where are you?

This weekend went really well. I didn't run at all the week prior, but that may have been a good thing. Friday morning my mom and a friend came down and we alternated between the expo and a casual stroll through the parks. We only did a couple of rides - mom's friend hadn't been to Disney since he was a kid and he's not really a consumer-type, so it was all fascinating and overwhelming to him. We did Radiator Springs Racers twice (day and night) and Pirates - that's it. We had dinner in Blue Bayou, the restaurant that overlooks Pirates at DL. Tim joined us in the evening and we watched Fantasmic! as a group.

Saturday mom and I met up in the hotel - we stayed off site about a mile from the start/finish - and walked to the start. She wanted me to run on my own, so I started from my own Corral. Unless I run Tinkerbell again (definite maybe) I may never get a Corral A start again, so I was excited. I stayed towards the back of the pack since I squeaked into A by about 30 seconds. Turned out I didn't need to worry too much. I averaged 9:28/mile (moving time) and stopped for lots of pictures. At the end I realized that I had never run a 10K race before, so this was a PR. Tim and mom's friend met me after the finish and we waited for mom, who finished about 30 minutes after me. After a nice nap, we hit the parks, again quite casually. We rode the older dark rides like Snow White, Mr. Toad, and Alice in Wonderland. We did Buzz Lightyear and I was the Rebel Spy on Star Tours! We had dinner and called it a night because I still had another early morning.

Sunday, I slept a little bit later and wandered up to the start, where I met up with a friend who was in the same corral. She's much faster than me, so I sent her towards the front of the corral and checked in with a woman wearing a Team RWB shirt and carrying a flag. Her pace was also going to be faster than mine, so I settled in for an independent run. Both my Garmin and my phone stalled out at the start but got going a few yards into the run. I wasn't really paying attention to either other than to the interval cues on my phone. I'd pretty much stopped for all the pictures during the 10k, and didn't see anything I had to have during the Half, other than getting a jump shot at the castle. I was cruising along, starting to get tired but keeping some reserve to try and get negative splits on the backside. I picked up my pace around mile 8, which is well outside the parks, and noticed the girl with the flag was within sight. I thought it was odd, but that maybe the distance was deceiving since we were on a long straightaway in Anaheim. But no, I caught up to her right before mile 9 and she told me she was having knee pain and was clearly hurting. I slowed down and ran with her the rest of the way. She probably didn't need me to finish, but when I'm in like that I find that someone with me is helpful. We finished together, flag flying overhead, which was pretty cool. After the run, I checked my splits on Map My Run and realized that I was only 7 minutes off my PR and probably would have set a new one had I not slowed down. I have a little regret about that, but not much. I have plenty of other chances to PR in the coming months. And I probably gave Tim enough time to get to the finish in time to hear me cross the line. Mom and her friend missed it, but arrived in time to walk down and get post-run Starbucks and beignets, so it all worked out. The guys had to leave early, so so we sent them on their way and took naps. We rode Space Mountain, had dinner in California Adventure, and watched World of Color, which was a nice way to end Mother's Day weekend.

I feel pretty good today but probably won't run again for a couple of days to give my quads some time to recover.

 

[StayCool]

I'm actually thinking it might be the ballet - I don't normally spend a lot of time on my tiptoes as an adult, you know? Hopefully a little strengthening in the foot and I'll be good. It is still sore but not as bad as last week.

It is about peer pressure, but for me at least, it's different when I see myself tagged in the Friday afternoon post giving the time and location for the Saturday morning meet-up. It's nice to know someone is looking for you, you know? I usually end up running on my own, but this week I ran with an Air Force guy a few years senior to me, who was quite patient when I needed to water the dog or give him a chance to walk. (And me, dude was about a foot taller than me...and pretty quick.)

I hope your foot is feeling better! Positive peer pressure can be a great thing. I know I use it to help motivate me to get going.

It was my first bike ride since last year. I got the new bike that day I had my dental work done and it prevented me from riding for a few days. I also rode yesterday morning before work, I did another 12 miles. I worked all day and then ran after work, 3 miles. My legs were so sore from riding I had to cut it short. I was tired when I got home so I didn't get on the computer. The legs are still sore today so I took a day off.

But, I have been slacking so much, I feel anyway, that I have decided to kick it up a notch. Tomorrow is sign up day for the BAA 10K. So I will sign up for that. Then I will start picking the rest of my races for the year.

So how do you like your new bike? And yay for signing up for your race.

I did actually make a costume for the 10k. I've been playing around with sewing lycra since Avengers last year when I made my own top. This time I made a skirt and top. I need to put the finishing touches on this evening, but I am pretty happy with the result. Nobody else dressed as Silvermist is going to have my outfit! For the half, I'm just going with a Sparkle Skirt and top because I'd like to see how I am doing running on my own instead of with a group/friend.

Hope you have/had a great time. How did it go running alone?

I ran yesterday and it hurt every step of the way after being on my feet all day at work. I took today off and I will wake up early and do a bike ride in the morning. Other than that, not much going on. Wishing you mothers a very nice day tomorrow.

I'm still hanging in, just very busy. Things should settle down now.

 

[StayCool]

I'm still here. My friend got married on Sunday and I was a bridesmaid and that took up a lot of my time for the last week or so. She lives out of town so I stayed with her all weekend. Plus add in the fact that it was Mother's Day and my birthday, well things got a little hectic!! It was a really good time though and everything went well. We danced for about 4 hours straight and my legs and back are killing me. But it was so much fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

As for me, I am still singing the same tune. I need to get back to zumba or some type of physical activity. I need to do a better job with food. Blah blah blah. I did prep some fruits (watermelon yum!) and am trying to do better. When I get overwhelmed I tend to lose focus on all of that. Not ok but it is what it is.

Chiomaca, I am glad that you had a good time and it was super nice of you to stop and help another runner. You are a very supportive person.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Wow, it is quiet. Dizzy, Darci, StayCool, where are you?

This weekend went really well. I didn't run at all the week prior, but that may have been a good thing. Friday morning my mom and a friend came down and we alternated between the expo and a casual stroll through the parks. We only did a couple of rides - mom's friend hadn't been to Disney since he was a kid and he's not really a consumer-type, so it was all fascinating and overwhelming to him. We did Radiator Springs Racers twice (day and night) and Pirates - that's it. We had dinner in Blue Bayou, the restaurant that overlooks Pirates at DL. Tim joined us in the evening and we watched Fantasmic! as a group.

Saturday mom and I met up in the hotel - we stayed off site about a mile from the start/finish - and walked to the start. She wanted me to run on my own, so I started from my own Corral. Unless I run Tinkerbell again (definite maybe) I may never get a Corral A start again, so I was excited. I stayed towards the back of the pack since I squeaked into A by about 30 seconds. Turned out I didn't need to worry too much. I averaged 9:28/mile (moving time) and stopped for lots of pictures. At the end I realized that I had never run a 10K race before, so this was a PR. Tim and mom's friend met me after the finish and we waited for mom, who finished about 30 minutes after me. After a nice nap, we hit the parks, again quite casually. We rode the older dark rides like Snow White, Mr. Toad, and Alice in Wonderland. We did Buzz Lightyear and I was the Rebel Spy on Star Tours! We had dinner and called it a night because I still had another early morning.

Sunday, I slept a little bit later and wandered up to the start, where I met up with a friend who was in the same corral. She's much faster than me, so I sent her towards the front of the corral and checked in with a woman wearing a Team RWB shirt and carrying a flag. Her pace was also going to be faster than mine, so I settled in for an independent run. Both my Garmin and my phone stalled out at the start but got going a few yards into the run. I wasn't really paying attention to either other than to the interval cues on my phone. I'd pretty much stopped for all the pictures during the 10k, and didn't see anything I had to have during the Half, other than getting a jump shot at the castle. I was cruising along, starting to get tired but keeping some reserve to try and get negative splits on the backside. I picked up my pace around mile 8, which is well outside the parks, and noticed the girl with the flag was within sight. I thought it was odd, but that maybe the distance was deceiving since we were on a long straightaway in Anaheim. But no, I caught up to her right before mile 9 and she told me she was having knee pain and was clearly hurting. I slowed down and ran with her the rest of the way. She probably didn't need me to finish, but when I'm in like that I find that someone with me is helpful. We finished together, flag flying overhead, which was pretty cool. After the run, I checked my splits on Map My Run and realized that I was only 7 minutes off my PR and probably would have set a new one had I not slowed down. I have a little regret about that, but not much. I have plenty of other chances to PR in the coming months. And I probably gave Tim enough time to get to the finish in time to hear me cross the line. Mom and her friend missed it, but arrived in time to walk down and get post-run Starbucks and beignets, so it all worked out. The guys had to leave early, so so we sent them on their way and took naps. We rode Space Mountain, had dinner in California Adventure, and watched World of Color, which was a nice way to end Mother's Day weekend.

I feel pretty good today but probably won't run again for a couple of days to give my quads some time to recover.

Chiomaca, sounds like a busy, but very fun weekend. Nice to be able to spend time with your mother on Mother's Day. It sounds like you had a great race. I agree, it was nice of you to stop and help someone get to the finish line. That's the kind of thing I love about runners. Overall it is a very supportive community. I hope to get out to DL sooner or later.

So how do you like your new bike? And yay for signing up for your race.

I have ridden a couple times now. It is fun, but not as much fun as I remember last year. I don't know if its because I enjoy running more so it closed the gap or if I am so out of riding shape that it is so much harder. But, I actually considered returning my bike today and using that money to go do the Disney marathon in January. Everyone I talk to thinks I should. But, I still have to run it by the wife and I just don't know if it is worth it since it took so much work to get things where they are now.

As for the race, I am a bit nervous. My last few runs have been brutal. I just hoped I would be further along than I am right now and I know being on my feet all day long at work it hurting my progress but all I can do it fight through it.

I'm still here. My friend got married on Sunday and I was a bridesmaid and that took up a lot of my time for the last week or so. She lives out of town so I stayed with her all weekend. Plus add in the fact that it was Mother's Day and my birthday, well things got a little hectic!! It was a really good time though and everything went well. We danced for about 4 hours straight and my legs and back are killing me. But it was so much fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

As for me, I am still singing the same tune. I need to get back to zumba or some type of physical activity. I need to do a better job with food. Blah blah blah. I did prep some fruits (watermelon yum!) and am trying to do better. When I get overwhelmed I tend to lose focus on all of that. Not ok but it is what it is.

Chiomaca, I am glad that you had a good time and it was super nice of you to stop and help another runner. You are a very supportive person.

I'm glad you are back and I am glad you had so much fun. I just hope you get back on track soon. This is the weather we were waiting for so I hope you get out and take advantage of it.

 

[Chiomaca]

I hope your foot is feeling better! Positive peer pressure can be a great thing. I know I use it to help motivate me to get going.

The foot is improving but still unhappy when I flex the foot. I did come across this today and thought I'd share it as inspiration (and notice the RWB shirt he's wearing!)

As for me, I am still singing the same tune. I need to get back to zumba or some type of physical activity. I need to do a better job with food. Blah blah blah. I did prep some fruits (watermelon yum!) and am trying to do better. When I get overwhelmed I tend to lose focus on all of that. Not ok but it is what it is.

Yay fruit! Now get back to Zumba!

I have ridden a couple times now. It is fun, but not as much fun as I remember last year. I don't know if its because I enjoy running more so it closed the gap or if I am so out of riding shape that it is so much harder. But, I actually considered returning my bike today and using that money to go do the Disney marathon in January. Everyone I talk to thinks I should. But, I still have to run it by the wife and I just don't know if it is worth it since it took so much work to get things where they are now.

As for the race, I am a bit nervous. My last few runs have been brutal. I just hoped I would be further along than I am right now and I know being on my feet all day long at work it hurting my progress but all I can do it fight through it.

I think you should give the bike a little more time. Yes, going to marathon weekend would be cool, but the bike will get you into shape faster and you do enjoy it - you just need to recapture what it is you enjoy. Maybe find a new place to ride? If you are still not enjoying it in another month, then consider something else. Right now, aim at your 10k...that's a great distance to train for given your current distances.

 

[Waiting2goback]

The foot is improving but still unhappy when I flex the foot. I did come across this today and thought I'd share it as inspiration (and notice the RWB shirt he's wearing!)

I think you should give the bike a little more time. Yes, going to marathon weekend would be cool, but the bike will get you into shape faster and you do enjoy it - you just need to recapture what it is you enjoy. Maybe find a new place to ride? If you are still not enjoying it in another month, then consider something else. Right now, aim at your 10k...that's a great distance to train for given your current distances.

That was a cool story that you linked us to. It just goes to show that anything is possible if you DECIDE to do it. I may be struggling to get over this hump I am facing right now in breaking past this 4-5 mile distance but I still make the choice to get out there 4-5 days a week. I was thinking that tonight as I had another painful run. It may hurt, it may stink sometimes, but I am out there at 9pm at night with my reflective vest and headlight and I am doing it. And it looks as if Derek Mitchell is doing it too and he seems to be enjoying it now too. In many cases it is just about how bad you want it and what you are willing to do to get it.

I am a bit surprised Chiomaca. You are the only one who didn't say to try and run the Disney marathon. (actually if I did go I would try Goofy). Nobody told me to return the bike, that was my own idea. They all said keep the bike and still go. But you are the only one who didn't say to go. Even my counselor and my best friend, both of whom thought I was crazy last year when I said I wanted to do ToT, said to do it.

 

[Chiomaca]

I am a bit surprised Chiomaca. You are the only one who didn't say to try and run the Disney marathon. (actually if I did go I would try Goofy). Nobody told me to return the bike, that was my own idea. They all said keep the bike and still go. But you are the only one who didn't say to go. Even my counselor and my best friend, both of whom thought I was crazy last year when I said I wanted to do ToT, said to do it.

The reason I think you should stick with the bike is that you linked the run with returning the bike because you aren't enjoying it as much as you did previously, despite the fact that you can't really pinpoint WHY you aren't enjoying it. If it's because you now really prefer to run than bike, then you should. But if it's just because you have fallen out of shape and you're likely to enjoy it just as much when you've gotten back into shape, then you're doing yourself a disservice. What I discourage in anyone is giving up and shifting targets because something is hard or uncomfortable. You need to set realistic goals, and it's okay to change your goal if you realize that the one you set isn't attainable with hard work, but if it's attainable and you don't want to put in the work, then you're not doing yourself any favors. I'm not a counselor, but I am a coach, so maybe that's why we differ.

If you'd just said that you wanted to run the marathon, without dropping the bike, I'd have encouraged you. I think the disney races give you more motivation than the other ones, which might be helpful.