I am so glad we were able to meet up and I am honored to have been able to lend a supportive ear to your early journey in running.
I love all that Mary Ellen had to say...
I can't tell you how many times this has held true for me. I think that I feel horrid and have a great run... or feel great and have a horrid run. Strange!!! I personally need to head that "listen to your body" I have been pushing for the last week and today totally killed myself on my run. I was determined to get my 4.5 in...and have paid dearly all day because of it. I just hope I cant rest enough tomorrow that I will be able to run a bit on thursday...even it if isn't the full amount I would normally go out.
It is ok to just take a day off too
Especially when you are sick, is the cold worse? I guess it's a listen to your body once you get out there huh as what it tells you before, may or may not be true. Feel better!
I personally like running as much as I do because it is a sport all about me. I mean... if I want I can do all the local events... run far distances... short distances go out when
I. want to run. It is mine and no one elses. If I join a group baseball team (yeah..tried that
) practices, games..all decided by not me. If I don't have a great day... I let people down. (not at all something I like to do) If I sign up for a class... it is scheduled and I don't have a choice as to how to do it. I also like that what is good for one person isn't necessarily good for the next and that not only is that
OK but other runners tend to be supportive (except for maybe your brother
of other runners personal paths.
I feel exactly the way about team sports, it's why I love hiking. Just me and the woods! Or me, and Jeff and the woods but you get the idea. I actually like classes...some classes, ones that I felt really were more internal that I could get as little or as much as I wanted out of them but physically, they are out. Not to mention I've no idea how I'd fit it in these days!
You don't' want to do local events... where as I like to try and be at one a month. Neither of us is wrong. That isn't the case in other types of activities. I guess there are rules and protocol to follow with running too... and believe me, I am one of the first to scream when someone breaks a "rule" I see as being in place. (yeah I think you are aware of how I feel about people and qualifying times)
I think for me in general right now, the races feel less about "me" and more about the competition aspect which has never had any appeal to me. For whatever reason, that isn't the vibe at all from the runDisney events and I am sure a lot of that is that they aren't as much "runners" events as some and it appeals to the less aggressive runner maybe. We do plan to do beat the bridge next year and I expect to do a 10K before that as well but it will be about the appeal of the individual event for sure and less about just doing one for the sake of doing one. And, although running is about me primarily, it is definitely something Jeff and I are doing together even if it's only stopping or starting and there is a lot of fulfillment in that. There could be some other fun events that spark interest (actually there is a 5K running around Safeco field this weekend that sounds like a hoot) but it's pretty low key for sure.
After hearing what your brother had to say, I can see why you wanted to keep things hush hush for a bit. Good grief.
family at times sure can try our love and patience can't it.
Oh it's par for the course with him, he's been driving my sister nuts on this subject ever since she started running, he treats her the same basically. Of course he is one of those that has devoted so much time to training that he neglects his kids, started not that long after his divorce. We see this with marathoners and triathletes that we know where they have a hard time finding balance and the exercise is their drug. We hope he comes out of it, it's getting old! Some of it is personality though and that part is nothing new so we just ignore him. LOL! Bless his heart, I do love him.
Glad you got part of your airfare straightened out. I have been flying southwest more often than alaska recently because of the bag fees. I check their site daily... but also have signed up for emails. Sometimes it is very frustrating though... they advertise a "big sale" and it rarely includes seattle.
Since I am stalking january flights too, I will be sure and let you know if I notice a drop on either alaska or sw. (those are the two I seriously watch... I try not to fly other airlines any more after my last experience on united/continental)
United is a nightmare anymore, I try really really hard to never fly them. I have seen that with SW, in fact I don't think I've ever seen one of their emails include Seattle! I do use Yapta to track the Alaska fares, as well as Delta but I don't like Delta's price drop policy nearly as well plus they charge even more for bags.
I'm right here, I'm on it, August is my goal. What I need to get are new running shoes this weekend. I'm getting shin splints and DH says I'm either hitting my foot wrong on the pavement (quite possible) and/or I need new shoes. My runners are years old. We've got a local place that measures your foot and how you run via computer and then fits their shoes from there. I've got a date with Striders, the name of the store, this weekend.
Excellent, shoes are probably the issue. They only have so many miles, and time before the support goes plus they may not even be the right kind of support for your sepcific foot. I know growing up I was always told I ran "wrong". Now, the way I run is what they "say" you should do. Either way your foot hits the ground a certain way and changing that I think must be like trying to move the tide. Getting new shoes definitely made a difference for me. I can't say it's 100% pain free but then again, is any exercise? I just don't want to go through the fitting process again. I do recommend it, plus if they don't work they will exchange for free which is how I"m on my 3rd pair!
Shin splints are commonly associated with sports that require a lot of running. It is not the running itself, but the sudden shock force of repeated landings and change of direction that causes the problem. When the muscles and tendons become fatigued and overloaded, they lose their ability to absorb the damaging shock force.
Other overload causes include:
Exercising on hard surfaces, like concrete
Exercising on uneven ground
Beginning an exercise program after a long lay-off period
Increasing exercise intensity or duration too quickly
Exercising in worn out or ill fitting shoes
Excessive uphill or downhill running
Return following injury without adequate build up
Biomechanical Inefficiencies
The major biomechanical inefficiency contributing to shin splints is that of flat feet. Flat feet lead to a second biomechanical inefficiency called over-pronation. Pronation occurs just after the heal strikes the ground. The foot flattens out, and then continues to roll inward. Over-pronation occurs when the foot and ankle continue to roll excessively inward. This excessive inward rolling causes the tibia to twist, which in-turn, over stretches the muscles of the lower leg. The right shoe can really help with the the over pronation, I started with a shoe that didn't correct for it, then one that over corrected and the one I have now is somewhere in the middle. When you get fitted they will be able to tell you if you overpronate or not.
Other biomechanical causes include:
Poor running mechanics
Tight, stiff muscles in the lower leg this is my main issue!
Running with excessive forward lean
Running with excessive backwards lean
Landing on the balls of your foot
Running with your toes pointed outwards
Weak or inhibited gluteal muscles can cause shin splints.
Sometimes I feel like I cannot breathe which I know has to do with my pace and the fact that I forget to breathe. Any tips? Funny I can breathe through 90 minutes of hot yoga at 105* but running a half mile, I'm panting.
Well, if I had to guess it's that you are going too fast, or too far or maybe not walking enough. Not sure if you are trying to just run or run/walk or what. The run walk method can be great to help with the breathing and so can taking it very slow in both time and miles. The breathing is different, at least for me, in running than in other cardio and was my biggest issue at first. that and the shoes. Time, slowing it down should help I'd think. Don't try to do too much too fast. I know I have a challenge with figuring out the breathing through my nose, versus my mouth, esp when my sinuses are acting up or allergies.
That's great that you've taken up running Cynthia! Take care of those knees. Mine started hurting while I was walking to the locker room to change to go out running, of all things. It got worse and worse, so now I don't run, and my knee is fine. Insanity workouts don't hurt it, so that's what I'm trying to do when I can stay motivated.
Knock on wood, zero knee issues. Some shin but that's nothing new and nothing major and is 95% being ridiculously tight. The knees and hips are the big issues that have forced a number of folks I know to give it up. I am pretty positive between my tennis elbow and my stupid neck, I wouldn't be able to do the insanity workout, I think that's great that you and Judy are doing them!
Glad that you could meet annmarieda, sounds like a fun meet.
It was a really fun meet!
I'm going to start rooting for the ex-SIL to make the trip too. Oy.
We went up and down several more times.... and that really sucked eggs. 
