~Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/08~

[Jodi]

Howdy Pardners!

Sorry I've been absent lately, but I'm just so un-enthused about running right now (I know, what's knew? )

Mike - Glad you're not "cheating" on me & spending time with other threads . You are a runnin' fool, I love it. I'm happy for you...you've been getting some serious miles in w/o any ill-effects . Can't wait to see which race you sign up for . Spencer & I were gonna come down to DC last week during his break, but then SW airlines got rid of their DING fares b4 I could get my poop together... . Oh well.

Cindy - OK, run that by me again?????? Your husband's NEVER been to NYC? . Tell him I said "get up here"!! How's your blister, Fred? I'm sorry your run sucked so bad...if it's any consolation, I've had really, really bad training runs just like that...don't worry, i guarantee it'll get better.

Sara - Hey, what's up WENCH? I see you're signing up for all the same races I am... Or am I signing up for all the races YOU'RE in??? We have a busy spring coming up. My Ultramarathon is on Sun. April 20...should be pretty funny . Sorry your leg hurts you, but glad you're diggin all the cross training...whatever it takes so you don't get too violent.

Oooh, gotta go, I'll finish up in a bit

OK, I'm back

Colleen - Sorry your car s*** the bed, but I'll echo that at least you were at home! Glad you're enjoying work & the kids like their new mathmommy! What's on the agenda for you as far as upcoming running events?

Dave - Sorry the hip is still stiff...how are things on the job front? Good for you, getting away for a few days last week. Sometimes that's all it takes to get you back into a semi-sane state.

Chester - Hope you're enjoying skiing!

Hi to everyone I missed!

Not sure what I posted last? I ran 7 Thurs., snow Fri., 4 Sat., 10 Sun. & 5 yesterday. Did I mention that I'm sick of running? I think I'm just back to that needing a change of scenery thing again...I haven't done the hill work on the dreadmill...it does nothing for me except fatigue my legs...I just have to resign myself to that fact that I'm just not going to get any faster or fitter as a runner....well maybe I could, but obviously my heart's not in it, so...

I'm still toying with the Yeti race in Sept. w/ my son. I think it'd be fun for him. I think Minnie's definitely out (sorry Cindy). But now I'm thinking about either the Disney full or half again...I'm such a tool.

Everyone please refresh my memory as to who is going to Disney again in Jan 09 & what you're signed up for. Oh yeh, & I'm still contemplating the DL half. Only definites now are the Ultra, & NYC 1/2...oh & entering the lottery...again....for NYC marathon!

 

[SilverE]

Hello All.

Sorry I have been absent as of late. Life took over; family took over; work took over; sick family took over; lots of extended family issues took over; relatives took over...

I have not even caught up on all the previous posts. Please know that I have not been ignoring you, and I have been thinking of you. I have even noticed that new posters have joined the thread.

I do have ongoing matters that will limit my WISH-board time in the near future. I will do my best to catch up, offer support, interject some humor and generally tease and razz the wonderful members of this thread!

Happy training (of which I have done none of recently)!

 

[Theta]

Everyone please refresh my memory as to who is going to Disney again in Jan 09 & what you're signed up for. Oh yeh, & I'm still contemplating the DL half. Only definites now are the Ultra, & NYC 1/2...oh & entering the lottery...again....for NYC marathon!

Where is my race schedule...










OK, I guess I should put down Philly marathon 08.

But I have NOTHING planned between now and then.

Jodi, tell me when it is time to enter the NYC marathon lottery.

 

[Theta]

I do have ongoing matters that will limit my WISH-board time in the near future.

Steve, I hope it is nothing too serious.

Stop in when you can.

 

[SilverE]

Everyone please refresh my memory as to who is going to Disney again in Jan 09 & what you're signed up for.

I am registered for the Goofy again in 2009; I plan on informing my wife of my entry next November

As I am planning the Philly Marathon as my "real" race; the Goofy will strictly be another slow fun run.

 

[Optimator]

...I just have to resign myself to that fact that I'm just not going to get any faster or fitter as a runner....well maybe I could, but obviously my heart's not in it, so...

Girl!!! What, am I gonna have to drive up there and smack you upside the head? Better yet, have Sara whack you with a steel door? Where's the Chi??? Where's the love???

O.K.. let's take a little looksee at your last 18 months: 5:12 at Hartford 10/06, 4:28 @ Vermont City 5/07, 4:25 @ MCM 10/07, and 4:31 @ WDW on Day 2 of Goofy (I know, I'm like a spooky stalker ).

I see a couple of things here. First, constant improvement. Second, a hell of a lot of training over the last year and a half. Cut yourself a break!

You commented about how many miles I've been running but look at your post

I ran 7 Thurs., snow Fri., 4 Sat., 10 Sun. & 5 yesterday.

I'm only running 4 days a week. You ran 4 out of 5 days!!

Alright... I think I'm calm now.

BTW, I'm signed up for Goofy again in '09 .


Sara - Sorry to hear you're concussed and hip impaired. Take it easy.


Dave - Sounds like a nice break with the family. Our girlies aren't off for a couple of weeks yet. Slow and steady on the hip really is the way to go at this point. You still have plenty of time to gear up for Cleveland.


Steve!!! - So good to see you checking in. I was getting to worry about you. I hope things work out and you'll be able to get back more often.


MathMommy - Race Schedule wise: You figure out anything for Minnie yet? I was also wondering about what your plans are for your MCM deferment. Do you have to use it this year?


Gotta go. Scheduled for a speedwork routine in the this morning but may just substitute a tempo run instead.

 

[Theta]

MathMommy - Race Schedule wise: You figure out anything for Minnie yet? I was also wondering about what your plans are for your MCM deferment. Do you have to use it this year?

Hey Mike, well, regarding Minnie, my heart just isn't in it right now and my girls arn't doing Minnie, so I don't think I will be going down. All that said, May is still a long way away, especially since Minnie is only 9 miles.

On to Marine Corps. I was just thinking about that race and I have two options, well three...run it, not run it, or sell my entry which is legit for MCM.

If other WISHers are thinking about MCM 08, I may go and use it as a training run for Philly. So we will see.

 

[Jodi]

Good Morning Fellow Runners,Walkers,Headbangers (Sara), MathGurus, StressedOnes, etc.

Mike - Thanks for the kind words re: my running & general heinous attitude . BTW, where'd you find all that information about me??? I didn't even know/remember some of that stuff . Looks like a lot when you put it all in a row, and my snail-like pace adds up for a lot of hours running...just wish I could be quicker, but considering I refuse to do speedwork I suppose that's out of the question . GOOFY AGAIN? YOU ROCK! I think I'm gonna sign up for the 1/2 today...and tell Bruce in the summer some time

Sara - Are you conscious?

Steve - Sorry things are sucking lately...I hope everyone is healthy & it's nothing too serious...those wacky extended family members can be trying on the nerves

Colleen - I would SELL that MCM badboy entry! Make some $$ woman! Sorry, I feel as if I've let you down with the Minnie-ditching I have committed... . NYC Marathon registration opened on Monday...I registerd today, 2 days later, and I am entrant #222,481 or something...that's a lot of people trying to get in...again. If I don't get in this year I'm guaranteed next year...after 3 years of trying! Entry fee is something silly like $155!! They charge you $11 just to TRY & get in...What a bunch of D-Bags! I hope I get in!!

Yesterday was a day off, today I think I'll do 4...it's cold, windy & cloudy today (still better than heat!!). I think I'll CT tomorrow then run Fri Sat & Sun as they are supposed to be nice days. I've gotta break this 10 mile-limit thing I've got going on...and soon. Perhaps then I'll be in a blissful state once again

 

[Theta]

Jodi, no problem on the Minnie. I am really not into it, not sure if I will ever get there.

I might just go over and enter NYC marathon lottery, if I get in this year, I can defer until next year correct??

Sara, hope your head is better today, no more headbangin' girl!

Mike, forgot to mention, I like your dream ride!
Why do you want a new Odyssey? DH wants to replace out 99 Odyssey with a new one, but I am going through midlife crisis and told him we could get one if HE drives it!!

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Quick lunch post - finally get to eat lunch at my desk rather than in a stupid meeting.

Dave, Colleen, Mike, Sara, and Jodi, thank you for your kind words. I am doing ok, I am just kind of overwhelmed by everything I have going on - a lot of it is work related with some family junk thrown in the mix. Running kind of both helps and hurts the situation. It is one more thing that I have to do with the limited hours in the day, but at least it is something I feel like I am doing for myself.

As for Sunday's run, I'm over it. I actually wasn't that bothered by the fact that it sucked so bad, but more about how sore I was after. (Its not the shoes, they only have 140 miles on them and are the fourth paid of the exact same shoes that I have owned). Anyway, I seem to be fine now. Rest Monday, Tuesday intervals - 2 miles at half marathon pace, 2 x 1 mile at 10k pace, 2 x 800 meters at 5k pace. It was a really, really hard workout, but I did it. I am, however, thinking about abandoning my goal of a 2 hour half - I think it might be too fast. If I run a smart race, I can probably get a PR pretty easily, why does it need to be an 8 and a half minute PR? That's a ton of time for a half. I'm still going to train for the next few weeks as if that was my goal pace and make the decision later.

Steve - I hope everything is ok with you.

Dave - glad to hear you are able to get back to running. I hope your hip cooperates.

Colleen - I'm with you on the terrible customer service of AAA. Once my car started smoking and broke down in not the nicest area of DC - at night - and I had to wait over 2 hours for them to come. And this was about 10 years ago so the not so nice areas of DC were even less nice back then.

Jodi - I'm doing the Goofy. Why? Not sure anymore. I, too, wish I could be quicker. Maybe if I lost 10 pounds (If only beer didn't have so many calories . . .)

Mike - hope the 20 goes well for you. Have you been doing any hills? Every time I think about this race, I picture the hill going into Adams Morgan that we are going to have to run up. And then I get scared. I only run on the small hills that I have to to get anywhere from where I live. Probably should have incorporated more hill training . . .

Sara - I hope your head and hip feel better. I'm glad you have other things you like. I've never actually tried Yoga.

Still trying to catch up with all of you but I do have a couple non race related questions. We are looking at taking the train to DC in April and staying at the Hilton on Connecticut Ave (package deal) and I need to know if this is a good choice, best places to take a 13 and 6 yo and some yummy places to eat!!!

Lisa - I'm pasting a response I wrote to Colleen before the MCM. As for hotel, as long as you are near a Metro, you should be fine.

I'm not very good at short answers, so I have a feeling this might get kind of long (also I'm at work and answering your question is a lot more fun than the work that I have to do).

I really love DC and there are so many great things to do here. Picking a top three is hard because a lot depends on your (and your childrens') interests. If you didn't have children, I would definitely suggest the Holocaust Museum - it is an amazingly well done museum. It's not that I am saying that you shouldn't bring them there, but it can be an intense experience and is quite depressing, so I guess you need to decide it if is right for your children. Also, the main exhibit does require timed entry tickets, so it requires a little extra planning (you can order them ahead of time for a small service fee or try to get them the day of - I don't think its that hard to get them the day of now (when they first opened they were always sold out) but it could mean walking over to the museum (its a bit off the Mall) getting tickets and having to go back a few hours later). There are a few exhibits that don't require tickets, including one geared to kids about a child's experience during the Holocaust, so those might be worth checking out if you decide not to do the main exhibit.

In general, since you don't have much time, limiting your sightseeing to the area in and around the Mall is probably your best bet. Your kids will probably like the Natural History, American Indian, and Air and Space Musueums - I would recommend them in that order (and since they are all free and located along the Mall, it doesn't really matter that much if you get inside and decide there is nothing that interests you - you can just move on to the next location). The American History musuem is closed for a long rehab, which is too bad because there are a number of interesting exhibits in there.

I also think the Spy museum is a great experience (not too far from the Mall), but there is an entrance fee and it does require timed tickets, so you have to decide if it is worth the extra money and hassle (since all the other museums are free). If it were free, I would definitely recommend it more highly, but there is so much to do that you don't have to pay for, I have a hard time recommending this above the museums I already mentioned. That being said, if you think that it is something that your kids would be really into, its probably worth it.

One experience that I would say is a "must do" is seeing all of the monuments and memorials (Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson, FDR, Vietnam War, Korean War, WWII), particularly if you can see them at night - there is just something amazing about seeing them all light up. You can walk, although it will take awhile to get to them all. If you have a car, you can drive, or your hotel will probably have information about a monuments by night bus ride that you can do. I know that there are a number of companies that do them. My personal favorite is the FDR memorial - especially at night. Even if seeing them in the dark is not feasible, I still think the memorials are a must do. I still remember coming to DC as a kid and walking up the steps of the Lincoln and being really impressed.

Also, I agree with the post that you found on the Disboards about the cafeteria at the American Indian Museum. Food on the Mall is expensive but the American Indian Museum is by far the best of the lot. They have a number of choices, so even picky eaters will be satisfied, but also have a number of unique things that you can try.

Wow, that was really long. Sorry about that. I hope it was somewhat helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Cindy

Ok, back to work. I hope everyone is having a good week!

 

[Optimator]

BTW, where'd you find all that information about me???

Joe-D - Marathonguide.com has a little searchy thing. Type in the name, select the year and BINGO! And it doesn't take Nancy Drew to figure out our names!
http://www.marathonguide.com/#Results

WDW half? Sounds like a smart plan (although you might as well do the full!).


Colleen - I've seen a few other WISHers (Howard, Kelley (KelNott something), Cecelia) mention doing MCM.

So, if you're going to make DH drive a new Odyssey what's the choice for a sporty young thing like you?

As for why I would get a new one (Really, I'd go for a Mini convertible. Kind of girly, I know, but I'm comfortable with my masculinity ), I like our current '02 and the new ones have even more features. Plus, I'm kind of an idiot in that if I get something I like it takes a heck of a lot to get me to try something different.


Cindy - Glad you had a good interval workout. My problem with that is I have no real clue what my 10K or 5K pace would be? Crazy. I've run 3 marathons but never run a 5 or 10K.

Hills? What hills? Nobody told me about hills!

Seriously though, I haven't really done any specific hill training. I've got a few decent up and downs where I normally run. That will have to do. Just as a reference, did you think MCM was hilly?


I decided to do my speed work on the TM Wed AM to make it easier to keep track of pace. 1 mile warm up, 3 x 1600m @ 7:13 mpm with 800m jogs in between and a 2 mile cool down. Not too bad overall (for a TM run) and the slower jogs in between actually bothered my legs more than the fast running.

There was this crazy women that started on the TM next to me about halfway through. Her TM was about 12 inches further up than mine so I couldn't help but see everything she did. First off, she was probably pushing buttons for 5 minutes before she actually got started. When she finally got going and I bet she picked up her I-pod and pushed buttons EVERY 15 SECONDS!!! Then she'd do this crazy arm thing like she was jumping rope for a few seconds. Pick up the i-Pod, push some buttons, adjust the hair band, flail arms, adjust the speed, pick up the i-Pod, change the incline, i-Pod, arms, buttons, hair band, i-Pod, on and on and on!! She ended up running at a pretty decent clip but I felt like telling her that if she just quit farting around with all the stuff she could probably qualify for Boston!

I couldn't decide if I should scream or just be happy that she was distracting me from my run.

So glad I'm growing more tolerant in my old age.

 

[Theta]

[
Joe-D, WDW half? Sounds like a smart plan (although you might as well do the full!).

Ah-yeah!

 

[Theta]

There was this crazy women that started on the TM next to me about halfway through. Her TM was about 12 inches further up than mine so I couldn't help but see everything she did. First off, she was probably pushing buttons for 5 minutes before she actually got started. When she finally got going and I bet she picked up her I-pod and pushed buttons EVERY 15 SECONDS!!! Then she'd do this crazy arm thing like she was jumping rope for a few seconds. Pick up the i-Pod, push some buttons, adjust the hair band, flail arms, adjust the speed, pick up the i-Pod, change the incline, i-Pod, arms, buttons, hair band, i-Pod, on and on and on!! She ended up running at a pretty decent clip but I felt like telling her that if she just quit farting around with all the stuff she could probably qualify for Boston!

Mike, I haven't heard that phrase in a LONG time! My dad always used to use that phrase. Where did you grow up? Definitely not the south.

 

[Optimator]

Θ - I grew up in Ohio. My Ohio raised grandfather use to say that and a few more colorful variations.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

My water froze this morning during my tempo run!
I was wearing my hydration belt with 2 bottles that were sideways and the water froze up in the top part that you drink out of so that I couldn't even pull the tops up. I was trying to blow lots of hot air to melt it, must have looked rather entertaining and it was unsuccessful. When does spring start again???

Sorry, Mike, the National Marathon is much more hilly than the MCM. Actually the MCM hills didn't really bother me since (1) they were early and (2) I wasn't really trying for a specific time, so I didn't care if my pace slowed way down. The thought of trying to maintain a 9:10 average pace and figuring out how to deal with hills is much scarier.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Hey Everyone: OK, let me apologize for not replying to everyone. I really hate doing that, but I don't have a lot of time. I just wanted to let everyone know that I've run the past 2 days. Still just 1 mile at a time on the TM. Yesterday I biked 10 min, ran 1 mile ~9:30 mpm, biked 20 min, and today I biked 10 min, ran 1 mile, biked 10 min, ran 1 mile. My hip felt OK, but I can still tell it's not 100%. I don't know, maybe I need a new stretch or something. OK, I have to get ready for a meeting. I'm giving a talk in Indianapolis tomorrow, and I have to get ready for it.

 

[Theta]

Θ -

Cute!

 

[Theta]

Hey Everyone: OK, let me apologize for not replying to everyone.

Dave, absolutely no worries, I, for one, am very happy to see you pop in!!

 

[Theta]

My water froze this morning during my tempo run!

Now that is crazy!

 

[lourodrigis]

Hey everyone,

Sorry I have been away for a while and have not been able to check the thread that much this week. I'm dealing with some pretty heavy duty work/business related issues right now. It would take my own thread to explain so I won't bore you with the details. Only to say that I'm not getting much sleep this week and missed an LR last weekend. However, I did squeeze in 3 miles on Tuesday and 7 miles outside yesterday. Hopefully things will settle down and I can get back to more running and less stress.

It's pretty cold here today. Hope everyone is staying healthy and warm.

Lou