Runners UNITE! We've graduated C25K, so let's keep on going!

[katerkat]

Welcome aldisneygirl! I did a 5K this week too, and I've been "in training" since February and I only ran/walked it in 34 minutes. So you're almost better than me now, much less from me on week 2 of the C25K!! I came in first of the run/walkers, but behind a mom with a stroller and an eight-year-old...darn kids! I did beat the first 10K runner by a minute, so that makes me sort of happy...I guess. It was perfect weather and a nice flat course, so I have no excuse for my poor show. Heavens, I did 32 minutes at 3 miles on a hilly course in the middle of July, and still had a mile left on that run! All I know is around mile 2, I was tired of running and cursing myself for signing up for a 13K. *sigh*

My arms are starting to look better though after a month with my trainer. Maybe it's all the new muscle making me run slower...yeah, that's it. I still need to get in another mile by Monday to hit my 35, but I should be able to. No gym for the next week, though - Russ was exposed to chicken pox so we're in quarantine until pox appear (or don't.) I guess if I want to go to the gym, I have to get up before DH goes to work. *sigh* again.

Corinna, we need to make plans to meet up at WDW! You're coming in Friday, right? Any plans of Saturday? We're not going to a park, just relaxing and packing and stretching and preparing. We could meet for lunch or dinner - I'll have most of the whole crew - my sister, Russ, and my parents. (DH, if he comes, will be heading home on Wednesday.) And Friday night, if you're not tired, my sister and I will be hitting Pleasure Island!

 

[corinnak]

Kat - don't get down on the 13K yet. It's going to be way cooler than a regular race, right? Just the people-watching is bound to be worth the trip and the extra 6.5K. As for your "poor showing" I guess sometimes you feel like a race, sometimes you don't. Everyone has bad days.

I was also thinking of PI after dinner on Friday - I always want to go there and yet, I always have kids. This time, with just my body guard (i.e. friend's husband) along, I am going to seize that opportunity! We should PM cell phone numbers and plan a time/place to meet up. Saturday is going to be mostly just relaxing, I think. The pool etc. What plans are you making for lunch/dinner? I was supposed to make reservations a month ago, but failed. I don't even know what we are going to want to have eaten prior to the race. Don't want to be loagy. I'd better get on that, though.

I am thinking that we may be having the same thing going on with the training - since I started the weight training, I have taken it a little easier on the running. Plus that little injury, which I hope to avoid in the future. Just putting our energy in a different department for the moment. I'm glad you are seeing the payoff in your arms!

 

[corinnak]

Oh, I forgot to say - you can come over and play at our house - we've already had chicken pox. Sorry to hear about your quarantine.

 

[kimwim8]

I was also thinking of PI after dinner on Friday - I always want to go there and yet, I always have kids. This time, with just my body guard (i.e. friend's husband) along, I am going to seize that opportunity! We should PM cell phone numbers and plan a time/place to meet up.

Darnit, I feel so left out.


One of these days, I'm gonna get down there for a race.

Welcome aldisneygrl! What a great 5k showing for your first race, and for being so new to running! You are absolutely welcome here anytime.

Girls, I'm not doing so well. I don't know that I should bring our thread down with the details....but I posted a loooooooong post on my WISH journal. If you want me to copy it over, I certainly will. The morale here is so good right now, I'd hate to the be the party pooper.

 

[aldisneygrl]

My official time for Saturday's race was 37:42. I guess they don't count you "done" until you tear off the bar code and turn it in. Being a newbie, I didn't "know" that. My DH said that the clock said 36 something when I crossed the finish line, but I guess I took my time turning in my bar code. Oh well, it was a learning experience. I am glad Disney wasn't my first race, or I wouldn't have known what to expect.

Does anyone know what the course will be like in AK? Mainly, how many hills will I have to run up? The hills about did me in this weekend. If it wasn't for my friend coaching me, I wouldn't have done as well as I did. I told her I will have to record her voice and download it onto an mp3 player, so I can have her cheering me on in the 5k.

 

[corinnak]

Kim,
I just read your post on your journal thread and oh my goodness, physical setbacks are a hassle, aren't they? It is up to you if you want to post it over here or not, but I have to say that I think that if we can't help hold each other up when times are tough, what are we here for? I love the fun, positive stuff, for sure - you know I do - and support for achievement is always a joy to give and receive. Support for difficulty is not as fun, but probably five times as important, because they are so much harder to get through.

Maybe I should post on your journal or wait for you to post over here, but darn it, I am just going to say what I am going to say here. NO training run and NO race is worth injuring yourself. I know some would disagree with this, but I am with John Bingham on this one. Being able to run (or walk or whatever) for years to come is MUCH more important than pushing yourself today if you really shouldn't. The endorphins might get you through one race, but how much worse off will you be afterwards, running on an injury? I don't like to think about it, but then, I'm just not that hardcore. I think you made the right choice today, for what that is worth.

My marathoning friend has been in a similar bind this week - the race is next Sunday, and one week ago, his back started giving him lots of trouble, probably having to do with carrying a sleeping 9 year old and he had to quit two miles into a 10 mile run or something.....but anyhow, it's killing him, but he has been sitting out and resting for a week now. He's going to start running again on Tuesday and hopes to be able to run the marathon on Sunday. Sometimes it sucks, but the thing you have to do is recover and sit on the sidelines so you can get back in the game again when you are healed.

Kim, we MUSt have a Runners UNITE! meetup at one of these days. We were talking about 1/2 marathon 2009, right? But if things change, we'll find another time. We really will!

Oh, and I am SO impressed that you made your mileage goal, but I'm really sorry that you ended up the worse for wear. I walked more of it than I anticipated too, but miles are miles. No pressure for October. For what it is worth, I enjoyed doing the mileage challenge with you.

 

[corinnak]

I keep doing this....

aldisneygirl! Don't worry about the "official" time, unless you are trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon someday. You never know! I always actually go by the time on my own watch. Unless it is a chipped race, it's all thrown off. The first race I did, it was two minutes before I got to the start line, and then I started my own watch and went with that from there on. Again, I'm not that hardcore.

I have no idea what the 5K course is like through Animal Kingdom, but it is Florida - how hilly can in be? Well, I take that back - I guess they did put in some hills in Animal Kingdom. Plus a mountain, but you won't have to run up that. Most of the park is fairly flat, but there is that one hill I can think of between the entrance and the Tree of Life. Hills are tough, that is for sure. You were lucky to have someone to talk you through. Is this a new course this year? I haven't followed the marathon weekend events closely in the past, I'm afraid. You've got plenty of time to train, though. It is amazing how much progress you can make in 3 months!

That would be awesome to have a 5K mix with your friend cheering you on at various times throughout. I liked the podcasts for C25K a lot, but how much cooler would it be to have your own favorite music and your own personal cheerleader? Very cool.

 

[aldisneygrl]

I keep doing this....

aldisneygirl! Don't worry about the "official" time, unless you are trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon someday. You never know! I always actually go by the time on my own watch. Unless it is a chipped race, it's all thrown off. The first race I did, it was two minutes before I got to the start line, and then I started my own watch and went with that from there on. Again, I'm not that hardcore. I don't see any marathons in my future, but then again I said that I would NEVER run too. You just never know.

I have no idea what the 5K course is like through Animal Kingdom, but it is Florida - how hilly can in be? Well, I take that back - I guess they did put in some hills in Animal Kingdom. Plus a mountain, but you won't have to run up that. Most of the park is fairly flat, but there is that one hill I can think of between the entrance and the Tree of Life. Hills are tough, that is for sure. You were lucky to have someone to talk you through. Is this a new course this year? I haven't followed the marathon weekend events closely in the past, I'm afraid. You've got plenty of time to train, though. It is amazing how much progress you can make in 3 months!Yes it is new this year. Last year they ran through MGM. I would rather do that because it is pretty flat. I did remember the hill at the Tree of Life, but it won't be as brutal as some I ran on Saturday.

That would be awesome to have a 5K mix with your friend cheering you on at various times throughout. I liked the podcasts for C25K a lot, but how much cooler would it be to have your own favorite music and your own personal cheerleader? Very cool.

My friend was awesome! She actually had some runners who were around us come up to her after the race and thank her for her encouraging words. They told her that what she said helped them. At one point when I was really hurting, I kept shouting, I'm in Disney World, I'm in Disney World! I was just trying to visualize myself running in Disney. Well the girls came up to her afterwards and inquired about the race in Disney, so I may have some locals come with me.

I hope y'all have a great week. I started my third week of C25K today, and did well. The pain I felt after the race is just about gone. It felt really good to run again.

Thanks for welcoming me to your group!

 

[corinnak]

hi aldisneygirl!

I realized after I posted this that there were other times that qualifying times are handy besides Boston. I guess that some races base the starting heats on previous race times. It makes sense. But if you have no previous race times, you automatically go into the last heat, which could be frustrating, I guess. My point is, that is still beyond where I am right now and probably will be for a while to come.

And it's true, you never do know what the future holds. Some people are attracted to marathons just for the sake of doing something that seems nigh impossible, I think.

I think AK would be the most gorgeous park to run through, though I wonder if it is mostly concrete in there. All those neat effect pavements - concrete. I suppose that MGM may be as well. I haven't payed enough attention. I haven't even noticed if the roads in WDW are concrete or asphalt. I am thinking maybe concrete. I am so into running on asphalt, and my knees are so creaky....now I'm getting nervous!

I'm glad your recovery from the race is going well and your progress on C25K is going well!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Seems like I remember it mostly being black walkways, which would me asphalt. I have some DIS friends that just got back, so I will have to ask them. The nice part will be that at the end of the race it will be downhill.

 

[kimwim8]

I dread posting this guys, I really do. I can't thank you enough for all of your support and encouragement. I thought about not posting this, but I owe you guys at least this much...

I didn't run the race. I didn't even go.

My sister backed out yesterday for work reasons out of her control. When she first told me, I thought...ok I guess I'm going by myself. But the more I thought about it, I realized I shouldn't.

This might sound like excuses, but honestly - I haven't told you guys all that this past week has been like. After my last run ('bout a week ago) I haven't felt too well. My left hip has been "out" of joint more than "in". My right knee is a constant dull ache. My ankles lock up if I sit down for more than an hour. None of these are stopping me from working, or doing what needs to be done for my family. BUT - running hasn't happened. And after my sister bailed y'day, I realized that I should too. If she had still been able to go, I would have gone without a second thought. But when it was down to just me, it just didn't seem "important" anymore. That sounds horrible, but by important, I mean in the grand scheme of things. Would it be worth it if I hurt myself by pushing my speed in a race? Would it be worth it if I hurt my knee or hip more for a 5k, maybe so much that I wouldn't be able to work for a while? To me, the answer was no. If it was a 1/2 marathon, I know I would have felt differently.

Hopefully it's just the fact that I've run for too long on old sneakers. Possibly some of it could be my non-stable running pattern/schedule. But at this point, I'm gonna wait until I get the new sneakers to see what's going on.

I completely feel like a drop-out, a loser and a failure. And I'm sorry to let you guys down. Hopefully you won't give up on me.

I did run/walk today. At my own pace and on my own turf. And I paid for it the rest of the day. That darn mileage challenge made me do it. I walked a bit yesterday and again last night at the boardwalk. So I made it to my 35 mile goal. Not sure what I'll set October at, we'll see.

Thanks again, for everything. You have no idea what you guys mean to me.

----------

(end copy)

So, I had a pity party. Still no sneakers yet. If they aren't in by Wednesday, I'm cancelling the order & going elsewhere.

 

[corinnak]

I bet a lot of it is old sneakers. Why wouldn't it be, right? Where the heck are those shoes!?!? You have been waiting a while now..... The time comes when a girl needs new shoes! Thanks for sharing this here too, Kim. It's not always a bed of roses and full steam ahead, that's for sure. Hang in there, lady.

And think of Pocohontas - things are sure to be better "just around the river bend!" Yeah, I don't normally quote the Disney songs so much, but my son is way into Meeko these days, so that one is in my head.

 

[kimwim8]

Thank you, my dear Corinna! Honestly, you are my saving grace. You know how to keep me sane.

I am totally in for an October challenge, just won't start for a few days or so. But don't wait for me...go ahead and pick your poison.


And I am still shooting for the half marathon in 2009. I've just GOT to do it.

Again, girlie. Thank you SO much. Don't even have the words.

 

[katerkat]

I'm sorry you're having some pain, Kim. Look at it this way - at least you didn't run a crappy race like I did for no reason. I'm with Corinna, it's not worth hurting yourself for a short race. And hopefully new sneakers will make a huge difference! I remember when I started the C25K, I had non-running sneakers, and when I bought the right ones for me, I did a LOT better. My ankle and knee stopped hurting pretty quickly.

Corinna - we will definitely need to swap phone numbers! Have you ever been to the Adventurer's Club? You must come with us, it is AWESOME!! I'm the designated driver, so you will see how much fun my sister gets as she drinks. We don't have any plans for lunch or dinner on Saturday - we're staying in a condo off-property so we will probably have food and stuff there. Or maybe will go out somewhere. No ADRs for that day though! So whatever, whenever, if you want to join us. Are you going to a park? Or just race-prepping?

And Kim, I believe we're all doing the WDW Half in 2009. Plan on it. Unless y'all want to fly out here and experience Doomsday Hill with me in May!

aldisneygirl - now you've got me worried, I'm running the 13K and part of it is through MGM and that is definitely concrete - and my joints don't like concrete!

No spots yet on Chicken Pox Watch 2007. I'm going to get up early tomorrow and run before DH goes to work. I totally screwed up the challenge for September - I thought today was the last day of September. "30 days hath September, April, June and November..." So I fell just a mile short (actually only 1/2 mile if you count the 0.61 mile I did on the elliptical last week.)

 

[kimwim8]

So I fell just a mile short (actually only 1/2 mile if you count the 0.61 mile I did on the elliptical last week.)

Of course that 0.61 counts!!!

Thanks so much, Kat! I'm really hoping it's just the sneakers, and maybe a short break was necessary. I seriously need to get back on track....especially with the food intake. If I don't get on track ASAP, I won't fit in my shorts for my trip.

Chicken Pox watch 2007 - Glad no spots yet, although it might be good to get it over with, right? Did he get the chicken pox immunization?

 

[corinnak]

October is the month of the "Pants Challenge." I have declared it, at least for myself. Kat, there is a particular pair of pants that I plan to wear on the 26th without any....uh....overhang. Of course, depending on the weather, I may want shorts that night...nevermind. I also bumped up my own foot-traffic goal for the month, cause I think I am going to need it to get prepped to run the 13K. I do want to run as much as I can manage,

As a result, I did over 6 miles today. A good bit of walking, lots of hills, warm weather and a stop at DH's shop in the middle. I even managed to find out where I think my "wall" may be. I just ran out of energy at the end. It was not a pleasant run, overall, and I feel like I've lost a bit of conditioning with my tight this muscle and pulled that muscle, but I'm going to do my best to bounce back here. Next time I am out for that long, I am going to bring something with some energy in it and see how that goes. I was dragging through, I'm afraid.

Hope you are all enjoying September. Any sign of your shoes, Kim?

 

[corinnak]

Well, it was a TM run today for me. I spent the morning sleeping in and taking kids to swimming lessons, and in the afternoon we decided to go to an apple orchard. The kids had so much fun. It was WARM today, though. So we got back and I accidentally took this huge nap. I woke up at something like 7:30 or 8 and decided I'd better get that run in before "dinner" We did not eat together tonight, due to this nap I inadvertantly took, but I did get the run in. It is so depressing, the numbers on that treadmill. I don't know if I have slowed down, but I had to keep it at 4.2 and incline at a 1 to be comfortable for the "long haul." I guess even though I say it doesn't matter, I still wish I were faster NOW.

Tomorrow, I'm volunteering at the marathon!

And I tried on those pants again today. I could be wrong or the pants could be stretching with the trying on, but it seems like I am getting a little closer. If only I weren't so squishy around the middle - I remember back when if I could button them, even if only barely, I could wear them. Ah, the 80's back when pants were so tight around the legs, you had to have zippers at the ankle to get your foot in!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Hi guys! I am signing up for another 5k. They are having a Halloween 5k at the end of the month. You can even dress up and they have a costume contest! I am hoping to improve my time, but I still just want to finish, and not be last.

In three weeks those pants should "slide" right on!

 

[katerkat]

The pants challenge sounds like fun! My sister dieted before me and last year we switched pants - I gave her all my size 6-8s and she gave me all her 12s. *sigh* But I'm moving back there in a month and I am going to get back my favorite pair of brown pants! (But to be nice, I'm getting all her pants tailored so they will fit both of us, and she can take back any of hers.) I'm not in an 8 without overhang yet, so it's something to work on.

Chicken Pox Watch 2007 was a bust - we're past the 14 day incubation period with nary a spot. He doesn't have the immunization and this would have been a convenient time for him to get them, but oh well. We've got a couple more years until he goes to school!

I think my "wall" is around 1.5 miles - yuck! I did a longer run yesterday and around 1.5 miles, I was just tired of it. I convinced myself to run the half mile home and got a drink and some Halloween peanut butter M&Ms...yum. Five minutes later, headed back out and had the same tiredness at 3.5 miles! I ended up pep-talking myself home again and ended with over 4 miles. So apparently I need to have a nice break every two miles to refresh myself.

I'm trying to decide if I want to register for the 5-mile portion of our local marathon. I missed the "save $10" deadline, and it's two weeks before the ToT - so, uh, next week. And my heart's just not really into another race right now after the disappointing last one. But hopefully we'll be moving by this time next year, so this will be my last chance to do it here. But then, Bloomsday (in May) is a much bigger day than the marathon and I'll definitely be doing that again. Goodness knows, we don't expect to move by May.

Oh, and Kim, I'm moving to your neck of the woods! DH is deploying in early November and I'm heading to my parents' in north Jersey for two months, over the holidays. I finally get to run on hills on a regular basis - their neighborhood is surrounded!

 

[corinnak]

Well, I am back from my marathon volunteering day. Whew- it was warm out there. And of course I had volunteered to hand out thermal blankets of all things. Will still gave away a surprising number of them. Had it been 40 degrees, people would have been a lot happier to see us, though. Even so, it was a bit of an endurance event even for the volunteers. My feet are tired just from STANDING during the race, and pulling those blankets off the rolls, well, I was getting my heart rate nicely elevated, for sure!

The amazing thing was, there were some people who after the marathon actually looked pretty much completely good to go. I am sure they were tired and feeling the heat, but they did not look like they had just run 26.2 miles!!! Overall, it was a really great experience, and a nice way to participate in a race that is truly out of my league!!