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

[corinnak]

I have started that WISH journal - such as it is.
I Just Want to be Athletic - is that so Wrong???

I also just passed my belt test in Kung Fu. I am now proudly wearing the rank of Green belt! No run yesterday or today, so far anyhow. Maybe after the kids go to bed. Though that is a nutty time for a run, in my book! Also, we have houseguests. My dad was a runner for a long time, so maybe it wouldn't be too weird, but I don't know.

 

[katerkat]

Hey, yesterday I ran after putting Russ to bed, from 8-9 pm! It was just too hot before then and the sun doesn't set up here until almost 9 pm anyway. I don't know what I'm going to do in June - my friend who might watch Russ for an hour three days a week doesn't get up until 9 am and it's usually nearing hot temps by then. In July, he's going to start "day camp" so I can run while he's there, but even that doesn't start until 9 am. I don't want to start running inside but I'm thinking I might have to if it gets too warm! Darn DH for deploying in the summer!

Corinna, are you going to do the ToT run? My sister and I have started to plan a real trip, probably Oct. 21-28. Dan Zanes is doing the Playhouse Disney show that weekend and Russ *loves* him. And we've never done the Halloween party. Plus, we can get a condo off-site (with enough bedrooms for my parents, sister and the kiddo!) and maybe hit Sea World as well, since military gets discounts there.

 

[corinnak]

Hey, yesterday I ran after putting Russ to bed, from 8-9 pm! It was just too hot before then and the sun doesn't set up here until almost 9 pm anyway. I don't know what I'm going to do in June - my friend who might watch Russ for an hour three days a week doesn't get up until 9 am and it's usually nearing hot temps by then. In July, he's going to start "day camp" so I can run while he's there, but even that doesn't start until 9 am. I don't want to start running inside but I'm thinking I might have to if it gets too warm! Darn DH for deploying in the summer!

Corinna, are you going to do the ToT run? My sister and I have started to plan a real trip, probably Oct. 21-28. Dan Zanes is doing the Playhouse Disney show that weekend and Russ *loves* him. And we've never done the Halloween party. Plus, we can get a condo off-site (with enough bedrooms for my parents, sister and the kiddo!) and maybe hit Sea World as well, since military gets discounts there.

Oh, those sound like challenging scheduling problems. I am going to have the same sort of issue next month, probably. It looks like I may be doing a bit of solo parenting while we visit relatives in Michigan. There is a day camp program that starts at....I don't remember - 8 or 9. But 9 is definitely getting on in the morning for an ourdoor run in July, even in the north. Hopefully a solution will present itself for both of us.

I am fully IN for the TOT. I registered yesterday and bought a plane ticket and everyting. I am still not completely certain about a travel/racing companion - there are a couple of potentials that are kind of on the fence, but I decided to plow ahead on my own. My new mantra is that I must "Be the change I want to see in the world." I have plans to arrive on the 26th and depart on the 28th, so just a very short trip for me, but it should still be enjoyable!

Your trip sounds fantastic. We have not done Sea World yet, but it sounds really great. The Halloween party is fantastic. Worth the price of admission just for the Hallowishes and the special parade, IMHO. The walk-on rides and candy stations are just bonuses!

You know, I don't even know who Dan Zanes is. I am so out of the loop! Are any of his songs good to run to?

 

[katerkat]

No, Dan Zanes isn't good to run to...unless you're a toddler! http://www.danzanes.com/pages/home.php His website has some of the videos they play on Playhouse Disney. Russ loves "catch that train" and "malti."

Yay that you're registered!! I haven't gotten that far yet - DH just decided he wants to go to Vegas with a friend in August when he gets back, so I've been researching that one instead. Average highs, 101. But it's literally the only time he can go, with his deployment schedule. Definitely, though, we should do lunch or something on Saturday before the ToT! I don't think we're going to a park that day since we'll be up all night!

I think I'm going to ask a neighbor friend to be a mother's helper this summer - maybe an hour in the morning 5 days a week so I can do the grocery shopping minus the toddler, mow the lawn, and get some running in. That way I can get up and run earlier before it gets too hot!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey ladies! Gotta say I'm jealous of you guys doing the TOT.

Kat - sorry to hear of your scheduling issues, but it sounds like you have several options to help keep you going with all that needs to be done, plus time for running. I'm with you - I'd almost rather not run than run inside. So you ran for an hour?? That's awesome! Are you doing run/walk intervals or running the whole time?

Corinna - I agree with you on the MNSSHP. GREAT party! (Better than MVMCP in my opinion). How's the running going?

For me, no running this weekend. I ended up with a nasty stomach virus that has me stuck on the couch yesterday, and able to move for a few minutes at a time today. I'm just hoping I'm well enough to go to work tomorrow at this point. And maybe run by Tues or Wed.

 

[corinnak]

Well, I am back! A quick recap. It was an exhausting weekend. I left the house here at 5am on Saturday morning, arrived at my hotel in Cambridge around 2. Attended the wedding at 6pm and danced until midnight. Yup. Pretty much like that.

The next morning, I got up at 6 (5am back home) and went, through a series of modes of transportation, to my brother's graduation at 9:30. Then the smaller graduation for his particular college was at 12:30. It was cold and rainy. Then back to the airport. There were weather related delays and I ended up back in my home airport by 10pm.

No running. Sad but true.

However, that is not exactly true, come to think of it. I danced for hours on Saturday - highly uncharacteristic of me, but there I was and my other option was to go back to my room by myself and, what? Go to bed early, I guess. Or I could make conversation with people I didn't know. Dancing with strangers is a lot easier than talking to strangers for hours. It was fun and I was amazed at my endurance. I have never been a good dancer, but I was glad to be able to keep it up for a long time.

Also, when I went to my brother's graduation the next day, we weren't sure if we would need the invitation in order to be admitted. I had left mine in the car and we had gotten about half a block away by the time I remembered. My dad gave me the keys and I ran back (in my walking sandals and dress) to the car to get it and told them to go on, I would catch up. So I ran to the car and ran back to my dad and his wife, and I got back to them not even winded. it was pretty cool.

Back to running for me tonight. Though when I mentioned that, my son asked if he could run on the treadmill again. Oh, ok. Sure. So I loaded up my ipod with W1 of the C25K podcast for him again and he is doing that right now. Cute little guy. His endurance seems good, but his speed is a little slower than the rest of the kids in his class. It's my turn next.

 

[kimwim8]

hey Corinna. Welcome home! Sounds like an action packed weekend! Awesome job with the endurance you've built up and the running in the sandals

How old is your DS? How great that he wants to run too!

 

[corinnak]

It was an overpacked weekend, but I am glad I got to go.

I just finished a run a little bit ago - I did a running workout from podfitness.com and that lady was kicking my booty into gear, I must say. 6 one minute "sprints" at 6mph with various other stuff in between - that is really fast for me! It feels really good, though, I have to say. Then after that workout was done, I kept on going and ended up between the walking, jogging and sprinting, going for a little less than an hour and a total of 4.25 miles! I have hope that I can get up to 8.1 miles comfortably by October.

My DS that is running is 8 1/2 years old. My younger one likes the treadmill as well, though he doesn't get to use it so far. He is almost 4.

 

[corinnak]

Oh Kim - I am sorry to be a self absorbed clod! I am so sorry you have been under the weather. I'm glad you're bouncing back. There is nothing worse than stomach virus. Except maybe Measles. When I had those, I think I would have traded it for stomach flu.

Also, don't be jealous - join us! I am such an enabler. It would be so fun to be there all of us together, though, don't you think? Well, if not this race, maybe another one at WDW sometime.

I hope you are completely better very soon!

 

[katerkat]

Kim - yuck on the stomach virus! I hate being down with a stomach bug. I hope you're feeling better!

You should totally come do the ToT race with us!! (Enablers, who us? ) My sister just got the week off, Oct 21-28, so we started planning meals and park days. I can't wait!!

I didn't run for an hour, just 30 minutes of it. I ended with a long cooldown because I was too far away but didn't want to push myself quite yet. I'm still getting back into the swing of things - haven't run much since the beginning of May!

I'm still working on scheduling issues. I begged a friend to watch Russ for an hour tomorrow so I can run. I really want to do a "trade" thing - I watch her kid for an hour, she watches Russ for an hour, we both can get stuff done, but she doesn't even trust her husband alone with her son... My friend who I might hire to watch him doesn't finish school for another two weeks. Argh! Of all the times for DH to deploy!!

Corinna - holy cow that's a busy weekend! Dancing all night sounds like fun! I miss going to weddings, I love them. Anyone know a cute guy I can marry my sister off to? (Speaking of her, I sent her the C25K link and the podcasts and she did the first day today! )

 

[corinnak]

Anyone know a cute guy I can marry my sister off to? (Speaking of her, I sent her the C25K link and the podcasts and she did the first day today! )

My brother is available. He has been slow to mature, but he is now a college graduate at age 27 and has a good job lined up, though it is in New Hampshire. He has spent years working at my mom's bead store, though, and makes beautiful jewelry!

Sorry to hear of your continued problems with getting a little time to run. It is too bad your friend doesn't seem agreeable to a trade. Could you try the old jogging stroller again? I think my son would sit in there as long as necessary if I gave him a little video game to play. Maybe some snacks or music to listen to or something? I'm just grasping at straws here, so never mind me.

Kat, I am so excited that you are planning park days already! You are lucky to have so much time before the race. I am planning on flying in on Friday night and leaving on Sunday to minimize time away from my boys as much as possible. My friend's husband may be in after all, too - though if my friend, Sara, has a CNA class that weekend, that would be a dealbreaker, and she doesn't know when she is taking the CNA class. Get on that, Sara! Austin is seriously excited about this race and sounds like he wants to run it so badly he can almost taste it. I haven't heard back from my high school friend about whether he is going to go or not. One way or another, it will all work out, I am sure.

Better get these kids ready for school..... It is the next to last day.

 

[corinnak]

Big news here today. My best friend's husband (my husband's best friend?) and my running "guru" is going to join me for the TOT 13k! My friend kids me about how I'm going to Florida with her husband to have a torrid running affair. I laughed and said that I was just glad to have someone to run into the woods ahead of me - probably WAY ahead of me. She suggested he would leave a warning note for me on a shrubbery. I said he could call on his cell phone and tell me where the monsters were hiding.

I'm planning to treadmill tonight, though yeesh, it is already getting lateish. After the last run, I think this one needs to be a shorter one, though.

My next race is a little less than a month away. I know I should probably just go and do it with the intention of running the whole thing again, but something in me wonders if my time will be better than it was in May. Well, this is a 3 mile rather than a 5K, so probably that .1 mile will make my time faster right there. These 6mph "sprints" have to help too. My usual 4.2 or 4.3mph feels like plodding afterwards!

 

[kimwim8]

Oh, girls. I SO wish I could. Money's too tight this year for me to do a solo trip, but I am completely saving up for the 1/2 in 2009. I will definitely make that happen.

Corinna - you have been running up a STORM!! I bet you'll surprise even yourself at your next race!!

Kat - sorry I misunderstood your run. But how awesome that you went for a nice long walk after your run! I used to at least do a cool-down walk, but lately I seem to run right up to the driveway and then stretch against my car. No wonder my legs are just jello when I go right upstairs to get in the shower.

Have a GREAT weekend, girls!! Looks like it's just us around here lately, huh?

 

[katerkat]

I'm dragging the boy (and his babysitters) with me, so I don't have to worry about him. I decided to let him play at my friend's house for the last two runs and not feel guilty about it. After all, she's not doing any extra work and her son has a friend to play with. Saturday he's staying with another friend during my run and then for two weeks after that I have a guaranteed sitter - I watched another neighbor's kid for the whole day yesterday so she's perfectly willing to watch Russ for those 8.5 hours she "owes" me. Only, M-W-F because of her schedule. And by the end of that, he should be starting "school" a couple of days a week so I'll have that time. MAN why didn't I take more advantage of DH being around last month??

I can't believe you're doing 6 mph sprints!! I'm working my way to 11 min/miles for the whole 30 minutes. I tried adding some sprints at the end but my legs don't agree with me quite yet. I'm glad your friend's husband is going with you to have a torrid affair!

Oh, and two things - I love YOUR ToT thingie way better than mine! And this brother, hmm, is he willing to move to the NYC area? I think my sister will end up in Jersey or Pennsylvania. She can do her job anywhere, though.

Kim - I decided against any marathoning this year, but 2009, hmmm... What about any of the 2008 races, like the Minnie marathon thing? You've got to get a Disney race in!

 

[corinnak]

Kim, 2009 is a definite. I'm sorry you can't make it in October too, though. I will again run with camera, though, and give you a moment by moment report. Though I am not entirely sure how my photos will turn out in the dark. There is never an entirely satisfactory solution to dark photography. Unless I get a new camera with REALLY high speed AND image stabilization - they apparently have them, but who knows if it would be enough?

It does seem to be just us around here, as you say. I don't have any complaints about that, mind you, cause I really LIKE the two of you. I am trying to stir things up back at the old thread, though. Giving it a little bump can't hurt.

Kat, if I didn't have a second grader, we would all be down there for a week too, I'm sure, but my kid missed WAY too much school last year, plus we are going for a week around Thanksgiving. End of October is probably preferable, though when we went last October, it was disgustingly hot. Apparently, though, it cooled down as soon as we left.

I can not believe I am doing 6mph sprints either, but I swear, in just 3 workouts, they have become totally doable. Crazy! I would not have thought I could move that fast. People often say, in response to my running, that the only time they run is if something is chasing them, or something similar. I figure at this point, I have a much better chance of getting away than before I started C25K!

My TOT logo is just something I whipped up because the one with the staring eyes kind of creeps me out - I am easily creeped out and can never stay at the Boardwalk because of that clown slide with the glowing eyes. I am not sure what I am doing running a creepy nighttime race, but there you have it. Anyhow, I couldn't take putting that in my sig, so I used my photoshop and illustrator skills (such as they are) to make a substitute. I was pleased with how it turned out and you are welcome to use it if you want to.

My brother.....I am never sure what he is going to be willing to do - right now he is planning on a commute from where he lives in Massachusetts to Portsmouth, NH for a job, so who knows. He is a total goofball, though, you should know. I went to his graduation last weekend and took a bunch of pictures of him for my mom who couldn't make it, and I think I got maybe one picture where he wasn't doing something totally goofy!

Today is another running day. I have to decide between doing another podfitness intervals thing or just a long ploddy thing. Not sure what I'm going to actually do. I feel like the long ploddy runs are tolerable outside, but are just kind of miserable on the treadmill, whereas the sprinty-hilly things are kind of fun on the treadmill. I made up one of those training plans on RunnersWorld. com and I am just not sure I can add a mile onto a run like they are suggesting. However, I have done a LOT of things I wasn't sure I could do in the past 4 months, so maybe I should just TRY it.

 

[kimwim8]

It does seem to be just us around here, as you say. I don't have any complaints about that, mind you, cause I really LIKE the two of you. I am trying to stir things up back at the old thread, though. Giving it a little bump can't hurt.

I feel the same way. We're a cozy bunch right now.

I've already read your WISH journal, so I know you did AWESOME on your run (but I'll let you post your details ). Nice job, girl.

I really wish getting to WDW was a lot cheaper and then I would SO be there to run lots of races. I'm gonna just save up a little stash over the next year so that I have no reason NOT to do the 1/2 in 2009.

Tomorrow's my "long" run. WISH me luck!

 

[corinnak]

Good luck with your long run, Kim! I am sure you will totally ROCK it!

My run went pretty well today. I did a warm up first and then set the timer for 70 minutes. I decided on a slow, ploddy thing. I ran the first thirty minutes at 4.3mph on the treadmill (different somehow from being out in the world) and the incline set to 2. After that, I decided to take a little walk break as my plan was to get to 4 miles today. I walked, I think, half a mile and then ran the rest of the way to 4 miles with the incline set at 1, I think. And the speed was 4.1 or 4.2. With warm up and cool down, I nearly made it 5 miles! It makes me feel like 8 miles by October is actually workable, even if I did walk a certain percentage of today's distance. And as I wrote in my journal, I have a plan for the rest of the week. Though I forgot I am going to cub scout camp with my oldest this weekend. I am not sure I will be able to get my "long run" in next weekend. Also, I'd better start taking some claritin right now in preparation. I ultimately opted for the treadmill as a few minutes outside reminded me that June is Pollen Month for me - though it has usually been bad at the end of June, not the beginning.

Of course Austin ran 17 miles today - crazy!

Kim, I wish that it cost lest to get there too. The best we can do from here is AirTran. Or Sun Country. But I think Air Tran is much more enjoyable No Southwest Dings from MSP, unfortunately. No Southwest. Oh well.

 

[plgrn]

Hi guys! Kim, thanks for the link! I finished up a Memorial Day 5K in 41 minutes (big whoop, I know) and have since fallen off the wagon. It's too darn hot to run! I did get up this morning at 6:00 and ran 2 miles before it got too hot and that's the most I've done in a while sadly.

I see the grads are taking on bigger and better races! Great job guys!

 

[corinnak]

Jenn, that so totally IS a BIG whoop! You finished your first 5K!!!! - how much of the population can say that? I don't know, but I think it's not that large a percentage. Was it a large race?

I can't imagine how hard it must be to get the runs in when it gets so hot so early in the day - Getting up at 6am to run 2 miles, though - that is something to be proud of! In fact, starting up again is something to be proud of, too - it should not be as hard as it was the first time either, I'm guessing? Well, except that 6am part.

It's nice to see you over here.

 

[kimwim8]

Hey girls. Just stopping by to say GREAT job!

Corinna - you completely ROCK!!

Jenn - so glad to have you back! And congrats on the 5K. Like Corinna said...that is definitely a big whoop!! And the run at 6am!!! VERY VERY nice!!

I, sadly, haven't run at all this week and won't run until the weekend. I'm heading out early tomorrow morning for a short family vacation at Hershey Park. I will need to put in some SERIOUS miles to lose the weight I plan on gaining.

Keep up the great work, ladies!! I can't wait to read about your adventures when I get back.