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

[aldisneygrl]

Sorry I didn't post last night - hope I didn't worry anybody. The Dr. fiddled with my knee stretched it into different positions and asked me if it hurt. It never did, so I thought that was a good sign. Then he took XRays, and he said it looked good, just a touch of pre-arthritis in that knee. (that is a sure sign that I'm getting old ) Actually he said that what he saw could have been inflammation - so that is what I am going to believe.

He gave me some Mobid (NSAID), and some stretches to do. He also gave me a prescription to go see a physical therapist. He said that if the stretches and the NSAID didn't improve my problem then I should go to PT.

After the visit I had to drop off the prescription, take dd to piano, go home and eat dinner, go back and get the prescription - and gas because I was on Empty. Then I had to get everyone in bed. I took the medicine, and couldn't lay down for 30 minutes. I was sooooo tired by that point. Well, I was dozing off sitting straight up in the bed. Anyway, it started making me a little nauseous (and yes I did eat something when I took the pill ), so I decided to just go to bed and sleep it off.

Well, I say all that to say, I feel better this morning. Hopefully those stretches will help. I have a former neighbor who is a PT, and I may get her to give me some Free advice.

We will all be on the mend and running again soon! No need to change the title, WE WILL PREVAIL!!!!

 

[kimwim8]

I was just kidding about changing the title, you silly ladies!

Have a GREAT weekend!

 

[corinnak]

Ally, I'm glad your doctor didn't find anything seriously wrong. That is GREAT news. Hopefully you will be all better very soon. Those PT's have some really fantastic techniques, so if your neighbor is willing, that sounds like a good idea, too.

Kim, thank goodness you were kidding - I kind of thought so - because I was on the verge of having team shirts and hats made up for us. Well, I wasn't actually, but I can't say I haven't considered looking into it. Which is scarcely a commitment.

Here's to recovery! Man, I wish that was something other than a gigantic beer, but coffee seems to be the only other beverage available on the DIS.

 

[katerkat]

Man, you guys are a bunch of injured people. Me, I'm just down and out with a nasty cold. My neice came down with RSV just after visiting us for Thanksgiving, so we all have the "adult" version of it - a nasty cold. Luckily Russ appears to just have the nasty cold and not the RSV. (I don't know if he's too old to get it at 2.5?) I don't have the breathing capability to run right now. I managed a whooping 4 miles on the treadmill in November, plus 3 on an ellipitical. But hey - I finished my Nano! And I'm going to get started on running again once I get over this cold. I'm not doing any races until Bloomsday (same weekend as the Minnie), so I don't have much inspiration.

I don't have winter running shoes, but mostly because I'm a WUSS and I won't run outside when it's wet or cold. Treadmills work fine for the winter. Ask me again in about March when I'm dying to get outside.

Corinna, our song!!

 

[corinnak]

Well, I think adult onset RSV counts for something....

Nice job finishing your Nano! I'm so excited for you!!! The excerpt that I read was quite good, too, even if I did get all distracted and didn't write back about it.

Kate, you are not a wuss - you just have very particular climatalogical preferences. We all have our particular issues - they don't make us wusses. Anyhow, I think lots of runners take the winter easy and ramp up for the running season again in the spring. Nothing wrong with that!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey ladies!!

Kate - you are definitely not a wuss! Even without a nasty cold, it's freakin freezing in NJ!! And I believe North Jersey is colder than South Jersey for some reason. Get well, then worry about running.

I was going to take a walk today, but instead DH and I got the Christmas stuff down from the attic and decorated the outside of the house. Pretty much turned into a 5 hour job. (brrrrrrrr) We have painters painting the inside of our house, so we haven't been able to put up the tree or decorate inside yet. Hopefully next weekend....if we're not partying it up for someone's birthday I know

I had my hair permanently straightened (the opposite of a perm) this morning and got it cut up to my chin. I am LOVING it!! I'll get DH to take a pic so I can show you guys. I'm feeling refreshed and I actually feel good about myself for a change.

Hope you all have a great rest of the weekend. Stay warm!

 

[corinnak]

If only we could trade hair - I can't believe you'd pay for stick straight hair - that's what I've got. The grass is always greener. Seriously, though, I'm glad you are loving your new look and can't wait to see a photo!

Wow- 5 hours of holiday decorating! That is hard core! And this is my best holiday decorating smiley tableau Just remember - putting up the tree and stuff inside later makes it...more special, right? I haven't even thought about when we're going to put ours up.

Back to running for me tomorrow, I guess. Sick child permitting. Indoors or outdoors is going to depend on how much snow we get. I'm guessing indoors, for what that's worth, cause probably even if the streets are clear, the municipal sidewalks won't be yet. I'm thinking maybe I should go back to that training plan I was working on before I got derailed. Maybe start a little earlier in the program or something - we know I can run this 5K, and I'm not sure how much speed I can realistically add at this late point in the game. Just keep running. Just keep running. Gosh, that Nemo musical had some catchy music. Dory should be our official mascot.

 

[kimwim8]

I used to have nice, straight hair. Both of my sisters have naturally beautiful curly hair. But after I had my kids (my hair thinned majorly, and has just now come back), my hair is this nasty combination of frizz/straight/curly. Whenever I put out the effort of straightening it with a flat iron, it rains. So I decided to get it permanently straightened - less work for me day-to-day.

I normally put up the tree (artificial) on black Friday, but this year, with the painters, I couldn't. Guess it'll just have to stay up all of January to make up for it.

One of these days I'll actually be able to contribute to this thread with running updates.

Sorry to hear one of your kiddos is sick, C. Hope he feels better. Glad to hear you got a run in. Keep on runnin, girl. You gotta put in miles for all of us.

 

[corinnak]

More power to you, Kim - enjoy your permanently straight hair!

I am excited to hear that you are going back to school in January - well, assuming that your hip is up and, er, running again, anyhow. I'll do my best to carry the torch for now, but with all this snow, I am not sure how the miles will add up this month. So far, I'm not hitting it that hard. However, I have started reading Chi Running, and almost didn't take my son to preschool this morning because I got distracted with that book. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, my little guy is better now. It was a 24 hour thing. The next day he was climbing the snow banks with his brother. He only threw up the one time and then it was just fever and sleep all day - my favorite kind of sick kid.

Oh, yeah. My fascinating running update. I ran yesterday. As you can see, it was a little over 5K on the TM. Very thrilling. It's always so frustrating to run 3 miles on the TM. I am working hard and in the groove and whatever, and I check the time at 3.1 miles and.....38 minutes. That's what I ran my first 5K at in May, back when I didn't even know if I could run that far without stopping. And I tell myself, "Self, you know the treadmill has no basis in reality. You know that you always come out faster in the real world." But still it is demoralizing, because a 12m/m on the treadmill is WAY harder than a 12m/m on the street. 12 on the treadmill is comfortable but challenging aerobic work. 12 on the street with the garmin - that's recovery pace. Not that it matters for this race, if I am going to run with my dad, I guess. But I still kind of have this dream of the sub 30 minute 5K. Not that it would feel like: . Probably for me right now it would feel more like

Oh, but I love this one. This is me on the TM: I just put on the peppy music and think of races, past and future.

Have we had a music discussion in a while or ever? We should post our favorite running tracks. That's something you can do even when benched - you can always pick out good running music, right? Of course sometimes you think something is going to be good and it just isn't - yikes that sounds negative. I mean it just doesn't give the boost that you're hoping for. I'm going to make a short list of my favorites that really work for me! Stay tuned. Oh, and isn't this guy kind of freaky?

 

[corinnak]

Well, I don't know if I should take the eerie silence to mean you don't want to talk about music or are just way busy with the insanity of December. I did make up a list. These are the songs that are mostly likely to make me say "I'll just run through the rest of this song" if I hit my mileage or time while it is on. Or else if I am feeling beat, if one of these songs comes on, I'm more likely to pick up my feet and keep going rather than justify a walk break. I'd love to know what everyone else's favorites are as well.




Corinna's never fail running tunes, not in order:

Room at the Top by Adam Ant
Move Along by The All American Rejects
I Will Survive by Crazy Frog
Let's Hear it for the Boy by Denise Williams
The Way by Fastball
The Hamster Dance by Hampton the Hamster
Charlie on the MTA by the Heebee Jeebees
Sexyback by Justin Timberlake
Teenagers by My Chemical Romance
Kiss Him Goodbye by The Nylons
Irish Rover by Off Kilter
Here it Goes Again by OK Go
The Girl Gets Around by Sammy Hagar
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
I Wan'na Be Like You by Smash Mouth
Mickey by Toni Basil

 

[aldisneygrl]

I guess I am lame because I don't have a music listening device to listen to while I run. I get to hear nature. So, I am not much of a contributor.

I think you have a good list. I would like to hear some of those tunes while running.

Sorry I am not much help.

Oh, I've been doing my stretches that the Dr. gave me, and boy is my left leg weak. I think that is part of my problem. It shakes when I have to hold a stretch for 20 seconds. I have 8 stretches that I have to do 10 times, and hold for 20 seconds. I am supposed to do 2 reps of this. I haven't been able to do all of that yet, but I am working at it. My muscle just gives out after a while. I figure something is better than nothing.

 

[corinnak]

Allie,
I don't think you're lame - it's probably better and safer to listen to nature anyhow. I can't hear it from my treadmill, but running outside without music is definitely cool.

Keep up the good work with those stretches. It sounds like you are making some progress and are discovering more about your legs all the time. I have been thinking a lot lately about the connection between weak muscles and tight muscles.

 

[corinnak]

La, la, la. It's only been 5 days since the last post here. I ran on Monday, a whole 2 miles. Better than nothing, but it wasn't easy. My music was all uncharged and I ended up watching TV, which does not pump me up at all, and I feel like I've lost some conditioning and gained back a little weight, which concerns me a little since there is a race on Saturday.

I did my resistance band workout for the first time in weeks. With all the extra appointments and whatnot, I haven't been to my trainer in almost a month. I am going to run Wednesday and Thursday and then the race on Saturday. It is a 5K, and probably will be cold. This is the one with my dad, so I can maybe just run it with him and try to step it up for the spring. This is a heck of a time to try to start getting back into any sort of routine, but then there is no time like the present and I really can't afford to put it off any longer.

Anyhow, just thought I'd post an update. How are everyone's injuries doing?

 

[kimwim8]

Hey guys! Corinna - do you ever sleep??

Nothing new to report with me. I haven't been good with my stretches, due to the craziness of my life right now. Too much going on, and I ALWAYS get stressed in December. No matter how organized I try to be, or how early I try to get things done....it just all hits me. (excuses, excuses)

Anyway, Corinna - I love your music list. I need a new battery for my MP3 and then I can share my fav's. But I did get get two new CD's for my birthday. Not my favorite music just to listen to in the car....but GREAT music for running (The Killers and The Hives). Very upbeat and sort of rockish without being HARD rock.

Sorry to be so sparatic with my posting. It's not for lack of caring. Sometimes I get a minute and just read what's going on here, but don't have time to post.

 

[corinnak]

Kim, sleep is the one thing I am refusing to skimp on. The housework, yes. Sleep is too important.

I don't mean to be the high maintenance running buddy...I just don't want our thread sink to the bottom of the pile for too long.....

I feel like I'm kind of back. The run got pushed way back into the day, but tonight DH took the boys out to the all you want to eat pizza buffet, and I stayed home to run. So that's a victory right there, of sorts. I did 5K and had my iPod charged and ready to go and it went SO much better than the last time. I feel like maybe I didn't lose as much as I thought I did. I'm going to run again tomorrow. It's supposed to be COLD on Saturday, so my dad is reconsidering if he is going to drive over for that. I told him I wouldn't blame him if he didn't. They also had to throw my stepsister out again, so there is the added stress of that and one less person to take care of her kids. Austin, however, says he is in, regardless of the weather. I guess I am too, though I am a little nervous to run in the COLD for the first time in a race. I was thinking maybe I should try out my cold gear tomorrow and run outside in the morning. The sidewalks are fairly clear, so I think it would probably be fine.

That's it for now!

Oh, and that will be fun when you get your battery replaced, Kim. I will have to check out The Hives. DH and I get dibs on particular bands and he's got The Killers, I'm afraid. I know, some people like having musical taste in common. Us, we split it up like household chores.

 

[corinnak]

I am just going to continue to tide us over to spring. I got shamed into running 4 miles tonight. I talked to Austin before I got on the treadmill (he's running this race on Saturday as well) and he said he was being lazy and had only run 4 on the treadmill today. Well, I had been planning on 3 again, but I know a challenge when I hear one, even if it is thinly veiled as self-criticism. So I ran for 55 minutes, which in the real world would be darn close to 5 miles, but on my treadmill is a mere 4. Sigh. It was fine, but boring. The music again got me through. Thank you Justin Timberlake and OK Go. And Off Kilter. No Hamster Dance tonight. Don't know why that one does it for me, but it does.

So resistance bands tomorrow and then the race on Saturday. There is HUGE potential for a wardrobe malfunction as I have only ever shoveled snow in my new running clothes. It could be a disaster. I also noticed today that my same old running shoes are very well ventilated for summer. Not so pleasant with that arctic wind blasting through, though. I'm doing the wool socks on Saturday, wearing my thin liner socks underneath. Hoping for the best, and planning on catching the sweeper car if worse comes to worst. I have a new little camera pouch for my water belt, and I'll plan to bring my camera and share the joy with all of you.

OH, and I got my TOT pictures in the mail today. Kate, I ordered that one of us together after the finish line and didn't realize from looking at them on the web just how sweaty we were! WOW. Did you order any?

Stay warm, everyone!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Well, dd and I have backed out of our 5K on Saturday. It is supposed to be rainy and cold. Those two don't mix well with DD. It was 44 when we started the race back in October, and she was a total whiney hiney about it. So, I know if we add in some liquid precip. it will = DISASTER!! Plus I don't want us to get sick before we have our REAL race in Jan. I still haven't run yet. I know the Doc. said I could, but I have been too nervous to do so. I am still walking in the mornings and evenings, but I am scared that I am going to do something bad to my knee again. I think it is all in my head, but thought I would share with y'all. My last day at preschool is tomorrow. I won't go back to work until after my trip to DISNEY!!!!

Good luck on Saturday Corinna. Hope those socks keep your toes toasty from the cold breezes.

 

[smileyk8]

I've just thought- i can join this thread now! did my first 5km earlier in the month and am now heading for 15km minnie marathon, wahoo. Aldisneygirl, sorry you're not doing your run anymore, but can totally sympathise with that as i couldn't persuade my sister to come to the santa dash with me as it was raining. Ha it cleared up aswell. I'm now going to read through this whole thread to see what i can learn from you guys

 

[corinnak]

Hey Allie,
I don't blame you for backing out. I'll hope for gorgeous weather for your January run!

Welcome smileyk8! Congratulations on your first 5K - I hope it was fun for you. I booked my room for the Minnie just yesterday - it's so sad that it will be the last one.

I went to the running store today and got some gore-tek running shoes to help with that wind problem. Brr. Socks too. And some running pants with a DRAWSTRING. I still fear a wardrobe malfunction and am debating, the night before the run, if I should go with the shoes that will keep my feet warmer or the shoes I have been walking around doing everything in for the past month. Tough call in some ways. I feel like I should wear the broken in ones, even if they are maybe TOO broken in, but then I don't know. Warm, dry feet are worth a lot to me. It's just a 5K....would I realistically break a pair of shoes in with a shorter distance? I don't think so. But if there were a problem, I guess, on a training run, you can always turn around. What a dilemma. Anyone have an opinion? Besides "Stay home!"

 

[kimwim8]

Hey ladies.

Corinna - I think you should wear the warmer sneakers. I think there could be nothing worse than literal cold feet while running. Even if it is "only" a 5k (you're such a mile snob anymore ). And as far as a wardrobe malfunction.....not sure what to do about that. If the drawstring pants are warm, go for them. Good luck, girl. And I can't wait for the report.

aldisneygrl - I think backing out of the 5k was wise. With the way you've been feeling lately, I don't think a race - especially a potentially cold/wet race - is the right thing to do now. Focusing on the main goal (January) is the better/smarter way to go about it.

smileyk8 - Hopefully our little graduate thread isn't laced with bad ju-ju, since some of us have injuries right now. I'm just kidding. Welcome aboard! Can't wait to hear about your running adventures.

Have a great weekend, girls!