Running for Freedom(of the Seas) The Journey Begins Today!(Comments Welcome)

[momof2minnies]

Veronica
How is it going? It feels good to taper doesn't it?

You must be getting excited.One more week.

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Going well. On my new schedule but I have to say I am so not digging the darkness at 5:30am!! I ran Tues and Thurs, 3 miles each time, but started in the dark!! I feel like I need a headlight or something! Seriously though, I do need to get a reflective vest. Weds I did some plyo/strength here at home and today I went to the Y for Dynamic Functional Strength Training, or 75 minutes of torture!! Actually, the class is pretty good, I do tend to push myself a bit too hard. The instructor is good, very friendly, but the class is super packed!! Gotta get there earlier next time, now that I know what to expect and what to set up (step, 2 sets of weights, medicine ball, big ball).

This sunday is a 5k, not concerned with time at all, just out to enjoy the run, support a good cause.

 

[LAinSEA]

That class sounded intense; I'm just not brave enough to join a class yet. Our Y, my students and their parents report, is really overcrowded. They are building another across the valley, but it will be a while before the crowd divides.

Enjoy your event; I hope the weather cooperates (and it's now dark still at 5:30 am here too), fall is here.

Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Ran the 5k in 35:14, slow in my opinion. But not bad considering a)I am still in pain from Fridays class and b) the course is all up and down, very little flat. Lots of people did walk/run as I did, my core/abs hurt worse than my legs!

Now its time to prep for the half-I am hoping to do a few slow, easy runs this week. Taking it easy on Fri and Sat, going to packet pickup Sat am and drive the course. DH and DD and the dog(my sexy Rex) are coming to the race too.

 

[momof2minnies]

Veronica
Good luck on Sunday!!!!!!!

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

My new mantra is: run your own race.

My mother in law has decided she is now going to run the race, and is going to register this Saturday when we go for packet pick up. Of course, my FIL (who lost his itinerary for his trip this week) wanted to go pick up all the packets. NO WAY JOSE! I am going, plus I don't know if there is an expo or anything and I would like to check that out.

Inlaws are stressing over the course-how many hills etc. There is a course video which I have watched a few times now, and I am not too concerned about the course. Yes there are a few hills, but nothing monster killer. If I need to walk some, that is okay too. There is no shame in walking a bit if needed. The goal is to start and finish-no worries on time. I will let them do whatever they want, I am running MY race and don't give a hoot what they do. I do appreciate that they train with me, because they do keep me going when I might be inclined to slack off, but their racing mentality bugs me.

Wish me luck friends, swift feet and good weather are needed!!

 

[LAinSEA]

Own that course! Run your race! Be thrilled with your results! and I'll try to keep the rain on this coast.

Best wishes!
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Thank you Laurie and I hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[VernRDH]

Well friends, its over. I have run a half marathon. And I feel good (except for some unfortunate chafing of my inner thighs, they were bleeding when I finished

My time was 2:36:41 per my Garmin, 2:37:17 on the clock (gun start, chip finish, so there is the difference). I walked some of the hills and the water stops, had some trouble with cramping in my right calf after mile 10. We were running on the shoulders of the roads mostly, as the streets were not completely closed off for the race. Also, at mile 3, they were taking down the clock when I got there, and there were runners behind me yet! I thought that was kinda stinky and DH said they took down the clock at mile 9 after my FIL went through, about 10 minutes before I got there, and there were definately a bunch of people behind me then!

There was plenty of water and Gatorade and bananas along the route, but at the end you had to walk to the park a few blocks away to get any post race food. I wasn't interested, as I really kicked the last .1 mile and between hyperventilating just a little and crying, food was the last thing I cared about. DH took some pics, I will try to get them up at some point.

Had a pb and banana sandwich and am going to rest now, read with DD.

 

[LAinSEA]

What an accomplishment and I'm so proud of you! (I would have been peeved to see the timers come down too--I've got too much Scandavian blood and always want my dollar's worth.)

Something I've found for chaffing...Monistat Soothing Relief Powder Gel. Someone told me about this product several years ago when we went to WDW during an overly hot May. I get heat rashes and this stuff rubbed on inner thighs, inner elbows, and my father actually used it other unmentionable places when were at WDW during a super hot August, keeps the chaffing away all day. It's super sweat proof! And it feels dry immediately while going on but lasts and lasts. You may want to see if you can find it prior working out again as you're probably going to be a little tender for a week or so. I've used it on my feet too to keep down blisters on my heels when I'm breaking in new shoes.

You certainly deserve the rest (and dinner out, I think). Congratulations on your outstanding effort.

Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Thanks Laurie! There were a number of things about the race I didn't care for, and I really don't think I want to run this one again, as the course was okay, but the confinement to a 2 foot wide shoulder is tough at times. FIL was really surprised at my time-thinks its a great time for my first half. I am pleased, it is right around where I thought I would be. If there had been less turns/corners and hills, I might have made it under 2:30. But its okay I FINISHED!! And not last either, the last person (only 11 people after me) finished in 3:38.

A week of rest and then I start up again. Tonight just taking it easy, staying in, having comfort foods like soup.

 

[LAinSEA]

You mentioned wanting to re-think the meal plan in my journal...soup is a great starting place if you have time to make it yourself. That hot and sour soup I put together this weekend only took about 30 minutes (and that included DH warming up the grill and cooking the porkchops). Watch out for the sodium in the canned stuff, it's a killer.

The other thing I've learned recently (and I've not tried it out for maintaining or for losing yet), is to avoid the starchy carbs after 4pm. Fix the pasta or potatoes for lunch and go with veggies, proteins, and fruit for dinner. My sis is doing this now with her family (her DH on HCG like me, her daughters age 17 and 11). She's still losing slowly and Charly said she's lost 5 lbs without really trying to (the 17 year old.)

Enjoy your rest before getting back to training and really, you are my hero right now...13 miles and that's a good time too.

Laurie

 

[momof2minnies]

Good job Veronica! Always wear compression shorts under your shorts to prevent chaffing.

Linda

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica - cold's still hanging on, but I'm ignoring it.

Your poor DH! I don't know where people got it through their heads that technology people are on call 24-7 like an ER doctor (even the ER docs I know have days off when they are NOT contacted). No school district pays for 24-7 support that I know of and I'm lucky that most of my issues off hours can be solved by my "in house" guy...and he cooks especially well too.

Two years ago, when we were upgraded to a new gradebook and online grade system, my DH was stuck implementing the new system and making sure the backups ran in the overnight hours--most of the time they didn't (vendor kept backdooring everything and making things worse instead of better.) Jeff was up at 4 am checking downloads and sometime didn't get back to sleep before being up again at 5:30am to contact the vendor on the East coast. Still, the gal he worked with in the office thought that he wasn't working at all because he'd often be in after 8am (still on the phone with the vendors working problems from home). It was a big mess and the abuse by teachers not happy with the new product was really unprofessional (sometimes their nasty emails came to me instead of him.)

Tell your DH to hang in there and sometimes it takes a moment away for those people who take you for granted (like part of the machinery) to see your real worth. Nobody should be on call during a family emergency--no problem is ever too large that it has to be solved NOW, and no, there are more reasons why kids aren't learning than technology isn't up and running. The old fashioned way still works (or at least that is what I tell my seniors when they can't log in to the system and word process their assignments.)

Are you back to training? Sounds like your DH could use some "run" or "walk" time too to "walk it off."

Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Apparently your cold has made its way to the East Coast. I have a horrible sore throat from the post nasal drip and my head is really hurting. I am supposed to start training again tomorrow, I may take it easy and walk in the morning instead of running, will see how I feel at 5:30am

DH is doing a bit better, he is more hurt that his boss didn't back him up than anything. It doesn't help that he is totally stressing about turning 40 in a few weeks either.

Ah cold medicine is kicking in now, time to go to bed!

 

[VernRDH]

Today was my first run since the half marathon. I am still battling this cold, but feeling better. Ran with MIL, nice and cool morning. Kinda slow-3.25miles in 37:35.

DD is going to be starting Girls on the Run-she will run her first 5k in December! Looking forward to sharing this with her.

Off to the grocery store, hoping to make an apple pie and some chili this weekend!

 

[LAinSEA]

Be careful, Veronica - that cold is turning into bronchitis for many out here and hanging on. My voice was so gone today I let "the late Peter Jennings" teach my class instead of run through my planned presentation. Still a cold is a cold and should only last two weeks.

That's so great that your DD has decided to start a running program too. Sure wish I'd done that as a kid and kept with it.

Please feel better - mmmm does chili and apple pie sound good, but alas it will be awhile before I'm able to indulge in both...so enjoy and let me know just how wonderful they are.

Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Well I made the pie, but no chili. Made chocolate chip cookies instead. Pie came out well, only my second time making one. DH said it could have used more cinnamon, will do that next time.

Cold is getting better, still some post nasal drip, but not nearly as bad as the other day. I think the running helps clear things out too.

Ran with the inlaws today-4 miles in 45:32, not too bad. Felt a big sluggish, legs felt heavy. But I plodded along. Feels good to be back at it again.

New training schedule-Tu/Th weights/plyometrics/incline walking, W-run on treadmill, Fri and Sun run outside. I can't go out at 5:30am on Weds in the pitch black and cold. So I will utilize my two treadmills and run my 3 inside. I don't like it, but its what I can do. Fridays I am off so I can go out after DD goes to school. Inlaws want to run together on Fri now too, so that is good.

Only 13 weeks until Disney!!

 

[momof2minnies]

Veronica
13 weeks already boy does time fly.Where are you guys staying for the marathon?

I love the smells in the fall with the oven back on.I make a yummy apple crisp if you would like the recipe.Oh I can smell it now.I think I will make one today.

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Hey Linda-

We are staying at POFQ, one of my favorites. 13 weeks will go really fast, especially since this is the busiest time of year for us. All our birthdays are coming up, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, DD's concert at school etc etc.

DD started Girls on the Run today. Said it was fun, is looking forward to it every week (although not next Monday, as it is Columbus Day, no school). I hope she gets into the running, I would love to do some 5k's with her.

I am always looking for a good recipe. Either PM me or post it here, no matter.