Team 6 - Team Ohana - Check in and introduce!

[laughinplace199]

Hi cousins!

Maria - Were you up & out at 5:00 this morning? I was, and I was thinking of you. It was lightly snowing and there were some small patches of ice here and there on the sidewalks. I just love running in the winter... Good luck with the 8 miler this weekend. I'm sure you'll do fine as long as you stay hydrated.

Corinna - I'm so glad that you're feeling better and able to resume your training. Just be sure to take good care of yourself and you'll do fine!

Jen B - Good luck with your podiatrist appt. I hope they can help you figure out what is causing the toe pain. Those long runs are challenging enough without having to worry about new aches and pains.

I ran 5 miles this morning with no knee pain, but I'm still going to stick to short distances this week. The run went really well and I guess I should be happy that I almost fell, but didn't. My toe caught an uneven bit of sidewalk and I started heading toward the ground, face-first. My arms were flailing out by my sides and I heard myself utter some squawking-like noise. I kind of caught my balance, then lost it, and then regained it. All this took about 3-4 seconds, but it seemed like 3-4 minutes. I was trying to picture what I must have looked like as I was falling. The best I could come up with is a drunk chicken on roller skates. It was so embarrassing. I didn't even stop to look to see if anyone saw me. I just wanted to get as far away from there as possible.

Hello to Jeanne, Debra, Mel, Nancy, Jen, Richard, and all of my other cousins. Have a great week!

 

[laughinplace199]

Hello...Hello...Hello...Hello?

Is anybody out there? I had to bump this thread up because I hated to see it fall back to page 2!

C'mon cousins, I know it's a really busy time of year, but please stop by if you can and say hello. It's getting lonely around here.

I hope everyone is doing well with their training now that the races are less than a month away. I just went to a physical therapist to see what I can do about my knee pain. The PT was great - she's a runner - so she understood my concerns about being able to run the race. Apparently, my IT band is weak on my left side, which is causing my knee issues. She gave me some exercises to do at home and I have 3 more appts with her before the race. She seems confident that I will be fine by race day. I hope she's right! She also gave me lots of general racing advice and even looked at my running shoes to make sure they had the right support. I feel like I really lucked out getting the PT that I did.

I hope that all of my cousins are doing well. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone next month!

 

[jeanneg]

Julie: Thanks for rescueing the thread! Not only is this a very busy time of year, but we are all at the absolute peak of training right now....not a great combination for allowing any free time. I have my 20-miler this weekend....... If that goes well, then I should be fine for the marathon. Adrenalin is one thing....but DISNEY adrenalin is the very best of all! If I can do 20 miles during a practice session, 26.2 at WDW should be doable. I can't believe this is actually our last Ohana month....I am so looking forward to meeting and/or re-meeting everyone! I hope we can all make the get together at Pop on Friday.
Keep those miles and minutes coming in....we're almost there!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Hey Everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't been a very good correspondent -- just so much going on with work, home, training -- I know you all get it!

I did my 8 miles on Saturday, and it was a huge improvement over last week. I went a bit slower, and drank water every couple of miles. It made a big difference. I think this week I will go a little faster, but keep the water coming. I didn't feel half dead when I was done, so that restored my confidence!

My dad arrives tomorrow for a month-long visit, which means he's living in my gym...(our guest area doubles as the treadmill/bike space). That means no more 5 am workouts. I'm going to have to make myself work out in the evening, so we'll see how that goes. It's definitely not my strong suit. Julie, I'll miss being your workout buddy! Speaking of Julie-- I'm really glad the PT went so well, it sounds like you found the perfect person to get you ready to go!

Jeanne -- Thank you again for all your hard work for Team Ohana! You have done such a great job keeping track, prodding, and generally making us go!

Corinna -- Yep, I too have a major crush on Zachary Quinto. He's the villain I love to, well love

Jen B -- I hope the podiatrist was able to help with your toe. We are getting so close now!

Super Aloha Love to Christa, Jen, Debra, Mel, Morgan, Nancy, Robert, Linda, Denny, Richard, and any other cousins I missed! Please drop by and say hello!

Ok, I'm off to tackle that pile of paperwork I keep trying to ignore. Pesky work!

Maria

 

[corinnak]

We are getting alarmingly close! And as of today, I am still in. It's amazing how quickly the training comes back. I spent about 2 hours yesterday on the TM and ended up with 8 miles. There was a good deal of walking and also a good deal of running, and I upped the running pace, even. I feel un-befuddled today, so I think the half-marathon is on! I hope to get two more long runs in, and if I can get up and maybe a little over 10, I'll be good, right?

I watched Stardust while I was on the TM - I had never seen it before but had read the book for my bookclub this month. I think this is a rare case in which the movie may have surpassed the book in some respects! It was a great treadmill film, I thought.

Jeanne - is this really our last Ohana month? Any word from the higher ups on what will happen next year? I feel like I've gotten kind of attached to being with this group (though my posting levels don't reflect the level of my identification much of the time). I guess it will be interesting to see what the Panda has up his sleeves next, in any case.

 

[jbucci]

Corinna: glad to hear you were able to get some miles in without trouble

I'm dong ok, the podiatrist was less than useful. He basically said "well if it only hurts after 6-7 miles you should consider yourself lucky..." not what I wanted to hear. He did give me a little foam "sock" for my toe so I'll try it on my 20 miler this week and see how it feels.

Sounds like all of my cousins are in hard core training, good luck to everyone surviving the training schedule and the holidays- I think we should propose to Disney to move this crazy thing to Feb so the really long runs don't overlap with Christmas

 

[tiberius]

Hi Team,

I hope all is well out there. I have been so busy I have not been able to chime in recently, but I wanted to add a quick race report on a 30K event I did this past weekend.

The Lakes of Williams Ranch 30K in Sugar Land, Texas. Overall, this was a nice race that seemed well run. The water stops were well located on the main triple loop of the course and there was light, but vocal support from people along most of the course. There were two water station located at opposite ends of a 3.7 mile loop on the course. I was glad to have brought a water bottle with me as I like to take in a lot of fluids on a day as warm as it was.

Although recents have left me somewhat underprepared for the distance, I still showed up prepared to run and represent my local running club (The Woodlands Running Club, sorry but I did not wear my WISH shirt this time)as they travelled across the Houston area. As a back of the pack runner, I was able to keep with a pace of 12:30 - 13:30 miles, otherwise known as my training run pace. A little before the halfway point I noticed my heart rate was staying higher than I liked (likely due to warm weather and 97% humidity) and started taking it a bit easier on the run. As I neared the 20K mark, a fellow runner named Heather said something to me about us leap-frogging past each most of the day, and as she was wearing a Longhorn Triathlon shirt--a race I hope to do one day--I asked her about the Longhorn Triathlon . We ended up walking and talking together for a bit which also allowed my heart to get a bit of a break. For the next 10K+, we walked and ran together (mostly walking as we were both suffering a bit, me from a high heart rate and occasional calf cramping, her from upset stomach) and just generally had great conversation and enjoyed the balance of the race. I finished somewhere around 4:24, about 15 minutes slower than planned, but I am happy with my performance.

Have a great day to all of you!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Aloha Cousins!

I made a big mistake last night -- I went to dh's gym with him. It was hot, crowded, and loud. Not conducive to my type of workout at all. It was the second longest 3 miles of my life (right behind the last three miles of last year's WDW Half). I was a full minute slower per mile than at home, I think mostly because I was so hot, and just mentally miserable. I'm glad I went, though. Now I know my basement is the place for me

Richard -- Despite all the issues it sounds like it wasn't a bad event for you. If you can't have fun while you're doing it, you shouldn't go. It sounds like you made it work and enjoyed yourself along the way.
JenB -- It is tempting to do the Princess Half instead to avoid the really long training runs over the holidays...but I'm pretty sure I'd never get dh to want a princess medal

Corinna -- You are well under the required Half pace with that 8 miler! I'm so glad you're still in. I probably can't do it justice, but this weekend is just special. Afterwards everyone wears their medals to the parks or out and about, and total strangers congratulate you...

Everyone have an awesome night!
Maria

 

[tiberius]

Aloha Cousins!

JenB -- It is tempting to do the Princess Half instead to avoid the really long training runs over the holidays...but I'm pretty sure I'd never get dh to want a princess medal

You never know until you ask. He might like the idea of running and being surrounded by all those women. At that point you might be the one with the issue.....

 

[Worfiedoodles]

You never know until you ask. He might like the idea of running and being surrounded by all those women. At that point you might be the one with the issue.....

Good point! I'll be keeping that idea to myself!

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi Cousins!

I'm glad I'm not the only one on this thread anymore. I was starting to get a bit paranoid about being a thread-killer...

Jeanne - Good luck with your 20 miler. I have mine scheduled for this weekend also. Now I just have to figure out how to get it in with the 10+ inches of snow that we're supposed to get tomorrow.

Maria - I'm sorry you won't be my 5:00 AM workout buddy. I hope you're still able to get your workouts in with a guest in your "gym."

Corinna - I'm so glad to hear that your training is going well!

Jen B - I hope the "sock" helps your toe pain.

Richard - Great race report.

I've been faithfully doing the exercises that the PT suggested, so I'm hopeful that my 20 miler will go OK this weekend. (I really need a "crossing my fingers" smilie here.) If anyone has any spare pixie dust, please send some to my knee.

Hello to the rest of my cousins too!

Have a great week, everyone!

 

[laughinplace199]

OK, even though I'm starting to feel like the official 'Ohana threadkiller, I had a funny dream that I thought you might like to hear about.

In my dream, I was planning to run my 5.15 mile route. For some reason, I decided to take a few short cuts along the way, which brought my mileage down to 5 miles instead of 5.15. When I got back home, I logged onto my computer, but I was scared to enter in my totals for the week because I thought Jeanne would be mad at me. After all, my shortcuts caused our team mileage to decrease by 0.15 miles. Oh, the horror!

So, if our team loses the competition, I guess you can blame me.

In real life, I got my 20 miler in yesterday before our big snow storm hit. It was great to get that run in, but what was even better was that my knee is so much better! I didn't have any knee pain until mile 19! (It used to start around mile 9 or 10.) I walked for just a little bit until it felt better, then I was able to start running again. I still can't believe that it is so much better already, and I still have 3 more weeks to do the exercises the PT gave me.

I hope that my cousins are all doing well. Have a great weekend! We're preparing for more snow tomorrow, as if the blizzard yesterday wasn't enough.

 

[tiberius]

OK, Julie
I'll take the pressure off of you and post about today's run.

I wasn't planning on writing today, but after today's run went bad I just wanted to gripe about it some.

Today was a planned 12 mile run with both The Woodlands Fit (my local group) and Kingwood Fit (our sister group). I didn't have any great plans for today's run, just to take it easy and enjoy it. Before I got to the 2 mile point I was needing an unplanned rest/walk break, and after that I never really got it together and was walking as I needed. I ended up shortening the run to around 7.5 miles in 105 minutes, which is better than I thought it was at the time, given I probably walked at least 1.5 miles of the 7.5 and maybe a fair bit more. This may not have been "hitting the wall" in the traditional running sense, but it felt the same to me as that "wall" I once hit around mile 21/22 at SunMart 50K last year, only without the blisters this time.

I figure that my problems were the result of 2 mistakes. First, I may have expected too much of myself coming off of last weekend's 30K--even if I did take the 2 days after as rest days. Second, I ran without my Garmin, in favor of a Polar heart rate monitor with larger numbers. I think this allowed me start out faster than expected on the run, which led to an overall bad run.

Whatever the answer, I suppose I did fine for one of those really bad days everyone will get sometime--and, in the end, I did get a decent distance covered for the day.

Later today, I will go grab some lunch with my wife, do a little shopping, and work on doing some pre-Christmas house cleaning.

 

[padisneyfan]

Sorry I have been MIA. I keep going back and forth between doing the half and not doing the half. I will more than likely not make up my mind until I actually get to WDW and possibilty not till the day of the event. My training has mainly consisted of just doing the long weeks that are required for that weekend. During the week I do no walking but do Pilates, spin class and elipical. Last year when I did the marathon, I was obsessive about doing all the training and my family was sick of hearing about it. This year if it happens it happens, if not life goes on. Can you tell that I am truly not a dedicated long distance walker. My family just rolls their eyes. Today is I will be doing it mainly because my 10 mile TM walk went ok. But come tomorrow, I could be back to no way am I doing it. So as a result of my lack of making a committment, I have not made any firm plans to attend any of the WISH events. I will be out there cheering everyone on no matter what my final decision is.

If I don't get back to post before the holiday. I hope everyone has a great holiday.

Nancy

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Aloha, Cousins!

I did 8 mi yesterday, and I greatly regretted pushing myself. I cut 2 minutes off my time from the previous week, and I felt rotten afterwards. I have learned my lesson. Until something in my stamina changes, I am not going to exceed 4.6 for distances over 6 mi. Next Saturday I do 9, so hopefully that will be much more pleasant at the end!

Nancy! -- So good to hear from you. After my wog yesterday, I totally understand. I could not have done another 5 miles if my life depended on it...well, maybe then, but that would have been the only way! I have found myself skipping at least one of my shorter runs during the week, sometimes more than one. It just seems to take everything out of me to do the long run, and with all the holiday activities, my time slips away...as well as my motivation.

Richard -- I'm sorry you had a bad run, but I'm glad you posted about it. Every run is not going to be wonderful, and it's good for us all to get that. I guess that's what makes it so sweet when all the stars align, you know it is really special!

Julie -- I am so glad your knee is better! DH is out right now in the sleet shovelling. We are so fortunate that we have a garage, at least that's one less item to clear out. DS has one more day of school, and it's their Christmas pageant, so of course he really wants to have it. I would like to use him as an excuse to stay home tomorrow, but I suppose that's not to be. Good thing I finally got those snow boots!

A big howdy from the frozen tundra to Jeanne, Denny, Robert, Linda, Corinna, Jen, JenB, Grizzbuzz, Morgan, Kayci, Mel, Christa -- and any other cousins lurking out there!

I don't know what happened to Debra, but your wit and wisdom are greatly missed! You'd better come back, I'm getting a complex...

Maria

 

[jbucci]

Julie: so glad to hear the knee is doing well, good job on the 20 miles!!!

I've had a rough week. I did manage a 20 mile run on Tuesday but have on ly gotten one other run in during the week. I had a lovely combo of stomach bug and respiratory thing going on that did not mesh well with running. My plan is to get to sleep right after I tuck in DD5 tonight and hopefully be up for another long run tomorrow.

I can't believe how close the race is At least I have the holidays to distract me from my nerves...

I wish all of my cousins a good week.

 

[gatorphipps]

Hey guys....
Just poping in to post my Marathon race report...on a very hilly course.
http://goofy4running.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-ran-thunder-road-marathon-121308.html
Enjoy...it was painful!

 

[jeanneg]

I was scared to enter in my totals for the week because I thought Jeanne would be mad at me.

Well THANKS, Julie.......I can't tell you how great that makes me feel!

 

[jeanneg]

Christa: congrats on completing your 8th marathon! I know you fell just short of your anticipated time, but 4:05 is like an Olympic Gold medal in my book....way to go!

Richard: Your "bad" training runs would make me feel like a Kenyan! And kudos for helping your wife with the housecleaning...what a guy!

Nancy: I have also missed most of my short walks in favor of other cross-training. I think you will be fine since I know you've been working out almost every day. I remember what a fiend you were on the elyptical during the cruise. That all has merit and you should be fine considering you've gotten most of the hard mileage in. You know you want a Donald medal to go with your Mickey....and I'll be there to cheer you on.

Maria, Julie, JenB: thanks for checking in......so glad to hear from you. Keep it up....we're almost there.

I just wonder how many of us still have our Ohana buffs from the Minnie Marathon. I think some people that didn't need them that weekend may have also ordered them from Jen. I think she is going through a tough time and probably won't be able to sew up some more, but just wanted to get a grasp on how many additional would be needed.

I love our little group......you guys are truly like my cousins, but I have not been a very good captain lately. My life has been so busy I simply don't have the time to post as much as I would like. If Ohana continues, I will need to step down and let someone else be captain. I'm just not giving you guys the support you so rightly deserve. Dave has asked each team to decide what they would like to do. I certainly would love our team to stay in existence with a new captain, but it's up to all of us to decide. I can't tell you how much I appreciate those of you who have faithfully posted their activity...it's made my job so much easier. And for those of you MIA, it's not too late to come back. That said, I'm off to record activity for the past week or so....don't make me come after you........I've already given Julie nightmares!

 

[laughinplace199]

Hello Cousins!

Richard - Thanks for posting about your run and saving me from being a threadkiller. Sorry your run didn't go the way you planned, but it sounds like you still got some good miles in.

Nancy - I hope that you're able to do the 1/2 (if that's what you want to do). Whatever you decide, enjoy your time in WDW. I hope I get the chance to meet you!

Maria - Is your DS on Chrsitmas vacation now? My kids are. It's nice to have them home (I took the 2 older ones to see The Tale of Despereaux today.), but I need to wrap! I guess I'll be up late tonight!

Jen B - You got in a 20 miler and you're dealing with a stomach bug and respiratory thing? Wow! I hope you're feeling better soon.

Christa - Great race report. Thanks for sharing!

Jeanne - It's not you, it's me. I'm sure that dream comes from my deep-seated fear of disappointing people. You're a great captain - you could never give me nightmares and I'm really looking forward to meeting you!