Team 6 - Team Ohana - Check in and introduce!

[jeanneg]

Kayci: sounds like you could use a big hug..... We all get in a funk from time to time. I was in a horrible one a few weeks ago, but now I'm fine. Do something to vary your routine, even if it isn't on the training schedule. Sometimes you just need a change of pace. I found another WISHer to do my long walks with and it has really lifted my spirits. Maybe there is someone at work or in your neighborhood who will be willing to be a training buddy. Having someone there to talk to really helps. Mainly, I think we all need a BIG DOSE OF DEBRA! Ever since she's been quiet, we've all been in a funk. Please don't be sad....we love ya, girl!

 

[corinnak]

Hey there - remember me? I'm your long lost cousin....bad about posting, but continuing on with the running even with the radio silence. I just sent Jeanne my catch-up logs so I'm not even derelict anymore. It's been wild times, I tell you. I'm finding the groove again, though, now that I've started training for the WDW half. I'm getting in fairly regular runs, wrapping my brain around the food thing again (why is that so hard??) Training for the half is going well. Today, I managed to run up all the hills on my short loop for the first time in a long time

I've also been having some weird stuff with my heart lately. I had a bit of the same last year - It feels to me like skipping a beat, but they say it's likely a premature contraction of some kind. Not painful, just weird. It seems like it got more noticeable and frequent after I donated blood last month, so I'm getting it looked at. I had a 24 hour monitor last week. Follow up with results later this week. Hopefully it's nothing, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me a little concerned for upcoming training/racing plans. I went ahead and did a training run while I was on the monitor, so they can have a good look at what happens when I run as well.

Skippy, the "new" dog is healthy at last (he had a broken toe this spring that sent me for a loop) and is a pretty good running buddy now that he's halfway trained. We're not to the point of taking the canine good citizen test, but we are at the point where we're working on the skills specifically for it. We got the genetics test done to find out what kinds of breeds he's made of and it came back largely Labrador Retriever with some German Shepherd Dog and Dachshund. Which would explain why he's not 80 lbs, I guess.


Jeanne - I only WISH I were going to ToT this year. I can not wait to hear how it goes, though, and if they work out their logistical issues this year as well. I'd love to do that race again sometime.

Richard - congratulations on the BIG loss! It's amazing how much of it is the food, isn't it? I'm out of the loop - what program are you using?

Mel - I agree - WDW half as a training run is definitely hard core!

Julie - a great report and congratulations! I love how you were joking with the volunteers. Brilliant! Your son is adorable and that medal looks really nice, too!

Jen B - have a great time at ToT! MNSSHP is so much fun. Wish I were doing that trip, too......

Maria - have a good trip and a good start to your half-training! Uh, make that half-marathon training. Cause half-training sounds kind of like the lazy way to train, I guess!

 

[jeanneg]

YAY, CORINNA'S BACK!!!!!


Sorry to hear about your heart issues.......take care of yourself, please!

JenB: how will I spot you at TofT? Do you have a WISH shirt? Can't wait to meet you!

 

[Jen117]

HI cousins... it's long lost Jen. I am so embarrassed to say it's been a long time. Then I didn't want to post because I don't have my logs up to date and you are missing out on my mediocre mileage.

My mom is still in the hospital, so that's been rough. Then we were going to buy the business, that blew up... now DH is looking for a new job. Oh my life is all a big mess, but I hope it gets better soon. It has too. I really don't think it could get any worse!!!! KWIM!!!

I am not sure we will be at WDW in January because of the job situation. We will have to play it by ear. We haven't bought plane tickets yet, so we are not out that money.

I will try to spend some time going through my journal and getting some mileage for the team (it's pathetic!!). Last night I did do 50 minutes on the TM... so I am moving forward!!!

 

[laughinplace199]

Hey Cousins!

Richard - Congrats on the weight loss!

Jeanne - Doritos are my downfall (or one of them). I've been having a hard time avoiding junk food lately. In fact, I had Doritos for lunch today.

Maria - Have fun in Long Beach and good luck getting into training mode when you get back.

Kayci - Sorry to hear that you weren't able to do your race. I wish I had some clever or witty thing to say to cheer you up, but I'm drawing a blank. I hope you're out of your funk soon.

Corinna - Welcome back! We missed you. I hope that everything turns out ok with your heart issues.

Jen - We missed you too! Sorry to hear that your mom is still in the hospital. I hope that she's better soon and that everything else starts looking up for you.

Debra - Where, oh where are you? Cougarville just isn't the same without you.

Hi to Nancy, JenB, Mel, Morgan, and all of my other cousins!

Have a great week, everyone!

 

[grizbuzz]

Hi, it's Jen G. I guess I've been pretty quiet since I joined Team Ohana. But I have been trying to post my miles! (sorry they're sometimes a little late )

I'm going through a bit of a funk right now and thought I might be able to get some sage advice from my Ohana team mates. I started my training with a PT last April and gradually trained from a point where I couldn't run 5 minutes to completing a 10k in August and then a 9 mile run a week and a half ago. Now my PT (who I see about every three weeks or so) has put me on a three week "resting" period - as he said he doesn't want me to burn out or get injured. Ultimately, I'm training for my first 1/2 marathon at Huntington Beach, CA on Feb 1, 2009. So, now I have only 2 runs a week scheduled for the next three weeks (30 minute run and then 1 hour run). I also am supposed to do weights twice a week and cross training another time or two (yoga and Pilates is what I usually do).

I went on my 30 minute run yesterday - which was the first run I have done since completing my 9 mile run around the lake. I noticed pains in my heel pad, as well as my inside arch going up to my ankle. Didn't make me happy. I'm wondering if I need new shoes or just more rest or what. It wasn't terribly painful, just not right and I didn't want to make it worse, so I kept my run very short and easy.

So I'm in a weird period right now. After working on my running for months and months seeing progress - slowly but surely -- not I am in a stand still with a few aches and pains. I'm not experienced, so I don't know if this is normal or if the guidance I'm getting from my PT is on track.

Would appreciate anyone's insight here. I was just beginning to start feeling like a runner and now I'm...well...doing a lot of sitting.

Thanks for listening. And sorry I've been such a stranger.
-Jen G

 

[deekaypee]

Hey folks. Remember me? Or did you miss the dramatic exit I made a while back, announcing that I was ready for my close-up with Mr. DeMille? Dang, I knew I should have overacted! Or at least told you more about the drama in my life. Ah, too late now. Such things are better left on the editing room floor.

First, I want to let you all know that I've been thinking of you--and to thank you all for thinking of me. I haven't even been lurking here, but I know you've been sending PD my way. I can feel it. I miss all your grand adventures, the running, the commiseration and support, the funny stories, and just hanging out.

I keep planning on coming back, apologies in hand (and running logs, too). But I can't seem to find the time and energy. No big crises, just ongoing professional and personal nuisances. I'm just overcommitted and in an environment that's not very healthy for me. And even my training has fallen off. The horrors! So I'm at a professional crossroads and will be for the next few weeks. And me without my compass and roadmap! Where are those Girl Scouts when I need them?

And I wanted to let you all know that I'll be trying to adjust my life to get more balance in it. And you can read that as "spend time on the DIS time with friends." The first step is that DOOD and I put ToT back on our roster at the last minute. We might be DLF, but we'll be there. And I'm planning on that change in our routine spilling over into DISing when I get back. That's when I'll catch up with all of you and your lives, which are all much more interesting than mine.

In the meantime, if you still have spare PD, keep sending it my way. Oh, and a winning lottery ticket wouldn't hurt.

 

[jbucci]

Yeah!!! Three cousins at ToT, I can't wait to meet you guys. I'll be the short (5' tall) on in a Lime green shirt with a homemade WISH visor-- the cool max shirt didn't come in time, so no official WISH gear for me. My DH and I will try to find the WISH gang at the race start.

We did NSSHP two nights ago and had an absolute blast. We dressed as Toy Story toys and had a great time being big kids. I'll post pix when I get home. We the piggies that we are got tons of candy and even got back in line a few times for more Ghiradelli squares at the park exit-- yummy

RIchared: congrats on the wt loss, now if only I could get there too....

 

[corinnak]

Hey Ohana!
It seems like we're all coming out of the woodwork this week.

JenG - I've been thinking about your post and while I am no sage, by any means, but I've done a couple of races and experienced something similar. It does feel weird to go from dedicated running to dedicated resting, for sure. I do think it's a natural sort of thing to do and that our bodies need it. And our brains too, probably. It sounds like a good plan that you've got, and you'll be back to building mileage again before you know it. I bet you just need a few more days for your feet to get back to normal - racing is harder on your whole body than training runs for some reason, I don't know why. I'll be interested to hear how the next couple of weeks go for you!

Debra! It's great to see you, even if temporarily. I'm excited for you that you get to be at ToT. It sounds like it could be really interesting this year. And fun. And it sounds like you NEED a little fun right now! If only life didn't take over sometime. But it does. I know you'll get that training going again before too long. What program are you using this time? I think you mentioned MfM months ago? I'm doing a sort of stretched out version of that, myself.

Today is my heart follow-up. I'll keep you all posted. However, I have to say that in the past few days, I've been feeling it a LOT less. It will be good to get some REAL answers, but I am excited to think that it's maybe an occasional temporary blip that goes away on its own.....

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi Cousins!

Jen G - I'm not an experienced runner, but I've dealt with my share of aches and pains over the past several months. I had some hamstring issues over the summer. I ended up taking two weeks off from running, which was hard, but it worked. So, maybe rest is what you need right now. If that doesn't work, maybe new shoes? I had ankle pain about a month after I started running (I was wearing old running shoes). I got a new pair of shoes and and the pain was gone. Let us know how things are going and don't be a stranger!

Debra - WELCOME BACK!!! Our "family" just wasn't the same without you! I hope that things get back on track for you soon. Have fun at ToT - I can't wait to hear all about it!

JenB - Cant wait to see those MNSSHP pics! Good luck at ToT!

Corinna - Good luck with your heart follow-up today.

Jeanne - Are you doing ToT also? If you are, have a great time!

I ran 4 miles this morning that felt like 14! It's so boring running at 5:00 AM, by myself, in the dark. I'm definitely not looking forward to increasing my weekday mileage since the only time I can run is at 5:00 AM. Maybe I'll start having conversations with myself, just to try to keep it interesting. That way, I'd look like a crazy person and I'd scare away any potential bad guys lurking in the shadows. Actually, with the way I look at 5:00 AM, I'd scare anyone away, even without talking to myself. At least DH and I can run together on the weekends and we don't have to begin our runs until the luxurious hour of 7:00 AM!

 

[corinnak]

I ran 4 miles this morning that felt like 14!

Man, I HATE when that happens! I had one of those last week, too. I think it must be part of the process. Gotta suffer through one of those and then next week, you'll see the improvement, maybe? I hope so anyhow!


Jen G - I can't believe I forgot about SHOES. I agree with Julie! It sounds like you've put some miles on your shoes this year! It really could be that simple. I was also reading this morning in Runner's World about recovery time from a big race and how it's important because of micro-tears in your muscles and bones from training and racing. Yikes!

 

[corinnak]

On coming back and utterly dominating the conversation.....

Well, I went to the doctor for the follow up today. The short answer is, I'm OK to run. The long answer is I am having premature contractions of the kind the doctor says are non-harmful. Evidently this is increased by 1. Caffeine, 2. Alchohol and 3. Stress. Sooooo, no Rum & Coke with my Father-in-Law, I guess! Seriously, I don't have a huge amount of any of those. I generally avoid caffeine, drink fairly moderately relatively occasionally (seriously, people, I have a 2 drink maximum...). Stress - I've never been LESS stressed in my life. SO that's mystifying.

BUT I read online that these can also be increased by Anemia. And THAT, my friends, I do have. My Hemoglobin and Hematorcrit are just barely at the bottom of the normal range, but my Ferritin level is a 4 and needs to be between 10 ad 120. Basically, my stores are low and I have been ordered to supplement. Hopefully I get that resolved and the heart thing gets resolved as well. It already seems better than it was, which is nice.

 

[laughinplace199]

Corinna - I'm glad to hear that your news was good. Hopefully, the supplements will do the trick and you'll be back to normal soon. Hey, you can probably even have the occasional rum & Coke with your FIL!

 

[corinnak]

Thanks Julie! It is a relief, for sure. My FIL lives in Alabama, so it will be a while before I have a chance to have a drink in his presence.

 

[grizbuzz]

Corinna-So glad everything is OK! Stay away from Alabama and the rum and cokes!

I took the week off and then ran four miles today. The tendons in my instep were still a little off, but my heel didn't hurt and overall I felt better. I am definitely going to get some new shoes, just as soon as I can make some time to go the running store.

I will be staying on plan to keep running to a minimum for two more weeks and then hopefully I will be resting and ready to go!

Have a great weekend everyone!
-Jen G

 

[tiberius]

Hello friends!

Here is my report on my Houston Half Marathon, October 26, 2008


The last few days leading up to the race had me so busy at work that I had underperformed in my regular training schedule, which I had already reduced given my race this weekend. On Thursday my left knee had a minor pain of unexplained origin, but it went away. Friday night I slept poorly, getting 4 to 5 hours of sleep, and Saturday night maybe only 6 hours (maybe!). Race morning was the warmest morning of the week, although to be fair it was still cool—definitely cooler than my recent training runs. I seemed to have every reason to fail building up around me.


I got to the race site and situated myself without incident. I had chosen to run with a handheld bottle, carrying my gels in its case. I lingered at the start and left with the back of the pack. I generally like to do this for two reasons. First, I find it less likely that I will get bogged down in a slow moving crowd early in the race. Second, I like the mental boost I get from knowing I’ll pass more people than pass me, which is what happens starting from the way back. As the race began, I started out quickly, running in the 10 - 11 minute/mile pace range on a 9 minute run/1 minute walk pattern [I normally train at a 5/1 on my long runs.], and trying to slow down into the 11:00 pace range on the runs to avoid burning out later. I feel fairly strong in the early stages, however around mile 4 I am feeling a sensation on my left foot that I have not felt in a long time—the rubbing feeling that leads to a blister mostly on my left foot! Just before the 6 miles mark I stop and remove my left shoe and sock and see a minor amount of irritation on my foot, on the inside just forward of the arch, then I place the sock and shoe back on and try to secure my shoe a little more firmly. I am a little puzzled over this as I have been using these shoes for my long runs for 2 -3 months and have not had any problems up to 16 miles in a single run. Anyway, the foot feels better for a little while, but the irritation returns about a half mile later and I just run through it. I move pretty well up to the 8.5 mile point and I feel a little dizziness for a quick moment while pushing a downhill run pace. I slow down to a walk for a moment to catch my breath and decide to take a quick, and very convenient, potty break for a minute and then reassess my condition. I feel fine, catch a drink at the aid station and decide to move on; making a decision that if I feel that dizziness again, then I will quit or walk the rest of the race. I was still running well up to that point. I was running a PR at the 10 K and the 10 mile marks, and trying to take it a little easier in the later part of the race. After the potty break I change my to a 3 minute run/1 minute walk and do well with that change. On that last lap (course was 3 equal laps with a short offset on the start/finish locations), the sun had come out and the weather was warming up, I was able to keep up my running pace with the reduced running frequency, so my average pace did not slow as much as it might have otherwise.


I finished with an unofficial time of 2:33:50 (my Garmin) cutting off 2 minutes from last year’s race and setting a new PR in the process.


I did end up with a slightly smaller than dime-size blister on my left foot, and some irritation to the same spot on my right foot. I need to figure out why before this reoccurs in a race again. Everything I wore today had been worn before on multiple long runs, so I am a little puzzled. The best thought of mine so far is that I did not secure my shoes tight enough, but I don’t really think this is the case. The only real differences were the course, which had more hills than I normally run on, but this was not really out of the ordinary, and my run pace, which was somewhat faster than my training paces. I’ve got 2 weeks until the 25K race I’ve also entered, which will run on similar roads in the same area to figure this out. I will not be running that one at maximum race pace, but will make it a training pace run.

 

[jbucci]

Richard: congrats on the PR for your race

We just got back from Disney and had a great trip. We ran the Tot and did pretty well considering all of the walking and child carrying we did in the parks.

It was great to meet some fellow cousins-- longer report and pictures to follow....

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Aloha, Cousins!

I am back and officially in Half Marathon training mode. I did strength training yesterday, and 3 mi this morning. I was so proud of myself for getting up at 5 am.! As my dh said, I just have to actually keep it up...

Jen B -- I am really looking forward to your ToT report! It sounds like so much fun, I bet you had a blast!

Richard -- Loved your race report, congrats on the PR!

Jen G -- New shoes make such a difference! I can definitely tell when I need to replace mine, when my clouds (Nimbus) get too close to the ground!

Corinna -- So glad to hear from you, and even better to see you have good news! I hope you continue to feel better each day.

Julie -- Ok, so we are running at 5 am, in Boston, virtually together! I'm going to think of you, and you can think of me, and we will be running buddies!

Debra -- Finally! Now we can resume our regularly scheduled Cougaring! We've missed you and your insights! I was lucky enough to see Christian Slater taping his new show while I was in Long Beach, and he looks incredible. Much, much better than I expected, considering all his issues.

Jen -- Wow, you have been through so much...I don't know where to start. I hope your Mom is improving, and I hope DH finds a position you are both happy with soon.

Jeanne -- How was your ToT experience? Have you recovered yet?!

Ok, back to the ridiculous amount of work that piled up while I was gone.

Everybody have an awesome week, I'll keep posting if you will!
Maria

 

[corinnak]

Hey Cousins!

Richard - congratulations on the PR. Sorry about the blister, though. That sounds VERY mysterious.

Jen G - Way to go on the 4 miler. I hear you on time to go shopping for running shoes. It's a little more time-consuming and daunting than regular shopping. Your rest plan sounds good, too. Oh, and I am definitely steering clear of the rum and coke and FIL. It's not that hard.

Jen B - I'm so glad you had fun at ToT and can not wait to see your report! There have been precious few on the boards yet. I guess it is still early, though, and I am just impatient!

Maria - great work on getting into half-training mode. It's going to be here before we know it.


Well, I had a pretty decent 6 mile run yesterday. I thought I was going to get pelted with sleety snow, but it stopped before I went out! It's hard to believe, but the 6 this week was easier than the 5 last week. I've never had such a tough time dragging myself to the end of a run since I gave up on the treadmill. I love my 6 mile loop, so that's some of it, but I have to think my iron stores are recovering and that helps even more.

My training schedule for the week has gotten messed up, though. I put off my run until Sunday because DH was out of town and I'm a little overly cautious - gotta have someone to pick me up if I get stuck out there, right? Anyhow, Sunday, I ran, and it was good, but that kind of meant I didn't want to run today so normally I'd do T-Th-Sat. But then my grandmother's birthday party weekend is this weekend and unfortunate as it is, I don't see much prospect of a long run on Saturday or Sunday. Ultimately, what I decided to do was to XT today (Richard Simmons ) and then run on Wednesday and long run on Friday with Kung Fu on Thursday as usual. I know I'm supposed to religiously follow the rhythm of the days.....

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Good Morning, Cousins!

I did my 3 mi this morning, and I feel great! It's so nice to be done for the day -- well, mostly done. I have yoga at work later, but I'm looking on that as more of a sanity saver and less of a workout.

Corinna -- It's so hard when your schedule gets altered beyond your control -- but it sounds like you are being flexible and making things work! Your 6 mi loop sounds great! I have a 2.6 one I love, I just have to do it a few times as the training goes on. I'm hoping to get out early Sat. morning (weather permitting), and get in a few more outside workouts before it gets too nasty for me. I need to do 5 mi, so two loops and I'll be golden

Howdy to all the Cousins, let's have an awesome day!
Maria