Rebecca - it's great to hear from you! I am sorry to hear there's been illness in your house. I hope the medicine doesn't disagree with you too badly! You know I signed up for the 5K as well - I hope we'll have a chance to meet up before/after/during! Are you leaving for WDW soon? I'll be around through Friday.
John - I have seen slowing and stopping advice on the Disney final instructions - not sure I've seen it elsewhere. It would be nice if there were a universal signal or two, like there are in biking. I have seen an occasional runner point to the left or right before they went one direction or another. I wish I had a rear-view mirror on my WISH visor! I have read cautions about slowing or stopping during a race many times. If I really have to STOP, stop, like fix-my-shoe-or wardrobe-malfunction-stop, I am always sure to get fully off of the roadway. Yeah, I've had to do that more than once.
Mel - a weekend at AK sounds like a fantastic getaway! Looking forward to seeing you soon! Are you staying at AK for the Princess weekend? I'm having a hard time keeping track of where everyone will be this trip. I will be at All Star Sports, rooming with Racey Tracy.
Richard - the "flat self" trip is something that my son's class did in 2nd grade. The hardest part is getting the really LONG paper - they always have it at schools, of course, but what about the rest of us?? The kids lie down on the paper and someone traces them and then they color themselves and mail themselves to family or friends in another part of the country. They'd take pictures and send information on the area, so the kids got to learn about other parts of the country. Actually we did the same thing in church one time years before 2nd grade - I forget why exactly, except it was summer and kind of fun.
Darn those race-conflicts. It always seems like the same races are problematic for me year after year. As you say, maybe next year. Sounds like you had a good time even without the race, though!
Congratulations on a great month and that half marathon PR, too!
Nicole - isn't the sunshine lovely?? We still have a lot of ice on the sidewalks here, but I'm hoping that soon I'll be running outside again, too!
I have the same experience of running faster outside than inside. I'm not sure if it's because of my particular treadmill or if I actually can't run as fast on a TM cause it's so dull or if it's the incline or what. Some people say the TM is easier, but I am always faster outside, too.
As for the race, I think your plan of starting conservatively and building as you go makes good sense. A lot of people think that that is the smartest way to run a race, and I can't disagree, though I don't always manage to start slowly enough. And in January, I did the first 5 miles with some people who run faster than I do, then peeled away around the TTC and did my own thing from there. It worked fine for me, but I don't actually recommend it as a strategy!
I will go ahead and give you some advice, if that's OK. You can obviously take it or leave it:
1. "Listen to your body" (just like the Bear in the Big Blue House says to Tutter in the potty training video
) - it doesn't matter what the numbers say, you need to run at the pace that feels comfortable to you, whatever that may be. The most important thing is how are your lungs doing and how is your heart doing? This is a long haul, so you want to start out comfortable and be at a pace that you can keep going with, and the best way to decide what that is is not based on numbers but rather on how your lungs and heart and body feel. Just find your groove like you do on a training run. You'll know it when you find it.
2. "Trust your Training" - It's gotten you this far, so usually it's best to stick with the intervals you're used to, the pace that feels like what you trained at, the fuel you used on training runs, and even the clothes you usually wear. I think someone had a phrase for this...I'm not sure if this is exactly right, but it's something like "go with what brung you this far."
It's true, though, in most cases.
3. Enjoy the heck out of this race - it's going to be a fun one, I can feel it!
Maria - I didn't know there was a HP Science Museum exhibit! Oh, I hope that one comes here soon. It sounds really cool. We loved the Star Wars exhibit a few years ago - all those models and the videos from the designers and everything - is it the same kind of exhibit? I also have the "Single Ladies" song on my shuffle. Nothing like fresh music on the shuffle! My latest fun song on there is...the weirdest version of the Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music that I ever heard.
The Mixer is up - late, but the discussion this week is about why we keep going back to Disney.
Pina Colava is the drink du jour.
As for me - Good news - we are having a bit of a thaw here! My glacier has a small skating rink and river at the base of it now, and I am so glad I dug out the storm sewer so that it's not a lake instead.
I spent the weekend painting a backdrop for Suburb: The Musical. It is a crazy time to have another project going for me since DH is still finishing up a show he's working on called "Toast." Too much stuff at one time!
Running-wise, I'm just doing the shorties now - 3 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, maybe some strength training later tonight - I had to miss bodypump today because DS is home sick. I was going to sign up for a TRX class, but looking at the calendar, I just don't think it's worth it this session. I'll miss 2 out of the 7 classes, already. Maybe next session.
WW-wise, did I mention I'd gone to meetings led by my Marathon weekend roommate, Lysa? I'm planning/hoping to get the lifetime achievement award on Wednesday for 6 weeks of maintaining. Well, lifetime membership, anyhow. I joined WW for the first time in maybe 2001? It would be nice to actually get their darned lifetime status finally!
That's impressive!
I know I did - then I set a goal of being one of those who went back out, and finally achieved it last season. 
I wish all of you going luck as you run and/or cheer, and most of all I hope you have a great time! 
