Team 'Ohana--No One Left Behind: The Continuing Adventures

[Jen117]

Hey cousins. I know I disappear again, but with three kids my life became insane. At least I came back, right??? The day after school let out, we left for 10 days at WDW. We just got back on Wednesday. Now I get all summer with my girls, except summer school starts tomorrow. Emma is taking environmental camp and Kate is taking some fossil/digging in dirt class. Fun stuff. Paul received an unexpected promotion the week before we left on vacation. BEST THING EVER! Now I get to cut back on my "working at home". Love him!

As for me, thinking the Full in January. The problem I had is that I am in terrible shape. The last (only) Full I did was the 15th Anniv. in 2008. I was in much better shape. I hope to ramp up my training and be ready in January. I also hope to see if I can get in more races in 2013 since our work situation is changing and I might have more time to train. Fingers crossed.

Mel - Still hoping you making it in January and can "run" with me!!! I will miss you so much this time around! When I did the Full in 2008, I took the red-eye from San Diego (business trip) and arrived Friday morning. Then left Monday morning, so it is possible. One year I did the Half and left Sunday afternoon.

OK.. promise to check in more. Track me down cousins... PLEASE. I need all the support I can get right now!

 

[Dug720]

Hi Cousins!!

Life has been crazy between my two jobs and training for Chicago! But with the end of the school year now 11.5 school days away, I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Had the NYRR Mini 10K on Sunday and it went. Not my best by any stretch of the imagination, but I finished it. So another one is in the books.

Pixie dust to all who need it and hugs all around!!

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi Cousins!

John - I can't even imagine what your training will be like in that heat. How hot will it be in August?

Richard - What's next for you? You always seem to have a race (or two, or three) on your calendar.

Maria - Happy belated birthday! I was thinking of you the other day because my son Patrick will be taking the ISEE in the fall and really wants to go to BLS.

Debra - Sorry to hear that your Oxford trip didn't go exactly as it should have, and it sounds like there's a lot of stress related to DOOD's job. I hope that you get some good news soon.

Jen - You have plenty of time to get ready for the full! Enjoy summer vacation with your girls. Mine will all be out of school by tomorrow and I can't wait!

Beth - A 10K is a 10K, even if it's not your best, so congrats.

AFM, still working on cautiously increasing my miles. My PF is not totally gone, but it's manageable. I just don't want to push it too far and make it worse.

Also, I have a question. What is the best way to work on increasing speed? I've never done any speed work, but I'd like to start since I'm much slower than I used to be. Any advice is appreciated.

Finally, who will be racing at WDW in January? Rob & I are hoping to be there, but we're not sure yet. We'll have to wait a bit and see if our finances will allow for it. Fingers crossed!

Have a great week, everyone!

 

[AquaDame]

Sadly we won't be...I am interested in doing more WDW races but with airfare the way it is we just won't be able to go for awhile after this year's W+D!

BUT I think I have hubby on board to do the DL half next year - we have way too much going on this year and I asked if he'd rather I do a solo quickie trip down to run the Tink again (we got to last year, it was my first half and so fun!) or go over labor day for the DL. He is a bit overwhelmed with all our current vacation planning but seemed to think he'd be up for it. I really hope so since I'm certain the Tink will sell out very quickly!

Between now and the W+D we are going to do a fun 5K on Sauvie's Island (beautiful hiking/farming area right next to Portland) on the 4th of July and then a 10K later on (Pints to Pasta) that goes along Portland's waterfront which should also be fun!

We upped our run/walk the last couple of runs to 2 min run/ 1 min walk from 1/1 and I admit I am a little discouraged that it doesn't really knock that much time off - even from 13 miles! - but feels SO MUCH harder...! Diminishing returns this early on in the game? We did finish the distance of our quickie run 4 minutes early yesterday though, so I am not certain that Jeff Galloway's estimate of knocking a mere 13 minutes off a half by doing that is correct. But then, we all know how much harder those LAST three miles are!

 

[MouseDogMom]

John - August long runs are miserable. End of story. I'm already questioning why I signed up for a fall marathon again. Oh yeah, cause I'm a group leader and I have to do the runs anyway? We have a new Galloway member who's from Houston - I haven't gotten the full story, but apparently must work both places.

Debra - Sure would be cool if you could be there in early October. We'd love to DATW with you and DOOD! Annie is super excited about this trip, since she did most of the planning. I still have to call and book the Wild Africa Trek, but she made all of the other arrangements. Hope things get settled for DOOD soon!

Maria - Belated Happy Birthday! Saw it on FB, and got busy and forgot to comment.

Jen117 - We just committed to 2014. Since we're going in October, we can't justify a January 2013 trip. Plus, we're going back to Jacksonville for the 26.2 with Donna again in February. But we have a whole group of friends here who want to go Goofy in 2014...

Julie - An EASY way to start speedwork is to add fartleks into weekday runs. Just pick a point a short distance ahead, and increase your speed until you reach it. It's fun and simple, and doesn't require any thinking! We do track workouts once a week now, and that has made a HUGE difference, but it's hard work, and I couldn't do it alone. It only works for me because there's a group of us that does it together.

AquaDame - I love the Pints to Pasta race - sounds like so much fun! And simply changing the interval doesn't always decrease the time significantly. Sometimes I find I run faster times with shorter intervals, because I run faster during the run segment since it feels easier. You kinda have to play around with it and see what works for you. I did my marathon PR this year with 1/1 intervals, but my half PR I got with 2/1's.

I got a little crazy and signed up for 2 half marathons 3 weeks apart. The first one was tough, but the second one I was pacing a friend to her PR, which was easy for me. Two more in the books, one to go next month. Then nothing on the books until Richmond (again) in November. I have a new super secret goal for the half next month, but I won't be terribly disappointed if I don't get it. It's only bragging rights that's at stake!

Jackie

 

[FFigawi]

Jackie's got the best advice for starting with speedwork. Just decide to sprint to the second telephone pole or mailbox down the road in the middle of your run. It's as simple as that. Do that three or four times during your normal weekday run, and you'll see a difference pretty quickly. Another thing you can do is run some of your weekday runs faster than your race pace. If you only run one speed for all the miles during all your runs, you won't get any faster. Next time you're out for a weekday run, decide that you're going to run the next 5 minutes or 10 minutes or whatever time/distance you choose at a pace 10 seconds/mile faster than you're currently running, and do it. It'll be tough and make it hard to breathe at first, but over time, you'll find yourself able to keep that pace up for longer intervals each time.

And yes, Julie & Jackie are right that August long runs are miserable no matter where you are. Whether it's 85 (Houston last year) or 95 degrees (Doha this year), I'll end up hot, sweaty, and stinky in any case.

 

[laughinplace199]

John & Jackie, thanks for the advice on speedwork. I'm hoping to see an improvement soon.

 

[Rose&Mike]

Hello!

Things are going well here. Knock on wood. I am happy to say that I am managing to keep all the injuries in check for now. I started running in Newton's at the beginning of June and I am really liking them. Well, at first I hated them and couldn't believe I spent that much money on something I disliked so much. But we are back up to 8 mile training runs with no new aches and pains. So that is a good thing. We are running a 10k on July 4th so that will be a good test.

Debra--I vote for Oct 17-22nd. C'mon. We are going to have lots of fun.

Aquadame--I feel your pain on the airfare. It has gotten quite silly. I haven't purchased plane tickets yet for w&d. I am still hoping that since gas prices are coming down that maybe airfare will at least stabilize a little.

We are signed up for W&D and the Full in January. The weather really needs to behave. We are staying at BWV in January, so at least I know food won't be an issue for me, so I think I will handle things better than Princess even if the weather isn't great. The food fiasco at Kidani after being cold and wet at the end of Princess (and tired--I woke up at 1:30am), along with the itbs flare-up was just the perfect storm of ugliness. I was so not a happy camper.

I will go on record as saying this is probably one and done for a full for me.

Anybody going to be at WDW in August? I know Maria will be there. Mike has a conference and we are going to turn it into a mini-vacation. We will be there Aug 26-Sept 2.

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

[tiberius]

OK, I know it has been a while but I'm feeling a bit rested and back for a post.....

Rose - One and done for you? Sounds good, let me know how that goes for you. I've stopped saying such things.

John - Just to be clear those 85 degree summer Houston runs must have been in early morning or late evening, my afternoon run this week was a 99 degrees. At least I am getting my heat acclimation work done.

Jackie - I think 3 weeks apart is a good spread between half marathons. You're still trained and have enough time to recover. You essentially get 2 races in for 1 training cycle.

Julie - Thanks for asking about my plans! I have a sprint tri this weekend. This is the 4th year I will have done this race and is probably a good measure of improvement over these last 4 years. My extended plans include at least one more sprint triathlon this summer, possibly an Olympic distance triathlon, and finishing out the year with a PR effort at a marathon--hopefully the MCM, but my work schedule is looking tricky about working that in right now.

Maria - Welcome home! I've had some life taking over issues keeping me out of here as well.

Debra - You have been sorely missed, my friend! Thanks for the belated good wishes. Maybe I can just apply them to the next race, or the next Ironman if they were race-specific.

 

[FFigawi]

John - Just to be clear those 85 degree summer Houston runs must have been in early morning or late evening, my afternoon run this week was a 99 degrees. At least I am getting my heat acclimation work done.

Yup, that was the temperature when we started our 6am runs. 99 doesn't sound too much fun to me, especially given the humidity in Houston. We're still safe from that here for another few weeks. I hope your heat acclimation is going better than mine. Lost 4 pounds during my run this morning, and I was only out there for 90 minutes. Bleh.

 

[deekaypee]

Happy post-4th of July, cousins!

I'm internet-free with weekend - or rather, the internet in my house isn't working. As if i need ANOTHER excuse to go to a coffee sop and not do work.

Today is the first long run of Galloway's training programs for WDW Marathon Weekend, Mickey & Goofy. So I figured it was as good a time as any to return to regular posting. Not that I've signed up for a race or anything. Decisions, decisions.

So I'm calling out everyone, asking how the cousins are doing? How was your various Independence Day celebrations - we did nothing. And it was glorious.

Rose & Jackie: We're doing the Tower of Terror 10 miler, so I don't think our stay will extend into mid-October. Well...DOOD's definitely won't. We were just looking at Southwest flights, and they've cut down nonstop flights considerably.

Maria: How has your summer been! I miss "seeing" you!

Rose: I'm still having problems with the heat/humidity and headaches. I've taken my long runs (which are still short) indoors, which has helped a little - but not enough. I get them walking to the grocery store. I hope you're faring better...and maybe have found a solution? As for your first and only full....I think I've heard that before from others. (*cough, cough* Jackie)

Jen: The only races DOOD and I have been talking about are Mickey and Goofy, so I'm definitely planning on being on the full course. How is your training going?

Beth: How is the training for Chicago going? I keep looking at the temps and thinking of you!

Julie: How are the fartleks going? Any news about January?

AquaDame: I always look at Galloways interval estimates and laugh. He has no idea how my little legs love to slooooowwwwly walk. Jackie's definitely got the experience with Galloway, though, and so I keep working on it. (Or as she would say, playing with it.) I think it's cool that you are playing with intervals and have those fun-sounding races as motivation!

Jackie: Oooh, you know how I love super secret goals. You are a racing machine! As far as I'm concerned, you already have bragging rights!

John: You're another one I've thought of in this heat. Yowsa.

Richard: Congrats on yet another sprint tri! You da man! Every time I look at your FB page - it's filled with heart-healthy activity!

AFM: I did 6 miles for this weekend - on the TM. I managed my shorter, mid-week runs outside, but decided to take it inside today. Increasing temps/humidity, etc. It was a good decision for both me and DOOD. Now we're enjoying central air in the coffee shop while our poor cats are stuck at home, where our window air units do nothing but keep the house in the 70-80s. (Bad pet owners...)

On the good news front. DOOD received tenure at his university, and received an official offer for the "permanent" honors director position. With the uni's situation the way it is - the job offer doesn't come with much in the way of perks. (As in, "no money" for raise for DOOD doing a 12-month appointment instead of a 9-month one. Or a longer than one-year contract. Or less teaching than he has been doing.) But he likes the job, so...

And I don't know if I've mentioned this here - probably not. Thanks to all of you who advised me to join My Fitness Pal. Now that I'm back to tracking my nutrition, not only have a shed a few much-needed pounds, but I'm back on track to actually eating to fuel my workouts. It's been a long time since I've had rather constant energy levels (without caffeine).

So thank you all! It's not only been wonderful to see the progress you all have been making on your fitness and nutrition journeys, but you've provided the support to help me get back on the right path for myself!

 

[MouseDogMom]

Rose - I'm with Debra. "One and done" almost NEVER happens! Sometimes as early as the morning after... and yes, WDW 2009 was my one and done. Since then I've done 5 fulls and have 3 on the calendar.

Richard - All of our midweek runs are done in mid-90's. Or the past couple of weeks, upper 90's. And our last 3 long runs have finished near 90. I should be prepared for anything. Except that I bring freakishly cold weather to any race I sign up for... And what is this "training" for half distances you speak of? We don't train for 13.1 anymore. We just run every weekend and assume that the base is there!

Julie - Are you fast yet?

Debra - The bragging rights are with our Galloway group leader. I'm only 2 minutes behind his PR, and basically threw down the gauntlet a few weeks ago and told him I'd beat it next weekend. Maybe not the brightest move I've ever made, but it would be a sweet victory if I could do it!
And I think you should just stay over after ToT. I mean, if you're already there...

I'm pretty sure I said we WEREN'T coming in January, didn't I? Bill is now obsessed with getting that 20th anniversary medal. So I've been sitting here this afternoon trying to price a down and back, no park trip to do the marathon. Never mind that we're going to WDW in October, Jacksonville in February, Indianapolis in May, and PARIS in April! And running marathons in January and February...

And most likely, running the Paris marathon. I mean, if we're there...

Think maybe I should take the rest of 2013 off?

Jackie

 

[laughinplace199]

Debra - Good idea with running inside with the heat and humidity. I also get heat/humidity headaches, so exercising indoors is smart in this weather. Also, congrats to DOOD on receiving tenure.

Jackie - Am I fast yet? You crack me up! I've been doing fartleks, but have no idea how often I should do them. I also don't own a watch, so I have no idea of how speedy (or not, which is more likely) I am. I do remember you saying that you wouldn't be running at WDW in January, but I'm with Bill - I think the medal will be cool.

We haven't decided about January yet, but I think we're going to sit down tonight and figure things out (finances and childcare), so we'll see. I noticed that for DVC rooms, only SSR is available right now, so I feel that we need to act soon or we won't have a "free" room.

 

[tiberius]

Julie - Don't worry about fartleks without a watch, just go faster and slower at points and you'll be fine.

Jackie - I do know exactly what you mean there about training for 13.1 distances. I don't know when it happened that I could just expect to be able to automatically be able to go out and do a half marathon on a whim, but it did.

Debra - You always say the nicest things!!! Don't worry, I won't share that beyond these posts so you can keep your tough reputation. As you said I'm coming off my best sprint tri finish ever, 4th place in my age gro up and knocked my time down from 1:18:08 to 1:03:54 in 2 years at this event.

John - Last summer we had one day with a high temperature below 85 degrees between the months of June - September (or something close to that) today should be the 5th day this week that is true.

AFM - I have another sprint tri this coming weekend, if the rain ever stops. This tri has a cross-country run. Not being the fastest runner out there, this could possibly work to my advantage. In other news Ironman Texas 2013 registration opened yesterday at noon, my registration confirmation arrived 12 minutes later. However, that will take me out of Goofy and a few other things next year as I want to commit the spring to a best case IMTX finish. Also, we're considering a Disney cruise out of Galveston (Magic), anyone have any suggestions or input. I've never cruised before and the only large ships I've been on were in the U.S. Navy so I am out of my element planning a trip like that. The best thing is that I will have almost no travel cost beyond driving down I-45 for about 70-80 minutes.

 

[FFigawi]

John - Last summer we had one day with a high temperature below 85 degrees between the months of June - September (or something close to that) today should be the 5th day this week that is true.

Bite me!

 

[AquaDame]

As you said I'm coming off my best sprint tri finish ever, 4th place in my age gro up and knocked my time down from 1:18:08 to 1:03:54 in 2 years at this event.

Also, we're considering a Disney cruise out of Galveston (Magic), anyone have any suggestions or input. I've never cruised before and the only large ships I've been on were in the U.S. Navy so I am out of my element planning a trip like that. The best thing is that I will have almost no travel cost beyond driving down I-45 for about 70-80 minutes.

Wow you are fast! I hope to keep getting faster and faster, but I definitely should have been training more between January and now for the W+D... I almost feel like I am starting over, and don't think I will be able to speed up that much.

I haven't been on any of the smaller ships yet and won't until we cruise to Alaska in 2013... I do know that my first cruise on the Dream last year was so good that we have two more planned! I don't know anything about Galveston, but I do know that over in the cruise forum a lot of people say they wouldn't consider it because it doesn't stop at Castaway Cay, which seems a little silly to me. Its a hard island to stop at since currents and winds make it impossible sometimes, so if I had a ship that close to me I wouldn't hesitate to jump on it!

 

[laughinplace199]

I'm coming off my best sprint tri finish ever, 4th place in my age gro up and knocked my time down from 1:18:08 to 1:03:54 in 2 years at this event.

Congrats, Richard!

 

[laughinplace199]

Debra - I saw on FB that you're going Goofy!

Jackie - Have you made a decision on January?

Richard - As usual, your plans are impressive, but I'm sorry that takes Goofy off the table for you.

Rob & I just registered for the full! I'm really excited, but a bit fearful that plantar fasciitis will get in my way again. Fingers crossed that PF is gone for good.

Who else will be at WDW this January?

 

[FFigawi]

Who else will be at WDW this January?

<--- raises hand

We'll probably fly in from Doha on Wednesday, spend Thursday at Universal after picking up our race packets, and then head to the Mouse House that night. Still haven't decided on Dopey yet, but am in for Goofy, followed by Drinking Around the World at Epcot on Monday.

 

[laughinplace199]

<--- raises hand

We'll probably fly in from Doha on Wednesday, spend Thursday at Universal after picking up our race packets, and then head to the Mouse House that night. Still haven't decided on Dopey yet, but am in for Goofy, followed by Drinking Around the World at Epcot on Monday.

Awesome! It would be great to meet you in person!

We're flying in Friday morning and leaving Monday afternoon. Drinking around the world at Epcot sounds like fun.