~The BOT Battalion~ BOTS On The Run

[Cindylou]

Good Morning Bots,

Lou: I hear you about the dreary weather. It wasn't so bad running in the rain on Monday because it was warm, yesterday was just so cold and damp. Ugh. We're supposed to get a break from rain this afternoon, so I'm hoping to get out then. Congrats on your super speedy time at the Broad Street Run. Judging from you splits you ran a really smart race. With a pace like that I would think you could take quite a bit of time off your marathon PR. I think dropping a few lbs should help a lot. Good luck with that. I'm glad you drummed up a little business with your race attire. Glad the shoes worked out well. Did you notice more wear and tear on your legs given the shoes had less to them? When will you find out about NYC lottery?

Howard: I'm glad your foot is making progress. Maybe you can use this time for stretching or as Jodi mentioned core work. I'm sure it's very frustrating. Keep up the patience. I checked out the link to your FB pictures. You really haven't changed much in 20 yrs. Great pictures.

Jodi: You deserve a few days off after such a great race. Congrats on your age group award. Sorry the prize wasn't something you could use. Have a safe trip to DC.

Chester: I enjoyed your race report. I'm sorry your time wasn't what you wanted, but you finished a tough race on a tough day. I cannot believe you will be doing back to back marathons in December. Rest up now, you'll need it.

Sara: Have a fun trip to NYC. Someone told me it's better to be undertrained than over trained going into a race. Let's hope that works for you.

Dave: Glad the back is feeling better. Good luck with MB.

Cindy: Congrats on your sub-2. You may want to stick with the pre-race BBQ and beer if it worked so well for you this time. What is your plan for your race this weekend, will you try to PR? Do you know what the course is like?

Jen: Congrats to you too on your sub-2 hr race. Hope your Garmin and phone have recovered.

Mike: I hope you are enjoying some rest after your race last weekend. My next attempt at BQ will be in October at the Baystate Marathon in Lowell, MA. It's 2 loops and a very flat course. It's close to home too and I've run it before which should help.

I noticed that my training plan for my October marathon starts next week. I'm using Brain Training by Matt Fitzgerald. I've used it before and I like it. In the past I've only done the parts of the plan that I like, skipping all the strength training and proprioceptive exercises. I'm hoping to do a few of them this time around. In addition to the fall marathon I have several shorter races this spring and early summer as well as a sprint triathlon I've signed up for in July. I'm hoping to mesh my tri training in with the marathon training without over doing it too much. I'm not much of a swimmer, so I'm going to concentrate on that a bit. Hopefully all the extra cross training will help with the marathon. We'll see.

Have a great day everyone.
Cindy

 

[msblrobs]

Mike - This whole FB thing is a test to see how you hold up to peer pressure. Next thing you know we'll all be smoking at the Balt Marathon and pressuring you to smoke.

Matt - Sorry, but your better half is correct However, I have since changed hotels (about a dozen times) and am somewhere in Old Town. The headliner concert is a huge disappointment - English Beat?! I am sure to have questions soon and thank you so much for the offer of info We'll have to catch up over on FB

Chester - Loved the race reportThe best part is we all completely understand your issues and are behind your insanity 100% Thanks for checking in since we missed you too!

Howard - Enjoying your bride being back?

Jodi - Assuming you're spreading much love and are a true ray of light to those lovely children today. Have a great time

Colleen - Hope yoga's treating you well and the allergies aren't running rampant through your household. How did Lauren do on her test?

Cindylou - thanks for the encouragement. Your tri sounds great and the reason I hesitate on the tri's is due to the swim as well. Best of luck with the swimming and I'm sure all of the cross training will help tremendously with your marathoning.

Dave - How are you feeling?! Too psyched for the Muddy Buddy? My thoughts will be with you and Chester this weekend

I ran a bit this morning and hope to do so again tonight. Really not thinking about the race at all so I'm sure it's bound to hit me hard come 5/31? I am anticipating having an awesome time no matter what the day brings Have a great week guys!

 

[StitchAttack]

Sara

Old town is a fun place. You should eat at the Old Town Mexican Cafe while you are there. Cindy has pictures of us eating there after the marathon last year on facebook. You also aren't too far from Little Italy. You could pick any restaurant there for pre-race carbo loading and be ensured of a good meal.

 

[rKyDeX]

Chester - LOVED the race report! Welcome back.

Cindy
Thanks for the welcome back. The race report was kind of short and I left out a lot - like the Expo, the W.I.S.H. meet and watching the finishers that came in behind me and had a lot tougher time than I did.

YAY!!! Chester's not dead!

Jodi
I'm alive, kicking and ready to sling some mud Saturday.

Thanks for checking in Chester! See you Saturday in the mud pit.

Dave
I'm really looking forward to it. If you and your partner are really fast, me may be hitting the mud pit about the same time.

Howard
I've got a restaurant in Treasure Island lined up for the 14th. It's just up the road from St. Pete Beach.

Chester - I really enjoyed your race report...I feel like that during every marathon...swearing I'll never do another . Except for Philly, oddly enough.

Jodi
I'm hoping that I can just change my thinking and finally run a race the way I plan instead of taking off fast. The good thing is that I got through training and the race without injury - except for blackening toe nails. I think it was due to the amount downhills causing my feet to push forward in my shoes.

Chester - Welcome back. (Note to self...never eat pretzels in a marathon without having some water).

Lou
It's funny, but not really, how my mind drifts off during races and I don't thik of the consequences of my actions.

Chester: I enjoyed your race report. I'm sorry your time wasn't what you wanted, but you finished a tough race on a tough day. I cannot believe you will be doing back to back marathons in December. Rest up now, you'll need it.

Cindylou
For the time being I am just going to do repeats of the first 4 weeks of the Hal Higdon Intermediate Plan. I'm going to try and get some swimming practice in also so I can do a couple sprint tris this summer. My marathon training will resume in August for the Winter Marathons.

Chester - Loved the race reportThe best part is we all completely understand your issues and are behind your insanity 100% Thanks for checking in since we missed you too!

Sara
That's why I really like this little group. We've all done a similar amount of races and are still learning. Good luck with your last couple of training weeks for San Diego.


5 easy miles scheduled tonight, then 3 tempo tomorrow. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to do the Picnic Island Adventure race Friday Night before heading to Orlando for Muddy Buddy. It's a series of 3 races during the summer and I had a great time doing them last year.

Happy trails,

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Neanderthal Marathon Team

 

[KeenHo]

Howard I've got a restaurant in Treasure Island lined up for the 14th. It's just up the road from St. Pete Beach.

Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Neanderthal Marathon Team

Chester~ That sounds wonderful! I am pretty low maintenance. Thanks for setting somethign up for us. I look forward to seeing you (and possibly Tracy) down there for dinner.

Hi to all of my Bottish friends!




Howard

PS. No change on the foot, 2 more weeks to go to see the doc. It feels pretty good today.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Jodi – I hope you are having a good time! Sorry that the weather kind of sucks.

Chester – Good luck in your race (or races) this weekend!

Dave – I’m definitely more than a little jealous. I was watching the Disney Cruise Line Special on the Travel Channel last night and it made me really want to go on a cruise. I hope you have a great time. Good luck in the Muddy Buddy.

Sara – we never made it to the post race concert last year because I could barely walk (seriously – that was by far the worst shape I’ve ever been in after a race) and it was Pat Benatar so I really wanted to go. I see that this year they’ve moved the concert to the finish festival, which I think is a good thing. Last year it was Sunday night at Qualcomm stadium.

Have a great time in NYC!

Debra, you should definitely do Baltimore!

Um, so should you!

If you, or anyone, can make recommendations for cardio without the use of one of the feet, let me know. I need some ideas. Thanks!

All I can think of is some sort of a hand-cycle type thing.

What is your plan for your race this weekend, will you try to PR? Do you know what the course is like?

I am just crazy enough that I am probably going to try to PR (assuming the heat and humidity aren't too terrible race morning). My PR is only 1:58:10, so it's really not that much faster than I ran this past weekend, but at that pace for me, 10 seconds per mile is a huge difference. So, this could go rather poorly - stay tuned!

I do know the course pretty well. This is an inaugural race, but part of the course is part of the Marine Corps Marathon Course and I've also run a different part of the course in a 10K 2 years ago. I've also driven these roads many, many times but, as you know, you see the road much differently when you run it. There is a pretty steep downhill for the 1st 1.5 miles which may help me pick up some time (and beat up my quads!).

Hi to Lou, Mike, Kathy, Cam, Debra, Jen

 

[StitchAttack]

Howard

The best cardio exercise would probably be water running, but you would have to belong to a pool and buy a flotation vest. Any chance you can row using a rowing machine? That is supposed to be pretty good cardio.

I guess if I were you, though, I'd lift weights and work on core strength while you can't run. I always mean to improve my core strength and upper body strength, because I think it would help me with running, but I never can find the time.

 

[KeenHo]

Matt~ Thanks for the advice. This aircast is pretty intrusive (as it was probably designed to be ). I lack the motivation to dress in gym appropriate clothes (with said accessory) and lift. I don't think I could use a rowing machine with the aircast on either, your foot needs to hook in the stirrup thing. The YMCA we belong to does have two pools, one for lap swimming and one for other - classes, team sports, etc. I can check into the availability of the pool for water running. However, purchasing a water vest for what I hope to be a couple of weeks, may not be a good move. I have a feeling it will go unused for a long time afterwards. So, reviewing--I am full of excuses. I think some of Jodi's dedication rubbed off on me.

I am going to think deeply about your recommendations and other suggestions and dig deeper to find the motivation. Thanks again!

Howard

 

[jbucci]

Just wanted to wish the muddy Bots good luck this weekend-- have fun Chester and Dave

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on the thread!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Jodi - are you back yet?

Getting ready for the half this morning. Not really feeling great - don't think I'll try to PR it.

 

[Cindylou]

Cindy: Good luck with your race today. Hope you're feeling better.

Cindy

 

[Jodi]

Happy Mother's Day to all you Muthas out there!

What happened to all the of posting while I was away? I come back, thinking I'm going to have to read through mega-pages & there's nothing .

I'm back from DC, no worse for the wear...not sure about those surrounded by me, though ...Did I mention that my son's school is a very small school, celebrating Christian values, with only 8 kids in the entire 7th & 8th grade classes combined?...I know. Now imagine me with the teacher & 4 other parents , all very like-minded. Remeber the Sesame Street song?
One of these things is not like the other...one of these is not quite the same.
Actually, I wasn't that bad & don't think I embarassed Spencer too much. Cindy, what's UP with the weather in DC? You guys suck! How was your race?
I'll catch up tomorrow with the rest of you BOTS. G'night.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Quick race report.

Definitely not my day. This was my 9th half and I beat my slowest time ever by only about 40 seconds. Oh well. I'm actually pretty sore today.

 

[msblrobs]

I'm back from DC, no worse for the wear...not sure about those surrounded by me, though ...Did I mention that my son's school is a very small school, celebrating Christian values, with only 8 kids in the entire 7th & 8th grade classes combined?...I know. Now imagine me with the teacher & 4 other parents , all very like-minded. Remeber the Sesame Street song?
One of these things is not like the other...one of these is not quite the same.
Actually, I wasn't that bad & don't think I embarassed Spencer too much. Cindy, what's UP with the weather in DC? You guys suck! How was your race?
I'll catch up tomorrow with the rest of you BOTS. G'night.

Glad you're back and your trip was wonderful. Too cool about Spencer's school. Hoping your Mother's Day was awesome

Our trip to NYC was simply splendid and the DD's didn't even fight (Mike can relate, I'm sure) which was the best Mother's Day present of all. The Little Mermaid was great and the family were real troopers about hauling butt to the train station after the play. Jodi would have been proud We didn't get home until after 10 and I'm trying to play catch up while being pooped so I'll be back to post when I canHoping all of the Mom BOTS had a great day yesterday

 

[KeenHo]

Belated Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mom's out there - you know who you are (Sara, Jen, Colleen, Jodi, etc.).

Cindy~ Looking forward to your race report. Don't worry about the time, you did it.

Dave~ I hope you are having a great time on the high seas!

No news on my foot condition. I am still wearing the air-cast and counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds until this thing is off of me. One more week beginning tomorrow. At least I hope so.

I fly out of Philly today at 3:40 PM into Tampa and will be down in St. Pete Beach, FL through Saturday AM. I am having dinner on Thursday with Chester and (hopefully) Tracy.

I'll arrive home Saturday to find several WISHers staying there (Judy, Charlie, Craig and Martha) and Pat and Anne visiting to run the Delaware Half. The fore mentioned group is running the Delaware Marathon Relay. Cam is also running the Half. I'll be cheering from the sidelines.

Have a great week! I'll be checking in from the road.



Howard

 

[StitchAttack]

Hello Bots!

Week 2 of my 24 week Baltimore marathon training schedule is in the books. This last week I ran:

Tuesday: 8 miles
Wednesday: 4 miles
Friday: 9 miles
Sunday: Pacer's Half Marathon (13.1 miles)

I didn't do too poorly in the half this weekend (finished in 1:49:21) , but I could definitely feel the effects of running a pretty fast half the week before and of running 9 miles on Friday. The 1:49 was about 3 minutes slower than my time from last week, but the course this week was a lot harder with tons of big hills, higher temps and a fierce wind that blew right in our faces the last 3 miles or so. I actually had to take off my hat, because the wind was threatening to blow it off. Finishing a half marathon uphill and into the wind is not recommended.

During the really hilly parts I was alternately telling myself "this is good training for the hilly course in Baltimore" and "I should skip Baltimore and do a flat marathon". After the finish Cindy and I walked into Georgetown and had amazingly good crepes and then ate lunch and drank beer on the water front. That is what I love most about running. The feeling that you can eat and drink as much as you want after a race.

I actually don't feel too bad today, but I think that is because I'm getting used to being sore all the time again, not because I'm not hurting.

 

[KeenHo]

Well now... where is everyone? I know where I am.

 

[lourodrigis]

Hey everyone!

Not much on the running front to report. Business, allergies, and family functions have taken over for now. Trying to figure out what race to train for. I'll probably look at signing up for some races this weekend. Thinking of running my first 5K sometime soon just to see how that feels.

Jodi - Loved your Mothers Day greeting. Reminded me of a time when I was in high school and on South St in Philadelphia on Mothers Day. Two women got into this big argument and as one of them shouted out as she walked away ..."Happy Mothers Day you MUTHA!" It has stuck in my head ever since.

Lou

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone - I'm back from my very impromptu cruise. Booked it on Thursday and left on Sunday. We had a great time, and the Muddy Buddy was a blast. I caught up with Chester after the race and saw Tracey too. I might have to make the Muddy Buddy an annual event.

 

[Jodi]

OK, let me contribute to this oh, so, pathetically dormant thread....

DAVE - Welcome Back, Dude! I am SO thrilled that you were able to pull that cruise off, dude. Good for you. So tell me, are you addicted or what? DCL does SUCH an amazing job. Congrats on the Muddy Buddy!!! Details, details....

Howie - AKA, Gimpy. How are you, bud? How are you making out, being out of town & air-casting?? Have you had dinner with Chester & Tracy yet? How're you feelin'?

Chester - OK spill it...how hard did you laugh on the inside when you saw Howard's aircast ? Hey, are you doing Expedition Everest this year? Have you done Tower of Terror? Just trying to see if doing one of these is feasible for me this year. RU not coming to Baltimore??????

Sara - Hey Wench!! I've lost track of your schedule...when is SD, soon, right?? How excited ARE you? That sounds like such a great trip!

Mike - Everything OK? Where ARE you??? They miss you....me? Hmmph.

Cindy - Hey, another 1/2 under your belt...nice job! Have you been running since??? What's up next?

Matt - So you're doing the full in Baltimore?????

Jen - What's up next for you & Butch? Gone to any meetings smelling ripe lately?

CindyLou2 - What's up next pour vous??? How 'bout coming down & doing the Iron Horse 1/2 in CT on the 31st??

Louis - Hey man, how come you haven't signed up for Baltimore? Even if you get into NYC, you could do the BLT. 1/2, that's what I'm doing? When do the lottery results come out?

Colleen - That looks like one kick a$$ party you threw for Lauren!! Um, if you signed up for a NYC RACE you could make a long weekend of it & take her to the REAL American Girl Store on 5th Ave.!! Any running lately??

So I've decided to suck it up, take the skirt off (figuratively speaking) & get my butt out of bed in the early a.m. for running. 4, 5, & 3 speed the last 3 a.m.'s. Hey, all those people are donating to my charity page, man. I can't let them down. Yes, Cindy, I WILL be doing speedwork

Trip to DC was...interesting . My son's teacher is a freak!!! But he's learned SO much @ this little school that I can't complain. He's off to public high school next year .......poor thing!

What else is going on in my life?? Hmmm.......okay....that didn't take long.