Week of Aug 14 - 2006 Half-Full Marathon Info/Training Thread

[princessmomma]

Happy Birthday Bree and Jodi!!

I have a race etiquette question. So you are talking to someone who has ran a half or full marathon. Is it acceptable or proper to ask his/her time? Do runners like to share race stories? I don't want to offend people by asking but it seems like everyone freely asks me what my time was for my half marathon I ran last month. I don't mind sharing at all, I actually appreciate their interest.

The reason I ask is because my husband is a big golfer and I have observed that asking about handicaps or scores is kind of taboo.

Colleen

 

[MelRhoads]

Chirsta - Doing a tri might be cool, but...... Do you know what they had us write on our right calf? I'm going to tell you about all of the numbers and leave that one for last just for the suspense. OK... We had to write our number on both arms and both thighs. Then we had to put a number on the bike helmet and on the bike top tube. Then we had to wear the running number for the running portion. I did the tri in june and i actually still remember my number. Finally the right calf. OUR AGE. UGGGGHHHHH. NOT COOL. In fact the tri was just a few days after my 35 b-day. Let me just say I am not a big fan of the number writing thing.

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Good morning! Finally Friday!! Although no sleeping in for me tomorrow, I'm doing my first 5K. If you think about it, send me some tomorrow at 9 am.

I did 50 minutes last night, I walked 3.56 miles and I think I was doing 14:05 miles. That's a little slower than what I've been doing recently, but it was really hot when I was walking, I think that had something to do with it. Plus I had just gotten home from work and I hadn't eaten since lunch, my stomach was growling and I kept smelling people grilling out. Not good! I had to laugh at myself, there was a couple out for a walk, just strolling along, not being crazy like us. They were about a block ahead of me and I kept getting closer and closer and closer. I have to be honest, it was kind of a thrill to pass them and then they never caught back up. Stupid I know, but it made me feel like a speed demon!

Happy Belated Birthday Bree and Jodi!!!!!! I hope you both had great birthdays.

Mel--Are you ready for some football?? It felt so good to sit down and watch the Saints-Patriots play. Steelers play the Dolphins tomorrow, but it's not being televised (at least in Cincinnati), so I'll miss that game. We have NFL Sunday Ticket, so there aren't any games Stephen and I miss, only pre season. NFL Sunday Ticket and TiVo are the BEST inventions ever!

Liz--Good luck in your career decision. I must say working on Starbucks would be pretty nifty. If I worked there, I'd be on a caffeine buzz the entire time I was there.

Jodi, Helen, Sunny, Christa, and everyone else--thanks for the ab/back help. I haven't started anything yet. I have a pilates DVD, maybe I just do that for a little bit and see what happens. Hopefully I can show you guys my six pack in January!

Cam--Have fun in the World. Stephen and I will be there in 64 days celebrating our 5th anniversary.

Well, I'm at work, so I better do something, huh? Good luck to everyone running/woggin/walking/cross training/and lifting today. Be careful!! Happy training!

Krista

 

[wtpclc]

Krista - Good luck tomorrow.

It was SOO humid yesterday adn I felt awful to start. So, dh asked me in the first 5 minutes if I wanted to cut it short. Next week we officially start training for the full. I asked him what the schedule was for next week's runs: 30min-30min and 4 miles. Well tehn, we don't have to do 50 tonight. We did 50 Tuesday and are doing 4 Saturday. We cut it to 30 and I had nothing left. SO, I think it wa a good decision, even though I whimped out.

MelR - Yikes! That's not nice! I think they woudl have had me in tears if it was around my 30th. That one hit me hard. I don't hit 35 until nexy year. It fdoesn't sound like a bad age to me at all, though. ;-)

Collen - It's perfect for to ask around here, but I have no idea about the outside world. All questions are in bounds here.

For all you pro football fans - Want to give me the odds of the Lions making the "Drive to Detroit"? They are nice to nap to on a Sunday afternoon, but I'll put my heart in with my boys in blue on Saturdays.

I apologize to those I missed. We're getting SOO big! Thanks for sharing teh stories everyone?

Anyone heard from Craig? Did he get kidnapped by irate students? Do we have to send out the Dog Catcher??

 

[TXBelle]

Good morning everyone! I have been so busy at work that I have had way too many rest days. Tomorrow I plan to get up early and run/walk 4 miles. I don't really have the time to exercise right now, but I am one cranky monkey when I don't get my workouts in. If I get a spare minute this weekend, I am going to try to come up with a better plan. Unfortunately, that might mean getting up at 4:30 am instead of 5 to get in the longer workouts before work. Ugh! Plus they started spinning classes at the gym, and I would like to try at least one of those, but they are all during lunch time. Okay, now my head is spinning. I think I will stop thinking about all of this right now.

I signed up for my next 5K. It is sponsored by the Airport Authority and will actually be held on one of the runways at Bush Intercontinental Airport. It should be really cool. I just hope they remember to shut down the runway during the run or else I will definitely have a PR trying to outrun the planes!

Krista- Good luck with the 5K tomorrow. Sending lots of PD your way.

 

[Jodi]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for the birthday wishes ! Bree, I hope you had as good a day as I did.

Krista - Good luck tomorrow, you'll have a great time!

Cam - Have an awesome trip, go on the s of the Caribbean for me!!

TXBelle - I know, it's tough fitting in the early a.m. runs/workouts. I get up @ 5 a.m. as well, 4:30 would be heinous. But given the choice, I'd still go in the a.m., this way, once you get to work & start to stress, at least your training's already out of the way, right?

Lizdotcom - Ugh, tough choices, huh? Whichever job will give you less stress & more happiness is the one to go for. I was a full-time paramedic for 10 years in a shnasty city here in CT when I flat out quit. My son was entering Kindergarten & I knew I had to be "around" more (single mom). Up until he was 5 he was in daycare up to 4 days a week. I'd drop him off @ 7 & wouldn't get him until almost 5:30 sometimes! My job was stressing me out big! time. Trying to get out on time, etc... One day I'd had it, I quit & got a retail job where I only worked 9-3. mon-fri & weekends when DS was with DX. I took a humongous pay cut & pretty much ended my "career" (if you could call it that). I know this isn't the exact situation you are in, but the $loss & not enjoying your job thing is the same. I can tell you that today, 5 years later, it was the best thing I ever did. The lack of stress & no more feelings of nausea going to a job you hate, make up for the loss of $$ tenfold.

IMHO, do what's best for your health, right? As the old addage goes, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything."

Jodi

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I seemed to have missed a ton of birthdays here so,

Happy Unbirthday everyone!​

Oh and I want sunny's arms now as well as her map. I must do something about the whole coveting thing. Helen

Sigh, me too.

Kathy, Hope you have a complete and speedy recovery.

I am glad that we have so many of us posting. I am so sorry that I will not be responding to all of us individually. Time is not on my side these days.

It is exciting to hear how everyone is doing and the progress with 5ks.
It is exciting to hear that many of us are becoming more excited and yup, Me Too!

Liz, I'm in on that group hug. Hope you can figure out something. I totally know the situation of what is the right choice for you. No one can tell you and that doesn't make it at all comforting. Hope you can get in those walks and that you are better able to destress over it all as you work through this.

Yesterday was another bike ride to/from work. Whew! What a workout and how I never imagined that it would take such effort to go those miles. I feel so out of shape after all this running, working out, and such all year too. I can't imagine how I would have felt if I had not been doing what I am.

Oh, any of you young things feeling bad about putting your age on your bod...well wait til you are my age. You should be proud and wear it proudly! You are a healthy--whatever your age--and are doing more than many younger than you.
(That's what I keep telling my 55 y/o self, so there.)

And please,

Procrastinators sign up, sign up!
You will NOT be sorry!
:thewave: :thewave: :thewave:​

 

[MelanieC]

Hey everyone, its going to be time to start training soon. I know I've not been around at all and I'm going to try to be around a lot more. I need to get a move on now. I saw an orthopedic specialist about my foot/feet and he gave me the go ahead to start training. The tingling pain has completely went away so I should be good to go.

I'm really looking forward to the marathon this year. I now have 2 1/2's under my belt so I know that I can do it. It will be so much more fun doing the 1/2 knowing I CAN DO IT!

Looking forward to getting re-aqainted with most of you and to meet everyone I haven't seen before.

 

[lizdotcom99]

Thanks for the encouragement! After a night of some good sleep, I feel much better this morning! Still frustrated of course, but thnking a bit more clearly.

Argh, PMS and lifechanging matters are NEVER a good combo!

Now, about you procrastinators....maybe I am not the person to be saying this as MY registration has not yet been taken care of, BUT....IF MONEY IS NOT AN ISSUE.....you have NOTHING to lose with this. I say just do it! Pleasee fell free to use me as an example.....so far I have started 2 events and finished none! How is that for a track record? We have all been here and had our stuggles, our failure and our successes, our good days and our bad...but the one thing that stands true is we all come back here and tell it all. I know there are A LOT of Bingham fan's here, myself included....and it is so true....the miricle is not in finishing, it IS in having the courage to start! One thing that I keep thinking aobut and reliving over in my head, time and time again is thinking how surreal it felt, big, fat me...in corrals with a lot of people who were far more fit than I!!! I also had to chuckle at all the new shoes I saw....silly people! Anyway, I was there in the midst of somehting big. I did what I could to prepare myself for race day, sure I could have and should have trained better....but that may alsways be the case...but I was there. I followed through with my commitment....regardless if I finished, I was at the start. Off went the gun and off I went. I had doubts! Lots of them.....but as I walked not even the first mile, sadly I saw a handful of people walking back and never even making to mile one. Those people were by far much more fit than I and for whatever reason, they didn't make it. Sad, yep! It was very sad and disappointing I am sure...but just like me, they were at the start line. And for that they they did their own personal best. And whatever your own personal best is, I say go for it! You only fail when you fail to try!!! Will I be entering another half? You be ya! (Will Lily be there with me? She better be! Hint hint!) There is NOBODY that could have told me in January when I started training that I would REALLY do this. I would have never believed them. And you could have asked me on teh day of my first half if I would be doing another one...Lily can tell you my answer to that....and I WILL be doing another.

All I can say is jsut do your best! If that means you get up on race day and make it a mile...tehn good for you....that is a mile more than most who are still in bed sleeping! If you have come this far in the journey, you really can't turn back now. If you are slow, someone will be there with you....if you are scared, there are many sharing your feelings with that as well. If you feel inadequate, you could not be more wrong! If you are feeling fat, be proud that you may just be the fattest person out there but you are doing it ( I say this one from experience). There really is no reason you can't get out there and do what you can do. There really is no good reason not to start the race.

Now, as for the finish, you are going to finish where you will. It may not be right at the finish line....and that is OK.....you did what you could! Kudos to you! I am the motehr of invvention for the 9 mile 1/2 marathon, don't ya think? But when you do make it over the finish line....and you will....take pride in getting there....even if it took you a little longer than you thought, or a lot longer! When you get there, I hope that you too will have LOTS of people cheering you on as they did me...the feeling of that is unforgettable and replaying that in my mind is awesome.

The moral of this very long story is to go for it! You can do it! If I can make it 9 miles, anybody can do it!!! And ya never know... I just may be there too......if so, I will be at the very end of the pack, waddling along.....working on getting to the finish, being oh so proud that I made it to the start!

 

[chimera]

Had my appt for cross-training this am...twas very cool! I now have a 45 min circuit-weight routine to do every Friday! I asked for emphasis on arms, core and thigh adductor/abductor since I think that's what's not getting exercised when I W/R. Maybe someday I'll be as buff as Sunny!

MelC...great to see you back!

Heather... at the mental picture of you outrunning the plane! That's hardcore training

Krista...good luck on the 5K ! We have Bucs-Jags tomorrow night since we're in the Bucs' TV market.

Carrie...good point! We haven't discussed college football yet We're big Gator fans! I don't mind the Miami Hurricanes 'cause they usually beat FSU. And of course, we're big fans of any team playing against FSU! The SEC has become a much tougher conference since I was at UF.

Colleen...good question! I always feel a little embarrassed talking about my times and PRs with the big dogs.

Liz...you're an inspiration! What a great way to put it all into perspective! Your job situation is a little tougher. I went through this myself recently. Do what you love but if it's not a good situation, then can you find another company where you can do what you love? I'm winding up my last few days on my editorial job and can't wait to go back to being only a PA!

 

[wtpclc]

Carrie...good point! We haven't discussed college football yet We're big Gator fans! I don't mind the Miami Hurricanes 'cause they usually beat FSU. And of course, we're big fans of any team playing against FSU! The SEC has become a much tougher conference since I was at UF.

DId I mention taht my brother's 1st 2 kids have the initials SEC and ACC. The last one is IJC, but we just call him Big Ten!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Krista

Here's the PD you requested You'll do great!!!! I can't wait to hear your review.

Good luck to you, too, Heather! Runway running. Hmmm. that's a new one to me!

Mel-- I was born in the Colo. Rockies and lived the rest of my life in snowy country (New England) and I don't downhill ski, either. I figure why learn a sport I can't afford? I'm thinking of getting some cross country skis this winter, though. Last winter was non-stop snow. I'd rather write my age than my weight on my right calf

MelC-- Glad to see you back!

Well I didn't do speed work last night because I learned that Dx was on call this weekend which means I couldn't do my long run. So I took 2 hours of vaca this morning and cranked out 16 miles (2:43). The weather was gorgeous. My overall time (including stops) averaged 10:08. I had some "just at" 9:00 splits in there. I'm in love with my long run again (we have a love/hate relationship). I tried the parking in the middle this time. It worked out nice. The only tricky part was seeing my car on the horizon at 8 miles. I gazed longingly at my comfy car but the IC quickly barked "What are you looking at???? There's nothing over there for you. MOVE IT". Luckily, this took place inside my head so no unfortunate strangers were startled . Now I'm making plans to take DS hiking tomorrow. The trick is to plan a hike that doesn't require too much piggy backing the day after a long run!

Sunny

 

[MelRhoads]

Sunny - With all of the weight you have lost and new toned buff bod, it looks like you would love to write you weight on your calf! What does your Dx do? Is he an MD?

Did speed work yesterday and then a short bike ride pulling boy. I am so sore today. My thighs, rear and waist are sore. I cannot figure out what I did to make my waist sore!

I am hoping to get a long run in this weekend, but the main man is on call so i will have to steal away. I thinking about doing a 20mile ride pulling boy tomorrow. I'll really have to stock up the trailer with m&m's and suckers! The boy has it made doesn't he? Some goober always sees me pulling him and says, "It must be nice, can I have a ride?" That is when I just act like I am too out of breath to talk and I smile back!

 

[gatorphipps]

Chirsta - Doing a tri might be cool, but...... Do you know what they had us write on our right calf? I'm going to tell you about all of the numbers and leave that one for last just for the suspense. OK... We had to write our number on both arms and both thighs. Then we had to put a number on the bike helmet and on the bike top tube. Then we had to wear the running number for the running portion. I did the tri in june and i actually still remember my number. Finally the right calf. OUR AGE. UGGGGHHHHH. NOT COOL. In fact the tri was just a few days after my 35 b-day. Let me just say I am not a big fan of the number writing thing.

I guess age is better than weight! I had a girl tell me she had to put her weight on her right calf! Double UGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! What tri did you do? Girl! You do everything....you are my hero!

Krista - With a K, good luck on your 5k....sending FAST wishes your way!

Did the big 10 today with DH and Bree. Wasn't too bad except for the heat! Hopefully it will cool down soon here. But I don't think so. Dh did great and passed us both. He didn't know where to stop so he ended up running 10.8 instead of 10. Of course, his legs are longer than my whole body (no, not really, but he is very tall and has nice legs ).

Christa

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And by the way, sweetie, I have seen your picture -- if you have an untoned abdomen it is definitely hidden somewhere in your very slender body!

I'm sorry....give me a minute.....






Okay--that should tighten the abs .

I have a squashy tummy And I'm very good at dressing---so the lines don't reveal the squish/squash.

But thanks for the compliment!

 

[wtpclc]

Krista - It's not 9, but it's as close as I can get. MAybe this will help some of the butterflies you've probably got right now!

 

[aladdinsgirl]

Your pixie dust worked!!!! My goal was between 40-41 minutes. I finished in 39:04!!!!!!!! I ran a little bit of the course, but mostly walked it. It was so hot, that an ambulance and fire truck was there because people were passing out and getting sick. It was such an awesome feeling crossing the finish line, I can't imagine what it's going to be like to cross the half marathon finish in Disney. I'm pumped now!!

I'm going to eat now, I'm starving!! Happy training!!

Krista

 

[princessmomma]

Your pixie dust worked!!!! My goal was between 40-41 minutes. I finished in 39:04!!!!!!!! I ran a little bit of the course, but mostly walked it.:

Wow Krista, that is awesome!

And you mostly walked it!! You must have been really moving! Congratulations. Yes, you are now hooked. The finish line at Disney is going to be so amazing.

Colleen

 

[TXBelle]

Way to go Krista!

 

[perfectmatch300]

Sunny -- You know you have been one of my heros for as long as I have been on the WISH board, but those pictures really knocked me on my butt. Just last night I was practically in tears because of all the loose skin that now hangs from under my arms. It is so ironic to me that my arms looked better when I weighed 49 pounds more! I am so encouraged to see how beautifully sculpted your arms are. Now I really need to make time to add weight training to my routine. I do think I am going to get some hand weights to carry with me on my fountain walks and try to step up the intensity of those workouts. I'll use heavier ones for targeted arm work.

Sunny, everything Cam just said! Thanks so much for posting your before and after pics!

I'm plugging along with my training, doing the best I can in the heat and humidity. Spent the day Wed at Cypress Gsrdens for an ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) event and both DH and I nearly enede up with heat exhaustion, and that after almost continual hydration and spending most of the afternoon in the water park! Sooner or later this weather will break and I'll be able to get back to wogging, but probably not until after our move.

An addition to the wildlife list - not recent though. DH and I were hiking in the Shenandoa National forest in VA a few years back when a momma bear and her cub crossed our path! About 15 min later we saw another solo bear about 50 yards off the trail!

Krista, great job on your 5K!