Craig: I think you would be an excellent guide for tours of Europe, featuring wine and football. Even if I'm not convinced they quite go together naturally, I'd be willing to give it a try with you as my leader.
Christa: That's GREAT news about your mom being finished with chemo! I hope she's doing well, and I bet you she's in good spirits right now.
Angie: I'm so sorry to hear about the continued back and leg pain. I'm glad you're going to continue to rest--and think that running slowly is the best strategy. You're being very smart!!! I hate to say this, after all your training, but the Minnie is just one event (okay, two races in your case) and I'd rather you run conservatively so as to not injure yourself AND be able to continue to run way past this weekend.
Tracy: Awww, now you're taken all the fun out of my slightly PG-13 rated images of you, your abs, and a foam roller. It's a very boudoir, er, restful picture I have, very appropriate for taper.
I think we should petition Vic to be members of his pit crew. Whaddya think?
Kira: Four kids. Wow. And they're staying at the Poly. You're the best mom ever!
Aloha Jeff: I think YOU should be our unofficial clinic "doctor"--you can play one on the internet, you know!
Maura: I can find things to say online, and yet I am tongue-tied in person. Hmmmm. As for running and hurting, I think the feeling is as related to the fact we're paying more attention to our bodies when we run. I always imagine myself conducting a head-to-toe, sci-fi body scan early in the run and am amazed at the little differences I find. Can't help you much with the fueling question--my stomach pretty much likes whatever I put in there, and so I go with whatever's handy. It doesn't seem to make any difference with weather, length of run, etc. My biggest questions seems to be concerned with opening the package with my sweaty hands. I do start fueling about an hour into my run, so that's the length I use when I test things out (60-90 minutes).
Cecilia: You may not get this, but I'll be thinking of you, your dad, and your whole family during this time.
Carrie: Believe me, I wish I was there for the Minnie. Heck, I'd be happy to scream team for you all. Instead, I'm going to be stuck at home. if I'm in a mood I'll try to start some rabble rousing here. Maybe I'll float the suggestion that we change the colors of the WISH shirts to the more subtle safety orange?
So the 10-minute rule goes through taper, too? 5 minutes, 0 minutes??? I'm sorry about the stonker of a run but know the yoga will help. As will the sleep-inducing scripts!
If I can go sub-[___ mpm] and feel good and possibly PR, I will. However, as soon as it stops being fun or something hurts or the heat gets to me, I am dropping back to the next WISHer and going to go for fun. If I can't keep up with that one, I'll go some more until I can take pictures adn laugh adn enjoy the race!
I just had to add, this is the description of a perfect Disney race to me!
Cam: That's our Cam, always looking out for everyone! Any of us would be proud to walk with our WISH penguins, I'm sure! (I say this as a back-of-the-packer party animal myself.) I love your multitasking day: biking & bridal magazines! And
for the Wii (or should that be whee! for the Wii?)
Kevin: A sub-30 5K in 85 degree heat? Slacker!
I'm glad you're back on the boards regularly!
Dana: Somehow I imagine the look your FIL gives you is the same look DOOD gives me when I say, for instance, "flipping." Or "Dude."
Good luck with your 5 miler today and have fun at the Minnie!
Claire: Ouch, ouch, ouch on the jalapeno peppers. Love 'em, but they can sting. I'll put myself on record as being willing to sample your dips any time! And your baked brie. (I think I'm loving your life right now.) I hope your springtime lasts long enough for some more excellent running and biking, too! (Not to mention the rock climbing, the blading, etc....)
Frank: Oh, we've got it easy on the apartment search compared to the bias against young men. That must have been rough. I can't even imagine the reactions you received. While some people wonder why we're choosing to rent rather than buy at our age, there's no real sense that they recognize my inner party animal. (Who I like to think of as an Otter, for some reason.
Animal House, perhaps?) I really like the idea of your first marathon being the Gasparilla Classic; it does seem to have a nice sense of symmetry.
Leana: I don't know if this post will catch you, but Good Luck & Have Fun this weekend. (As if I had to tell you the latter.
)
Morgan: Me, take notes on everyone.
No, I just embrace my stalker tendencies. My super-secret strategy: I just open the replay post in a new window and tab, and toggle back and forth.
Kind of disappointing now that the curtain's been pulled back, huh? Btw, I so agree with you--one of the things I love about running is how much it makes me aware of my body. I don't think you will lose that awareness.
Judy and Kira: But the roller hurts soooo good, right?
Jen and MSDave: Thank you for the reminder about the Ben & Jerry's free ice cream. It's an important social event, you know, and I just had to incorporate it into my XT.
Shan: I'm so sorry about the doctor-ordered hiatus from running. I know you're upset, but hope you can embrace the good news. Assuming the dr. is correct--and I'll let other, more experienced runners weigh in on the pain, etc.--then what you have is something that requires rest instead of surgery. It's not chronic. And the suggestion of PT will help you get stronger, and might help you with some good practices that will make you an even better runner when you get back into things (As Scott suggested). And like Angie said, you did the smart thing on your event--you slowed down, avoided serious injury. You should be proud that you listened to your body. (All these things are easier said than felt, I know, but we're proud of you!)
I'm not sure if the bike or elliptical would hurt your thighs or not; it's been a while since I started with those. I would hazard that the no-impact aspect of the XT would be good for you, though, without causing additional problems. I know in my case that the stationary bike really helped with my knee problems. In terms of access to equipment, I don't know where you live. But what you might be able to do is get some guest passes to various gyms--DOOD and I had almost a full month of free WOs when we moved to Pgh and were testing new gyms. You might also be able to buy day passes by the week or month; perhaps your doctor or sports-masseuse could recommend someplace?
Scott: Well, I see you have the recipe down for your WDW rest days:
pool, sun, drink,: bench, Epcot, Mickey Bar.
At least a couple of those things should be highly featured in a
Bingham's Gone Wild video; I leave the how and why up to your imagination. You should also know that I'll be looking at your blog over the next few days, although I don't know how you'll find time to post in your busy schedule of rest. (I don't know if you're a sci-fi fan like Amy, but in the words of
The Prisoner, "Be seeing you." I am not a number!!!)
Scott:
What happens in Disney, stays in Disney.
Carrie:
Scott - If what happens in DIsney, stays in DIsney, what will be on your blog???
Debra: Material evidence for the police report?
Betsy: Oh, your tris are just sprints, not a big deal?
I agree with Tracy, you should be rechristened the TRI-Dominator! (Although I have to say I really like Ironz.) THANK YOU for posting your thought after observing the woman in water therapy. It made me very grateful today, and sometimes I need to be reminded of how lucky I am.
Amy: Henry V, the Branagh version, made me love Shakespeare on film. And I had quite the Kenny crush for a while. (Who's kidding? I still do!) I love the St. Crispen's Day speech, too, and you have chosen one of the best lines for your Minnie battle! I also love, the following, which I offer to you as inspiration:
Now bid me run,
And I will strive with things impossible,
Yea, get the better of them.
--Julius Caesar
I hope your race, your event, your weekend is everything you could hope for!! It sounds as if your rest days and non-impact work will allow you to maximize the Disney pleasure. (Add some sun, drinks, and and pool time to that and I think you have the perfect pleasure cocktail.)
Stephanie: I hope this is LTO/working full time in a good way? WTG with getting the cardio minutes in, too!
Stacie: I'm crossing my fingers for you, and everyone else on the Eye2Eye shirts. It doesn't sound like you have much room for them, though, what with all the specialty t-shirts you made, the new clothes and shoes, etc. (I know, not your new clothes, but still...
) Does shopping count as XT, because it sure does exhaust me!
Laurie: Congrats on finishing W1D1 (yup, you got it right) of C25K.
Are you transitioning over to running or WR or RW?
Mel: I think I forgot to mention this in an earlier post, but I'm thinking positive thoughts for you on that faculty position at the Bradenton pharmacy school. You'd be an excellent faculty member!
As for me: Well, it was going to be a simple day of Pilates--hah, it's not simple for ME--but then someone reminded me of the free Ben & Jerry's deal. Or should I say someones? So I hoofed it to the nearest B & J (1 1/2 miles away). You wouldn't believe who I encountered on the street. Yep, evil Albert. I think he gave me an odd look, as if he almost recognized me. And I thought, "Debra, you could take him. Right here, right now." Not that that would have been too difficult--he's about 75.
Instead, I walked right past him and met up with DOOD for my free scoop. The flavor? I thought I'd try something new--the Imagine Whirled Piece (sweet cream, caramel, chocolate chunks formed as peace signs). Not bad, but no Chunky Monkey. I was happy with their restrained serving size, too, which was about perfect.
As we exited I heard a youth say, "I've had three scoops of ice cream today, and haven't paid once." DOOD said under his breath, "And your mother must be so proud."
We'll be thinking about you this weekend! I know your dad is so proud of you.
He also wants me to go to physical therapy two to three times a week for six weeks?!? 
wouldn't miss me. She'd just think Mommy was at work. While I waited for my buddies, I did 15 minutes elliptical (1.55 miles & 166 calories!). Then, my running buddies arrived and we did W2D2 of C25k. This one was a bit tougher. Probably because my day started at 5:30 a.m. (though that's late for our own dear Honeibee). We took it to 30 minutes, including warm up and cool down. I learned somethng tonight. Just because you drink a TAB energy drink and have the energy, it doesn't necessarily mean your body will want to workout and your muscles may even rebel. 
