Stephanie: Your speed workout leaves me breathless and far behind you. Great job on doing it for 3 miles. You're definitely going to get faster with those kinds of runs. I'll just have to remember to wave at you as you fly by. Maybe I'll be waving a waffle cone, just to get your attention. (Bet you that would slow you down!

)
Carrie: I'm noticing a certain theme in your ice cream--you love those cacao nibs, don't you? Me too!

Great job breaking up your bike ride with dinner--that way you earn a good meal, and work it off afterwards, too!
Kira: Fresh peach ice cream....mmmmm.

A seasonal yummy. I think I'll be on the lookout for that one. August is a great time to indulge in that one, especially after a LR. (See, I make it sound as if we all deserve an ice-cream treat, don't I? Because we do!)
Aloha Jeff:
I will eat it in cone, I will eat it in a cup,
Ice cream, Ice cream, I will eat you up.
Another one of your talents--writer! Of course, you've anthropomorphized ice cream in a disturbing way, but that's okay. It's when the ice cream starts talking back to you that I'll begin to worry...
Great advice on Howard's hip flexor issue, btw. Question: What are people in my family going to think when I start traveling with a foam roller (training for marathon will happen over the holidays) and massaging myself?
I bet you're a closet Limbo Champion in your spare time, and just won't admit it to the team.
Ummm, yeah. I'm flexible that way.

No definitive news yet, so I'm going to practice my limbo moves in private.
Thank you for the story on your training runs and your progress. You've made such progress, and I like hearing about others' long-term plans, especially in terms of the Goofy. (DOOD and I are in for 2010, too.) I have no doubts that you have PRs in your future.
Racey Tracy: Getting a new bike for hitting a goal is a great idea! Your DL trip keeps sounding better and better (except for that flying thing). You're going to love it. When I travel to DL, I say I like WDW better....when I travel to WDW, I say I like DL better. Just never satisfied, I guess. (Then again, it keeps me going back to both, so maybe I'm smarter than I look.) You're another chocolate in your ice cream fan, hmm? Maybe it's the texture, too?
RE: the dog story. You are my hero. A lot of people wouldn't have interrupted their training, or would have said they didn't have the time, or would have figured someone else would assume responsibility. You're a great person!
Howard: I was just wondering about the back-to-back runs for the Goofy, but it looks like this one is unrelated. It could be that what I think of as LRs at this point (6 miles) just isn't for your abilities. I do think the longer distances will work well for you in recovering quickly between your races. Could be wrong, but it seems to me like it would provide you with a strong base for your PRs. Btw, I'm sorry about your hip flexor strain (thank you for the info), and am glad you're playing it safe and conservative with your recovery. Also bodes well for your races, I think. Btw, does Cam, among others, get to say "I told you so" on the overdoing it? (Dang, Carrie and I think alike!)
Kathy: In case you read the weekly thread...so what is the deal with cowbells?
David: Thanks for explaining the rationale behind the Higdon plan and/or back-to-back long runs. It helps those of us (read: me) understand training plans that we've not been exposed to. You sound very experienced. I'm a Bingham/MfM girl right now, but I've been known to be fickle in my affections.
Jennifer: It sounds like your celebrations--both birthday and Reeback shopping--went well! I assume you can remember the flurry of activity associated with both?

Good luck with Friday's race. Do you have a goal for this night race?
Just read about the heat and humidity, the Mexican food, and the run. Ugh, that must have been rough.

I hope you're recovering without incident.
Leana: Oooo, bad news about the tire. I suppose the upside is that this occurred before your tri, so you can make sure everything is 100% for the event. (Good luck with it, btw!) You have such eclectic taste in ice cream. I like a Mexican chocolate with chilies, so #3 sounds familiar. I've never heard of Tiger's Tail. I simply must take a tour of Canadian ice-cream stores.
Lisa: Love local dairies and Moose Tracks. Hard to beat a good sorbet in really hot weather though. I find them more refreshing than ice cream for some reason? Very nice pace for your post-race run--you're definitely speedier--right up until the downpour. I hope you don't end up on the TM, for your sake.
My theory is that I can put on more layers but can only take off so many before someone calls the police!!!!
Um, some of us might applaud, stomp our feet, and whistle.
Cam: Yay for you and PT Jeff adjusting your workout. I'm glad he's neither afraid to push you or to pull back when necessary. Oh, and kudos for you too, as I'm sure you have something to do with the intensity of your WOs.

It sounds like you're finding your RW pace for training. I loved your phrase:
...the longer walking periods are really impacting on my overall pace.
You rock, woman! When you first started, did you ever think you'd write something like that? Your progress is amazing!
Stacie: I guess I didn't realize this was your first time attempting laps. Congratulations--you're trying new stuff and challenging yourself. I admire that.
Angie: Yay for the no pain. Congratulations on doing short and sweet runs the last couple of weeks, and then entering your January training with such a strong start. You're in such a good place now with your running and XT. I'm excited for you, almost as excited as you are for yourself!
Maura: Wow, from spinning class to cultural training class. That's a whole other level of XT.

How are you doing with running? Or are you still nursing injuries?
Terri: Your weekend sounds like it was really rough--a headache knocks me out worse than other things, for some reasons. Congratulations on your 2 1/2 mile swims. It seems like 16 seconds is a lot faster in terms of swimming. (I honestly don't know, though.) Yay for doing it and doing it faster, regardless.
Judy, Judy, Judy: We've missed you! (I bet you get tired of the "Judy, Judy, Judy" bit, huh? Does it help if I tell you Cary Grant never actually said that?) Chunky Monkey is a sentimental fave of mine, back in the days when I was figuring out that my primary rival for DOOD's affections was both Ben and Jerry. He's the real ice-cream fiend in the family, you know.
Ouch on the torn meniscus--I didn't realize you had a recurrent injury, and have missed the story about Dr. Hunka Hunka Burning Love. I assume you've already made your appointment, even if you don't want to, because you're committed to January. Say yes, please!
Cecilia: Yay for getting in your run anyway, sore quads and all. I'll bet your newly repainted MBR looks great, too! What color did you go with--I'm assuming it's not a variation on the beige theme.
As for me: I did a short and slow run today (no comments from the peanut gallery about how they're all short and slow for me

) of 3.5 miles.
In response to my fave flavor of ice cream, Jeff and I think alike. I think of ice cream as I do my children (if I had any, that is): I love them all the same. Except for maybe anything with marshmallows or gummies.

They're the black sheep of my much beloved ice-cream family. I will say, though, that when I was a child I absolutely loved Blue Moon, mainly because it turned my tongue blue. I think food should taste good and be entertaining whenever possible, don't you?