Wk of Dec 24--WISH Walking/Running Club

[Calcio]

Tossing Caution To The Wind

The spurs on my heels rub the heck out of the soft inner liner of my running shoes, so right now my Asics Gel-Kinsei's have zero inner lining on hot spots in both the left and right shoes. This happened to me just before last year's half and I did nothing about it, resulting in world class blisters at about mile 9 of the half, making the next day's full highly questionable. Second skin, tape and vaseline held it all together, but . . .

So today I hit Marathon Sports for new shoes, new Asics, to keep this from happening again on January 7. The young lady who worked with me was great, and I tried on several Asics, from heavy and supportive to light and nimble. We talked about them all, I ran in them, and I decided to Go For It (dude!).

I went for the Asics Gel-Landreth II's, light, cushioned enough for racing, and sure to deliver that sub 4:30 that Christa/gatorphipps wants me to produce. Many runners use the big and heavy shoes for training and break out the lighter ones for the races. Not true racing flats, but supportive and cushioned enough for races, yet light enough so you really notice the difference. I've joined the club.

Plus since the long range weather forecast for Orlando calls for warm, far too warm, I'll be running in the lightest of gear on marathon Sunday. Light shoes, splits, singlet, hat, and little else.

So I'll either turn in a time which blows away last year's, or I'll implode all over the course. It may not be rational but you have to take some chances. I may regret this at about mile 20, but right now I plan to set fire to the course. When I'm done they'll need to bring out the fire department to put it out .

Good luck everyone in the last 11 or 12 days. I cannot wait, although I sure would like the temperature in Orlando to drop a good 15 degrees by the races.

Jen - I'm sure I've asked, but where are you in Wisconsin? We lived in Eau Claire for 3 years, and you'll never see a nicer group of people.

Craig

 

[plutosmyfav]

Heather-- I'm so sorry to hear of your chest pain scare. I hope and pray that the stress test will be negative and you'll be at the start line.

Lily-- Could you help with this? The board update has lost the www.disboards.com/WISH link which is on the back of our shirts.

I had a wonderful Christmas with the family. My lungs are definitely healing. I hope to try a short wog tomorrow. It's been two weeks and a day since I ran or did any exercise. And to top it off, I've been drowning my sorrows in cookies I might have to roll myself down the course!

Sunny

 

[Jen117]

Craig - I am in Wausau, Center of the State. It's about an 1 1/2 hours from Eau Claire. DH went to school in EC, so we venture there every once in awhile. Good Luck with your new shoes.

Sunny - So glad to hear you are feeling better!!!

Today is my rest day, and I am so thankful for it. I am home with the girls again and I am stiff. I am 7 days out from leaving... YAHHHHHH.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings TEAM!

OK, since the taper has begun I've come down with a cold, and now I seem to have some low grade flu bug. Grandma came to our house for Christmas after visiting her mother (Great-grandma). Great-Grandma had a GI bug, and over the course of Grandma's 2 days at our place Grandma got sick too. I think she passed it on to me. I've been trying to get my runs in. I did 30 min on the treadmill yesterday, and at the end I felt like I was going to throw up. That's when the bug really hit me I think. I'm supposed to do x-training today, but I think I'm going to rest up and try to get over this bug. Hopefully, I'll get all the sickies out by the time I have to run the marathon. I feel very, very weak and drained right now.

Sunny - I'm glad to hear that your lungs are clearing up. Hang in there.

 

[monte]

Holy moly, it's already Dec.27th...you guys are leaving soon! What dates are you leaving and how long will you be with the mouse? My trip (postponed til 08) was for 10 days...4 at Carribean resort and 6 @ Pop....what are you plans? How many are going for a spa treatment after the marathon?

 

[nucpharm29]

Hello WISH team! You guys are getting soooo close!!!! How exciting!!! Sounds like everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Sending lots of PD to all those that are under the weather right now. I'm heading out later today to get another pair of shoes--the NB I bought are too wide and my feet slide too much--so going to try either the Asics 1110 or 2110. DFIL gave me $$$ to buy whatever running gear I want!!! Yippee!!! But need to go find the kids--I hear Tickle Me Elmo going crazy in the other room!

 

[keenercam]

Susie – sending in hopes your muscle is completely healed and painless very soon.

Craig – You are a very brave man, but I am hoping the flames are out by the time I come down the course! It will be hot enough without you creating undo heat! So glad you found shoes you like. I am sure that your expertise puts you light years ahead of where any of us would be if we tried to switch to new shoes at this late date. Will you get to try them out for any distance before race weekend?

Sunny – so glad you can feel improvement in your lungs. Don’t worry – when I come upon you on the course, I will be glad to give you a roll, if necessary.

Jen – You are so amazing, doing all that running on the track! I know how bored I got at the 1 1/8 mile track at the state park. I haven’t even considered doing laps at the Y.

Monica – We are leaving next Friday and will stay a week with my favorite mouse – at the Beach Club Villas the entire time. I am really looking forward to having all that time away with my love!

Dave – I am so sorry you are sick. I hope you get this out of your system very quickly so you can recover your energy level before you have to travel.

Vic - -How are you feeling today? I am glad to hear you were close to finishing your antibiotic. I hope you are at 100%.

Stephanie -- Have fun shopping!

As for training for me – I did 60 minutes on the recumbent bike last night. I have had no time to XT over the past many, many weeks, and have spent whatever training time I had on the TM or (this past weekend) wogging outside. It felt good to do something a bit less strenuous but still more than nothing.

I had thought I’d TM tonight, but I can't go to the gym because of the pulmonary stress test I had this morning. They said 24 hours of no exertion because of the strain on my heart. It went really well, I think. Based on my age and height and sex, I was supposed to max out at 100 units (I think they are called watts) of work, but got to 130. They actually had to set the machine higher for me to be "challenged" enough to get the blood gas and oxygen readings they were looking for. And my doctor actually ended the test a bit earlier than I might have because I had been in acidosis (?) a couple of minutes and still wasn't saying I was maxed out. The worst part of it was the blood test. My arm is so sore from the arterial blood gas draw.

I should probably explain. I know I am a wimp, but it is actually physiological. I have had 2 surgeons tell me I have the lowest physiological pain threshold they’ve ever encountered. One surgeon administered morphine during surgery because I was crying and my vitals were out of control due to pain that I should not have reacted to – under general anesthesia! And my third heart “surgery” had to be cut short because I could feel the burning in my heart and was crying out, again under anesthesia. So, yes, I am a wimp!

Anyway, I guess today is a “rest” day. I am thinking we should take the kids out to dinner and then a family movie. I am leaning toward “Rocky Balboa” – thought it might be particularly fitting to the 2 43 year olds who are going to push the limits in 10 or 11 days!

 

[TEK224]

Heather - Sorry to hear about your chest pain. Hope everything is ok.

Sunny - Glad to hear you're feeling better!

Dave- Hope you're feeling better soon. It stinks being sick.

Cam - Glad you're tests went well.

Judy - Don't remember if I posted before, but YEAH!!!! for you getting to keep Mist. for your sweet hubby.


I have a question for you blister experts. I'm hoping to avoid the blister I got last year. I did print out the blister prevention tips posted earlier.
About a month ago I did an 11 mile r/w. I got a medium szed blood blister. I did not pop it (told not to, to avoid any chance of infection). It eventually went down. Looking at my foor, you can still see where the blister was (it's a little red underneath where the blood was. The skin is mostly flat, but if I rub my finger from one end to the other, there is a little skin movement. Should I sand this area of skin down so its smooth (which would probably break the skin) or just leave it as is and use the vaseline and double socks to help guard against the blister forming again? The lister is located on the inside of my foot (just above the blade) and below the ankle bone.

Thanks!
Terri

 

[Honeibee]

Good morning everyone.

Well, it's time. Yes, it's time to start packing! YAY!!! I'm checking my lists twice today and tonight the suitcase comes out! Whoooo hoooo!

Today was a rest day.

So I laid in bed until 6:00am.

I was thinking about you this morning,Sunny . First off because I miss you around here and also because I really hope you're feeling better. You are such a strong and determined woman. I so totally hear you about the cookies. I don't even want to get on the scale. I now have a muffin-top thing going on with the Pearl Izumi tights. It's a great look - NOT.

Oh Bill - Poor Lynnda. Please tell her we send her way.

YAY! Howard had a L/R! We're all happy!

Jen - 96 laps???

Susie - I've never even heard of that muscle! The things I learn here. Hope you are feeling better today.

Craig - Well, I think that sounds like a fine plan. Should I bring a fire extinguisher with me as I cheer on the Full? I could use it either way. You'll either be smoking up the course or there will be smoke coming out of your new Asics!

Dave - Oh no! Not now! Oh but I suppose it's better to get it over with. I'm on the Airborne routine, since I have sick stepkids in the house. I am hoping to dodge that bullet. They are feeling better though. So at least whatever they had was short lived.

Monica - We are leaving Thursday morning and will be at POR until Sunday night.

Umm, Cam? I for one DO NOT think you are a wimp. Please! They had to give me Valium to calm me down before I even went in for foot surgery! Please. You are no wimp, my dear.

Terri - Thank you. I'm extremely excited and very lucky to have both Mist and Charlie!

OK let me go confirm ADRs, our flights and our room.

Is anyone else flying into MCO Thursday morning? We land at 11:00am. Just wondering if I should be on the lookout for any lime.

 

[keenercam]

Is anyone else flying into MCO Thursday morning? We land at 11:00am. Just wondering if I should be on the lookout for any lime.

Judy -- we aren't arriving until Friday morning, but your comment made me think of something.

I know everyone has considered this, but I really want to share my experience from last year. I definitely recommend NOT overdoing it at the parks in the couple of days before the race. I know we think we will just do an "easy day in the parks" and be fine, but the reality is that there is no way to avoid a lot of walking and a lot of standing at WDW. So, even if you think you are taking it easy, you are probably fatiguing your legs more than you would if you were at home, and you really DO NOT want to do that right before the event. Last year, I think we pretty much just took the bus to MK and went in to see the castle and take a couple of pix, and we walked around DTD a bit and then did some walking for the WISH dinner at Trails End. All of that added up to more walking than I probably should have done before the 1/2 and I really did recognize Friday night when we got back to the resort that my legs felt a bit tired and I was just kind of overall tired from even just a relaxed day at WDW.

So, not that anyone asked , but please, please, please take it easy in the couple of days before the event. I know this is a lesson some of us WISHers learned at the Disneyland 1/2, too!

 

[Honeibee]

This is a totally anti-commando trip!

After we arrive on Thurs we are checking in at POR and probably having lunch and checking out the resort. Then Charlie has Dive Quest. I may go over to Epcot with him, and then come back, by way of a resort or two to see decorations. Friday morning it's off to Kona Cafe for Tonga Toast, then to the Expo. Then back to the resort to lie around the pool before meeting all you guys at PC.

That's about as laid back as I have ever been at WDW!

And BTW Cam......You're welcome. Glad you like it.

 

[MarkMichaels]

Hi everyone, hope your tapers are going well.

I got to try out my Nike+ shoes and the ipod kit last night. Like all Nike's, I hate the shoes, but the ipod deal is pretty cool. Now I can see how far I'm really going instead of guessing the route by using the odometer in my car. The 5 mile route I've been running is actually 5.5 miles according to my ipod (since that makes me look much faster, I'm not going to ever question it).

mile 1 - 8:34
mile 2 - 9:13
mile 3 - 9:14
mile 4 - 9:13
mile 5 - 8:16
mile 5.5 - 4:47

According to this, I averaged 9:03 per mile for 5.5 miles. I really like how the system tells you each mile and starts counting down to the finish line at 400 meters. It really made me push hard that last mile.

Hope everyone has a great New Year.

Mark

 

[Big Vic]

Good morning everyone!

Cam - I'm doing ok. Not quite at 100% percent, but getting there. Thanks for asking. Glad to hear your tests went well.

Sunny - Glad to hear you're feeling better.

Howard - Good job on the LR.

Jen - 96 laps? Were you dizzy when you finished?

Dave - Get well soon.

Craig - Hope the new shoes help.

Heather - Take care of yourself!

Judy - When you get to POR tell them to save a good room for us. Ok?

My training hasn't been too bad. 6 miles on the TM on Sunday and 4 yesterday. Don't know if it's smart to be exercising while on antibiotics, but I never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer.

We should be rolling into POR sometime Thursday evening, depending on what time we get the boys to the kennel, leave the house, and traffic.

Our only plan for Friday is going to the expo and the afternoon meet at POP. Then its early to bed for that wakeup call at "0 Dark-30."

Take care everyone.

 

[keenercam]

Vic -- I meant to mention that your "boys" are absolutely gorgeous! I will have to post a picture of my "furbaby" so everyone here can see why I am so crazy about her. I think it is great that your boys look so dashing and proud in their bandanas.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Cam-- that is awsome news on how fit you are! They had to adjust the machines up! And you are not a wimp! If pain can get to you under general asth, that is terrible

Susie-- I had to go back and find your post, I missed it first time around. I'm so sorry you are having pain in a muscle I never heard of either. Here's to get you through

Dave-- for you, too. Hope that bug is over and done with ASAP.

Terri-- sorry, I don't know anything about proper blister care. Good luck!

Judy is packing? Ugh. I'm still getting over Christmas...

We'll be getting in Friday afternoon and staying at POFQ through Sunday. We're not doing any parks this time. I agree totally with Cam's park tip. We did MGM the day before the full last year and I was wiped out.

Sunny

 

[Jen117]

Vic - I wasn't as dizzy as when I did my 11 miler on the track. That was 132 laps. I am tired of running the track, but prefer it to the treadmill. We have snow and ice outside and very shoddy road plowing!!

Judy - PACKING? I am thinking about it, but I am like Sunny and trying to get over Christmas. My house is a disaster. I clean and then the girls mess it up more!!!

Cam - My kids want to do the parks so badly!! We are bringing the in-laws and I hope to convince them to take the girls to the parks before the race. Tho they know NOTHING about WDW, so it should be interesting. Also, the girls are running the kids race on Friday morning, so I am concerned about exhaustion. I hope the adrenaline kicks in once I realize I am Running Disney!!!

 

[Big Vic]

Vic -- I meant to mention that your "boys" are absolutely gorgeous! I will have to post a picture of my "furbaby" so everyone here can see why I am so crazy about her. I think it is great that your boys look so dashing and proud in their bandanas.

Thanks! They're a couple of knuckle heads.

Earnhardt (black) is going to be 6 in February. He was named in honor of the greatest stock car driver ever, Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Dusty - he's our rescue, so his actual birthday is unknown. He got his name because he was dusty and dirty when we sprung him from dog jail.

 

[keenercam]

Jen -- I must admit that there are advantages to your kids getting older come Christmas (though I do miss the "santa excitement" part of them being younger). Neither of them has toys spread around the house. DD18 has squirreled her stuff to her room and I'd hazard to guess a lot of it is probably already packed for her to take back to campus Tuesday. And DS13 is spending all his time playing with his PSP, so nothing else is out and spread around.

Sunny -- so glad to see you here, sweetie. Sending hugs and pixiedust!

For anyone who is packing, just a reminder (I added these things to the packing list thread, too). Don't forget your "proof of time" (if you need to do that) and don't forget your crocs. And don't forget to plan to put your crocs in your race bag that you check. I am already looking forward to switching out of my running shoes into crocs after the full.

 

[Honeibee]

Jen -- I must admit that there are advantages to your kids getting older come Christmas (though I do miss the "santa excitement" part of them being younger). Neither of them has toys spread around the house. DD18 has squirreled her stuff to her room and I'd hazard to guess a lot of it is probably already packed for her to take back to campus Tuesday. And DS13 is spending all his time playing with his PSP, so nothing else is out and spread around.

Sunny -- so glad to see you here, sweetie. Sending hugs and pixiedust!

For anyone who is packing, just a reminder (I added these things to the packing list thread, too). Don't forget your "proof of time" (if you need to do that) and don't forget your crocs. And don't forget to plan to put your crocs in your race bag that you check. I am already looking forward to switching out of my running shoes into crocs after the full.

Oh Cam, excellent idea! Now I have a good place to show off my new Disney Crocs!

I'm not even thinking about my house right now. I have stepkids all over the place! I'll clean it when I get back. Actually, it's not too bad, since now it's just the girls. The boys went home. Even though they do their best to clean up after themselves, well, they are 11 & 12...

But who cares! We're going to Disney World!!!!

Vic - How cool that you are staying at POR!

 

[wfloyd]

This is a totally anti-commando trip!

Oh no...not back to the underwear talk again.

Bill