Hi, everyone! Sorry I have been MIA after that drive-by posting Sunday night. As everyone is probably sick and tired of hearing my lament by now, I will just say work is crazy and I am trying to sneak in here to catch up before the thread gets to 10 pages!
Melissa -- I loved reading your race report, though I am sorry about the whole missing strawberry cake thing. That might have been enough for me to throw in the towel and hitch a ride back on DH's bike!
Personally, I thought your sherpa reference was very clever! Glad you got honey buns at the end, though was sacrificing your favorite fleece really worth the experience? Oh, and thanks for the hot chocolate! Yummmmm.
Helen and everyone who said really nice things about our family picture -- thanks for all of the compliments, and especially being called "glamorous" -- that is one of those bathing suits that hides all the bad stuff with the skirt! Of course the wind on Sunday made managing the skirt quite interesting. That is the first non-black bathing suit I have bought since my 13th birthday.
Oh, and you can probably tell why I would like to keep my DD locked up. Even in an unflattering picture she is a knockout.
Judy -- The Susan Lucci comment was incredibly flattering! Thank you!
BTW, the picture of all of us together really is a family treasure.
It is the first year we all got to plunge together. My cardiologist had forbidden it for several years and before that it was just Howard and me. Now, I figured that after winning that award in the fall, we definitely HAD to do it together!
With Jenn (hopefully) at college next year, not sure the four of us will be together for it.
MickeySP -- your pictures are so impressive and inspiring. You are gorgeous! Congratulations! You must feel soo wonderful and proud!
Maggie -- so glad your training is going so well. Great L R/W Saturday!
Sara -- glad someone else is thinking about getting serious about training for the Minnie soon. I have to get the 2007 full out of my head (it's a bit overwhelming) and focus instead on the next event, the Minnie.
Carrie -- I am going to try to get through the rest of the posts, but I am really worried about your foot. I shouldn't still be hurting more than 4 weeks after the FULL. Hopefully by now you have found some medical attention. (I'll keep reading!)
Judy -- the TM thoughts had me
! Can you believe how far you've come in such a short time? Awesome, awesome change of life and change of attitude!
Just don't push it too much with your knees. I am glad to hear you are icing. At marathon weekend they gave out sample packets of something called Biofreeze (I think?). I just came across the packet and am wondering if something like that might be helpful. You might want to look for it and read the packaging next time you are near a drugstore. BTW, I thought I was courageous to head off to WDW last summer for a weekend with a girlfriend! Hawaii sounds amazing!!! You are very brave, but it must be nice to have those memories.
Sunny -- Okay, I know we all worry about our challenges, but may I just say that I am completely confident you will be fine for your half?! I think you are becoming a bit de-sensitized to the enormity of what you do, training-wise. That is one of the interesting things about being part of a community like this. Sometimes we don't realize that not many people go out and do 5 miles of speedwork!
TiffJ said:
For those that havent made hotel reservations for DL -get on the phone. I called to see about possibly switching to DLH. Well both DLH and PP are SOLD OUT for that weekend. ALL ROOMS! GC had rooms but their
AAA rate was $320.
Great reminder, Tiff! We are booked at the Candy Cane Inn (thanks for info, Helen!) and we are looking forward to a WISH meet by the pool. Hoping everyone has been able to find a place to stay! BTW, thank you so much for the nice compliments and observations re:teenagers and family activities. Our kids have been involved in Special Olympics since they were very young and both are so warm and kind-hearted. We are so blessed.
Be careful of the tendonitis, Tiff! I was having the same issues last summer and my doctor (sports med) recommended aleve and lots of stretching, even when I am sitting at my desk. I also got one of those foot roller thingies that Lisa recommended and that helped so much. Take care, because if it gets really inflamed it can really impact your training.
Dave -- congratulations on your awesome new healthy attitude! You should be soooo proud of yourself. And not just that you exercised, but also because that pace is AWESOME!
Christiana -- welcome aboard! Congrats on losing 30 pounds already. Keep up the great work! Marathon weekend is 11 months away, so you have plenty of time to continue with your conditioning and training. So glad to have you here!
Jodi -- It is so great that you've found a running club. It will be so nice because there are probably people of all levels and you might find a really compatible running partner!
For the newbies -- I agree wholeheartedly with Carrie in saying that we are so grateful to everyone who posts here and brings enthusiasm and energy to this thread. It is so much fun to share this experience and we learn so much every day from the questions and answers that get posted.
Dave -- another thing I wanted to mention. John Bingham says that if you want to be a runner, all you have to do is run. If you want to have a runner's body, all you have to do is run with the body you have. When you are running with the body you have, you are a runner and you have a runner's body. I know I am over-simplifying his words, but to me, having trained for and completed a half-marathon, I still have a hard time acknowledging that I am a half-marathoner! Having undertaken to train yourself, you are an athlete. There is no half-way. You are doing it. Enjoy the nomer you have earned for yourself!
WOW! I can't believe how long this got. Hope I didnt' break and DISboard rules or anything.
One quick last thing -- I did 50 minutes of strength training last night and then 2 miles on the TM in 28:06! I THINK 14:03 is a new PR. Can't wait to add some jogging to that and see where I can get to.
Sounds like you are in great shape to do the 1/2 marathon next January. You have lots of time to train. I just joined this group a couple of weeks ago, and I'm hoping to run the marathon (never done that before). I'm starting from just walking, and have a ways to go. Everyone here has been very, very supportive. If I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!
He seems interested!
I didn't understand one word of that!
No fair! I want to see the picts!!!!!
