Hello All
We 3 returned from Italy last week and I intended to check in, but every evening I wasn't functioning too well, so I thought it best to come in for the new week.
We had a great time, and walked all over Venice, Florence, and Rome. We also sprinted through Heathrow Airport carrying our hand luggage, the only time we realy exercised for 2 weeks. The good part is we walked so much I didn't gain a pound. I hoped my legs wouldn't lose fitness (falsely it turns out), but I was sure the cardiovascular fitness would slip some (correct).
Last week I biked 2 times and lifted once before the first run back today. I hoped for 7 miles and it was pretty obvious pretty soon that 7 wasn't going to happen today. I was able to do 6.25 miles at 9:40 pace, but after the run my quads were pretty sore. My quads are always the first thing to go in a long race, and I try hard to work them by running, biking, and lifting, but apparently sitting outside on the lagoon in Venice, eating and drinking too little wine quickly turns your quads to goo.
This was the last time this year when I'll be out of training for more than 3 days. I'm hopeful for good results at the BAA Half, the Tower of Terror, and the Disney full, so it's time to get going on that training!!
Colleen - I missed the details on your half marathon. I'd love to hear about your effort and result.
MSW Dave - I know you're off for Ipanema right now (if you see the girl please give her my best
) but if it helps when you see it, my solution to running when our daughter was little was doing it after she went to bed. I would step outside at about 9 p.m. and would run between 4 and 8 miles before coming back in. I had lots of measured courses around our neighborhood (complete with spray painted mile markers) and could get lots of good training in after she was asleep. This didn't work with the long runs, which I would do really early Sunday mornings (which was also necessary in the heat and humidity of Austin, Texas 8 months out of the year).
I wish you the best in your situation. It is very difficult in 2007 to manage all the demands on our time and still find time for ourselves.
Good for you Kathy and give Lynne our best.
WW Dave - you are correct. We all do the distance, and our only competition is with ourselves. I don't worry much about the guys in the lead pack, and I suspect they don't spend much mental energy worrying about me.
Jen - if you want a 2:45 in Chicago you will need to do some workouts where you carry that pace (is that about 12:20 mile?) for a decent distance, certainly 10 miles. If you're not able to do that in training I'm afraid on race day if you try to hold that pace you'll ask too much of your body in the early miles, which will make the last few miles really miserable. If you are able to do that in training then absolutely go for it in Chicago. The key is to step up to the starting line knowing your training makes your target pace and result possible.
Best to all
Craig
We 3 returned from Italy last week and I intended to check in, but every evening I wasn't functioning too well, so I thought it best to come in for the new week.
We had a great time, and walked all over Venice, Florence, and Rome. We also sprinted through Heathrow Airport carrying our hand luggage, the only time we realy exercised for 2 weeks. The good part is we walked so much I didn't gain a pound. I hoped my legs wouldn't lose fitness (falsely it turns out), but I was sure the cardiovascular fitness would slip some (correct).
Last week I biked 2 times and lifted once before the first run back today. I hoped for 7 miles and it was pretty obvious pretty soon that 7 wasn't going to happen today. I was able to do 6.25 miles at 9:40 pace, but after the run my quads were pretty sore. My quads are always the first thing to go in a long race, and I try hard to work them by running, biking, and lifting, but apparently sitting outside on the lagoon in Venice, eating and drinking too little wine quickly turns your quads to goo.
This was the last time this year when I'll be out of training for more than 3 days. I'm hopeful for good results at the BAA Half, the Tower of Terror, and the Disney full, so it's time to get going on that training!!
Colleen - I missed the details on your half marathon. I'd love to hear about your effort and result.
MSW Dave - I know you're off for Ipanema right now (if you see the girl please give her my best

I wish you the best in your situation. It is very difficult in 2007 to manage all the demands on our time and still find time for ourselves.
Good for you Kathy and give Lynne our best.
WW Dave - you are correct. We all do the distance, and our only competition is with ourselves. I don't worry much about the guys in the lead pack, and I suspect they don't spend much mental energy worrying about me.
Jen - if you want a 2:45 in Chicago you will need to do some workouts where you carry that pace (is that about 12:20 mile?) for a decent distance, certainly 10 miles. If you're not able to do that in training I'm afraid on race day if you try to hold that pace you'll ask too much of your body in the early miles, which will make the last few miles really miserable. If you are able to do that in training then absolutely go for it in Chicago. The key is to step up to the starting line knowing your training makes your target pace and result possible.
Best to all
Craig