Scaring up some good runs: October

[Tri Girl]

Hope you don't mind, but I started a new October running thread.

I have a big 24 hour race coming up at the end of the month, so I've been putting in some heavy miles so far this week (well, heavy for me, anyway ;) ).
I've run the last 4 of 5 days with a big 24 mile run tomorrow (I'm going to run 39K on my 39th birthday).
I'm enjoying the challenge of more miles, and now that the weather is FINALLY chilly and cool- I'm enjoying it all SO much more! :)

[Charlieggo]

Congrats on turning 39!

I will be in DC on the 28th for the Marine Corps Marathon to coincide with my 50th birthday. The long runs in San Diego have been SO hot this year, I am hoping for cool clear weather so it will feel like i'm flying out on the race course:)

[OakLeaf]

I kind of had a rehab milestone on Thursday .... first time around the block since April, 7.8 miles (shortest way around the block, but boy does it have some hills in it). :) It felt pretty much okay, although my knee and my Achilles were really bothering me afterward, which aren't even the injuries I'm trying to rehab from. :( It was cool enough that I didn't bring water and that was okay, but sooner or later I'm going to have to try carrying water. And trying a little speedwork.

Meanwhile I've been trying a little bit of water running. I think this is the sport where the word "floundering" was invented :rolleyes:. I suppose I'll figure it out sooner or later...

[Catrin]

I kind of had a rehab milestone on Thursday .... first time around the block since April, 7.8 miles (shortest way around the block, but boy does it have some hills in it). :) It felt pretty much okay...

Yayyyyy! This is good to hear, I am so glad you have crossed this milestone!

[jessmarimba]

You go Tri Girl!

And congrats, Oak. I don't think I could ever water run. Swimming is uncoordinated enough for me.

I survived 8 yesterday at an easy-ish pace, despite the low 30s temps and almost-drizzle! It was funny to see the number of Pikes Peak shirts and Ragnar jackets out - I guess everyone was waiting for the first chance at long-sleeve weather to break them out!

[skhill]

40F this morning! Brings out speed in me. I was trying to keep to a 9 min mile pace, but ended up at 8:30/mile over the course of the 5.5 miles. Saw more runners out there than usual too, and a lot of bike commuters for such a cold, dark morning.

[SadieKate]

Coming out of running retirement again. Kick started the running season early because I committed to a half marathon trail race in April which means I have to get the rear in gear earlier. 5 miles on my home trail and only stopped to fuss with my new pack. The aspen are changing colors!

[skhill]

There's a half-marathon in the next town west Sunday, and I'm regretting not doing it. Seems like all my local running friends who aren't hurt are going to be there. Oh well. On the other hand, there's a pretty good chance of thunderstorms that morning. And if I decide to do the Sat. 5k, the fast people in my age group probably won't be there...

[Tri Girl]

My 39K birthday trail run went well... well, it went anyway. ;) It was tough, but mostly because it was soooo dang cold and I just couldn't get warmed up. The next day I went to the thrift store and found a sweater and made a sweater skirt to wear over my CW-X tights so my butt cheeks don't freeze in the cold. :D
I ran a couple days this week, but have been feeling puny the last couple days. It's that time of year when the kids at school start getting sick and I start getting their germs. I have a 50K trail race next weekend and then a 24 hour race the following weekend so I'm playing a dangerous game of "rest as much as possible and run as little as I can get away with it to be ready for my big events while trying to not get sick." A dangerous game indeed....

[SadieKate]

I just read some of your blog entries. I like your "mundane ramblings of random thoughts" though mine are more cerebral dribblings. I hope your blisters heal!

[emily_in_nc]

I've had a big "running fail" for the past few months...kinda depressing. It just got way too hot/humid/sunny for me to be able to manage running, and I totally lost my mojo. Finally, the weather started cooling just a bit as October arrived, but then I caught a bad cold with a cough so missed some primo running days. Today was finally feeling like myself for the first time in awhile so went out for a walk/run. More walking than running, but it's a start back. I hope to start making a more regular habit of it during our brief, warm "winter" here in Belize.

[Tri Girl]

I just read some of your blog entries. I like your "mundane ramblings of random thoughts" though mine are more cerebral dribblings. I hope your blisters heal!

cerebral dribblings- love it!!
The blisters healed once I got home and stabbed at them (a bit of revenge? anger management? perhaps). There were only 3 but they were very angry. ;) They were my own fault- I should have known better.
It's rained the last couple days and the trails are too muddy to run on and I need to run for 3 hours. I really, really, really don't want to have to run on the road. I'm going to wait until tomorrow and hope they dry out some.

Emily- you'll get back at it!! I, too, had a bad summer of running. The heat was horrible this year and it was too much for me to run in consistently (even at 5 am). You're on the way back and now that the weather has cooled down a little for you, hopefully you'll find that mojo again!!

[emily_in_nc]

Emily- you'll get back at it!! I, too, had a bad summer of running. The heat was horrible this year and it was too much for me to run in consistently (even at 5 am). You're on the way back and now that the weather has cooled down a little for you, hopefully you'll find that mojo again!!

Thank you, tri girl! I am certainly hoping the mojo hasn't left for good. I'm not much of a runner, definitely a cyclist at heart, but cycling is so limited here (beach cruisers, few roads, and flat) that running is a great way to get a really good workout, so I need it. I've been in a funk that I have been unable to motivate myself to run in the miserable heat -- I see people out there running (soaked in sweat), but I just don't seem to be "hungry" enough to do that. The cooler temps will help!

[Crankin]

Was about to go out for a brisk walk, when the skies opened up. So, I got on the treadmill and did a half hour of several run/walk intervals, with my run speeds at 6.0-6.2 and my walking at 4.2.
Before I did the Cto5K, I couldn't run for more than 30 seconds at 6.0. Even though this is only my second run since June 1, I feel like I have maintained some of the speed. However, my left heel feels a little weird. This did not start from running, but I think, is from stuff I am doing at boot camp, like jumping jacks and jump ups. I don't want to give up either, so I am going to be very cautious with my re-entry into running.

[emily_in_nc]

That's really fast, Crankin...that's as fast as I was running at my peak of running (and I am far from that now). Just don't overdo. Other folks I know who have done C25K and run some actual 5K events lately are still running 12 minute miles, not 10 minute miles. Great that you've kept so much fitness, but you are smart to be cautious.

[Crankin]

I tend to be able to maintain a faster speed on the treadmill than out on the road, due to the severe lack of flat roads around here!

[indysteel]

I've been running a bit these last couple of weeks, although with some trepidation since my thyroid situation isn't yet sorted out. Yesterday, I ran a mile on the treadmill and then did another 20 minutes or so of hill and speed intervals. And by speed, I don't mean spring, just a bit higher pace than what I typcially run (7 mph versus 6). I have absolutely no knowledge on how best to structure intervals though, so I was doing a minute off (walking) and 90 seconds on.

[OakLeaf]

Trepidation is my middle name these days. :cool:

I did my first speedwork in almost six months yesterday ... just 6 x 1 minute sprints with 1 minute recovery. I left something in reserve both in terms of intensity and in the number of repeats, since it was my first time back. It didn't seem to aggravate anything and it felt good to really breathe again.

I've also been continuing to push the distance now that it's cool enough to go a little longer without water. I'm up to a 9 mile long run, which that loop is fairly flat, but for some reason, it really felt like more of a milestone to me than the shorter hillier loop. I think I'll consolidate for a couple of weeks before I try carrying water, but I'm going to have to try it sooner than later.

I'm also keeping up with the water running - I just got a waterproof iPod, since it's obvious I can't keep up a decent cadence in the stupid pool for any amount of time without some external motivation. :cool: My posture just feels so much better every time I get back running on land after I've done the pool.

Trepidation, yeppers. But I'm starting to feel some hope, too. I'm almost afraid to.



ETA: Oh, and guess what else?! I just got back from shoe shopping ... which is often a nightmare for me ... Nike Air Pegasus (men's) has a nice square toe box, comes in 4E and the heels aren't too wide for my woman's heels! Happy dance! Happy feet! :D :D

[indysteel]

Oak, it sure sounds like you're making excellent progress. Nine miles is awesome! I'm so thrilled for you that you're feeling better!

I know speed is relative and that I'm not sure my left hamstring will tolerate a true sprint, but when you say "sprint" for your speed intervals, how fast are we talking here?

[OakLeaf]

As you say, speed is relative. Yesterday some of them were into a 25 mph wind and up a slight grade, and the rest were in the opposite direction, which made more than 1 mm difference in the pace all by itself.

When I do the one-minute sprints, when I'm healthy, I give it everything I can for that minute. This spring that would've been in the 5:50 - 6:15 range. Yesterday it was in the 6:35 - 8:15 range. I probably had a *little* bit more in me, but like I said, I didn't want to go all the way out until I knew it wasn't going to hurt me.

[indysteel]

Thanks for that info, Oak. It gives me some perspective.

[Tri Girl]

Ran 7.5 miles tonight in just under 2 hours. I'm so dadgum slow on the trails, but it's the only place I truly love to run lately. On the road I can run 11's easy, but on the trail I struggle to maintain 14-16 min/miles. I have to watch my feet so carefully because I'm a walking human disaster. :)
I have my first 50K run this weekend in Palo Duro Canyon and I'm super stoked about it. I don't care about time, but am thinking it will take me 8 hours (don't remind me that some of the 50 milers will be done by then). ;)
I'm just out there to get the finish and soak up some time in the canyon. For me it's all about being out there no matter how long it takes.

[solobiker]

Ran 7.5 miles tonight in just under 2 hours. I'm so dadgum slow on the trails, but it's the only place I truly love to run lately. On the road I can run 11's easy, but on the trail I struggle to maintain 14-16 min/miles. I have to watch my feet so carefully because I'm a walking human disaster. :)
I have my first 50K run this weekend in Palo Duro Canyon and I'm super stoked about it. I don't care about time, but am thinking it will take me 8 hours (don't remind me that some of the 50 milers will be done by then). ;)
I'm just out there to get the finish and soak up some time in the canyon. For me it's all about being out there no matter how long it takes.

I love your attitude!!! And I hear you about having to watch your feet....I always tell people my middle name is not Grace. Good luck and most of all have fun!! :-)

[skhill]

While I was running this morning, it occurred to me that it was Oct. 2008 when I first started trying to run. It took more than a month of plugging away about 3 times a week before I could make it a whole mile without stopping. I'm so glad I kept at it!

This morning's run was just over 7 miles in one hour. It's time for the annual "now what mittens/ hats do I need at xdegrees?" Should have gone with warmer mittens and lighter hat this time...

[indysteel]

Good luck, Tri Girl!

@skhill: Thank you for sharing that. It gives inspiration to those of us who are in the plugging away stage. If you don't mind sharing, could you summarize your progression since October of 2008. What goals did you set for yourself over what time frame? Just you just keep adding mileage bit by bit? What helped you stay motivated?

[katluvr]

Hi all, I'm finally back to running (again) and the forum. Couple weekends ago we did a MS Bike ride so that is where my miles have been. But I have a half marathon coming up mid Nov. so I have to ramp up the miles. We are finally having Florida Fall, so it was in the upper 70's and overcast for my run today...4 miles. I'm pretty sluggish but did ramp up speed a bit for part of the run.

Tri girl--good job on the 39k for your 39th b-day. I'm turning 49 in December, not sure I can get up to 49K, maybe I'll just run 4.9 miles!

K

[Tri Girl]

Tri girl--good job on the 39k for your 39th b-day. I'm turning 49 in December, not sure I can get up to 49K, maybe I'll just run 4.9 miles!

K

4.9- :) That's what I'm going to have to start doing before too long. I'm going to get too old. Maybe I'll just have to start cycling my birthyears in miles. ;)
Which half mary are you doing next month??

[OakLeaf]

Good luck this weekend TriGirl! Sounds exciting, and fun. :)

[SadieKate]

OMG, this seasonal running thing might be a training sekret! After taking the summer off, I started again about 2 weeks ago. Did 4 miles yesterday and set my fastest non-race pace -- without intending too. Woohoo! Unfortunately, I'm sure this, too, shall pass. :rolleyes:

[yellow]

Did 4 miles yesterday and set my fastest non-race pace -- without intending too. Woohoo!
Ahhhhh, so my channeling is working!

[katluvr]

So my half marathon is Nov. 18th (Women's Running here in St. Petersburg)...so about 4 weeks away. Lost the middle 1/3 of my training time to biking. So I looked at where I should be in my plan and decided that 8 miles would be do-able today. Just slow and easy. Averaged an 11 min mile pace. So that is about where I feel comfortable right now. Still warm...today we are up to 86. Most of my AM run was overcast and in the upper 70's. Still not cool, but not like the summer. I now the chances it will still be pretty warm for the HM. Back to my run: it felt "ok", nothing hurt, last mile legs were heavy and tired. So 12 miles in 2 days with not much running for weeks. Guess getting up to run tomorrow might not be the best idea.

I have to have oral surgery, but my nice new oral surgeon understands that I need to keep running until my HM. So we will be planning my surgery for the week after Thanksgiving. Amazing how full one's schedule can be!

K

[SadieKate]

Ahhhhh, so my channeling is working!

Must be your ninja power.

[Crankin]

Just came back from a good run. Only down the hill and back up. My plan is to not start using the Garmin until I've been running a little more regularly. The whole thing is 2.2-2.4 miles (I forget) and I did a little bit more running in the beginning, because a neighbor who was driving by stopped to talk to me and when I finished that, I began running instead of continuing my warm up. So, I ran up an extra hill, which I know is 8%, down the hill to the 1.1 mile mark with one 20 second walk break, and then back up the flat and 10% grade with 2 very short walk breaks. I'd say I ran about 2 miles and felt pretty good. At least now I won't feel guilty about going out to dinner.
I think the ten sets of 20 seconds of burpees yesterday made the uphill run feel not so bad.

[Tri Girl]

Well my Palo Duro 50K turned out to be a 30K. I was doing well and feeling good until about mile 8 when I moved off the narrow trail to let a fast 50 miler pass me (he was lapping me at that point ;)) and I slipped and fell HARD (bruised my hip and knee, and got scratched up). He didn't even stop to ask if I was OK. I boo-hooed and walked for about 5 miles and then I just couldn't get in a groove. It hurt to run and walking was hard, too. Plus that course was wicked hard and technical and it was in the 90's when I stopped at mile 19. I knew I didn't have another 12.5 mile loop in me with the rising temps and the prospect of it taking another 4+ hours to do that last lap. I could tell I was getting behind on my hydration, so I stopped. I'm doing a 24 hour race this coming weekend and I didn't want to trash myself (anymore than I already had). So I didn't complete my first 50K. Oh well, I will get more than that this weekend at the 24 hour race. ;)

1st pic is of the sun rising over the canyon walls. The little white dot is a runner's headlamp behind me on the trail. It was pitch black dark for about the first 20 minutes.
2nd pic is one of the prettier areas in the canyon
3rd pic is a smokin' fast 50 miler flying by me. He looked like Phoebe from Friends running all crazy- like. :)
4th pic is of the bridges there. I had to be careful going over them. The boards were so far apart they'd grab your shoe toe and almost throw you down.

[emily_in_nc]

OW, Tri Girl. So sorry! :( Still, you did 14 miles more than I've ever done! Nothing to feel bad about except the pain you're certainly in. Hope you heal up by the next superhuman feat. A 24-hour race!?!? :eek: :eek: :eek:

[OakLeaf]

Ow Tri Girl! Hope you heal up quick. :( Sounds like you made the right decision though.

It was a perfect day for running here (except for the little yappy dogs, one of whom ran all the way across a four-lane highway with its owner chasing after it...). I was bummed to miss the Columbus Marathon this year, but it was hard to be too sad on such a beautiful day (especially since I didn't have to get out of bed before daylight and stand around in the freezing cold ;)). I did the 9-mile loop again right at a 10 mm pace. The treatments are really loosening up my low back, which is some long standing stuff, and the numbness in my legs is improving too. Fingers crossed...

[Tri Girl]

It was a perfect day for running here (except for the little yappy dogs, one of whom ran all the way across a four-lane highway with its owner chasing after it...). I was bummed to miss the Columbus Marathon this year, but it was hard to be too sad on such a beautiful day (especially since I didn't have to get out of bed before daylight and stand around in the freezing cold ;)). I did the 9-mile loop again right at a 10 mm pace. The treatments are really loosening up my low back, which is some long standing stuff, and the numbness in my legs is improving too. Fingers crossed...

Nice run out there today, Oak! 10mm's are impressive! Crossing my fingers, too, that you're on the road to no more numbness!!

[indysteel]

I'm sorry, Tri Girl. I hope you feel better soon!

No runs this weekend for me. Yesterday was a much needed day off. I was supposed to run today, but I had plans with an old friend that ran long. By the time I got home, I had laundry to do and dinner to make. I have a run planned for tomorrow though.

[skhill]

My brother lives on the route of the Columbus marathon and was whining about the inconvenience... My suggestion was that if he starts a couch to 5k now, he'll have plenty of time to build up to running it next year (at least the half). He's not sold on that plan! But I'm (tentatively) planning on doing it next year, not sure if the half or whole shebang, what with a free place to stay and all. Although I can foresee a potential problem, as he lives around mile 6 or so, and I could well be feeling like stopping at that point...

Anyway, this morning was about 7 miles, and I saw (barely) a lot of bike commuters without lights in the pre-dawn darkness. Decent bikes, helmets, and some with reflective gear, but no lights-- what are they thinking?

[Crankin]

They're not.
I see the same thing when out riding or running in the early AM.

[limewave]

I have been running in spats! I went for a quick 2.5 mile on my lunch break today. I'm so not used to going to an office every day. It's such a pain to change clothes and clean-up in the bathroom--but I'm making an effort!

[indysteel]

Just finished 3 miles on the treadmill. Okay, I've decided to run at a slightly slower pace than I did last year given that my HR has been a wee bit elevated thanks to my thyroid. It's working like a charm, and I've been able to run without stopping. So I'm not going to break any speed (or distance) records, but mentally, it's more satisfying than stopping every mile or so to let my HR come down a bit.

[skhill]

It was supposed to be a tempo run this morning. But freshly fallen leaves and uneven pavement and poor lighting are a bad combination. After a near fall, I slowed down rather than go down. Ended up doing about 5 miles at a pace more typical of long runs. Oh well...

[Tri Girl]

smart thinking, skhill! Better to be a little slower than a LOT broken and bruised. ;)

[OakLeaf]

I was going to say the exact. same. thing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'm really starting to get better from the injuries I sustained seven months ago when one of the main contributing factors was not wanting to slow down when I was on a mile repeat...

Speaking of which, I'm actually starting to dare to hope. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed. 7 x 1 minute sprints today - just because the 1 minute sprints are my least demanding speed workout. It was one of those days when I was exactly evenly split between wanting a day off physically and mentally, vs really wanting to get outside WITHOUT having to drive the stupid car again - way way way too much running around to health care the last 10 days. Ha. I figured a short but "hard" run involved the least amount of commitment. I'm glad I did it.

[indysteel]

Yay, Oak. I'm so glad you're doing better!!

[surgtech1956]

Congratulations on all your accomplishments and future races. I'm doing a 5K on November 10th, they also have a 10K(my friends are running that, they've been running alot longer), but since I just started back running the end of June, I think I should just do the 5K. Today I ran my longest distance so far, 4.05 miles. Nothing compared to you 'veteran' running gals, where some day I hope to be up there with you. It was 77 degrees here in Michigan - a record high I believe, then the temps drop off for the weekend with a high in the 40's. I guess I get my tights - cold weather stuff out.

[emily_in_nc]

We had another cooler (relatively speaking, of course, 80 degrees) morning with lower humidity finally, so I did a 3 mile run/walk. I've run so little since April that it was only about half running (and slow), but it's better than nothing. I hope we'll start to have more weather conducive to running now that it's that time of the year again. I am sad that I am in so much worse running shape than this same time last year when I was running 3-4 miles continuously, but it's been a warmer fall here than last. And I seem to have lost my will to run in miserable heat/humidity. I think I was so excited to be here last fall I just didn't care that it was miserable to run at times!

[skhill]

I usually do long runs on Saturday, but as every time I checked the weather forecast for the weekend, it looked worse and worse (and no, it's not due to the hurricane!). So today's run was longish, shorter than I would have liked it to be but longer than a usual weekday run, just a smidge under 8 miles. The weather was already changing; started out with a breeze out of the south east, ended with it from the north west. Basically, a head wind the entire way.

[Crankin]

I really wanted to do a "dark" ride at 5:00 AM, but I got home late last night and just had to much to do, and I didn't get my bike ready. So, I jumped out of bed at 5:30 and went for my short, 2.2 mile hilly run. It was perfect running temperature, about 47 degrees. So glad I didn't go on the treadmill. I ran almost all of it, except for a few walking steps at the turn around point and again going up the hill.
My headlamp just isn't as nice as my bike light! But, it will do for running in my neighborhood, where there is intermittent street lighting and the rest, well, I know the curves in the road by heart. *Not going to spend money on a light for running.*

[katluvr]

Tuesday I did a 3 mile run out at the beach (I was visiting my folks). Paved trail along the water front. It's starting to get cooler by FL standards. My "fastest" run in a LONG time. Just about 10 min miles, yoo-hoo! Today it was 4 miles. Not as fast but each mile was faster. VERY windy. So I either had a head wind, which was not fun, or the wind behind me and that made it hot! Oh well!
Tomorrow is my long run. Hope to get 10 miles in. Forecast is for the low 70's. Not as cool as I want it for 10 miles.

[jessmarimba]

Did 10 miserable miles this morning. 26 degrees out, which was pretty nice. I think I was just a little too dehydrated at the start. It seemed impossible to breathe even though I was going much slower than normal (slower than marathon pace, that's for sure). I got left behind by the group (though they only did 6). Fortunately we went to the pancake house afterwards and I consoled myself with pumpkin pancakes...a little taste of heaven right there!

[katluvr]

Just now posting about my run Sat. AM. I was set to do 10 miles. I could tell from the start it would be slow. Heavy legs. And it was slow and I did take walk breaks. We had all the wind and it was pretty strong when head on. But since I was going so slow I stopped to watch a dolphin (a big one) feed along the sea wall. I am very fortunate to have our down town, it's a few miles of water front parks. It's filled with people doing "bootcamp" workouts, stroller moms, runners, walkers...you name it. Fall here in FL is lovely. Now today, we are really having a taste of all weather....barely 70. Should be a nice evening to run!

[SadieKate]

On a whim, I signed up for a brand new 10k trail race in Cool, CA, since I was going to be there for the obligatory annual family visit planned at the last minute. I was looking for sanity preservation more than anything as my race performances always leave something to be desired and I just re-started my annual running training a few weeks ago. Something better than DFL would be nice. I took 3rd in my age group and 21st of 85! Wahoo. I won a pint glass and some Skittles all in a Day of the Dead theme. I think they only allowed slow people to race.

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations SadieKate -- that's fantastic! You placed in the top 25%! Woot!

[Veronica]

Congratulations SK!


Veronica

[SadieKate]

Thank you both. I caught a record steelhead a couple days earlier so it's all downhill from here! With all that fun, I handled the family visit with far more equanimity than usual. :rolleyes:

[skhill]

Glad I got out for a run yesterday... I was planning on going today, but that changed when I put my dog out, first thing in the a.m.. It's seriously windy out there, though nothing like what was going on on the east coast last night. Thankfully, the snow didn't make it this far west, even if the wind has!

But if it's still nasty tomorrow, I might be resorting to the treadmill for the first time in months. Blech...


Way to go, SK! maybe I should try to schedule my next visit to my mother's to coincide with a race...

[Tri Girl]

Congrats, SK!!! Way to go!!!! :) A pint glass and some Skittles is an awesome prize!!! That's really great- happy for you!!

I did my first 50 miler on Saturday. Took me a little over 16 hours (there was MUCH walking after about hour 9 and only walking after hour 11). It was such a great experience. I'm not sore at all, which is surprising. The first day after I was stiff, but the only thing that bothers me now is the giant blister on the ball of my foot that is starting to heal. I have another marathon in less than 2 weeks, so I need that to heal up ASAP.

If you care to read about my race I have two blog entries about it at http://turtlepacing.blogspot.com/ The first post you see is my thoughts on the race, the post below is a photo-diary of the day with signs I had pre-made before the race. If you want to read about my experience read the first post, if you just want to see it in pictures, read the second. ;)

[katluvr]

Tri Girl....OMG! I just read your blog and checked out the pictures. That is amazing. I looks so cold (where was it)! Still that's amazing!

K

[OakLeaf]

Wow. TriGirl, amazing. Double amazing to put it all into words. SadieKate, very nice job.

I'm a lazy@ss. :rolleyes: I blew off running long this weekend, 5 miles in the sub-40° rain was as much as I was up for. Just enough for my feet to get soaked and cold, not enough for them to get blistered and painful. :p Pool run tomorrow...

[Tri Girl]

Tri Girl....OMG! I just read your blog and checked out the pictures. That is amazing. I looks so cold (where was it)! Still that's amazing!

K

It was in Oklahoma City. I packed like I was going on an Alaskan adventure. There was a weird cold front that came through. Nighttime lows were in the low 30's. I had on like 6 layers on top and 3 on the bottom. And I was still chilly (of course, walking doesn't generate enough heat to stay warm, but running would have had me sweating and then freezing so???).

[SadieKate]

Oh my gosh, Tri Girl, I'm going to be giggling for a while after reading your "Stairway of Doom" in the PD Canyon. Hubby and I went to Amarillo to see my G'ma after we were married (yes, in the Dark Ages) and while we were there we had a family outing to a section of the Canyon my uncle owned at the time. Hubby had never been to the Staked Plains. He grew up in Idaho where you travel across the plains and then drive UP perfectly visible mountains. Well, he didn't realize that my uncle asked him to drive one of the Land Cruisers because, as the tallest, he would have the best view over the hood of the, well, nothing as we dived over the edge on the narrow jeep track. 25 years later I think he still has nightmares if you mention that first non-view of that canyon. I think he could relate to your stairway.

PS - congrats on such a HUGE goal!

[jessmarimba]

TriGirl, AHHH cold! The rugby idea looks like so much fun though!

I need to sign up for that 50K I was thinking of. I've been on the fence, my long runs haven't been that long, but if I slow down I'm sure I can do it.

If the bottom of my foot heals quickly, anyway. Stepped on a giant splinter of hardwood floor that broke off somewhere in my heel. Doc dug a hole trying to get the rest of it but gave up (he couldn't see anything and didn't want to do anymore without an anesthetic). I can still feel something stabbing if I put my weight down on my heel so I've been limping around since Sunday. Plus they gave me a tetanus shot and it's made me feel like I have the flu. Can't wait til this is all better!