OK, it's seriously time for a new runniing thread!!

[Jolt]

I did something a little different on my run today--started out with about 25 minutes of my normal (rather slow) trail running, then did 7 or 8 short sprints (I don't think they were even 100 yards) with walking in between on an open section of trail that runs alongside power lines, then ran normally back to my starting area. Altogether, I was out for about 45 minutes and felt pretty good other than the expected huffing and puffing from the sprints . Maybe I'll work in some intervals a couple of times a week and see if it makes a difference in my "cruising" speed.

[yellow]

Wow, you all are in the thick of running season, sounds like! I'm still just walking, walking, walking...my gawd it's slow and it takes for freakin' ever to go 6 miles. I've been throwing in some pushups on the edge of benches along one of my routes about every other day, so that helps add in some variety. And of course the hour plus of PT every day. Patience.

Run some for me, y'all!

[OakLeaf]

Yellow, hang in there. Sounds like it's coming back to you little by little ... before you know it you'll be stronger than ever (!) and pain free.

Today was just a perfect day for running and I don't regret blowing off yesterday. 20 miles, somewhere between 1400 and 1700 feet of elevation gain, @11:23. I was still picking my feet up by the end of it. Partly I think it's the same as with cycling, you're using different muscles to climb and descend rather than the same ones over and over again in the flats, but mostly I think it's just mental. It's so beautiful here, running is the complete opposite of boring.

I had a moment today like the one I had in the fifth grade when it dawned on me that I was one of the big kids. I had to go back and look up this post just to check the date on it. Good grief, it wasn't even a year and a half ago I thought I had no interest in anything over 10K.

I'm ready. Taper starts now.

[Crankin]

I got up at 5 AM and did 30 minutes on the TM, as my colleagues were taking all of us interns out for breakfast and I am trying to keep my weight down before my trip.
I didn't go quite as slowly as my outside run on Sunday, but varied between an 11:30 and 10:30 mile, with 2 minutes of walking in the middle. So, still a bit slower than my top pace last summer, but my goal is only to sweat.
I'm having a few little ouchy things, but the normal ones for me when I start running; groin, my bunion (it's better with the new shoes I bought last summer). My hip was fine after Sunday, but is achy today. I took an "ice shower" after the run and have been using the otc version of Biofreeze, which really works for me. I just didn't have time to do major stretching this morning, but I did do some. Supposed to do a 43 mile ride tomorrow, but the weather looks iffy. I am not sure if I can run 2 days in a row, though.

[WindingRoad]

OK this is a little embarrassing but I HAVE to ask. So I did a 5 miler in the rain, wind and a floppy cotton T shirt last Friday and it seems it has irritated the nips?!?! Only today are things looking and feeling less irritated. Gawd, has anyone has this issue

[Susan Otcenas]

OK this is a little embarrassing but I HAVE to ask. So I did a 5 miler in the rain, wind and a floppy cotton T shirt last Friday and it seems it has irritated the nips?!?! Only today are things looking and feeling less irritated. Gawd, has anyone has this issue

Chafing is caused by two things rubbing against each other. Are you running without a bra? The combo of the cotton & rain could definitely cause irritation on sensitive tissue. If you're running in a bra, could be the wet combined with a bra that might be a little too big for you?

The farther I run, the more often I have chafing issues. I've had a few vicious chafing incidents recently, mostly as a result of how my heart rate monitor interracts with my different bras. After resisting resorting to Bodyglide for a loooong time, I finally broke down and got some. (We sell it, so it's not like it was that hard to get some. ) It's made a huge difference. The stuff really does work. Now, if only my chafing scars will fade away....

____

I ran 14 miles this morning, my second time at that distance. 11 minute miles solidly in my Zone 2 heartrate. Last mile I was definitely getting fatigued, but considering that I raced not one, not two, but THREE time trials this past weekend, I feel pretty good about how my legs performed and that my HR stayed low.

[Skierchickie]

I haven't been running much this season, but was slowly working my way up from, oh, 1.5 miles to 5 miles for a couple of weeks, and then lost interest for a week or so. My longer runs were actually run/walks with DH, who has weird heart-related issues after having a Maze procedure in December to fix his atrial fibrillation. Anyhow, last weekend a friend was up here for a class, and she talked me into running with her Saturday evening. We ran singletrack for an hour and a half. The ankle I broke last summer felt fine while running, but after we finished it nearly rolled while walking. And again later, on the stairs. It was a little swollen and hurt a little. So running might not be a big thing for me this season (I'd rather be biking anyway). Methinks and hour and a half of singletrack might have been too much. At least I established my limit, right?

[zoom-zoom]

The farther I run, the more often I have chafing issues. I've had a few vicious chafing incidents recently, mostly as a result of how my heart rate monitor interracts with my different bras. After resisting resorting to Bodyglide for a loooong time, I finally broke down and got some. (We sell it, so it's not like it was that hard to get some. ) It's made a huge difference. The stuff really does work. Now, if only my chafing scars will fade away....

I liked Body Glide until I started getting sticks that crumbled and broke off the base only 2/3 of the way through a stick. Once it breaks it's a PITA to use and I ended up throwing up $$ worth of product over the course of a year.

An ultra friend of mine swears by Sport Shield. I gave it a try and haven't looked back. I can make a bottle of that stuff last at least 2x as long as a stick of BG, for about the same price. The Blister Shield sock powder is fabulous, too. I use it for any runs of longer than about 2 hours.

[Bike Chick]

Good grief, it wasn't even a year and a half ago I thought I had no interest in anything over 10K.

Funny you should say that, Oak. A month ago I was telling myself that if I make it through this HM, I was never going to do anything longer than a 5K or maybe an occasional 10k. Then during my run Sunday I felt stronger with each mile and by the end I thought maybe I could do a marathon. I think it was the euphoria from the endorphins but now I realize it's possible. You are proof!

I'm in my taper week. 4 miles tonight with the HM on Saturday. Woot! Woot!

[TsPoet]

I've come to love reading these threads, but never posted.
I started "training" for a 5k to keep up with a whole bunch of 3rd-5th grade girls
http://www.girlsontherun.org/
My part in the program was supposed to be as a "professional" woman mentoring these girls in that aspect - running didn't come into it. But, I thought if they could learn to run 3.1 mi, so could I!
I'm slow and my max distance is a 3.2 mi trail loop that includes some pretty hefty elevation change (I walk up the 0.25 mi hill that the motorcyclists use to challenge themselves, I've seen several fall over, and run the rest).
yesterday I didn't have time for a run, so I decided to run my 2 mile loop as fast as I could - my best time of 14:01 min miles (darn that 1 second!). I also learned a new interval training, I call it the doggie-go-back interval. My usual 15:30 min/mile pace my 10 year old stubby-legged dog can keep up, faster and he can't. So, 4 times during the run I doubled back and let myself slow down a bit until I found him, then turned around again. This added just over 0.3 miles for a total of 2.35 mile run.
Good day, and I think the doggie-go-back intervals are going to work for all, I was afraid I'd have to leave him at home when running farther/faster, and he'd hate that.

[Crankin]

I ended up not going for the 43 mile ride, as it was 32 when I woke up and rain was threatening. It was 40, wind chill of 35 at 10:00, when I should have been leaving. I decided to finish my last paper of the year. Was about to go out for a run, when my son called and we made a lunch date, so I got on the treadmill and did a short 20 minute interval program, at progressive inclines of 1-4%. There was a bit more walking than I would have liked at the level I was at, but, frankly, running at 9:55 for even one minute at a 4% grade was hard. When I run up hills outside, I slow way down.
Then I did 5 minutes of planks, sit ups, and groin stretches. Better than nothing.

[zoom-zoom]

I've come to love reading these threads, but never posted.
I started "training" for a 5k to keep up with a whole bunch of 3rd-5th grade girls
http://www.girlsontherun.org/

GOTR is fabulous! I have done 4 rounds of fundraising for our local chapter. It's so popular around here...I love to see that.

[limewave]

GOTR is fabulous! I have done 4 rounds of fundraising for our local chapter. It's so popular around here...I love to see that.

DD and I watched dozens of little girls out training yesterday. It's an encouraging and inspiring program! I love it! I plan on volunteering when DD is old enough to participate.

I have some friends that have started a similar program for boys, Endurance Adventure. That's a neat program too. DH and I plan on helping out with their event this spring.