November Leaf Shuffling

[GLC1968]

Yellow - great photo! I would *LOVE* to run in your neck of the woods. It sounds amazing to me!

Kat - awesome job on the trail 1/2! I'm not sure I could do a full half marathon on a trail without hurting myself (if yesterday was any indication!).

I too have been running without posting. Two weeks ago was a 'rest' week on my plan, so I had 4 short runs and no long one. This past week, I was traveling three days (three days of difficult travel, actually), so my run plan was all over the place. I did manage to get them all in, if a bit off on normal timing. Yesterday was my long run of 10 miles. It was beautiful weather, but it wasn't a great run. I had zero energy (entirely due to a massive calorie deficit I'm intentionally running right now) so it felt like a ridiculously long PLOD. I was so done at the end that when I cut through an unfamiliar parking lot at 9.5 miles to turn towards home, I totally tripped. It was the oddest thing - I guess I was dazed, because I was half way to the ground before I realized what was happening. I threw my arm out in front of me at the last second to stop my fall and skinned my elbow. I immediately turned to look at what I tripped over and it was a speed bump! How embarrassing!

Luckily, today I feel fine. No aches, no pains and no tiredness in my legs. My elbow smarts when in the shower but other than that, I don't even notice it. Phew!

[colby]

Winter running photos already! Feels like it was just summer. I love winter running once it gets past the slush point.

The trail half sounds awesome. No need to qualify - finishing and meeting your goal is awesome no matter what!

My husband is chasing off his blerch (as per The Oatmeal) and I am figuring out the best way to keep him motivated. We started focused running a few months ago (longer casually) with a goal in mind to see if goal-motivation is enough but the midweek stuff is still a challenge. I think we need to rewind and focus on daily consistency and a weekend longer run. Since I spend about 2/3 of my time in Austin and it's cooling off, it's a great time to start running and he's enjoying it (mostly). I've pretty much left personal goals behind for now, and am playing coach. It really works for him to have someone there with him, especially while he builds reinforcing habits, and he's started enjoying it and seeing the benefits (emotionally, physically). We'll probably switch to 5 days a week of 20-30 minutes almost daily (run/strength/bike/swim) and something longer on weekends.

We're running a half marathon next weekend together, with a goal of just finishing (in honor of chasing off the blerch!). I know there will be some walking, he can make it about 8 miles without a break (other than eat/drink) at a comfortable pace (11-11:30ish) but the longest we've gone is 10, and I did the 9-10 mile runs separately from him so I know he walked more than I would have allowed. Not to mention, it's a hillier course and we've been running mostly flats. On the bright side, I know the course really well, so I can explain what's going on, and the back half is great.

Also thinking about 2014 lately. This race will wrap up 2013 for me... and unfortunately a lot of 2014 (bright side: courtesy a baby girl due April 1). I have been thinking about focusing on running for a while, this might be the break from endurance triathlon that lets me give it a shot. We'll see.

Happy running!

[salsabike]

Colby! Congratulations!

[GLC1968]

Congratulations, Colby!

My husband and I signed up to do a half marathon together in Dec (to help him chase off his blerch!), but he has been having some real calf trouble lately and we aren't certain he'll be able to run it. We've still got a few weeks, so maybe....

Best of luck to both of you next weekend!

[rocknrollgirl]

I am glad I popped in this morning!

Kat-congrats on the first trail 1/2. Awesome.

Colby...baby girl...WOOT!!!!

Yellow, get my room ready, I am packing now

So right now we are trying to just get back into a regular running routine. We have been pretty casual about it this month. I think that after my long race in Sept and the arrival of my new mt bike, a natural and needed break has taken place.

So this week it was to be back on a regular albeit volume reduced schedule, until Boreas arrived and brought a monsoon. Rain I do not mind so much, 40 mph winds, well you get it. So I traded my run yesterday for a hard trainer workout, and I think we will try and get out tomorrow on our rail trail before cooking starts.

Fingers crossed. Go away Boreas.

[colby]

Thanks, ladies! So far it's been pretty interesting on my running. Everything starts moving (core muscles, guts, "wait, my stomach is up here now?") and everything else starts adapting, it felt like I ramped my mileage even though I was actually running less or about the same. All my stabilizing muscles were like, "what?" I am over that hump, but now I have to stretch my adductors, hips, back, and glutes a lot or I feel super stiff after running anything more than 3 miles. I also feel my old hip imbalances coming back, so I am also doing more balance strength to try to offset which feels really good (doing as much as I can, considering my core muscles are wonky). I can't run intervals or anything and my running speed is down 30-60 seconds/mile so far (with occasional days where I have to say "forget that").

Interestingly, I have found running easier than walking with all the changes. I feel more winded and uncomfortable when I walk 2 miles, but can obviously still run for quite a while and other than the extra weight (distributed centrally :P) I don't really notice a huge difference in the moment. I've been trying more of a "fall forward" walk, so we'll see how that affects my comfort levels.

4 days to go, my husband is fighting off some ick (weather changed in Texas very abruptly), but I think we'll make it.

[skhill]

Wow, Colby, that's awesome!

Well, between nursing a cold and crazy weather, I haven't run since last Saturday. Was planning on running this morning, but I was slipping around a bit on the snowy sidewalks while letting my dog do her business so no run. Maybe tomorrow morning, so long as it's not actually 13F and windy...