I rode my bike into work Monday (standard) and Tuesday (change up because I had a dentist appt. The hygienist thanked me for doing such a great job keeping my teeth clean.)

But today I'm back to running in. I'm getting better at running easy, but it's still a challenge. I much prefer to push myself to go faster, especially toward the end, where I look at my garmy and tell myself that I'm at a 9:30 pace, but if I haul ass this last mile, I could get that down to 9:25. Hence, I never--never--cool down. Another habit I maybe ought to break.

Over the weekend, I bought a new pair of Beasts, plus a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I've only got one mile in with the VFFs, and I'm not sure I like it, yet. But I think I will. I need to find some trails to run on. Most of the trails in Annapolis are paved. Hmm. Maybe I need to post a question in the Annapolis group. (BTW, if you're in or near Nap town, there's a group for you!)

So, that's my exciting news for the week. VFFs. The barefooting adventure begins.

Next week's excitement is karate camp. (And I ought to post this item to the Martial Arts group.) Last year was my first year there, and my first time going to summer camp. Ever. (My parents still receive regular guilt trips from me, and they deserve them. Is there an "Adults Who Have Issues with Their Parents" group here? (Oh, I guess that's every group.)

Obviously, the mose exciting news this week is the upcoming SF marathon. Run hard, Trey and Anne! Have a great time. Crabby, if you do ever decide to do it, it's on my list, too. Maybe we should plan something? I'm thinking 2015. (What? It conflicts with camp.) Also, Crabby, if you run the HM, have fun and good luck!

Okay, then. Back to work for me.

Reading about the marathon Saturday just gets me more amped about my first one.  Too bad it's way off in November, but reading through your list made me wonder about what kind of storage I need for the actual race?  Do you take toilet paper with you on the run?  I get that GUs and water can be on a belt, but what about bigger stuff like the TP?  Sorry if that's a dumb question, but I'm a rookie. 

In the past, I've had those little individual servings of TP that the local running store sold. I don't have any now so am thinking of some TP in a ziplock sandwich bag. Of course the shorts I'm running in have 2 small hip pockets that will hold a few GU's , keys, etc. I can put GU's in one pocket, and the little baggie in the other. I have a running shirt with a zippered pocket in the small of the back which was convenient. But it'll be too warm for that particular cold weather top.

So, I'm going with 2 GU's in one hip pocket, and then several band-aids, a saftey pin for lancing blisters should I need, and the TP in a zip lock (air squeezed out and folded in half) in the other. The rest I'll have in my bag for after the race.

MTA: Thanks GIG!

Personally I just hold onto the TP until the start, usually by that time I don't need it any more. Just me.

Crabby-you've lived in some nice places! Bodega Bay is great, but the birds there are really a pain .

Gig--going from Beasts to VFF's is a HUGE leap. Take it real easy and slow. I started doing a lot of VFF runs on the treadmill.

I'm in for 2015 y'all. Oops, the world ends in 2012. Never mind. BTW

RaceReady shorts have lots of pockets. They cost a little more but they're worth it.

Have a good run, you two. I'll be wearing my SF Marathon running cap on my long run.

MTA: Nice hard tempo 6.3 today, attacked the hills and did some strides. Day off tomorrow.

Anne & Trey, you guys are going to have a great time.  Can't wait to read your race reports.  Leave it all out on the course.

 5+ yesterday at MP. Had a co-worker come out for the group run for the first time.  The farthest he'd run before was 2 miles, but he handled the 3.1 mile main run just fine.  I'm going to keep working to set the hook and get him to make this a habit.

Yesterday: Ran to work, four miles. After work, (before karate class), I ran 4+ in the Beasts, then one mile in my VFFs, and then a very easy 2+ in the Beasts again.

Russ, it is a major difference, not just in the shoe, but in how I run. The VFFs really make me tend toward forefoot running. That's partly the point, and it seems to work, at least yesterday. My first time in them, I wasn't so sure about the whole thing, but that was running on the street. Yesterday, I used them on a track, and it made all the difference. I was leaning forward, landing around the balls of my feet, and going much faster than I had intended. I think that's the main thing I'll have to factor into my runs. It made me pretty tired, pretty quickly. But I loved the feeling of running with them on the track. You're point is well received, Russ. I feel like I'll be okay transitioning, but I definitely need to be aware of what I'm doing.

Crabby, I am so in with the Baltimore Marathon in 2011, unless you want to do it sooner. (I haven't signed up for anything for this Fall, yet, but there is a race I've been thinking about that opens up for registration on August 1.)

Rode my bike 2 miles to meet with 58 girls scouts out at this cabin on the beach to talk intertidal and was planning to go back to work hen my best running buddy called for a 7 miler.  A bit fast for me but a nice run all the same.  I really am getting behind at work.

Those VFF sound interesting and I can't really imagine trail running in those.

Gig...Aug 1 registration...I know what you're talking and I have the Runner's World article on the back of my office door that shows the start of that darn fun race...and someday I will run it...just a long way to go during the school year.  Maybe that is the one to do in 2010...or Baltimore.  You decide!

Anyone getting nervous about running 26.2 in less than 48 hours?

 

Anyone getting nervous about running 26.2 in less than 48 hours?

Yes, of course. Even if I run 100 of these things, I think I'll always get butterflies. But that's part of the excitement. I guess. 

Layover in Houston. DW and I have our bellies full of huevos rancheros. YUM!