Debra - thanks for the suggestion regarding sleep. Thought it was due to mileage but now I'm thinking it was early allergies. Took NyQuil and got about three days sleep and now feel much more human!! Great job getting in your runs outside!!

Marie - Charge on Might Leader!! If this can be done, You can DO it!!! Look at all you've done already? So sorry about the storm of bad news but am very inspired by how you are using that to motivate! Good luck on your quest!!

Art - Great race report !! Amazing job and Awesome time!!! It's always nice to PR! Enjoy the glow.  Post race blahs are normal. Push yourself out for a short run on training days and you'll get your feet back.

Dan - started training with carb loading? Hahahaha!! So that's how you do it? Going to be the grandfather of the bride? That's exciting!!

Az - again, glad to hear you're able to get out and burn off some stress. Thinking of DH and hope his recovery is quick and full! You will do fine in your marathon! There are 8 weeks left, 7 to run. I just went from 13 to 18 and no injury. All you need is a couple of 20 mi runs. I'm thinking 4 weeks and you'll be ready.

Rich - Loved your race report! Amazing job on your race pacing and time!! Awesome PR!! So sorry about Rob. I'm sure you'll miss him and glad you got a chance to honor him with the race. Good job with the recovery run!!

Ray - Good runs! If you are in the Bay area, I registered for the SF Giant's race on 8/4, either the 10k or HM, Idk. Loved the idea of finishing in the park!

Altair - If you are running 11 mi today, you could run a HM next week. Several training plans only go to 10 mi. If you want to do it, go for it!

So this is the weekend's run report and apologies if you've seen this already on the other thread:

Saturday's 10k race was rough. It was windy and, for me, cold. I knew the course would be hard but I don't think I ran even half of it. Went out too fast. I had no idea what speed I could run since I've been jogging along for the last 8 weeks so I tried running at the pace of my last race, about 11:30. And it felt ok for a few minutes but couldn't sustain it. So I may have sacrificed some conditioning to get the aerobic burn. I'm interested to see how long it takes to recover it. However, at the end of the slog, I was not as tired as usual. That will happen when you're only WALKING! And then didn't the sun come out? So I thought I'd have an even longer time than last year but it was 7 min shorter. Surprise! Then Scott reminded me that I spent about 5 min lost last year trying to find the finish. It's the first race of the season so it's all downhill from here, in a good way.

Sunday's 18 m is done!! I was so stressing it! Had no course plan but the weather was soooo perfect, I had no reason for excuses AND I woke up at 6:30. Amazing!! ? Not! Time changed but it was like 9 pm before I remembered. I usually choose a course to control the hills and traffic but in this case the run was so long I had no choice but buck up so I ran from the middle of Cincy east 6 mi. to the bike/rail path, north 3 miles and then back. Passed through some very depressed areas but it was early. Wore hydration pack but not full. Thought I had enough water but ran out at 7m. That wasn't good. Thank God for men's car love! Twice now I've glommed water from men hosing down their cars. Was tired at 13. I'd been out about 3:30 by then which was actually a bit faster than last week but slow by your standards. Sat down and ate, dammit. it was only a couple of bites but the transition from moving to sitting felt great. Well time for that mile was blown but finished out the 18. Started around 7:30 and finished around 1. Folks were running past in just a shirt and capris or shorts. I stayed bundled in three layers. Being wet when I'm not hot makes me really cold quickly. Couldn't take the gloves off until around 11. Might have a health issue. Anyway, at the end my sholders hurt the most, then my back. Didn't have any pain in the legs. Actually changed clothes in a restroom and ate lunch. So, the waitress says, Beautiful weather! Are you going to get out today? I said, I've been running for five hours. She said, That's a lot of errands! 

Biggest problem is how to keep going for that long and how to find the time. FIVE hours!  Still don't know what to do about the intervals, whether to keep them and how often. Also have been experimenting with fuels bc I don't like the texture of gel and it is all sugar/dextrose. May try Sunsweet Ones for the HM this weekend. They have everything but sodium and caffein, which I can get from a sport drink or Emergen-C, which I love, and a cup of coffee!

Later! Great runs to all!!

Mary Kay

Deb- Good luck at this weekend's race.  Get some rest if you can- it's probably going to help you more with the cold than any more running at this point.

To all my run friends- Have a great weekend and if you're running an event, I wish you all the best.

Cheers,

Rich

Mkayc:  WAY TO GO on your determination to run the 18 miles!!!  Proud of you!!  It's important to get your legs, body to know how it feels to be running that long and in hours. Be careful, it is still stressful on the body so post recovery is critical.

Oh wow, I'm away from the computer for a week and have a lot of catching up on the thread!  So good to see everyone running races & completing new distances.  Sorry to hear about other's colds and aches. Knock on wood.... (an old superstition saying to keep it away) but I haven't had a cold or flu at all this year. I attribute it to swilling down an Emergen C  every night. They taste horrible, but I think they have worked.

Tks for the comments of support for my parents. This was a good week (as weeks go) for both of them.

I did get my runs all in and really stayed true to my clean eating regime. It has been mostly vegetarian, but I do have eggs, milk, yogurt. Surprisingly, I haven't been very hungry, nor had a lot of cravings. I did have physical withdrawal (from sugar?) the first two days. Every cell in my body seemed to be screaming!!

Happy St Patty's Day everyone. May the luck of the Irish be with each of you, the wind at your back, the the dog doodie out of your path.

Marie

Storm made it through here last night, about 17 BELOW and woke up to about 6 BELOW, but warming up now, about 5 degrees!! Pretty much in the teens and single digits for the rest of the week (they say).  Still not feeling well, dry hacking cough resulting in very irritated throat, slight fever last night but a couple of Day Quils should get me functioning to watch March Madness college hoops!!  Yelling not recommended, .  Vision is good though, haha!! Can't let my misery get the best of me so just waiting out this crappy cough and miserable weather.

The bright light in my weekend was that our granddaughter turned 2 on Saturday!!  WOW!! already and she loves being a 'big sister!!'

Art:  Yes, I CAN'T WAIT to run my trails in northern AZ and in PHX desert mts. while I visit my grandbabies and hope to get some bike rides on my Harley during AZ Bike Week .  Gosh, will I be complaining of the HOT TEMPS there already?!?  What kind of car are you remodeling?  Great 8 miler just because you can!    Those 'days' seem like long ago .......... boohoo!!!  haha!

Gito57:  How are you??

Marie:  glad you're parents had a good week!  My DH's sister (has 4 other siblings) decided to step up and care for the parents for awhile.  Over the years, DH has been the one who is 'expected' to help out physically and financially so this has really relieved much of the worry for DH (us).  I worry about the added stress on DH as result of parents' aging/health issues so I'm glad his sister is there.

DH and I are in the dental health profession so I can understand the 'sugar' addiction of most people.  It's everywhere so hard to avoid.  I don't have a sweet tooth and can live without it but I know most people 'can't' or 'won't' and we have witness/seen the consequences (on the body and teeth). It's tough to 'quit' so just like any other addiction, it's a slow process.  You did it the 'hard way' by 'cold turkey!'  AWESOME!!  There are lots of alternative options but it's difficult for many to make it a habit.  

Dan:  how was the race?

Another snowstorm here,   it's still snowing and pretty breezy, the temps show about 12 degrees but it has to be COLDER than that!! (I don't trust our temp gauge).  About 6"-8" of snow predicted.  Still feeling miserable;; dry, hacking cough is relentless, throat is severely irritated but body aches and fever gone.  Resting alot but I just can't take naps so my sleeping schedule has stayed pretty normal.  Watched NCAA conference games all weekend while DH kept me informed of the NASCAR events!!  yeah, I know!! 

And, I am lurking the forums, haha!!

Friends and family telling me it's practically summer in the SW with 60+ degrees; now, that's mean!!

Dan:  I'm near Bemidji, yeah, pretty cold and still in WINTER SEASON; really trying to 'adapt' but it's pretty dismal lately.  You are doing great with your training runs even though you're on the dreadmill, WAY TO GO!!  I could do that but why double my misery?!?

Art - I'm training for my first full on May 5th, the Flying Pig and that  is why all the miles. Yes, usually a HM would be the goal but this one was a cut back week.

Debra - you, Dan and I will all be racing that weekend.  Six more weeks and then taper!! I am running out of time. I'm taking off from work part of this week and all of next week, if I can, to train right, rest and relax.

Marie - I am a BIG fan of Emergen-C Raspberry. Love the fizz and it has lots of good things!! You are stronger than I. i've been trying to take that first step and get rid of sugar but am not getting it done.

The HM was good and bad. Making a long story short, I took a wrong turn at 9m and ended up running the 15k course++ instead. By the time I'd realized the mistake I just couldn't wrap my mind around turning around and picking up the four extra miles. It was really cold and wet!! I had a good pace going and could have PR'd but not after that so I just called it a day and went home and did a bunch of work before falling out. Woke today feeling awful and hoping this will be the race that keeps me going next time I get weak torward the end. Ironically, I did something similar last year during the season's second race and for the same reason, the weather. If it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have pushed through the Pig HM because it felt like it would never end. So, that's how I learn? Well take it from me, DNFs do not feel good!

Run strong and fierce!

Mary Kay