NEVERMIND awood.....just saw your post about the knee on the board. I think a rest day was a good idea. Both you and Dave making it so far in the streak is awesome but your health is most important.

On Saturday, Dec 22, 2012, I participated in the End Of The World 5K in Seguin, Texas. This was especially meaningful for me personally this morning, as my Mom passed away in Virginia in the early hours of this morning (Dec 22) after a long illness.   Running is often my therapy and doing this race I had already scheduled helped me to cope.  She had been ill for a long time, so her demise was not unexpected, but we just did not know when it would happen.   My sister lives in her area and was with her.  My mom and I had thankfully already said our goodbyes to each other, knowing what was coming.   I will miss her but it is also a kind of relief , if you can understand or relate to this, to know she is no longer suffering.   She was cremated per her wishes, so there is really nothing for me to do but now wait until my sister and I can get a date scheduled for a small service at Arlington National Cemetery for her ashes to be placed with those of my father, a WWII and Korean War veteran.

Below is the link to my report and photos I did on this event.  Please feel free to share the report and photos.

http://forums.runnersworld.com/forums/runner-communities/beginners#plckforumpage=ForumDiscussion&plckdiscussionid=Cat%3ARunner%20CommunitiesForum%3A608106477Discussion%3A8f8fb447-5c8d-4bc9-b29b-cc76418a561e

Thanks for starting us off, Gustav.  Hope you had a great workout!

So how did the strength training go, Jerry?

This bitch cut me off  Don't hold back, Damaris, tell us how you really feel about her.   So sorry about your fall and the knee. I hope at least she was decent enough to help you up and apologize.  If not...THAT RUDE BITCH!   Sucks too, that you had to DNF.  (((DAMARIS)))

Wow, Liz, that is quite a talent, being able to fall asleep while on the treadmill!  Hope it all went well!

Go figure, I want to try running in a snow storm.  Kristi, you, young lady, are nuts.  Been there done that when I lived in Ohio.   Snow running can be quite exhilarating, but I could only take so much of it.  In an out-and-out storm, it can be quite hazardous!  Stay safe up there!

Hope your miles went well, Awood!  I want to see the Hobbit too. But I can't watch 3D movies, kicks up my vertigo.  Not fun trying to watch a movie when the room is spinning around!  Sorry about the streak being broken, but after the knee gets rested, this only presents the opportunity for you to start another one, right?

Right now my mission is to procure an ugly Christmas sweater for an "ugly sweater party"  Umm, gee Kristin, in your case, kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?  Cuz once YOU are wearing the sweater, than it isn't ugly anymore, is it? Shoot, you'd probably make a burlap bag look good if you wore it.   Happy rest day!

Enjoy the RD, Zelanie. Serious cooking/baking.  Will oatmeal cookies be involved?  My favorite!   If so...please let inside that strange-looking dog knocking on your door.

I feel like such a slug now, Kitteh, lol.  Here you are pregnant and doing 22 mpw and my weekly mileage is around 15 mpw.  Congrats on your new preggers high for the week!

Hope your headache has gone by now, SheCan!   As for the miles...listen to your body, do what is right. If rest is needed, take it!  Oh, never mind..I answer posts as I go down each page, and now I'm on the next page and see you did get the miles in.  Congrats!

Small world, Jack, I watched that movie last night too!  It was a good one!  Enjoy your party tonite!

Congrats on your miles, Mitch!

Sorry about your streak too, Dave.  As said to Awood above, just an opportunity for you to start your next one. Congrats on your miles today.

Thanks for the comments on my Mom.  It was not unexpected, we (my sis and I) just did not know when it would happen.  She actually hung on for longer than we thought she would.  I am not a great one for religion or church-going, but I do believe there is some type of higher power and I believe (and hope) there is some type of after-life, and so I think my mom is now happily reunited with my Dad.

Scotty: Sorry about your sad news. It was nice that your sister was there with her..

Kristin: Today I got an Otterbox for my new iPhone.

Awood: Your advice does sound insane! Actually, I was laughing while I was reading it, but you know what? I will do it!! I will suck it up (buttercup) and go for it. Hopefully it will not be raining and I won't be in that bad of shape. Also, on a serious note, rest your knee as much as you have to. If you are anything like me, (a bit stubborn), I know you want to get out there and run, but rest really is good for it. I took about ten days off with my IT band problem and it was torture, but it hindsight it was probably the best thing for it.

Zel: I would be honored to adjust my prediction downward!  I will also be training for a HM in April so we can compare notes along the way. I think I might try the Ryan Hall program this time.

Scotty - prayers out for your mom, you, and your family.

So sorry to hear about your Mom Scotty, but I do know exactly what you're talking about.  We've lost quite a few people in my family to cancer, including my mother when I was 19, and it gets to the point where you just want the pain to stop.  Still hard though.  We'll keep you and your family in our thoughts.