MrInertia, thanks for kicking us off this week! And way to get over a less-than-stellar week. Hey, they happen to all of us at one time or another. You got the best revenge. Congratulations to ShanHas, hope she's having a great time and can rest up that leg a bit. Hoping it's not a stress fracture (just didn't seem likely) and just some overuse. Cash, that sounds like pandemonium! But yes, I'd like to do the run first, then the bike. It would be fun to do a tri... if I didn't have to swim. Just have a thing about it, ya know? 20 miles yesterday... last couple were really hard. I'm really getting so tired of running in the snow. Just increases the difficulty factor so much to have to wear layers and face masks and on and on and on. Can't wait to just throw on shorts, top, shoes and GO. Oh well. Next Sunday's long run will be what was originally scheduled for last Sunday (just 12 miles) so that'll be kind of nice. Less than 2 weeks till I leave for Arizona and the Ragnar Relay! Getting really excited but a bit nervous. My last few attempts at 10k speedwork have fallen short of goals. Oh well... key for this thing is FUN I've been told. There are a number of our team who are recovering from injury and not quite on their peak for performance. Several of us are in Boston training, too, so it's an interesting group. Bugs, hang in there. I know we've said it many times, but you'll figure this out and get the right combination of training, shoes, recovery, whatever, to finally be back strong. Just don't take on too much too soon! (like the hottie Italian comment! )

ShanHas: Congratulations! Best wishes and happy honeymoon! Groov: Congrats on the 1/2M effort. Maybe your better off run wise to start out a little slower and run progression to hit your goal pace for the race? It's hard to hold back and not take out fast with the leaders but I do think the payoff is much more in the longer distances. It's just too much distance to run at hard effort unless you have trained that way, know the course and can push yourself that way the entire distance. What is it they say? 10 - 15 seconds per mile too fast in the beginning costs you minutes per mile at the end? Oy, did I ever get it this morning. Run started out just fine and then 4-miles into it the NW wind gusted and pelted me with sleet for the next 10 minutes. Big wind gusts the next 8-miles. Was so glad to get back to the house. I did bag a sweet pair of trail shoes today on clearance. (Adidas Response TR X) Can't wait to get to the park this weekend and try them out. Bugs: Hope you are basking in the warmth of your new furnace.

Big congratulations to Shanhas. Wish you both all the best as you start this journey together. Nice runs MrI, Erika, Groove, p2r. I need to spend some more time in the forums for inspiration. I would've been happy with 23 miles last week. Instead, I logged a big goosegg with a chest cold that I didn't feel comfortable running through. Did an easy 4 on Sunday but am still struggling with chest congestion. Will go again today and maybe spend some time in the sauna to loosen things up. Hopefully this "taper" won't affect me too much ahead of my half in two weeks.

No running last night, or anything else except criss-crossing the halls of the highschool with DS1 for his parent-teacher conferences. He came along because he needed his mathbook, but didn't really want to go into the sessions. Once he did though, he got into it and it was really good. He's such a neat kid. Saw the girl he really likes there, too, and it was so cute to see him just sort of melt when he saw her. Awwww. It's still really nice out today so I'll get a run in after work... outside! High wind advisory for the hills though, which is where I'll be, so that might make it a less-than-perfect run.

Wow. Take it easy with the colds everyone. DW had Type A Flu (yes she was tested and came up positive) and it took nearly two weeks for her to get over it. I was lucky enough not to catch it. Hope it's just a cold for everyone. Okay 12-miler this morning. Colder than geewiz again and it's supposed to stay that way until next week. At least it dried out enough during the day that ice was not an issue out there. Nice that daylight comes a bit earlier and lasts a little later now. Looks like the wind will be low again so it won't be too bad tomorrow. Guess we're one day closer to Spring anyhow.

Ok, Bugs... next time, you tell her that's ok, you've moved on and are the ruler of the kitchen... leave her guessing. Sorry but that comment from her was just too weird. +39F today, can you believe it? And that was at 5 pm!!! Awesome, but very slick on the roads. I got in 5.5 miles of hilly running (not big steep hills, but long steady inclines) and loved it. Hope this lasts a few more days, but tomorrow is my speed work MLR (was hoping for 9 to 10 miles with mile repeats at 10k pace...) so will probably do it on the treadmill. Just too slick outside to get any quality work done. I hope my new avatar shows up...That's my valentine's present! License plate is MM 685 for my Marathon Maniacs number, and the frame says 26.2 on the top, and the bottom line is "Nothing Less Will Do!" DH is pretty kewl.

Erika & Cash, I agree way too weird of a thing to say. Responding with a "I do my best work in the kitchen" would have been a great come-back.Dam. Well it's nasty cold here but I'm running at noon despite.