Waiting here at 4:45 a.m. for my capris to dry so I can get in my miles.  Anyone wanna come join me??

 

So who passed you up on your run today?

Everyone.   First day of below freezing temperatures and I wimped out.  It would have been a glorious still morning for a run.  Definitely out of practice in the motivation levels.

Up early (for me) and got in a run of 4.94 miles.  The contractors are finally coming today to start work on the bathroom.  It's been a minor inconvenience for the past couple months not to have a shower upstairs. Of course, after today there won't be a toilet or sink either, but hopefully that won't last too long.

My granddaughter shared her Christmas plans with me.  (She's four and a half.)  She is going to hide all her toys except for 1 stuffed animal so Santa will think she doesn't have much and give her more.  If that works, I am going to try it next year.

Psychologists who treat people with sleep disorders always recommend making a list of all the things that are on your mind, then going back to bed.  Taking them from your head and moving them to paper releases the burden of fearing you will forget. This is a strong method and it works. A hot bath before bed, and not watching TV or having a lot of light in front of you (computer screen) are also helpful.  Good approach Jay.

As to tombstones, there is that old chestnut to the effect that you never see one that says, "I should have spent more time at the office."

Pleased to get 4 miles in this morning at a nice brisk pace, even though my legs felt tired and my quads are dead.

Some advice wanted from those of you who have had the following experience because I haven't and know nothing about it:  SpareTire is 40 and he's a bulky muscle kind of guy. (In the photo he is on my right.  My RP is on my left. Notice he's got on his compression sleeves.)

On long runs, he often gets hit with painful cramps always in the same area, the calf or soleus.  He does exercises, stretches, ART, everything, but they continue.  At the Half it got him again at ten miles and he ended up jog/walking it in. I ran back to bring him in and it was painful to see.

I'm thinking maybe this is electrolytes and there is something he could be taking, in addition to the Gatorade offered in the race. Anybody experience this or have some ideas?  Thanks, Spareribs

Ribs, there are several reasons for leg cramps-dehydration, low potassium (:eat more bananas). Marj and I both experienced them after sitting on our long flight(s) back from Israel.

Having the same cold here, but quite sunny. Had a different sort of run this morning. Took the car in for servicing and ran 2 miles to the Y for yoga. Then ran another 3 miles home.

Busy weekend coming up. Theater with friends on Sat., Marj's 6 year old granddaughter's b-day party on Sun. and my DS and DIL are expecting their 1st child on Friday (a girl). Fortunately they all live close by. Running will be short and limited this weekend.

Thanks for the comments on my dad. I'm really looking forward to seeing him today when he's more awake.

Ribs, besides electrolytes, it could be just endurance conditioning. I've read that a lot of times people want to blame all sorts of things for cramps (and indeed, electrolyte imbalances are a major cause), but they usually show up when you're fatigued, so have a lot to do with endurance and conditioning. Get Sparetire to put in more long runs... I know I get worse cramps when I'm not in as good shape as I should be, endurance wise.

Good luck on the re-wire or upgrade, Roch. Hope it works out. Those sorts of things always make me nervous; it seems nothing works quite right afterward.

5.1 miles today in a back and forth, multi-lap, out-and-back sort of way. Ah yes, urban running at its best, with Seattle hills, traffic and pedestrians! I realized I'm right in the middle of major medical establishments here, with Virgina Mason almost right next door, Swedish Medical Center just a couple blocks away, some "Polyclinic" group, Seattle Surgery Center just across the street and Harborview Medical Center, where dad is, just a couple blocks away. I swear it takes less time to walk it than drive! This afternoon I have a staff meeting to call in to, and I think I'll just trot back here to the hotel for it, then go back and get mom.

Be sure to go vote! My DH and I did early voting a couple weeks ago because I was going to be out of town today.

Quick fly by at lunch - 4.5 miles for me on the TM this morning.  DD asked me to wake her up early so she could run with me, and I stayed on the TM to see if she was up to it, but her TV show won out.  These days she DVRs endless episodes of Charmed and watches them before school...

On long runs, he often gets hit with painful cramps always in the same area, the calf or soleus.  He does exercises, stretches, ART, everything, but they continue.  At the Half it got him again at ten miles and he ended up jog/walking it in. I ran back to bring him in and it was painful to see.

 

I'm thinking maybe this is electrolytes and there is something he could be taking, in addition to the Gatorade offered in the race. Anybody experience this or have some ideas?  Thanks, Spareribs

Old bones - according to my Ironman mentor, Gatorade should provide sufficient sodium to prevent cramps. However, though it’s not so troublesome for all-day ultras and Ironmans, the citric acid added to Gatorade for taste moderates rates of absorption of the needed sodium, etc. so maybe try fast food salt packets and plain water for the faster absorption needed in shorter, more intense, running. Cilf BArs and water provide the same benefits in longer runs.  Good luck.

.

ps - not that I would want to make you envious or anything like that but mariposai and erika are both in town today along with enke and francesca already being here to say nothing of dove close by, plus your Valentine goddess too (not that I would remember anything like that for any reason).  Unfortunately, I’m not.

pps - was anyone in that photo wearing a clown costume for Halloween?