Good afternoon Everyone, Laurie, I have been considering trying to hawk my landscape photographs at local and regional art fairs. I went to a huge one in Ann Arbor a year and a half ago with Debbie and I think that I can produce the same quality work. I've always had the goal to make money with my photography. I've shot weddings, done portraiture (which I love), and shot fine art/landscapes. I've even sold a few of my works. I am also planning to make a name for myself here as a portrait photographer. I plotting my strategy. A website is probably in my future some time too. Do you know anything about web site hosting/development? 4 miles this morning. 5K planned for Thursday morning. Cheers, Mike

0 miles on New Year's Day (TOO COLD!!); 9.2 miles outside yesterday (out of guilt); 6.0 miles on the indoor track (19 laps to a mile) today. Trying to get a good start to the year!

Mike, yes details. Time. Place etc. Happy new year everyone. Going back to running tomorrow at 8am. Laurie

Well, OK. The race was on New year's day. It was a 5K that started at 9:30 am. Not knowing anyone, I was a little apprehensive but worked through it. I arrived in Knoxville with plenty of time to register. Registration was at a restaurant that overlooks the Tennessee river. Temps were in the upper 20's. I warmed up and stretched and then positioned myself about 2/3 of the way back in the pack. As the gun went off I moved over to the left curb where no one was running. I had decided that I would like to at least beat my time from the jingle bell run 3 weeks ago (and maybe come in feeling a little stronger). I settled on a pace that I figured would do the trick and started passing people. I tried to make sure that I maintained my pace and not "chase" people, as I think that was one of my issues in December. At the 1 mile mark I was right on pace and felt very comfortable. At the 2 mile mark I found that I was running even splits . The last mile had a gradual hill that declined to the finish, and I lengthened my stride a little and passed some more people. The course leveled out just before the finish and at the 3 mile mark I kicked it and finished 40 seconds under my December time, and 20 seconds under my stretch goal . I was very happy with that. I ended up finishing 199/482 and 23/41 in my age group. This was a little tougher crowd than the last race. The OA winner finished in a little over 14 minutes. There was an 80 year old man that finished under 29 minutes. Linda, I'm glad to see you back. Laurie, I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend and back to running also. Kevin, Glad to hear that your holidays were relaxing. Teresa, I think I would get dizzy running around in tight circles like that. I got back from my run yesterday to find my dog Jake had let himself out of the back yard and he was sitting in the car port waiting for me as I came walking up the street. I'm glad that he's not one to wander. I'd have spent a couple of hours looking for my other dog. Cheers everyone. Mike

Hi everyone, Sorry I've been absent too. i'll start back where I left off, & see how far I can get... Mike, your art fair plan sounds reasonable! I didn't even think about the expenses for the display. (re ann arbor) what kind of help could you use? I hope you do it. Great job in your 5K!!! -- I'm glad Jake was there waiting. my latest fun with dogs was when Sadie got sprayed by a skunk yesterday. Laurie... the tenor is Eliz's. ! I'm glad you're back too. how was your run? Kevin, happy happy back to work. yes. resolve to check in. i read, just don't always write. did you find your work bench? I need to do that. Linda, I'm so glad to hear from you!!! well, you know I would worry. but it's ok, I understand. I didn't call but started to a few times. each time when it was good here, it wouldn't have been good there. but the threat remains. I think you're right.. easing in during year end close would be great. auto-smart. Teresa, you are tough. 19 laps to a mile? really? I will never complain again. until i forget. mine is 8 laps. i thought i was a trooper for doing 10.3 last Sunday. too long & things I've got to get done... so just a little of what i've been doing. I did my first trail run 1-01, which was really cool! except, it was hilly, snowy & icy, very rough footing, not manicured type of trail at all & you couldn't see it. I had to walk because i started to hurt, & wasn't dressed for that, & then we got lost. so it was 1:35, & I got so cold it was scary. I'll do it again but plan better. I signed up for a full next Oct. 11. 11 miles this morning, a 10 min. pace. it hurt a little but wasn't awful. best weather we've had in a long time, so I didn't want to waste it. Do any of you do recovery runs? I'm trying to add them, but so far have been doing them too long & a little too fast. Will apply some great advice from SR tomorrow morning.

Laurie, what did your PT say? .... i'm sorry, it seems like I'm always harping on everybody. but (fwiw) it doesn't seem to me like the way to start back after a month off & months of a recurring injury is with 3 miles of hills! Maybe running doesn't have to take a backburner. Just... work back into it gradually. after my 6 mo. hammie layoff, I remember being happy when I could do one lap around the track. (on my rational days ) Each situation is unique... but I wonder if it would be worth a try for you.

Laurie, I have to agree with the others. 3 hilly miles is not easing into it. That's a bummer if it puts you back on the sidelines. I can certainly understand wanting to get back to it though. My finish time on Thursday was 25:40. Debbie, The expense of the tent and the display panels will be there regardless of which art fair I go to. So it will actually be a one time expense. I could use some help setting up, tearing down, respite. If you want to help, I'll put you to work, don't worry. It sounds like your running is going very well. Where did you find to trail run? I haven't tried that here yet. although, there are plenty of trails to run on, and plenty of people running them too. {{{Sadie}}} {{{Debbie}}} (for having to deal with a skunk smelling Sadie). What's funny about Jake and Maggie is that they have found a way to get into the garage (its detached). Maggie can't find her way out of it though. So, I have to go out to the garage and open the door to let her out. That's the only reason Maggie wasn't out when I got back from running on Saturday. Eliz, Wouldn't it almost be easier if someone just assigned us a boy/girl friend? Sometimes I get so frustrated with the whole "does she like me?" routine. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in high school. But, other than that, I'm glad that you pushed yourself out the door and ran too. Teresa, my head is still going around thinking about 114 times around that indoor track. I'd completely loose track of which lap I was on. I would get up to about 90 something, some one would try to talk to me and I have to start all over again. Kevin, you are right about the slackers being weeded out by now. I think of that 80 year old that finished in under 29 minutes (not that I'm anywhere near 80 years old). I think Knoxville is just a tough running crowd. The guy that won the race on thursday was down the street having a beer by the time I came in. As a matter of fact I think the top 5 finishere were with him. Cheers Mike