Some great runs already this a.m. Very nice! I opted out of my 10-mile trail run this a.m. since I was unable to eat much yesterday and definitely don't have the calories in me to expend. The hard part is getting over the stupid guilt I feel for not running, even though this is the first Saturday I haven't run in well over a month. Maybe I'll actually get some things done around the house! The sun's out right now, although there's suppose to be more rain on the way. Have a great Saturday, everyone!

The Rudolph Run (5K) in Huntsville was fun. It was the 2nd race for my friend, the gentle giant, who I've recruited. My time was actually under 30 minutes; 29:28! I would call that a PR but sometime many years ago I did a 5K faster than that, so I don't think I get to count. I ran the mile fun race after the 5k and here is a picture of me finishing (illegally, since I didn't register for the fun run /Users/fussellh/Desktop/CIMG0262.JPG Ok, obviously that didn't work. Can someone out there tell me how to put a picture on this site?

Instead of a run we snowshoed this morning around our local resevoir (1.5 mile circuit) -(see photos on KR) and then dug out the car. It's still snowing lightly here to add to the 9 inches we got yesterday-more to come tomorrow. Fortunately we live in a condo and most of the snow removal is done for us. Might throw on the Yak Trax for a short run tomorrow. Fussy, Marj adds the photos via Photobucket.

12/20: 8.07 miles in 1:38:15 for a 12:10 m/m. 38F feels like 28F. Splits: 13:01, 12:00, 12:15, 12:09, 11:21, 11:14, 12:02, 13:19 Overcast, grey and windy. Followed the Potomac River from Haines point to the Georgetown waterfront. Dressed perfectly for conditions (that rarely happens). Stopped at mile 4 and took water, gu and stretched. Everything feels pretty good. We shall see what tomorrow brings. Note: This is the first time I have been able to run this distance since 4/07 when I did a 10 mile race. It has been a long hard road back….and I am still not 100% certain I am back…but my p.t. says I can do the Miami half at the end of January and that is my goal. I have learned many lessons during this recovery and I am already a stronger runner because of them. Everything is a gift and I am grateful that I have been given this one.

hi everyone I don't have time to read but wanted to post.. if I wait too long I get log jammed. Meg... Ribs, thanks for the 5K encouragement. have been looking for one. you think, train for it? or just run it? Bill thanks for starting that discussion the other day. not quite better but getting there! 2 sort of runs.. 3 on theTM yesterday. 7 today by the river, 12 with the wind chill (sorry Mary) IRQ! except for the into the winds part. slow ...10:32 overall (8:37 max) but the first mile was 14:24! half of it I just walked, in a foot of unplowed snow. The rest wasn't bad, but a little slippery. I give you all so much credit for long runs in this.. it takes a lot of focus not to fall. most miles were around 9:40. i think there should be a law against bridges that are overloaded with snow creaking in an illegal manner as you cross them, over ice infested waters. I'm just saying. hr not bad (for me) 163 ahr, 178 max.

I have learned many lessons during this recovery and I am already a stronger runner because of them.

I'd love to hear your lessons learned - I'm sure we could all learn from them. Great to see you back.. Dg - just do it! You are in more than good enough condition to run a 5K. Fussy - I upload pics to Flikr,com, then I right click on the photo, copy the "properties" and then past the properties into the post with an [img] in front of it and a [/img] at the end, but you have to use these kind of brackets <> instead of the [ ] ... hope that helps. {{{Nono}}}

nono, that's awful, I'm sorry. And now you have to be nice to your guests, or not so much? That'd be hard, having had to have disappointed your mom and dealing w/ your own frustration. Go kick some sand, at least! Holly, you are the most disciplined person. Good job! And to you to, Bil, nice going. dg., just run it and have fun, talk with the other runners, see what you think. And write a nice long RR, of course! Frank says "hang in there, Tory. I've done something similar." [Today, Frank appropriated the little stuffed & fluffy Santa hat ornament with the Red Sox "B" on it that is supposed to hang on the tree. He thinks all stuffed animals and anything related is his.] When we went out today, the accuweather box that pops up by our training logs here said it was 5 and felt like -14; at our return, it read 3 and feels like -17. Still, DH got in his 8 miler at around a 12:15 pace. He's on a 4:1 run walk routine. I was too cold to run that pace, so I'd run ahead and then back and did 10 at about a 10:40 pace. [Before anyone cracks wise, I asked if that was ok and he said it was quite entertaining, actually.] He's right on track to complete his half-marathon at the end of January. I was an eejit and wrote my last column about running in winter. It appeared today, so I would have been ashamed to show up at the gym. I should just shut up, when will I learn that? grins, A

21K in 1:45 on the sloppy canal with my friend Liz today. It was tough footing but a great workout. Sure my calves will feel it tomorrow. Have to take girls to a party tonight and a bit of shopping for me then hopefully a relaxing night. Tomorrow the girls and I are making chocolate truffles..put in your orders. Tall