I'm so behind. Catching up from sometime last year.... Mary....oh no! The bridge to craziness. How do you like it? . You have been doing some really tough runs lately. Love the picture. PJ... good luck Friday. Holly did you ever pick a paint color? Tramps..

So I’m literally the poster boy for our running club this year...which is a sad commentary on the state of our club.

I don't think so! Meg, so what you are saying is, that if a woman ahead of me gets leg cramps, I'll win my marathon? . whoot. Sue, thanks for the beads. Twocat... good luck on your test(s). How frustrating. What... if you're up to going through this again just to consolidate... are your symptoms? wtg for your 'kids'. Erika... that is scary. I'm glad you're ok. You go so far & are so vulnerable. My only tips to add.. from my one & only close call a month ago, is first of all, don't get lost. Second, I think a thermos of something hot in the car isn't a bad idea. One more... (embarrassing, this is only Michigan after all) I've put a backup balaclava, gloves, hat etc in a zipped bag with a hand warmer in it. I did an hour of a mix of core, etc. this morning, & then had a massage. He (also a personal trainer) thinks I shouldn't try to run for another 2 weeks. It's been 1 already. Well, maybe it's time to really fix this. (an attempt at maturity. how'd I do?)

Holly did you ever pick a paint color?

Yes (finally), after several quarts and coats of paint. The final pick: top half is macadamia, the bottom half is singe, and the wainscoting and trim are classic white. (In actuality, the colors are a sort of light cocoa and darker cocoa.) Looks great with the beige carpet, dark green sectional sofa, and brick fireplace, just the sort of warm effect I wanted in the family room. Much better than the “blood-red semi-gloss and putty” that the previous owners left us, which made the room feel more like a cave. Erika - a good reminder to all who run in cold temps. Also, for my LRs in the cold, I have begun to carry a cellphone in my Spibelt, just in case.

Erika, I just had to add that your story shows an excellent reason to run with an extra layer tied around your waist! On my long run a week ago it was in the mid 30's and windy when I started out, and I didn't need my windshirt but brought it anyway. I ran over to a 3-mile loop, stashed my snacks and water bottle under a tree, and kept my windshirt with me (around my waist). That was fine for the first lap. On the second lap, when I hit a good headwind, I felt chilly and put the windshirt on. I stopped briefly for water and snack at the tree, but not long enough to get chilled. By the start of the third lap, my hands were really cold and I couldn't get them warm, so I bailed and ran over to the rec center (about a mile away). I think the temperature was dropping, as it was late in the afternoon and the sun was getting low. In hindsight, I should have brought a hat, and kept it in my pocket till I needed it. I did put up the hood on my windshirt, but still couldn't get warm enough. Today is a rest day for me, even though it's in the 60's today in Denver! It's supposed to be warm all week, otherwise I wouldn't waste a warm day.

I took a look at my treadmill before going out tonight and decided there is no way I could do 18 miles on it at one time. 'Hats off ' to you Sue! Erika - A good reminder. Things can take a turn for the worse very quickly. dg - thanks! First run with my running "mentee" tonight. This is the same program I participated in last year where 10 teenagers from our local children's aid society team up and train to run the relay at the Mississauga Marathon in the spring (2 groups of 5). Most of these kids come from tough situations/backgrounds. The goal is to create a positive environment where they set and achieve individual goals, as well as work together as a team. Each kid is paired up with a mentor. We run with them 1-2x per week. In addition, they meet and run together as a group with the program coordinators/coaches. The local "Y" provides meeting space, memberships, etc. They get to hear a "guest speaker" each week talk about their life issues and how running has helped them. The highlight last year is when they got to meet and here Katherine Switzer's story. My "mentee" seems like a really good kid, anxious to participate and quite engaging. We ran for 30 mins or about 3 mi/5 km. He will need to run 8 kms during the marathon. He will do just fine. I'm thinking that he might surprise himself through all of this. Have a great night everyone! PJ

OK, I can't blame it on the cold medicine, 'cause I haven't taken any, but I just registered for my first marathon in late Nov. Nothing like the early discounts to get me off the fence. jdmom3 & dg, I'm still planning on Shamrock, but I figured I might experience one in Nov. as I'll be coming off my 18 mi race in Oct. Just doing it to finish, then I can see where I'm at so I can have a better time at Shamrock 2010! Wildchild, I think I have my answer for you on why I am getting faster. I think it is a combination of slowly building mileage combined with the simple belief that I will get faster. I'm too dense to realize I'm getting older and that it could translate to slowing down. Simply. Doesn't. Compute. Off to check out Riblet on Youtube.... P.S. Twocat, cool on your kids! Also, you're in CT, right? We should run into each other eventually at a race once you get all healed up. I'll bring the flask. (for afterwards...)

Spareribs and Twocat - thanks for the encouragement -- feels like a good plan to me even tho i'd like to be running more - i know i just need to keep at it adding running minutes a little at a time twocat - hope they figure out what's going on dg - hope you heal quickly!! steve - scary accident but i think your son will come out with a valuable lesson and be even more cautious in the long run erica - hypothermia is scary!! glad you're ok i pretty much did a repeat of yesterday except to it to the treadmill today -- 4.1 miles in just over 50 minutes with same combo of walking/running as yesterday........then did 10 minutes on the arc trainor to give me a full hour of cardio today sooooooooooo glad i am finally starting to feel like me again!! thursday is my 6 week post-op appt and i hope to get the all clear to start training for a sprint tri!!

does anyone ever have trouble reading this font? Holly... it sounds nice. And a welcome change.. First time through, I thought you said the previous owners left you "blood-red semi-gloss & puffy.". PJ... you're welcome. I remember your marathon kids last year. Nice to hear about your new "mentee". Yay hi Aamos . How are Dan, Frank, & Pedey? Nono, that's so exciting!!!! ... want to tell us which one? Or did I miss that? Glad you're still doing Shamrock .... you made me consider signing up for that right now, but maybe I should get through the first one first. I wonder if it fills up fast though... Ok, we can be in sort of the same position. First time, almost at the same time. Except you are younger, & faster.. & better. hmm. Well, like I said. sort of thanks Denise! You are doing so well. I'm glad you're feeling like you again. Good luck Thursday. Tomorrow night I get a re-check with the trainer I saw 2 weeks ago. I'm going to ask him why he thinks I keep tripping. . I'm assuming it's part of the whole injury pattern. (made a list of questions earlier. kept hearing Jefferson Airplane in my head tonight )(does that make me a Boomer?)