I can not believe it's December 1st already...where does the time go Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!! Anyway, I am all ready (well as ready as I'm going to get) for my marathon on December 13 (Rocket City). Yea I know, this is a HM group. I concentrate on half's...but this marathon I was asked to do. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, a cousin of mine issued a half marathon challenge for us...Pikes Peak Ascent http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/ If you are unfamilar with this race...it's a half marathon where you start at 7,000 feet and run 13.1 miles up to 14,000 feet (so basically you start one mile up and go up one mile and finish at two miles up). The race is held in August...but we are going to do it in August of 2010. Which will give us plenty of time to really train/exercise for it. Should be interesting. Have a great month everyone!!

Paul, I was going to make a joke about it just being two half marathons, one right after another, but we all know its much more than that. By the way, there are 5,280 feet in a mile, so the finish on the Pike's Peak event is closer to 3 miles up! That sounds intimidating to me.. Had bowling last night and I am going to the Oshawa Motorsports Club awards dinner tonight, so schedule is off this week. Hope I don't get into bad habits..

We don't want to end the year with only 3 entries on the monthly thread, do we? To answer your question, Paul, I think you are supposed to move to Colorado, with your coach, masseur, nutritionist, sports psychologist and the rest of your team, and attend an altitude training camp. That's how they do it in the big leagues! Not much running to report, starting over again, basically. Simon.

I guess we're all busy baking cookies and sending out cards, huh? Paul, my husband wants me to do The Bear Runsome time, but like you, it's running in altitude that bothers me even more than the elevation and hills. (Okay, climbing up Grandfather Mountain is a little bit of a concern--I've driven up to the Mile-High Swinging Bridge and that was bad enough, with all the switchbacks.) The last time we were up in Boone, where he went to school, I could barely run at all. His old tennis coach assures me that you get used to it, but how long before the race would you have to arrive? It sounds like fun for you, though! I'm still in marathon-training mode, though I haven't registered for the race yet . . . just in case! I did one eighteen-miler and overran the distance Saturday and ended up doing nineteen. Interestingly the 19 went better than the 18--I took more fuel and water on the run, and I also paced myself better by dividing the distance into three segments and pacing myself--10-min miles the first 6, 9:30s the second 6, then 9-min miles the last set. I was much less tired not just that day but the days that followed. There's enough time in the training schedule for four more extra-long runs so we'll see how those go. Got a 10k this weekend. It's funny to hear Teresa talk about fresh snow--I'm hoping we have temps below 70 for the race!

Hi all. I'm back running, not up to my 40+ mpw yet, but at least running. I saw the doctor last week and he said my flexibility is getting better. I guess the stretching and the yoga is helping. I still have a little soreness in my lower legs, but they are improving. I ran a 5 mile race this past Saturday. I had signed up before my injury so I figured I might as well go. I wanted to put some effort into it, but not go all out. I didn't take my watch on purpose. When I got to the end I figured I was around 41 minutes. I finished in 37:33, so I was pleasantly surprised. That's only 3 and a half minutes off of my PR. I think there is a lesson in there somewhere about racing without a watch. Anyway, my half marathon is May 3. I hope to be back up over 40 mpw by the end of January, then maybe peak around 50 for the race. Hopefully the legs will cooperate. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

I've ran 9.4 miles over the last two days. After work, I have another 3 miles planned on the Treadmill. Tomorrow is a rest day.

I have to admit, I wouldn't mind a teensy bit of cooler weather. Nothing like what my sis is telling me they're getting in her corner of Connecticut, though . . . MrPH, I'm glad to hear you're out on the road, and especially that your "running easy" was so close to PR-form! Sounds like you're healing well! Yes, there's a lesson in there about not watch-hawking. Paul, I've picked out the Tampa Bay Distance Classic because my sister lives about thirty minutes away. It eliminates the need for a hotel and hopefully will increase my cheering section.

Ran with my son last night, only 3.7 miles, very cold. He is not in the shape he used to be, we went pretty slowly! Good luck with the marathon, Vixi, keep posting about your training as it helps keep you going, and we all learn from your experience. I am starting to think about doing "the big distance" in 2010, before i turn 60. I am starting to feel I can't really call myself a distance runner until I have done it at least once, sort of unfinished business idea. Simon.