Hi ladies-

I'm back for a longer RR. Today's race was the Mistletoe half, right here in my town. This is my fourth time running it, plus I train frequently on the course, so I'm very familiar with it. My biggest concern was to try to avoid my fatal flaw - going out too fast in races. To that end, I was very excited to discover earlier in the week that I could switch one of the displays on my Garmin to show the average pace for my current mile. This helped me tremendously in managing my pace.

It was a perfect day for racing - about 40 at the start and sunny. The race starts at the Y, and the first mile climbs up out of the hole the Y sits in. I went out at 9:05, just under my goal pace of 9:09. The next four miles wind through pretty neighborhoods, then we wind through the former estates of RJ Reynolds and his family. I was running in the high 8s but felt pretty good. DH and my Saturday running buddy's DH were there to cheer us on at mile 6, just before we started the loop through the Wake Forest University campus. This is my least favorite part of the course - it is rolling hills and always seems to last longer than it should. I went back by DH at mile 9, just before the biggest hill on the course. I got up the hill in decent shape - that mile was 9:28 - and was happy that I was able to regain my faster pace. In past years, the hill has really knocked the wind out of me and I've had a hard time recovering. By mile 11 I was starting to struggle, but I was able to hold my pace right around 9:00. I finished in 1:58:01. Slower than last year, but I also knew that I'm not in the same shape I was then, so I was pleased.

Cindy, I'm so happy for you! Great job!  I share that fatal flaw.  DD and I toured Wake Forest when she looked at colleges and it was the most beautiful campus I've ever seen with it's huge trees.  Of course, I didn't have to worry about hills. :  )

Julie, good for you for hanging in there!  Sounds like a race to train mental toughness and you made it!

Karen, blazing fast again!  That is so awesome!

Tessa, nice 20!

Hi to everyone else...I don't remember anything else from p1.

Linda, sorry about probs with hubby.  Just an idea...have you read the Happiness Project?  I remember a chapter on marriage in it that I wish I'd read while hubby was alive.  We had a  good marriage, but had our ups/downs and I thought if I'd read it (and could have actually practiced it) while he was alive, it might have made him feel more appreciated, which he seemed to need more than me.

For those looking for a GPS, the 410 is on Amazon today for 149. I got one late last  Sunday as their deal of the day, but it's there again this am.  I've been actively looking and it's the cheapest I've found, even cheaper than the 110 I bought Black Friday sale and plan to return (unopened).  I read the reviews but it sounds like if you lock the bezel, it works ok. It also has a HR monitor and with my rare arrythmias, I'm going to try that.   I'm such a nerd, I don't have to have the bells/whistles, but I  do like them. Driving to a flat place for a longish run today.

Lisa - I love the idea of a graphic for our virtual race and posting photos of our locations. Adding the mileage together to see the distance covered would be a fun way to track what we accomplish.

Do you picture the graphic as an 8 x 10 sign to hold up? Or a graphic we can each choose to display in our own way, like a pennant, flag, or t-shirt we make ourselves?

Carolyn

Karen:  congrats on a great race time!

Marjorie:  Tempo after 8 miles--pretty hardcore!

Camille:  I am going to start waiting to pay for races.  So many times, things just happen where you don't feel like racing, or you can't for some reason.  I'm glad you saved your money.

Lisa-Marie:  I predict that you are going to have a great time at your 5K.

ajdx5:  I fear my attempts at speed may be a thing of the past.  I am trying to decide right now between a recovery run or just complete rest of the knee.

I can't see the second page, so I'll have to look again and post again

Funky here too.  I couldn't type until I had pressed Bold.  Good thing we are known for our persistence.

Cindy-congrats! that is awesome.  I'm used to being 12th too... when there are 12 in AG. LOL

Linda-you do know that speed is relevant.  your slow is my fast. and so on.  In the end I say that if it's no longer fun then why are you doing it?  better to be slow/recover and be happy than try to be fast and be miserable. (remind me again of this later please)

Julie-wtg on the race and keeping at it!

Tessa-nice runs!

I have another local runner who said she can connect me with the person who has set up her charity runs.  Maybe that will work.

Was raining and I just didn't feel like getting all wet (as if I don't sweat anyways) so headed to my $10/month Planet Fitness gym.  Got some grief on FB about treadmill when weather in low 50's so figured I'd make it be a worthwhile tm run.  Warmed up a mile then thought I'd do my usual ratchet up every minute ladder thingie.  But part way through that changed mind and started to do .5 mile repeats at 10 min/mile pace (fast for me but not all out) with .25 recoveries at 12 min/mile.  Figured I'd do 5 or maybe 6.  Coming up on an hour and I'm at 5.25. Wanted to do at least 6 miles so started tm over again and after doing 6th figured I'd do another, then I only needed 3 more to complete the 10 so stuck it out.  Not sure what that tells me for marathon time but isn't it supposed to predict it?    Basically I did the Yasso repeats at 6.0 with recoveries at 5.0.  with warm adn cool ended up being 9 miles in 1:38.  Wasn't dieing on them but was glad for recovery.

Dawned on me afterwards that I did that with only "walk" time being when I had to stop and restart tm which is fairly big for me. Also without any gel just gatorade/water mix. Will definitely take tomorrow off because I think I'll feel it.

Good afternoon All!

At work so may have to cut it short and post again later!  Day 7 of 8 and I am getting a little tired!

Karen--WTG on a great race!  You are really getting fast!!  I say hang out on cloud 9 as long as you like!!

Cindy--Nice job on the sub-2:00 race!  I barely remember those days as I seem to just get slower and slower!! Nice RR!

Julie-D--Your 5K sounds rough--not exactly great conditions so congrats on sticking to it!!  I think I would boycott gumdrops for a while after all you had to do.  What a project!

Ginny--I had a Garmin 405CX that wasn't holding a charge -- it improved with several updates from the Garmin site, but after 3 years it isn't holding a charge.  Got  a new Garmin 610 which I like.  There are a lot of good deals out there on several different models.  Hope you find one that works for ya! 

Camille--I hate when I accidentally delete a post I have almost finished!! 

LInda6897--Sorry to hear you had such a crappy week--I hope this week is better for you.

Lisa-Marie--Nice to see how well that training is paying off for you!  I sense you will have a terrific 5K!!

ajdx--nice to see you are back at it and doing so well!  Great times especially with the nose blowing LOL!

Tessa--Oh, those furry alarm clocks are going to be hood ornaments if they don't start behaving LOL--Where were they when I almost missed the flight to Philly 2 weeks ago--oh yea, they were sound asleep too!  WTG on the 20 miles!! then the +2 miles!!

Gatsbybird--I try to check late in the evening then the next day for my West Coast friends' posts!!  Hi!!

MMR--Happy belated bday to Kaite!  Ahhh--13!  Such a "fun" age!  WTG on the Yassos!  Sounds speedy to me!  Love your virtual race ideas!  I'm in but please don't look to me for any creative design help--that is one part of my brain that never developed LOL  I will be happy to help in any other way needed

Finally recovered from 16.3 miles yesterday.  Worked until late Friday night, got home, set out all my stuff for the 3.2 miles + HM Sat am.  Got about 3 hours sleep--up early and RB#1 came over--headed out to HM site--busy already since there was also a 5K so parking was a little challenge.  HIt the porta-potty(hadn't been used yet--that's a first for me)! then over toward the lake to run 3.2 or so until the race started--crowded at the start and plenty of runners throughout.  RB and I took it slowly and basically chatted to mile 10(our mile 13.2) when she listened to music and I felt like my legs of lead were going to fall off.  Actually ran(and stretched) side-by-side with another woman who also ran the Philly marathon--we both wondered what we were doing running a HM on cobblestone streets!  The last 1.9 miles are on very uneven brick street--my legs were so tired.  Managed to get it all done--HM time slower than ever 2:18 but I got my 16+ miles in and didn't have to carry water or gels LOL.  I haven't run with RB#1 in a loooong time so it was great to catch up-despite feeling so slow and tired.   Got home--felt like a wooden puppet--showered and off to 12 hours at work--got in to bed last night and everything hurt--WTH???  I am feeling rather old these days.  I wonder when I am going to have a run that feels great?  It's been a while.  I'm feeling less sore today and hope to be back running tomorrow even if it is slow!

Back to work--will check back later

Have a great day

Julia