You have no idea how much I'd like to make this swampy. Just swapping two words.

don't think I hadn't thought of that already... but this is not the swamp... Erica and Bugs - I hope we will all still be here in 9.something years so I can rant... really I hope everyone in this group is here in 10 years - i'll probably need advice from all of you by then! By the way - big announcement... so we are putting babies on hold till after september. Babies and marathoning don't mix and I have some dreams which I won't get to chase after once we have kids - or at least it will be a lot less likely. So DH and I decided I should chase these dreams first. Then we can worry about kids - but he did make me promise that if kids happens between now and then I won't be upset. anyway i just wanted to give you the update!

Kimmie, I hope we are all here in 10 years too...or some forum together. My DS is 10 years my senior and she has all these reasons she can't run or exercise hard. (She said her lungs burn and rants about aging.) I'm not saying she doesn't have valid medical reasons, but I just hope that age doesn't stop me.

I'll be here in 10 year. And in 50. I'm gonna run till I'm 111 - it's the only shot I have at ever taking an AG win! Tried my first marathon pace run this morning as part of my medium/long run. It was tough. I've got a bit of speed, I'll need to work on endurance as I build my training program. I know it's way early, the 16 week buildup doesn't even start until almost Feb. However, this is going to be my first marathon that has more than just mileage. I've been trying a variety of workouts (Many pulled from Daniels Runnign formula) just so they're not totally new when Feb rolls around. Plus, they help keep things fresh and exciting.

Kimmie - don't tell me that! Oh man! Now I'm going to wait a week to sign up for the half! aaahhh

The old Shan would've signed up right away if it meant that it increased her chances of getting preggers Shan, basebuilding, basebuilding, basebuilding. Maybe through the end of January. (I'm telling myself the same thing). MrI, sounds like you're really progressing well. The MP fast finish long runs were the runs that really helped me build my confidence to hold the faster pace. I've lost a whole lot of that confidence through recovery. I'm really going to have to rebuild. The idea of doing even a HM at goal pace scares me. We've got cold rain today. Hopefully will get out for a few.

It's true she would have, but it was making me feel like a caged animal whose owner gets paid for breeding. Besides I have lots I want to do between now and October that I can't do if I'm preggers. Basebuilding huh - I think that's what I'm doing - honestly, my coach says do this - I ask a bunch of questions - and then I do it. Why did you lose your confidence?

Wow. Caged animal paid for breeding. That's an awful thought. Has sort of a Michael Vick ring to it that disturbs me. I recall the blister people being pretty supportive of waiting I missed that you have a coach. As far as my confidence goes, I think I lost it because I've dealt with about a month of leg pain that I connect in my mind with the really hard efforts leading up to my 10 miler PR and marathon PR. It takes a certain amount of confidence/insanity to push out at a 7:10 pace and hold it there for 10 miles when your regular pace is closer to 9's and even your tempo runs are 7:30ish. It hurts. A lot. And it makes me a little gun shy about going there again. Good grief, that sounds so lame but probably one of the most honest posts I've put up on here.

Wow. Caged animal paid for breeding. That's an awful thought. Has sort of a Michael Vick ring to it that disturbs me. I recall the blister people being pretty supportive of waiting I missed that you have a coach. As far as my confidence goes, I think I lost it because I've dealt with about a month of leg pain that I connect in my mind with the really hard efforts leading up to my 10 miler PR and marathon PR. It takes a certain amount of confidence/insanity to push out at a 7:10 pace and hold it there for 10 miles when your regular pace is closer to 9's and even your tempo runs are 7:30ish. It hurts. A lot. And it makes me a little gun shy about going there again. Good grief, that sounds so lame but probably one of the most honest posts I've put up on here.

It's not the waiting that the issue - or getting pregnant for that matter. It was in the mechanical nature in which we resorted too. Every time he wanted it he said it was time to make babies, I often got - so it is time to try yet it's got to be getting close. we should do it every other day and every day when it's about that time. WHERE IS THE PASSION IN THAT???? If I turned out preg. sure i'd be sad that I have to cancel the 09 plans for marathoning, but I would still be happy. Conflicting goals are hard - we've decided that it would not be a bad idea for me to focus on running right now and that babies can wait till after our trip to tahoe. Wow Dave you really pushed yourself! You are right that would take alot out of any person! And the fact that you then had to deal with an injury didn't help. But, hopefully somewhere inside your fire was fueled and once you get back into hard training you will remember that feeling and be hungry for it. Thank you for being honest and sharing with us.

This place is like group therapy. "Dave is joining us today" "Hi Dave" "You need to say it out loud. Its OK. You're safe here." "OK, OK, I admit it. I'm afraid to run hard. I'm afraid" - bursts out in tears. "It's OK, man. We've been there. You'll get through it." You guys are the best 5 miles on the treadmill. At a nice easy pace.

Hey dave, thanks for running on the treadmill so that I didn't have to feel bad about myself.