"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." (Howard Thurman) Okay, laides - If you haven't seen "PS, I Love You," and have a box of Kleenex at hand. (And the guys aren't too hard on the eyes, either!) Did cross-training with about 3 hours of yard work yesterday. A tad sore around the low back, but the yard looks a heck of a lot better. Will get more transcription done today, and either go for a bike ride or do some strength and knee exercises. Right now am watching "12 Angry Men." Great movie! Have a good Sunday

Good Sunday afternoon all, Haven't seen the movie but heard it was good Leslie. Thanks for starting us off. Did some X-training myself yesterday. About 5 hours of heavy duty house cleaning, followed by an hour of swimming/studying. Yep, swam for a bit then lounged on the raft with study guide in hand. Just got back from a 1 1/2 hr. bike ride. 10 miles in about 90 degree weather. I'm still not sure about the running yet. Just the 3 miles I did on Friday, the groin was still just a tad sore so....I'll keep staying active other ways for another week and see how a run goes in a few days. The bike ride was a blast. There's no gears on this bike just your typical Florida beach bike. Wide handle bars/wide tires and a comfy seat! So you reallly have to pedal to get anywhere. Wore my bathing suit top with shorts and flipflops and off i went. Carried a small backpac with water/cell phone just in case..... Mmmmm.....came home to hubby cooking crab stuffed shrimp, shrimp and scallop alfredo and some killer tators that he marinates in something and then puts them on the grill. Anyone wanna come over for a Blue Moon or for you non-beer lovers a margarita or something and some good food, come on over. Heading out for a swim, later gators. Jewels

Woo Hoo We are D-O-N-E............. cept for a few acres of water holes and green spots. Got done about 5 pm. Good Feeling, Great Harvest A couple pics from today Jewels we will be right down.... slightly ahead of Leslie. Ooh that sounds sooooo good. We have super beef here but the seafood is uh just so-so at best. Leslie, I have had those Brooks in the rotation for a few weeks now, and seem to feel the achilles thing on warmup in those shoes. I feel fine now so like you say more my body saying what up than I don't like that. I have done both my11 milers in them. I still like my nirvanas they are kinda like a big old cadillac, big heavy, comfortable, slow but will go the distance. I have a 20 oz ampipod thingy and drank it ALL today and usually only drink maybe half. Felt better after every time I drank so probably a good thing I called it when I did. I drank a 20 oz gatoraid and a 20 oz dew within minutes after Lynda picked me up. I know its bad but I have a very severe Diet Dew addiction. Giving a shout out to the rest of the crew hope you all are enjoying your weekend/ mtn house/beach house/ vacation.

Kelly, oops sorry, and congrats to Jack!!!

Hey Leslie, thanks for starting the thread! Great job on the cross training. Yard work can be therapeutic, huh? Something satisfiying about seeing tangible results from hard work... r2, ya slacker...only 11.2 miles, huh?! Just kidding, I think it's funny how we beat ourselves up sometimes mentally when we're really doing just fine. BTW, I'm on my 3rd (or is it 4th) pair of Brooks Adrenalines and love 'em. Tried another Brook shoe once, and have trouble even using them for knocking around. Amazing how different feets can be. Congrats on the harvest, and your dinner date sounds delish! Jewels, those old style bikes ARE quite a workout, not to mention the housecleaning. Hope you will continue resting that groin until it's good and ready. Taking a little more time off from running will not matter in the grand scheme, but could prevent a much longer time off. Best advice I got for my hip injury was from a trainer at the gym, who told me to rest, rest, rest for a few more weeks after I though I might be ready to ease back in. She had pushed it too far at one point in her life, and though in great shape, was no longer able to run at all. Kelly, congrats to Jack, and his crew!!!! I need to show your post to my hubby before we go to the gym tonight. He got his AARP card a year ago. Hey, the discounts aren't bad . My former boss was/is into ultras, and I think was part of my inspiration for starting to run. I don't have the desire to do ultras, but just seeing what you guys can do really shifts one's mindset about what is possible, and makes other goals seem more achievable. The training plan is going well for me so far. Did 4 miles instead of 3 yesterday, though the last mile was hills run/walk combo. Felt pretty good, and the 1st 3 were more of a progression run than the "easy" I had planned (10:51, 10:29, 10:13, 11:42). Don't want to get ahead of myself, so will continue to work the plan. Gotta get to work, but hope to check in more frequently with you "kids" this week. Happy runs, rides, vacations, crews, rests, bikes, studies, floats, or whatever moves ya

Happy Monday Guys! Checking in while a lge batch of Friendship Bread bakes....sourdough/quickbread....anybody need any starter!? Thanks for starting us off Leslie....if your yard is done, mine sure could use a little "help!" Last movie I watched was "Untraceable" w/Diane Lane....interesting....& that would be my problem w/staying on a stationary bike/treadmill too I think....especially in my own home...& then my mind wanders to all the other stuff I need to get done... WOO-HOO Jim & Lynda!!! Congrats on getting a great harvest done!! sleep for a coupla days now ya-hear! & congrats on another good long run....ya might try carrying some gatorade or some such for those long HOT runs.....I think your celebratory dinner was perfectly timed. Jewels.....yer makin me HUNGRY!...& I'm already up a few lbs from all this training (actually I'm sure it's the ravishing the frig the day or two after the long run that is annoying the scale!) I haven't ridden one of those bikes in years! Good job! sounds wonderful to me...course, so does the pool! & I agree w/Carol....keep taking it easy for now.... Kelly: tell Jack Congratulations!! sounds like it was an excellent wknd for both of you! right now that sounds insane incredible to me! Carol: I'm glad....just keep cruisin'.... Sunday morning arrived clear & cool ~ about 40* F @ 6am...since it's cool, we vegged about for a little bit chatting about run strategy a bit...my schedule said 14. Doug wanted to get in 6-7 & felt that would be plenty for the dogs too, so we only took one water bottle each & headed out for what we were hoping was a 6-7 mile loop...then I could go finish the other 7-8....my intent was to keep it steady/easy as my primary goal is elevation training, not speed & I did a great job of maintaining an ave 131 HR - hills & all! however, woke up w/my left foot feeling a little creaky (?) but it seemed to be getting better as I walked about....hoping it would loosen up...it didn't...by the time we finished the intended 1st loop, it was feeling bruised so, I called it there....thought I'd rest it a bit & see how it was feeling & try to do some more miles later in the day - depending on how it feels....not happinin' in fact, still feeling "bruised" today....I'm still not sure what that is? thought it was worn out shoes...retired my Saucony's & added some Asics to the rotation (only other pr in at the moment is Pearl Izumi's) but I do still have another pr of Saucony's that probably should have been in the rotation already as opposed to sitting in the closet waiting their turn...seems to be worse w/the Asics...maybe they're just a touch too narrow? I dunno! I don't think I'm working an injury YET...but I've got to figure this out before I can build more mileage! Spent the rest of yesterday alternating btwn vegging on the deck w/a good (cheesey beach) book & taking the Dyson to my son's habitat our mtn house & taking the jeep around to check out the new builds in the neighborhood..this included window peeking & inspecting deck views ... Off to debate logistics w/the Post Ofc.... Ciao!

Congrats to Jack on an outstanding 100 mile race! Kelly, sounds as though you had a great weekend with some good friends. You both are elite athletes in my book. Here's to many more great races ahead! Jim-Congrats to you and Lynda on your harvest. Glad it was a good season for you guys. Nice LR's you've been getting in lately, especially with the heat/humidity. Take it easy on that Dew will ya? Ooops....I mean diet Dew Cindy, you're a busy lady. You'll get that 14 miler in soon enough. Hope the bruised foot doesn't hang around for too long. Take it easy. Uh oh.....Leslie's got another stray kitty stealing her heart. Don't do it! Be strong.....Just kidding..... Carol, glad your training plan is going well. I've been looking at the HH novice half training. I think it is doable but gawd how I hate schedules. They never work for me....maybe I'm just not dedicated enough. My only long term goal I have is to get "better" over time and get my LR's up to 12. I'd be tickled pink. How's Mr. Joe doing? I know you've been busy busy with work. Hope you and Buddy's runs are going well. I love how you have to sneak out of the house or wear different clothes when you leave so Buddy doesn't suspect anything! Too funny! Arla, hope you are enjoying your road trip! Hey, aren't you supposed to be teaching or did you get a sub for the week? Jewels

Hmm, yep this is my 1st pair of Asics...mostly have stayed w/Saucony Ride's & a pr of Pearl Izumi Shines (which they no longer make) as they have a wider toe box w/o the nasty side seam that digs into my short little sausage toes! (can NOT wear Nike)....I have wide feet (goes w/my vertically challenged, square frame!) + have broken the outer toes on both in the past thereby changing the shape/fit a bit.... I usually cannot wear women's shoes as a norm...most of my boots are small men's/boys...the first time I had this "problem" w/my left foot was w/my 'women's snowboard boots...went 1/2 then full size larger...the only thing that did was extend the length, which then killed my feet through the arch! Went to a small men's & viola! great fit!! Oh, but then I'm a "gap-size" being a men's 5!! or Youth 6? (men's 5's are HARD to find & youth sizes tend to have little to no arch support) So, here's my thinking...even though they feel good to put on (see in store fitting) & I can get away w/a short run most often (& on lighter weeks), I think the mileage (total distance & combined for the week) is telling me that the shoes are just a little too narrow/not the right structure for my foot....& found this to explain a bit what's happening: http://www.podiatrychannel.com/mortonneuroma/index.shtml I think I need to take a coupla days off (RICE) & go back to the shoes I know....new ones of course! Yo Leslie: http://www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet.Animal=Cat&pet.Breed=&pet.Age=young&pet.Size=&pet.Sex=F&location=CA or maybe this: