Hey slo_hand, yep I'm from the Des Moines suburbia. It is snowing pretty steady right now, started around 7AM. Supposed to start blowing this evening. Will be interesting tomorrow. Hopefully it's just over-exaggerated like sometimes. Unfortunately, I do not have a treadmill or gym, so it's outside or nuttin. Tramps, I went back to read yesterday's post...pretty awesome. Having just visited DC for the first time this summer it was cool to hear your description.

"Do you find that on some pairs of shoes the laces keep coming loose? I have some pairs like that, and have had to double knot them to keep them from coming undone during the day. Then I read this article in Runner's World about something called an Ian Knot. I doubt I will use it instead of a double knot while running, but I have been using it on my walking around shoes. It takes a bit to get the knack but it is actually pretty easy to tie and it works great! If you have some shoes that come undone during the day I highly recommend giving this thing a shot. Just work on it for a day or two and you will get it. The original article had diagrams. The diagrams are useful but I think more useful after you watch this youtube video that shows you (way too quickly) how to tie the thing" Twocat I've been using the Ian Knot since I read that article. I never thought re-learning to tie shoes could be so difficult. Actually it's undoing the 40 years of tying a different way. For the record......I have stopped double knotting and only had to stop to re-tie once and that was due to an improperly tied Ian knot.

I've been watching for Franc's ultra report. It should be a good one. spareribs, congrats on your 5K race and to The Saint on her 15K with big PR. nono, good job on the PR simulated 5K. teresa, your son did great. Congratulations to him. dg, you've been showing a lot of progress lately. Don't overdo it. Tramps, I read the report of your run through DC this morning and was impressed. A little later, the news covered the "dress rehearsal" and I kept thinking, "I know someone who ran through that and I already know all about it". bike, I'm glad your foot felt well and you got in a "test run". You were very smart to make it a short one and not push it. HandyMom, I hope the foot doctor's suggestions for your ankle resolves the problem. Nice long runs for Twocat, runningindc, jules, nono (and PR week), Ilene, srlopez (bridle trail run), Peter (with hills), perch, WRFB, holly, enke, evryday (and part with mrsday), PDR (with fall on ice - I hope you're ok), breger, and SLO. This morning, the temp was about 12 and it was calm. The roads still have (and probably will until spring the way it looks) packed snow/ice so it was another day with the Yaks. I got in 8 miles in about 1:21 for a 10:07 pace. I'm sure not looking forward to the temperature drop and more snow that is predicted and that some of you are already experiencing. A good day and good runs for all. TomS

Packing up and heading out for the airport soon. Return trip takes us from Orlando, thru Houston, to Seattle, to Anchorage (insert 6 hour layover here), then to Fairbanks. Gotta love the cross-country travel day(s). Seems like our timing is perfect though... cool, damp and cloudy here, and warming up nicely at home to about -20 or so by tomorrow morning. It's all relative, ya know?

My first exposure to that knot was when I was talking to Frank Shorter at the White Rock expo and Riblet's shoe was untied. Shorter tied it for him and showed him how to do the knot. I was impressed! Tim that is very encouraging. I know I don't have to tell you to be careful now. Everyone here will be watching. In retrospect I probably shouldn't have taken last week off from running. I should have just cut it back a bit and stepped up the exercises, because that is what is helping me most right now. Today I ran for 44 minutes and then did core work for the same length of time. Nono and Twocat have given me something to think about. I am going to switch out my office chair for something firmer. Hadn't thought of that. Spareribs

This group is quite inspiring...wish I could add to it, but I still haven't run since Thursday. Today it was 4 sets of fizzy lifting, 20 minutes on the eclectical, and an hour of spin cycle. Th instructor wants us to do a virtual race on Feb. 11th. She wants us to wear our colors...what is this, gang spinning? I don't even own a bike shirt. At least she asked for one or two music selections from each of us. I requested Du Hast by Rammstein and Ant Music by Adam Ant. Strange requests, but I think they can be spun to. I won't tell her what the lyrics of Du Hast translate to.

Opened up the daily thread today to see Tim's fantastic news! There is a light at the end of the tunnel now. You just have to patient for a few more weeks and take it nice and slow coming back. I am so happy for you! Add me to those anxiously awaiting Franc's RR on the 50K through mud and poop. It's going to be a good one!

Nono and Twocat have given me something to think about. I am going to switch out my office chair for something firmer. Hadn't thought of that.

I highly recommend getting an office chair that offers more support. I switched mine when I went through my first, and worst, bout of piriformis syndrome. I'm certain that my office chair was contributing to the problem. I now use a chair with a saddle seat and it has helped immensely. Sitting can, indeed, contribute to hip and butt problems. Handymom, good luck with the foot. It's good that it's feeling better already and you have a good course of action. That is half the battle. I ran an easy 3 miles on the TM today and did an hour of pilates, plus rehab exercises for the knee. I'm committing to 8 weeks of those plus 8 weeks of glucosamine/chondroitin to see if I can once and for all get rid of my knee issues. It has been feeling better on my runs. I was hoping to do a 13 mile wave run yesterday, but woke up late and only had time to squeeze in 9 miles. Rather than bag it entirely, I ran 2 easy miles, 1 MP mile (7:19) and 2 Tempo miles (6:50), plus two easy miles cooldown. Aside from some digestive issues (2 pitstops during easy miles), I felt pretty good doing this run. I did have a difficult time running the first two miles slow. I will have to work on it as I could only manage an 8:05 pace.

Add me I did have a difficult time running the first two miles slow. I will have to work on it as I could only manage an 8:05 pace.

One person's (enke's) fastest mile is another's slowest! I love it! You are awesome jd!