I'm feeling better. I went for a run tonight and had to breathe through my nose until I got warmed up-something about the cooler air (32 degrees) on my sensitive throat. I'm not stuffy which is good and the other good part is that my heart rate isn't going through the roof like it would if I was really run down and sick. So I'm going by that- I walked some hills, battled a northwest wind and made it home before dark. I'm not looking to set any land speed records on Sunday anyway. My best time at this race is 1:55:30 in 2005 (1:55:38 in 2006) so I'll be happy coming in somewhere under that. My best Half time is 1:54:34 last year on a way hillier course here in VT. I'm just going to have fun spending the next 4 days celebrating my birthday (40!) with a bunch of running friends and family and there just happens to be a half marathon in the activity agenda as well! Take care Everyone! As my business card says...Be Fit , Be Healthy...Enjoy Life! Kelly My Birthday starts tomorrow evening with my SO Jack telling me I need to be looking sexy by 6:30pm because we're going out somewhere-I'll keep you posted!

Jewels did your toes get back to normal size?

Too funny! Farmer Jim - Have fun with the tempo runs. The first time I did them I was like, "What??" . . . . but come to think of it, that's pretty much what I've thought about all my speed work. Hey - Have you heard that new Brad Paisley song, "I'm Still a Guy"? It's a hoot! Kelly - Good luck this weekend! Oh, and good luck tomorrow night with the bday dinner and sexy outfit. Attempted a 4-mile tempo run this morning. I did my usual 5-minute warm up walk then stretched the hammies and hip flexors before I took off. Kept it nice and slow for the first 10 min, did a 10 min tempo, then brought it back down again, anticipating another 10 min tempo after a 5 min break. Well, at about Mile 2.75, my "problem" reared its head. I stopped and stretched again and tried to keep running, albeit at a much slower pace, and even switched between speed walking and slogging. I was at about 3/4 of a mile from my start point when I tried to slog again, lifted my right leg, and it went, "NOPE." Oh well. I made it home and spent about 15 minutes stretching, but I can tell it's just not right. I see the massage therapist at 10:00 today, and I hope she can work some magic. Hey - at least the whole dang thang didn't completely seize up on me like last year! See - I'm workin' on my "positive visualization." Have a good one, gang.

Leslie, glad you got some encouraging vibes outta the massage today. Sounds like she "nailed" it right on the spot. Kelly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you....la, la, la, la, la, la......you have one impressive running log! Woot, woot to you! Arla, those coughs are the pits...they seem to hang on forever....one of the gals at work came in to the office today to pick up some paperwork and was hackin' and coughin' all over the place, she even said she was running a fever. I told her I was gonna "spray" the office down with Lysol after she left. She laughed....(were co-workers/friends so she wasn't offended). r2, hope your tempo runs work out well with you. I don't do them too often as they always seem to flare up the bursitis in my knee. I would take an 8 mile 11:45ish pace over a 3 mile 9:45ish pace any day. Is that normal for most people or am I just wimpy with speed? joe, hope your knee thing is nothing serious and that a wee bit of rest is all you need. You are really doing great! A tad bit warm today....78 degrees....but got in a nice short run! Modified to add: Yep, the toes are back to normal! Jewels

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELLY!!!

{{{{{ HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY!! }}}}}} R2: "ran" DD & baby to NE yesterday...up @ 5am, drove to Scb/Ger area for the required "loop"..beautiful morning....didn't hit rain till outside of Morrill @ 7:30pm....then, out of it by Cheyenne.... now........BIG time winter storm stuff this am up in the central CO mtns....windy, 37* & have Abby home for Spring Break.....guess I'll head to the dog park for now & see what I can do later....if she'll ride her bike for a couple of miles..... gotta pick up a race packet after work tom afternoon....Runnin' of the Green 7K, Sunday am uptown....

If this worked, I think smarter than I am . . . . And this is for Kelly! MTA: Okay - it worked for now, but now the one I posted before is working, too. Geez Louise!

Good for you r2....hope the weather doesn't get too nasty for your LR tomorrow! Easy 5 this morning....off to go help my sister paint my moms condo! Have a great weekend all......Jewels

Thank you for all the birthday wishes!! Jack took me to a nice little restaurant Thursday night for dinner-this was the start of a busy weekend. Friday I ran with my friend Aliza in the afternoon and Friday night saw "Spirit of the Marathon" movie. RunVt, the organization that organizes the KeyBank VT City Marathon brought it in since it wasn't shown anywhere in VT or within any reasonable driving distance of Burlington. I almost sent a nastygram to the film co for excluding VT. Saturday I spent 2 hours with 2 three year olds who were not really too interested in learning how to ski without their Mom or Dad around. My patience was a bit thin since I wasn't feeling well. By 4pm I was in a 12 passenger van with 10 men on my to New Bedford, MA. We stopped in Manchester, NH for dinner where after dinner the waitress brought out a cake and sang Happy Birthday. Jack had the cake stashed in the van with balloons and a gold tiara for me to wear! I did well at the race. I finished in 1:52:22-I was aiming for 8:30 mile pace and averaged 8:35-close enough! I finished 45/104 in the 40-44 age group. I took 3:02 off of my best time for this race from 2005 and 2:12 off of my best half time from last year on a much hillier course. I hope everyone had a good day today! Leslie-glad to hear no new blisters and the massage is helping. R2-hope the weather turns in your favor for planting. Jack got some of our veggies started last week inside. Take care and off to this week's thread! Kelly