Also meant to post: No worries, RCG -- just the occasional result of trying to communicate ideas other than in a face to face format. Sometimes the language is just inadequate. Happens a lot.  BTW, I'm reading a recent novel, Black Cloud Rising, based on a true story about some of the "colored troops" made up of escaped slaves toward the end of the Civil War. In the first part, they march from Fort Monroe along a canal that goes down through the Great Dismal Swamp. I looked on Google Maps and saw that there is still what appears to be a canal towpath trail going that way. Have you ever been on it?

 

 

For the last week or so, I've been throwing myself a bit of a pity party

Add me to the list of people "down in the dumps." I thought I had Covid last week and took two tests. They both came back negative.  My physician's assistant DIL said the symptoms are the same for Influenza A as they are for Covid, and apparently there's a lot of both going on around here. I never left the house all week, except for an attempt to do short walks around our condo, just to get some fresh air. I still feel "off." Between not feeling good, having back problems (on the other side) again and turning 70 this year, my "pitty pot" is getting fuller every day. I'm really trying to be a glass half full person, but it ain't working yet. As Leslie said, this too shall pass...

I was glad to see RCG's post yesterday, and that Holly's physical went well. As for deleting that Facebook post about meds for depression? I applaud you for being brave enough to reach out to tell everyone what is going on and to ask for help. I hope things will get better every day. Hey Tet - keep at it, friend. You've been an inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing that map, Twocat. Wow! Have a great trip Roch - the weather here and in Michigan has not been very nice. I think this will be another year when we go from winter to summer, skipping the spring season completely. We had snow flurries here this morning!

Where is Erika?

45 minutes on the elliptical and 25 minutes of weights and core this morning.  Have a great evening everyone.

I'm really trying to be a glass half full person, but it ain't working yet. As Leslie said, this too shall pass...

Jeanne - since you're going to be a septuagenarian pretty soon, maybe KSA too?, along with Marj,  Doug and Jay and me, I guess I might as well warn you that, even if the glass is full, at this stage, the ingredients aren't quite the same. As far as the "this-too-wiii-pass" part, well, I'll let you find out but, at least, Marj, Doug, Jay and I are doing fine and, even if/when we're not, we're lucky to have a very special octogenarian inspiration to keep us motivated.

Leslie - I'm sure it will never happen again but, just in case of a spill onto rocks, concrete  etc., even in the summer, sturdy, thick leather, open finger cycling gloves might be worthwhile. Have fun.

Using his best English, the NHK announcer asked the lady author how long she had been abroad.

Hey y'all, ahh, the fun of moving....oh wait, that's generally never fun.  Quite the ride so far this week.  Got to the apartment complex on Monday and they had deleted my "reservation."  Said they'd reached out to me but nothing on my phone.  Hard to be too upset, I had been delaying them since the Air Force was delaying me.  Still, I lost my 1BR with washer/dryer hookups.  Sigh.  Obviously not the worst thing to happen in my life.  I did get a place, it has this goofy little European combination washer/dryer but I don't think I could wash more than a pair of shorts at a time.  It will be like college, carrying my laundry home on weekends.  Maybe DW did it so I wouldn't be tempted to stay here on weekends and ride the Silver Comet rails to trails (starts here in the Marietta area, goes to the GA/Ala state line where the name changes and it goes on to Anniston).  Anyway, my stuff gets here Thursday so I'll have to figure out what stays and what goes home early.  As for the area, it seems sketchy but this morning I went out for 5 miles and it seemed ok.  It's very close to the base so I could go there and run as well.  But it's early and I'll continue to explore.  And as I'm sure you figured out, I do have internet going at the apartment (pseudo camping).

Started the new job on Monday and it's off with a bang.  There was a Covid outbreak at the conference I was at last week; I appear to have not been affected (couple of days left) but the general put my new building on max telework...which I'm not equipped for yet.  Actually works out, things are going on in the world that does require some "in person" response so I'm already doing that while trying to move in and run all my onboarding checklists.  It's been reported on so I can say the C-130 community (H models from the Guard and Reserves) have been busy in Europe.  I doubt most staff work will be this engaging but we shall see.

Funny stuff about the $29.95 derriere ... that said, I have from time to time found good deals on good bike shorts; and Performance used to make some decent "store brand" shorts that were pretty comfortable.  As a general rule, a woman's bike saddle is shorter, and wider in the back.  Of course nowadays the selection is so great you should be able to find one that pretty good for you.

That's it for now.  Gonna be a busy couple of weeks.  Have a greta night everyone!

ez 3.3 miles this afternoon. surprised how well I felt, even had a (just barely) sub 10 pace that felt effortless.   Even though I'm feeling so good and the legs feel 100% rested, I'll take it easy this week. Last thing I want to do is set myself up for an injury at this point.

4.3 ez miles.

KSA's shoe advice reminded me of this classic:

But my oft told PF story involved using thicc AF Hoka Stinsons with stiff insoles (Sole Dean Karnazes, but Superfeet Green would do) in order to jog a bit without too much pain. That worked for me, but my internet dive into what type of shoes would be better for relieving PF pain and rehabbing; stiff sole or flexible sole, low drop or high drop, cushioned or minimal, etc. found ZERO consensus either among anecdotes like mine from other runners, or sports medicine specialists. Some people said that minimalist/barefoot running made their feet better, others said that made it worse. Same for cushioned shoes, stability shoes, neutral shoes, etc. Anecdotes about them feeling better and feeling worse. And the shoe lists for "best running shoes for PF" are also nonsensical and useless, including shoes of all types. So, I guess it's a personal "trial and error" journey to determine what shoes will help you keep running while rehabbing.

Also for Leslie; +1 on good SHORTS instead of giant padded bike seats. I have a pair with a gel pad, and they have never let me down. Once my butt is trained for biking, I'll wear other shorts with a regular chamois pad, because by then the gel one feels TOO soft! My bike saddles are almost devoid of padding. I have used a Selle Italia Flite, and currently use a WTB Pure. It has a lot more padding than the Flite, but it's still not much compared to recreational bikes. My trophy fake wife was also interested in giant thicc saddles, even when exposed to my experience and knowledge about what to do to eliminate bike-butt pain. Her main concern: the shorts might not look stylish. I informed her that she can just wear the lycra type shorts as underwear, and put whatever stylish thing she wants on over them. I could see the gears turning in her head as she contemplated this new-to-her information...

Hey there Masters!

I've been lurking a bit, but thought I'd stop in to say hi.  Hi!

Sorry for those folks who are having a pity party.  Not running can be so hard!  Sending hugs to all who need one.

Falcon, good luck with the new job and new living situation. That must be hard on your wife for you to always be stationed somewhere else.

We got 4" of snow on Sunday, but it's mostly melted already. I saw my first hummingbird of the season today, at the feeder that I put out last week in anticipation of their arrival.

I'm tapering for a 50k on Saturday.  Feeling good, so I guess the taper is working?  SInce Saturday is the last day of April, I'm planning how to hit a prime number for the month by guessing how long the race will actually be.  I can always just call it 50k in my log even if it's long or short, can't I?  First world problems, I know.