Thankful that my family and I are healthy.

4 miles on the TM this morning.  I listened to a playaway book and it made a huge difference, made the time pass much more pleasantly, do not know why I did not think of this sooner.  Do you know what a playaway is?  It is like a book on tape, but they look like little cassette players and you just plug your earphones in and listen to a book.  Great little invention and perfect for the TM.

Karen...I am so sorry.  You are just sick and tired of being sick and tired!!  Once you are over this stuff that you have you will perk up I am sure.  Being that it is winter doesn't help!  What can we do to cheer you up?

Tessa...have a great trip.  I know that you will!

Marjorie...fun weekend ahead.

Ginny

Good morning!  I am thankful my sister much better and that I didn't get the flu.  To catch up a bit...

Karen, I'm so sorry you're missing the race and still feel crappy.

Ginny, you are doing great this winter.  I seem to have the slug bug myself.

Demaris, congrats on that race and post op PR!

Cindy, good luck to your hubby in his job hunt.  I hope he finds something great.

Lisa, I agree that a skeptic site doesn't seem like you.

Marjorie, have a great time with Tessa.

Tessa, good luck this weekend.

Hi to everyone else!

I have done one mi this week.  My sis-in-law in Alabama had a respiratory crisis last weekend and is still in the ICU on a vent. She smokes. She tested positive for RSV and flu and they put her on isolation after I spent a few hours in the room. I didn't get flu, but have had cold symptoms the past couple days.  Thankfully, it's not bad at all and it could be allergies, but I just didn't have the energy to finish the run.  I am going to shoot for 3 later today.

I've concocted a new recipe I'll share.I have a fruit smoothie most days, but I was too cold to drink one so I made a hot fruit drink (or fruit soup) .

Put a cup of cranberry juice with a spash of orange juice in a saucepan.  Add about a cup pineapple, blueberries and strawberries.  If in the evening, add sangria, Barefoot muscato or leftover bubbly.  Heat just until quite hot. Eat/drink it like soup.  It hits the spot.

Thankful that we survived the quest for the high occupancy vehicle lane on the 405. The freeway is crowded and the airport bus driver is, mmmh, assertive.

On my way!

Ginny, haven't heard of those before, can you check them out of the library? I usually balance a hardback book on the TM but am open to new things.

Carol, good luck at WI tonight.

Camille, scary about your SIL. Hope she recovers and that maybe this scare will be the incentive she needs to quit.

Damaris,  you are so conscientious about Pirates and miles!

Marjorie, we nearly had a situation that would call for an emergency trip to Target - I forgot to pack running shorts. Fortunately I remembered when in the shower.  All packed!

4 thus morning with RN, now heading for the airport as previously mentioned. SC here I come! Excited. I am sorry Karen won't be there. Another time, I hope.

Karen-hope your mood is improving... you heard Ginny.  Be thankful! For something.  Texas is something that's for sure.

Tessa-do you have arm warmers?  I like those when weather is in flux.  They also make nice wrist bands to wipe sweat away later in day too. Agree on the not wanting to be drilled without Novocain.  As a child I had multiple fillings done without it.  I still have a memory of pain being seen in a range of colors. White was the worst.  At one point my mom received a bill from the dentist for a visit my dad had and hit the roof. She called dentist yelling about how they had filled cavities on me without anesthetic when they had it as an option.  he told her that she hadn't asked for it.  We got a new dentist after that.  Each time I went I would get a stuffed animal to bring with me.  I remember the dog named "Tuffy" for obvious reasons.  Teeth drilled sans anesthetic, 3 natural childbirths without anesthetic (okay, a local given for high forceps delivery and subsequent ripping with baby #1).... I probably could run a 100 miler from a pain standpoint.

Damaris-if you do dress your cats please send pics.. of them or of your clawed up arms.

Marjorie-Nice running!

Sue-good to hear the doggies are all happy.  Not dressed, but happy.

Carol-hill repeats in the dark.  fun.  maintaining is always the hardest.  not much glory in it either.

Ginny-I haven't heard of those either.  Downloadable books yes, playaways no.

Camille-Hang in there.  I used to make a "tea" by boiling a bag of fresh cranberries in water (can't remember how much, but a lot) along with cinnamon sticks.  Then strain, add orange juice (about a cup I think) and sugar to taste.  Was really good and made the house smell wonderful.

5 miles in one hour on tm this morning with my hill repeats.  Was successful in keeping average speed at 5 mph (12 min/mile).

• .25 miles at 5% at 5mph, recover at 1 or 0% for .25 mile at same 5.0 mph
• .25 miles at 6% at 4.8 mph, recover for .25 at 5.2 mph
• .25 miles at 7% at 4.6 mph, recover for .25 at 5.0 then another .25 at 5.4 mph
• repeat but I did bring speeds down .2 on each incline so up .2 on each recovery to keep to the 5.0 average.
• I think I did the last mile alternating between 5.2, 5.0, 4.8.  0, 1, 1.5% inclines. I get so bored that I have to change something.

For those of you who know anything about training plans.. how can/should I build off of this to train for Leona Divide?  Longer hills?  I think TM goes up to 10%, higher inclines?  Less inclines but for longer? 50k is the bottom elevation map.  1,300ft gain in first 5 miles.  Mile 10 looks like 1,000 gain in 2 miles.  Maybe prayer is best option.

playaway

Karen sad you won't be here!  Hope work gets better

my right eye is dry. Don't know why. Felt like something was in it when I ran. Nope. I looked when I got back. When I was at the store I got some visine dry eye. Feels much better. I know the eye doctor several year ago said my eyes were a bit dry. I'm sure they are even more so now. I will probably see the eye doctor later this year before renewing my drivers license. My sight is fine and I don't wear glasses. But every time I go to renew my license the damn eye chart thing is hard. Last time it was nearly impossible. They finally passed me but I was all hmmm, so I went in to have them checked. He laughed at me. I guess the dmv never calibrates their machines.  He said it happens all the time. Figure I will go preemptively this year.  I'm the on,y one in my family that doesn't need glasses so I might as well.

Audio type books are great, Ginny. I know when my mom was still alive she would get audio books when they traveled to make the road trip seem easier.

Carol  you've done well with the cross training

Camille the recipe sounds great

Lisa I have several pairs of arm warmers she can use if needed. And gloves. I have a throw away pair of gloves  still too.

Tessa well, if you forgot anything we can certainly get you stuff!  I keep a bunch of spare toiletry stuff in the spare room for guests too.  I love the sample isles at the stores.....

Tessa's flight has a slight delay. She should land in 15 min. Just got to the airport. The tracking board in the cell lot not working but I have the flight up on my phone to track.