Ginny and Penny thanks for the well wishes.  I iced it and went to the doctor.  She put me on a dose pack of a cortical steroid to reduce the swelling, apparently I pulled my plantar.  Still on the meds, but I'm able to walk now.  Hope to be running again in a week.

Stephanie- On the course I have cliff bloks (carbs) and half a cliff bar, for when I get hungrier for something other than carbs.  I have to have a protien shake after the race though.  Oh I also run with my own water bottle so I can drink when I need to instead of when I get to a water point.

Hope everyone is having a great running week!!!

Nick, glad you've found some treatment. Feel better soon!

Penny, sorry to hear you're also having troubles. Hope you conquer that.

Debra, 3 mi. in 6 degrees? You are a beast! I have second thoughts once the temp drops  below 20. Can't wait to hear how well your 10k went!

Ginny, so sorry to hear of your family problems. Have heard way to often lately about Leukemia deaths. It seems to have resurfaced as a very potent form of cancer and scares me. I am going to try to run the Philadelphia Marathon this year in November. I may join TNT if I can get my daughter's help. Of course, I'd just be running a HM. That's close?

I am back and it feels so good! There is nothing like a lung injury or something that hinders breathing to put a scare into a person. I kept trying to blame myself for slowing down and all I needed was some antibiotics. You'd think a person would know a body after living in it 60+ years. Anyway, started the Zpack on Saturday. Thursday's run I could actually breathe clearly and what a difference! My run was strong and steady and boy, did it feel good to be back. 4.5 mi. and 70 min. I was so afraid I'd rebound but I've been good. Yesterday we had some Weather. I waited it out but dressed in gym clothes and then tights and long sleeve hoodie just in case. Sun came out but there was quite a breeze. I just knew I'd regret it if I didn't try running outside and even after all the coddling and congestion I was fine. Ran and walked, but mostly ran 5 mi. and 75 min. Anyway, I've had the most wonderful runner's highs the last two days, so much so that I've felt the need to apologize a little for my good attitude. Thank goodness I'm not young and thin or I'd be insufferable. Very happy with life right now and so glad to be back.

Great runs this week, everybody!

pennymt~Have a great taper week, and keep up the RICE routine for your toe.  You are going to rock your HM!!!  Soak up all the experiences during your race and enjoy them.  We will be looking forward to reading all about it.  RUN STRONG!

Ginny~I am so sorry to read about your family member's battle with leukemia.  As Stephanie said, the races will always be there.  My younger sister is battling kidney disease and awaiting a transplant.  Sometimes races have to be postponed, but running is what keeps me focused and able to be a better support to her. I will keep your family in my prayers.

Mary Kay~"My run was strong and steady"  Loved reading your post and you are back, girlfriend!

Yesterday's 10k race was great and a PR for me, too!  I woke up to mid-teen temps, overcast skies, 25 mph gusts and snow.  At one point in my life, I would have done an about-face and headed back to bed.  Not today!  The goal for this race was to not go out too fast, to keep an even 11:00 minute pace for the entire course and to hopefully beat my previous 10k time.  I'm happy to report that all three goals were realized, and I have a renewed confidence about tackling the HM in May.  Hopefully, the weather will be a bit milder then, BUT  I live in Wisconsin and it could still be snowing in May!

Have a great week everyone!

Congrats on making the plunge!  Looks as if a lot of others will be joining you this spring, including myself.  I just started running this month, after a friend stated she wanted to get a group of people together to do a half marathon in May.  Mind you, I haven't ran a mile since I was obligated to back in high school so the idea of a half marathon was hogwash.  But guess what I do, register for the Go! St. Louis half marathon a month earlier than the one suggested! I'm in a 12 week training program now where we run 3x/week and one cross train day with the longest run so far being the 4 miles we ran yesterday.  No injuries so far, feel a little pain and stiffness that some stretching should help alleviate. 

Ginny, sorry to hear about your family member, I wish you and your family the best.

Debra, congrats on the 10k PR!!!

I tried running today just to put wieght on the foot.  Ran 2 miles, way too fast, at about a 5k pace, instead for taking it easy.  Big mistake, the ankle is now a little sore.  Am still going to up the mileage in a day or two but run at my half pace, just to keep my mileage up.  After taking a week off, I feel the need to get back out there.  Hope everyone's runs are going well.

Hi everybody,

I hope that those of you who were racing this weekend had as much of a good time as I did! I ran my first 10k ever.... and it has been quite an experience. Although I am already running more than those 6 miles (current my PB is 7.6 miles) I found this 10k quite a challenge. First it was a huge event with thousands of runners and I was constantly running in a big bulk of people. Second, I quite felt the pressure of a big race. And last, this course wasn't as flat as I thought I would be, it had several "hills", so ever so often I was running uphill-downhill. I usually run my long distance runs in the flat. So it felt like quite a challenge and I didn't feel good about my running at all. What cheered me up though - at every mile marker I noticed that I was quite between 10 and 11 minutes per mile, often enough closer to 10. This was great for me. Still, the race felt challenging and at mile 3 I decided to run with music. That helped a bit... Anyway, I am proud to say that I finished the 10k happily with a PB of 1:05:49 :-) This is about 7 minutes faster than in my practice runs! Needless to say I am totally overjoyed.:-)))))  It is also good to have the comparison of a long distance race compared to my lonely long distance runs at the beach... quite a difference! And I have to say, now after my first 10k I have even more respect for those who run half marathons or even marathons... I am still planning to run a half marathon this year, but I also know I will give myself lots of time to get there! I feel that it will make sense to run several 10k's first! Anyway... I am happy!

Britta

Penny - red velvet cupcakes, doughnuts, and tiramisu are not carbohydrates? Wha wha what? I am running so I can eat and now you say what? Cannot compute. There must be a really good reason for such talk. Can't wait for your race report.

Congratulations Debra on your new PR and especially on getting out there!!! You are so fierce!!! "At one point in my life, I would have done an about-face and headed back to bed." That was just last week for me. I don't know how you do it. What a fantastic milestone, also, reaching 10 miles!! I have no idea if I will but hope to be able to say that some day this year. You should be so pleased with your progress. I'm impressed!!

jlo and alaw - Bravo on taking the first step and stick with it. It's a win-win. You can run or run/walk or run and then finish walking. I know it's hard to relax but you'll enjoy the journey a lot more if you don't stress it. That's what I keep telling myself.

Nick - sorry it hasn't been easy. Are you already running inside? If not, maybe a treadmill will be easier for transition.

Stephanie - sooo sorry about the hips. Sounds like what I just went through. After six weeks of PT, I have absolutely no residual pain and I was running the last two weeks of that. You've been progressing really well so this may not be a huge setback and you might see some real benefit to your training from the PT. I have. Maintaining conditioning was a challenge. Maybe they can give you some better suggestions for that than my PT gave me.

Congrats, Britta!!! Sounds like a great experience and so glad you enjoyed it!! That was a really good time, also.

Oh, Debra, what a fantastic

I really struggled during yesterday's run. It was my first push past what I've done so far (5 mi) and with such beautiful weather, there was nothing to blame and no good reason to quit barring a heart attack. Around mile 3.5 Hal Higdon says "Picture yourself being able to run 13.1 miles; visualize success and you will reach it." I'm thinking if it weren't for needing the music to calm myself down I'd throw this damn phone in the bushes. I wish I could visualize mile 4.

Well, after all the whining, I ran the 6 miles I was sure I couldn't do but I have serious doubts about 7 in two weeks. One foot in front of the other. Found myself a functional idiot last night though. The brain just wasn't engaged. Had to cut my date short and then I had trouble sleeping. That is not good. Wondering if I should have had more water or something else or if it's just a normal adjustment. Any thoughts?

Hope you all have great weather and fabulous runs this week!!