Finished the Campbell Run. It was good. I did better than I thought but not as well as I wanted. Maybe better weather will bring better times. I am thinking I need to really focus on my weight. The balance between keeping fueled and not eating too much is one I don't seem to be having much success with. Any tips?

Dolliegirl, I don't really have any tips per se but when I did Tink I started carb loading nearly a week ahead of time. I didn't bother getting on the scale during that week because I had heard the horror stories about carb loading weight gain so I waited until after a few days after the event to check my weight. I had gained 4.5# in that week! It took another week to lose it again...only leaving me with on free week of "free" eating before going back to carb loading next week. At this point I'll just be happy to maintain a steady weight after races rather than losing weight for a while. That pre-race fueling is a bear! Are you mixing up cardio, XT and training? Maybe pick up the XT or cardio a little bit to kick up the metabolism? Just an idea! Great job in Campbell!! I wish I were in the Bay Area now...we have new snow on the ground and sub 10°F temps with wind chill! Safe running!

Yesterday, 2/11/12, was a day dedicated to a worldwide virtual run to remember fallen runner Sherry Arnold. I printed up the virtual bib Friday night and planned to be on the road at 9am yesterday. I woke up at 4:30am sick. Up and down to the bathroom, no further sleep...only had about 4 hours total. After spending most of the morning in the bathroom I knew I had to run still. I had a 10 miler planned on a remote road on the local USAF base. Instead I decided to stay close to home and just run a 5K loop in the neighborhood so that I'd be close to businesses with restrooms and home. I finally got out of the door at 9:30 and started the run in something like 8-10°F wind chill and 11mph winds. It took me awhile to get a good pace going but after the first loop I was finally feeling better. By the 10K my G2 in my Spring palm held bottle had turned into a thick slush and several snow flurries had already occured. I decided to finish the full 10 miles by reversing the route and throwing in extra turns and roads.

Let me tell you, I thought I was hardcore (for me) when I did my very first snow run in wet slushy snow alternating with freezing rain. I think this run was way more hardcore than that!! lol! I finished the run, went straight into a warm shower to defrost (used up all the hot water), laid down in bed with a space heater blowing on me and a heating pad on my feet. And all I could think was..."What an excellent day for a run!" I guess I'm hooked now!! LOL!!

Run on ya'll!!

I ran in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre Marathon Relay yesterday in Greensoboro, NC.   It was 25 degrees at start of race and 40 at end but the wind chill factor maintained a steady 15 degrees throughout.   I ran the marathon with a team of 3 (our 4th got sick) and despite the cold and the nasty hills, it was really a fun event.  My face is pretty chapped from being outside in that wind over 5 hours and my legs are a bit sore from standing up for that long and the running, but it was such a fun event and I'm so very proud that I maintained a solid penguin pace of 12:02 mm even when running uphill with the wind in my face.    At least I proved that I"m not a wimp!  LOL.  That race is not for sissies.   But, been there, done that, and got a fabulous hoodie! 

   Keep running, Friends!!

Hey All! Just a quick update..

Since I was last here I've run 2 more halfs, both in the last week. My first was 2/25 at the Pecos Valley Stampede where I set a new PR of 2:43:19/12:27mm. My second was yesterday at the inaugural Xpress Half Marathon in Wichita Falls, TX where I improved my PR by about another 7 minutes (2:37:39/12:02mm UNOFFICIAL RESULT). I've got three weekends off before I do 3 halfs within 8 days!! Two of them back to back on Sat/Sun! Woooohooo!!

Lastly, I qualified for the Half Fanatics with yesterday's race...I'm officially in (paid fees/ordered shirt) and am just waiting for confirmation of my number (I had specifically requested #1982 because it's the year of my high school graduation). 

Happy & Safe running, y'all!! I'm going to head out later for what will hopefully be at least a 10 miles just to see what it's like to do 2 long runs on consecutive days!

Not a problem Soulsong! Team in Training works very similarly. I did the FLEX option for people whose schedule for live training doesn't work or for those who live too far from the live training. Team members work with a coach on Training Peaks using a modified Galloway plan along with a closed Facebook group, email and phone if needed. They also have online seminars on fundraising, injury prevention, nutrition, etc. I had a really good experience with them and plan to run with them again in fall 2013 for the Nike Women's Marathon.

I like this thread. I am not a real fast runner, but am in 8:45-9:00 mile pace now. I am getting my 2012 schedule set up, and cant imagine next year yet.