Hey, everyone!

11.6 miles for me on Saturday. (I just succeeded in switching my long runs from Sunday to Saturday, joe. I like it, because now my rest day is AFTER my long run instead of before it.)

5.2 this morning -- morning weather was great today. About 9 degrees cooler and 35% less humid than last week. Made for a very pleasant run.

I was looking for a 10K or 10-miler to run in mid-September, as a tune up and assessment before my HM on October 13. I couldn't find any 10Ks or 10-milers in driving distance for me -- lots of 5Ks, though. Anyway, after much discussion with some experienced runner friends who also know me & my running history well, I've decided to do a pre-HM HM. Yeah. I'm going to do a very small HM about two hours from my home on September 8. I'm going to do it as a training run, in place of my 12-mile scheduled LSD that day. The course is flat, and it does (scary, scary) have a three-hour time limit. The HM is limited to 250 runners (there were only 100 last year, including only one runner in my AG!).

Good morning halfers!

I did it! 7 miles...my longest run ever! I knew it was going to be OK when the first song that came up on my ipod was "Time for Me to Fly" (REO Speedwagon). So my 11:05 pace was not exactly flying, but it felt like it to me. Wore my amphipod for the first time and I love it! Didn't rub me raw anywhere, and I was able to carry everything I needed and even clip my insulin pump to it more comfortably. Also tried some Sport Beans, which were a nice change of pace from the dry glucose tabs. Oh, and as I finished up, the song playing was "I'll Fly Away" (Jars of Clay).

Looks like everyone is going longer these days. Way to go!

Corrina -- 12.8, wow!! Save some for race day

Francesca -- 8 for you...going above and beyond! Congrats on going further than you ever have. Don't know about that whole ice bath thing. Doesn't anyone sit in the hot tub anymore?

ctmama -- welcome back from VC. That's great that your hubby is getting out there too. So is mine, and I'm so proud of him. He came back from his run on Saturday with the fire in his eyes, already talking about his next run. I think the bug has bit him!

Tawny -- congrats on owning your first home! I know what you mean about how stuff can accumulate over the years. You should consider packing and moving to be cross training activities. You may also need your running to keep you sane!

wbertha -- 11 is super! A little waking never hurt anybody, and you covered the ground which is what counts.

joe -- I am fascinated w/ thunderstorms too. Love to sit out on the back porch and just watch and feel them. Have a good 4 tonight and be careful in the heat!

Oh, and does anyone know what "Fartlek -- 8 X 40 second hills" means? That is what's on the training schedule for tomorrow. I'm guessing run up a hill for 40 seconds, then jog back down for 40 seconds and do all of that 8 times?

Happy runs and rests!



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Progress, not perfection.

I keep reading Halfers as Heifers. Isn't that what I'm running NOT to be?

Yikes - we lost our internet connection here at work for a while so I've been out of the loop!

Imogene - what a jerk! That certainly would have gotten my adrenaline going too... glad you didn't fall

Jen - Teehee! I love the comment about the deposit you left. It will really make me think everytime I see a deposit anywhere from now on what sort of animal left it!

Corrina - awesome that you did 12.8!! That's like spitting distance from 13.1!!

Francesca - brrrr!!! I can't imagine sitting in the tub of ice water... I don't even like to get my hands in cold water. Hope it at least does the trick for you.

Everyone is doing great here! Lots of "going the extra mile" hehehe.
Just need to clarify this post from yesterday:
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I was wiped out by 10 last night so I didn't try to fight it and went to bed. Good news is that I got up nice and early at 6am and still got 8 hours of sleep! The thunderstorms that were rolling through overnight were gone by the time I got up and I was able to go out for my 8 miles (avg pace 10:26 which I'm very pleased with)
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That meant I was wiped by 10pm, not by 10 miles. I ran the 5k on Satuday and 8 miles yesterday so that's only 11 miles for 2 days. I just don't want to take credit for something I didn't do!

So my plan calls for 12 miles this Sunday, but I really want to go to for 13. That'll be my last run that long before my hm so I just want to make sure I go the full 13 at least once before then.

On the subject of shoes... I was soooooo excited yesterday to discover that there is in fact an honest to goodness running store 20 miles from my house.I have been looking to find one that's less than 2 hours away so this was really great news for me! So I went there just to check it out and came home with a new pair of shoes.
I wanted to replace my department store 'treadmill' shoes with some real running shoes and hope that it helps the "calf" pains I started getting a few weeks ago... which it turns out it's more likely shin splints.
The guy at the running store was soooo nice and helpful and full of information. He spent a lot of time with me and asked lots of questions to make sure he knew what I really needed. He was not trying to get me to buy anything which I really appreciated too. So he checked my gait and all that and suggested I try a motion control shoe. Tried on maybe 20 pairs of shoes and finally narrowed it down to 1. I left a very happy customer who is sure to go back there again. Gosh - I keep saying it, but he was just so nice! I've never had a shopping experience like that before.

Anyway - It's been quite a long time since I have looked forward to running on the TM, but Tuesdays are speed days, I get to try out my new shoes and this will be my first run with "Tracey" (remember - that's the name I gave my tm)... what fun!

Hi everyone, been busy, busy, busy. I did manage to get 6 miles in Sat. morning. it was a great run.. Haven't had time to download it to motionbased yet.

It sounds like everyone is doing awesome on their long runs, I better be getting mine moved up, I feel like I'm lagging behind. Its gonna be another hot on this week, I'm just so tired of the heat. I'm exhausted.

Hope everyones Monday started off ok.

Sheila C.

ctmama -- in San Fran, if you are staying downtown, get down to the Embarcadero for your runs. It's scenic and very flat, which you should like after your hill run Lots of runners out in the morning, so it feels pretty safe too. And if you can stay over the weekend, check out the farmers market at the Ferry Bldg. I'm not sure if they have it every weekend, but it was wonderful!

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Progress, not perfection.