Marie-good to know the over 50 group is well represented.

Nice cool day yesterday, low 40's, but the 6+ miles I ran felt harder than it should.  Maybe I'm still recovering from the marathon??  I'll take it easy and give it time.  I'm going back to trying to build my aerobic base by run/walking slowly enough to keep HR down in aerobic range.  I've got several months I can work on that before starting a HM plan for early May race.

Run strong and safe friends.

HI All

I have been on the shelf for the past month - had some ear surgery, and the Dr. ordered "No running type activities until I say OK." In addition, just to make sure I don't cheat on him, I have been very dizzy. Up until last week, I didn't want to risk driving. I was able to make a short trip to the store on Friday and drove to church yesterday.  Still need to stay off the freeway as I get sudden dizzy reactions that could make me change lanes. Saturday I did a fast power walk, but had to quit after 1 1/2 mi because I was getting dizzier. This should get better as the ear heals. I plan to sign up with the Team in Training again in the spring. Now that I know more about the training program, I think I can do that next HM closer to 3 hours.  After  this long down time, I enjoyed reading the posts that were on this page to catch up.

Mimi - your going back to "run in" others was generous of you. On my inaugural HM last month, the Team in Training mentors and coaches were out on the course and going along with us for short times before taking off to encourage another team member. I didn't expect this and was pleasantly surprised when one would pop up along the route to keep me company for a while.

Ray - I admire anyone who can even wear those five-toed shoes, let alone run in them. Chick power - yay!

Saundra - Welcome to the group. I'm glad you are able to even think about finding a gym that's open with so much that has gone on in your area. My prayers are with all who have been impacted by this huge storm. I do hardly any running - only on the gentle down slopes of a short course. The ratio that I've used on 5K is 5 minutes racewalk/15 seconds run. I know you runners will laugh, but it gives me just enough extra edge to beat in my age group (over 70).

Keep movin'

Phyllis

Hi everyone!

Been awhile.

Still running ........ training in northern AZ and in MN, in the rain, wind and cold.

Traveling between the two states and a hectic work schedule keeps me on the road and in different hotels, nevertheless,I somehow manage to get in 8 - 10 miles at least 3 times/week. 

Had a chest cold with severe sore throat TWICE now.

Working with new kids, new batch of bugs!!  LOL!!

Painful when I coughed.  Was drinking warm OJ/apple juice as much as possible and getting as much rest as I could the last two weeks.

I didn't want to opt out on another race, darn it!!

My longest training run was about 10.5 miles.

Felt ok and as ready as I ever will be so despite the endless dry hacking cough, I ran the half marathon in Tempe, AZ on Sunday. 

Official time: 1:59:21

Overall:  placed 416th.

Placed 28th in the 50 - 54 age group.

The weather was perfect!

I kept to my run/walk one minute/run regime.

The cough drops worked until mile 6 ........... had to stop at mile 7, 9, 11.5 and after the finish line to let go of my coughing spasms, bent over, while the other runners veered far away from me, haha!!

Didn't FEEL sick and not contagious anymore ......... just my dry sore throat needed to have its tickle scratched ...........

My recovery is great, less coughing now and feeling much better.

I am happy with my time and effort; finally getting back to finishing under 2 hours.

Will run tomorrow .............. training for a 10 miler next month but who knows what other races may pop up............ depending on where I am.

I may run the HM in Las Vegas early Dec., a night race down the 'strip' .......... if not, will search for another HM this month and in Dec.

In the meantime, SAFE RUNNING AND STAY WARM everyone!!

Congrats to all the other runners who ran a race over the weekend and this weekend to come.

Phyllis and AZ get well soon. 

Phyllis - the shoes aren't that bad really, just need to watch what you're running on.

AZ - you and my wife are close to the same speed.  Just don't cough on the other runners.

Dan, there's no hurry...

MKay, people are basically good, thanks for the articles.

Did a recovery run last Thursday, recovery walk on Friday.  Saturday was yardwork.  Sunday 10 mile hike followed by a 4 mile run on the treadmill with each mile faster than the previous 32 minutes all together.  6 mile easy run yesterday and a 5 mile run today.  Sunday, Monday and today all above 80F with lots of sun -- too warm, especially for November.  Pelicans seemd to moved into the lake Vasona (5 yesterday and 10 today) and the abundant Canada geese are still there.

Run strong.

Ray

Haven't been on the board in a while, but I'm still running! My marathon is Sunday. We're expecting temperatures in the mid 50's at the start and near 80 by the finish. That worries me a bit because I have not handled the heat well this year, but I have decided to relax and enjoy the morning.

Congratulations to all who are still out on the roads and trails. And speedy recoveries to all who are ailing.

@Mary Kay, San Antonio Rock & Roll.

I ran the Half at this event during the last two years. Last year it was unbearably hot and humid, and a middle aged man died at the finish line. There are so many people entered in this Half that it is crowded from start to finish. The Full, with many fewer entrants, will thin out at about mile ten when the Half course splits off. I hear it gets lonely between miles 17 & 23, but we'll see.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have endured in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  Take care.

Dan~Enjoy the warmer temps we are expecting this weekend.  I hope we will catch the sun sometime between the rain clouds!  BTW-I am signed up for all of the winter series races.   It would be wonderful to meet you and your wife!

urun~All the best this weekend.  Love your positive attitude!  All of the "mighty masters" who have run marathons inspire and keep me motivated.  Looking forward to reading your RR.

Phyllis, AZ, marykay~Feel better soon!

Ray~Keep up the great work.  Your speed and mileage is fantastic!!

Marie~8.5 miles + 20 miles + designing costumes = AMAZING! 

Kathy~Love hearing from you! 

Saundra, WDWRich~Welcome aboard!

Challenges with my body clock accepting daylight savings time, work schedule changes and too many outside commitments have played havoc with my running schedule.  I really wanted to get my 5k time under 30 minutes this year, but running 2 x a week is certainly not going to get me there.  This Sunday is the first of six winter running events I have signed up for and it is a very flat route.  Sons and DH are also participating, so it will be lots of fun regardless of my finish time.

Run strong, friends!

I wrote a long, detailed race report. It took so long to write it that Community logged me out and I lost the post!

So, the short story is:

I promised myself that if the temperature was over 55 at the start I would bail and just run the Half. Well, it was 70 and humid at start time but I didn't want to finish the race at the Half line wearing a Marathon bib. Silly, I know. I started out slowly, using a 1/1 run/walk ratio then gradually moved up to 3/1. All went well until about mile 15 when the heat really brought on fatigue. I had lost my snacks before mile nine (always ZIP your pouch!) and even pouring water over my head and drinking at every water station didn't keep my body temperature down. By mile 21 I had had it and decided to abandon a run/walk schedule and just move forward as comfortably as I could. All I wanted to do was reach the finish line and reach it I did. It took more time than I imagined, but I still got the medal!

On the one hand it seemed like an awful lot of work for no time improvement, but on the other hand I was much more alert at the finish and I have much less muscle and joint pain today than the last time I ran a marathon. I know the speed is in there from the training runs I've done. Speed just couldn't win over the warm morning - 80 by the time I finished. So the marathon was a success!

Best of luck to all this week. Run strong!