4 miles 34 min. Just could not get going.

OshCat get well soon

Not a lot of light polution here. After the leaves fall the sky gets very clear at night. I miss the skys in the TX hill country.

Hey, all! I"ve been crazy busy and tired. So sorry I haven't caught up on your fabulous accomplishments yet but hope to get some time this evening to do it. Hope you are all doing well or getting there!!

Philadelphia was wonderful and I will definitely do it again! Probably the best organized of all but also has the most difficult prerace to navigate if you're not familiar. The Start is at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum and parking does not exist. Roads were closed, including the freeway exists more than an hour before race time. Cabs were warned and NONE showed up at the hotels. NONE. Most folks had to walk at least a mile to the Start. I led a group from the Omni to the subway. We were told it would be free with a bib but they were charging and only took cash. Cashier ran out of change for $20 after three runners so she let a bunch of us on for free. They had over 60 big UPS trucks for stowing bags with drivers actually handling them but the police had the course completely gated so that if you entered the course from the right, there was no way to get to the bag-check on the left. Well, I jumped five metal gates; the crowd pulled the gates apart at the last juncture. Everyone was pleasant, though. Things that were different: No one was in costume. Maybe it's a Quaker influence? Police were everywhere, like two posts per block. Things that were nice but normal: Folks were friendly. Course was very scenic with rolling hills, none daunting. It had good cheer spots, music, and live high fives from Mayor Nutter who for some reason didn't recognize me. What?? Wore my AF marathon hat and as I crossed the Start, announcer gave a shout out to the AF marathoners. I ran 3:1 for two miles, 2:1 for next 3 mi. and switched to 1:1s with a few 2 min. breaks. My gadgets all said my splits were under 12 min. which was faster than any race before so I thought I was cruising. Somewhere between 7 and 10, the one that was giving me notices jumped a mile and ended up recording the course as 14 mi. So, I started taking pix. Probably burned 5-10 min. but thought I had the time. Official time ended up being 1 min. slower than Columbus. RATS! Live and learn. Still loved the race, though.

Of course I could be just a little biased. DD and I had a wonderful visit and ate/drank every good food neighborhood from Broad and Market Streets south. No sammys for us. *Kids* in their 30s have gentrified the area and the food scene is A-Mazing. If you go, be sure to see East Passyunk and Hawthorne and the Italian Market. DD was fantastically generous with time and pleasantries but she's clearly stressed beyond her personal limits. She promised to run me in AND actually showed up. That was a moment to remember and certainly made my last miles a lot easier. No cry face for me! but I did leave it all on the course. Whole left leg was threatening to give out, hip to ankle. If she hadn't been there, I definitely would have walked that last mile. Slowly. Mayor Nutter was still high fiving at the Finish. I always liked his civic pride.

Left leg pain disappeared the next day but right leg is now screaming. Strange. I am very very tired but still high on the trip/race. Got some decent pix. You're welcome to view on fb: Mary Kay Chuey. They are public so friend request is not required but totally welcome. Hope to catch up on your fantabulous progress tonight.

Run strong and fierce, my friends!!

Awesome Job, Mary Kay!  You owned that half!  Hope your soreness is very brief. I love Philly.  I got to high five Mayor Nutter when I did Broad St Run in May!

I am definitely considering this race for 2013.

Today ran 3.89 in 34 minutes which is under 9 minute/mile! Weather was sunny and 45.  I didn't even need gloves.

Ive been running about 3x a week. Part of the reason Im at about 80mp month, not 80mpw like nhla. That being said, I normally get 2 days off once a week, but with the tendon tender, I gave it another day or two. Thanks nhla on the "knot" advice. I'll still have to look up what a friction-release is, probably not what I was doing when I was 18 and single. After my long break, I had to get a quick run in, so I dropped down from my expanding distances of 8+ miles to 6.25. But I was able to do it faster than ever, in 1:02. Today I pushed a little harder and got 7.3 done with 9:42min/mi. I've already planned to do a run out at sister-in-laws on Turkey day. Not sure if I'll go for 7 miles low intensity or push it. See how it goes, I'll try to map out a route with Nike+ tonight. degregorius I am glad Map My Run is working for you. With the upgrade, you can take photos and stuff, but I am too busy running to snap photography or take videos. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to do that.

DebM, congrats on keeping your Friday run.

NHLA so you run at night too? Looking for meteor showers? I am afraid to trip over a bump in the road still!

jmsab23 yeah, I am west of West Hartford. Sounds like the wife left you to fend for yourself on bird-day.

old coyote you are right - if you dont run faster, you'll never get faster. I had a good run today - Ran fast out of the gate, and that seems to encourage me to keep up the pace and see if I can stay under 10min/mi the entire run. But then around mile 5, I noticed I had some fatigue. Not exactly my muscles, not my chest or heart - I just felt it was hard to go fast. Congrats on your 8:47/mi

I tightened up my laces a little better today, I think that helped my tendon. Need to watch what I eat, keeping weight off my joints will be good for keeping my injuries low. Had some chocolate milk after running today. Need to figure out a post-run routine. I get really bad indigetstion / reflux. Could be worse, but milk helps. Also NHLA, I was running with a 8oz bottle for a 3 mile run and since the cold weather, I have been doing 6, 7 & 8 miles without any fluids. I drink about 15 minutes before the run, and immediately after. I probably should do something different, but I dont really want to start carrying a drink again.

Had another great run tonight on the TM. Was going to be 5 miles, maybe 6, but when I got closer and was figuring the finish time, I thought about a full 10K and a possible best time, even though I was inside and on the TM. The incline was, after all, set on 1% the whole time. So, as I got past 5 miles, and still felt great and running faster, I turned it up some more in hopes of breaking 44 minutes. Started the full speed finish too late, though, and ended with a 44:08 time. I'm still pumped. I've been doing more and still feeling strong on my last week or so.

Dilljeffrey.... No, the wife came home Sunday. She'll be here for Turkeyday.   I don't usually run with water any more, unless I'm going to be pushing myself and for an hour or so or more. I also hydrate about 15-30 minutes before I go out, and a few sips just before starting. Then, as soon as I'm done.

Melody.... How did the running partner feel Or look?

Francessmom..... Great job on the sub-9 run!!!

Maryk.... You are getting to be one race-savvy, challenge-searching, goal-chasing young woman!!!!!!!  Hip, hip, hooray for you!! And a good finish with your daughter, too. Be happy!!

Coyote... It doesn't get any darker than 5:10 a.m. around my house in the woods. The sky was clear, too, but I didn't see any meteors in the 2 minutes I was out getting my newspaper and searching the sky. I wasn't about to give it much more of a chance than that when it was all of 24 degrees out.

Oshcat... I was bummed just reading about your cold and your not being able to run the Jingle Bell run. You put a lot into your preparation for it.

NHLA..... Still a pretty good run. Was it too cold? Or maybe tired from last week?

Run safely, people, and have nice days.

4 miles 31 min 17 out & 14 back. 6 hours yard work.

MK great race. I don't see link to pics.

85 welcome leave with the wind in your face and come home with the wind at your back.

jimsab you are improving and that's exciting.

dill friction release is sort of like rubbing one out. You grab the knot and rub it out. Gets the scare tissue out. There is little blood flow in tendon so it needs help

Deb try a silk scarf like the cowboys wear. It will trap heat and will not fog glasses.

I ran a nice 4 miles this afternoon. I rarely run in the afternoon, and I didn't gage the amount of fuel needed. I was trying to balance that fine line between eating so you don't have stomach upset later on during your run, or not eating enough! Luckily I always carry a Hammer Gel with me, so I was all set. Gorgeous Nov. afternoon! My running buddy/dog/best friend is doing well and feeling strong after her surgery. Its so good to have her back running with me!

dilljeffrey I hope the tendon issue clears up...remember, easy does it. You certainly don't want to get sidelined with an injury!! Regarding post run choices, I personally have 1/2 cup Choco Soy milk (I'm  actose intolerant) and a splash of pasteurized egg whites. That gives me the protein and the carbs needed to repair muscles.

Debm2011 Meant to tell you! If you wear your glasses OVER the balaclava you'll have no fogging up. You'll look like a scary Ninja, but your lungs will appreciate it!

jmsab23 Super nice treadmill run AND uphill into the headwind!

85oneone Nice 7 mile run!

NHLA 6 hours of yard work!?!?! Woah.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Got my toe socks and Accel Gel in the mail today...i'm even more excited to run now!! **Happy Thanksgiving all**

NHLA: thank you! 4 miles in 31 mins was your warm-up for the 6 hours of yardwork.... Nice!!

jmsab23: yes sir, forward deployed right now. Gotta get my runs in no matter where i go... Great Quote of the Day btw

MelodyLea: what kind of dog do you have? I have a French Mastiff and he can't go much further than a mile. Sometimes he's so tired i have to lift him into the truck (not easy with a dog that weighs 130lbs).