MaryKay~Congratulations on your AWESOME HM in Philly!  Twenty-eight minutes faster than in Colombus, and a quantum leap from Flying Pig!  So happy you enjoyed celebrating with DD.  After all of the blood, sweat & tears  you shed this summer, you kept moving forward.  So proud of you!  Bravo on shaving 2 minutes off your best 10k time, also.  Don't you love when that happens!  All the best to you as you continue to strive toward next year's goals --  You can do it!

az2mn~Thanksgiving took on new meaning for the elder lady!  Glad you were there.  Sorry about the snow, get ready for your first winter in MN.  I've dusted off the x-country skis & snowshoes -- ready for it!

Nan~Happy to read the PT is helping.  Mud Run looks, eh....fun?  Congrats on the 5k PR, too!

Bill~Welcome back, and good news about your foot.  Hope your family Thanksgiving run was great!

WDWRich~Bet the 10k in San Diego was great.  Love that town!

kathruns~ Welcome back, WooHoo on your speedy 5k!  WTG!

Steve~Did the Galloway "motivation" work for you?  Hope you were able to get in some miles before the thermometer dipped.

Webpro~Hang in there, buddy!  Hope the toe is feeling better.

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family & friends!

Ogre44~Sory, missed your post!  Welcome, and although you are just a "youngster", we're happy to have you join our group.  Morton Arboretum - one of my favorite places to visit.  I didn't realize they had arun there.  Might have to check it out.

Participated in 2 5k's over the holiday weekend.  Thanksgiving Day was spent w/ family and friends running the inaugural Drumstick Dash  5k run/walk.  Over 2600 participated, amazing for a first time event and on a holiday.  Lots of $$$ and provisions brought to fill a local food bank.  It was held at the State Fair grounds and part of the course was run on the historic Milwaukee Mile race track.  Lots of folks in the spirit of the holiday were dressed as turkeys, Pilgirms and many wearing theme headgear - hilarious!  My goal for the race was to enjoy running with fam and friends and to test pacing for another race on the weekend.  The weather was lovely for November in the upper midwest;  sunny, 58-degrees, with some wind only noticible on the open race track.  Finished in 31:45 with negative splits which told me my pacing plan for Sunday looked promising.  Festive, fun event and plan to make it a holiday tradition!

Ran the second of six winter races yesterday.  Sunny, but with temps at 23-degrees and a NW wind!  The goal was to come in under 30 minutes, and with a flat course I was hopeful I could get 'r done!  I decided to move up to the mid-pack area of the start line area.  I usually stand back at the rear because I am not fond of the "crunch' of people when the start gun goes off.  I recognized a woman in my AG who runs at the pace I needed to run to come in under 30.  I asked if she minded me pacing with her and she welcomed me.  The first mile was run much faster than I normally go out, but I was determined to keep up, although my lungs were screaming to stop!  I had been doing tempo runs and some speedwork the past few weeks, and I told myself, "You are not going to die, just keep going!"  At the 2 mile flag I was still holding pace, but my right shoelace(which never became untied before!) was slapping against my ankle.  I pulled over to the side, retied it which isn't easy with gloved fingers!  I kept the gal I was running w/ in sight and tried to keep calm and move up.  As I approached the 3 mile flag on a small hill....WHAT?!?!  The other shoelace became untied!  Pulled to the side again, retied it and thought there is no way I'm doing this today.  Turned the corner for the final .1 mile and my eyes located the clock reading 29:"something".  I didn't think - just ran - whoo, made it! Guntime 29:53, chip time 29:25.  So happy to have accomplished this goal, but lesson learned about checking those pesky shoelaces at the start line.  Found and thanked my pacer friend, enjoyed some post-race goodies and celebrated with a delicious breakfast with DH and DSx2! 

Run strong this week, friends!

WDWRich:

How wonderful that you and your wife run!

Not too many couples will or can.

As my husband always says:  "not everyone should or can run"

He is my loyal spectator.  He is more of a swimmer, mt biker, walker and hiker.

My intensity demands more intense activity so I enjoy my trail running and races.

Is your wife running the Women's Half Marathon/5K event in San Diego in Feb.?

It's part of a series and San Diego was added to the series for Feb. 2013. 

It's not the Rock and Roll event, that is usually held in June.

I am hoping to run a trail marathon in San Francisco in Feb. but if it falls through I may join my 15 yr old niece in San Diego for the Women's race event.

I'll run the HM but she will be running her first race, the 5K, and she asked me for pointers.

I paid for her entry fee as a gift.  Maybe she'll get the running bug, haha!

Thanks az2mn.  Due to a foot issue, my wife power walks 5k races.  I'll be running the San Diego HM in March, and she'll do the 5k with one of her friends.  We're both 59, and really enjoy these events.

Debra-  I know you'd do it soon!  Way to go!!  Considering the darn shoe laces, you obliterated that 30 minute goal.  Enjoy that feeling!

Marie- I was wondering how the goofy training was going.  It looks like you are doing those long miles just fine; it can be tough to be out there that long; it really does develop the mental as well as physical stamina, I think.

Active had me blocked for most of the last week.  DS & I did the small local turkey trot, they netted food items for the local food pantry, and we enjoyed a near 5K run, most of it along the Baraboo river walk.  Nice and scenic.  You were right Debra, Thursday was an amazing late November day in Wisconsin, perfect for the run.  I've managed an easy 5 miles Saturday on my rural roads, and 2 mi on TM this morning. 

Run strong and safe this week friends.

girlintheorchard:  Thanks!  I will check that out, I should be around in May.  I live in Bemidji, MN but not a stranger to traveling for new races, especially trail events!!

I tried to run yesterday but the MN cold went through my bones even though I was covered head to toe, wearing a balaclava too, in winter gear!!  After a half mile, I had to go home!!  Such a wimp, haha!!  But I didn't want to get sick again and miss out on races I have paid for!!  I've lived in ND for ten years, and in CO as well so I am not new to winter conditions, and while living in northern AZ, I have run on mt trails in the snow, low temps and at a higher elevation, and I do fine.  So wierd!!  I'm sure I have to adapt to the MN winter and that means staying in one place for a longer amount of time which is not possible lately.  Anyway, my schedule should slow down in Feb, and will spend more time in MN, which will still be experiencing WINTER so I guess I need to invest in a TM:  I'm more depressed now, haha!!

I want to kick some butt in my next race, a 10 miler in the PHX area so I am anxious to train on my mt trails in northern AZ next week!! Got lots of mileage to make up for!!

Stay healthy, warm and safe everyone!

Debra-I loved your race story. I had a shoe lace situation come up a Turkey Trot race  couple years ago. I was having a good run and there was a big downhill right before the finish (steep to). Half way down my shoe untied and I probably lost a minute trying to re-tie it in 15 degree weather. The important thing is that I still beat my brother . Sounds like you really challenged yourself in that race and it showed by your impressive results.

-Bill