Interesting article in The Wall Street Journal today,http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323330604578145462264024472.html?mod=WSJ_hp_EditorsPicks

All things in moderation, I guess, still holds true.

urun - interesting article.  I guess it puts me near the danger point.  And causality hasn't been shown, just a link.  We also don't know if there is mortality compression happening (quality of life is increased with rapid decline just before death).  I prefer mortality compression and all indications are that exercise helps achieve that.

AZ - good luck getting the training runs in.  Weather is mostly a psychological barrier. I try to take it as a challenge, but here in the Bay Area it's pretty mild...

Marie, good to hear the training is back on track.  Keep it up!

Debra, Awsome!  Congrats!  On to more PRs!

Dan, This site is pretty flakey.  What browser to you use?  Hope it isn't IE.  These days I'd use chrome or firefox - even on a Mac.

Bill, You're back!  Good to hear from you.  Where would we be w/o sibling rivalry?  I have a way to go to catch my brother...and now it looks like I shouldn't.  What do the know anyway...

WDRich, Nice run.  My wife and I flip it - she does the 1/2s and I do the 5/10Ks (and occasionally a 1/2).  My son splits his time running with us.

Captjer, To start a thread you need to get into a discussion group (can't be done from within a thread).  At the top of the page should be a link to "Up to Threads in Newbie Cafe (New Runners)" - if you click on that, on the right, under "Actions", will be "Start a Thread".  Click it to begin a new thread.

Wife, Son and I did a "Turkey Trot" last Thursday.  Son did 5K,  I did the 10K and wife did the 1/2.  It was a clear crisp beautiful day with temps around 45F at the start.  There were lots of races in the area, but this one had one of the few 1/2s and was run at Hellyer Park in south San Jose.  Course is fairly flat and was an out and back for all three distances.  The races were relatively small, ~40 in the 5K, ~30 in the 10K and ~75 in the 1/2.  Son finished 4th overall, I got 5th and wife finished 1st in her AG.  Figured I would finish 2nd in my AG (50-59), but the gentleman who finished 3rd turned out to be 60.

Time wasn't as fast as last 10K, but respectable 47:16 (would have been closer to 47, but were discussing things way in the back when the race started).

Bad news is I appear to have injured a tendon in my front left leg (big tendon going down the front of the foot, right where it attaches to the shin, about 3 inches above the foot).  Good news is no sign of a stress fracture.  No running until at least Friday. 

Run strong!

Ray

Ray-Congrats to you and your wife and son in the recent races. Pretty neat to run with family members.

Urun- Interesting article. I think a lot of things we do fall into that risk/reward catagory and running is certainly one of them. The article fails to acknowledge the positive health benefits one derives from higher level exercise. In my case asthma, severe nasal allergies, and constant sinus headaches have been greatly reduced.  I train at between 7:30-7:45 per mile so I definately fit the group they are keying in on and I will certainly admit to being overly competitive.

Captjer-Glad you have joined the thread.

-Bill

az2mn, the Bay of Fundy Marathon is up on the Canadian border; it starts in the little town of Lubec in Maine and crosses the border onto Campobello Island, New Brunswick!  I'm really looking forward to it because Ive never been to New England before.  In fact just a few nights ago I dreamt I was running this race, except it kept going through all these unusual places like the middle of a haunted house.  And then I got to meet the Queen!

Nadine, you must really like to race!  Which one(s) do you have in your sites for New Year's Eve/Day?  I was kind of eyeing the one in Papago Park, depending how late I'm out the night before.

I just got discharged from PT for a two-week trial - if I start going back downhill, I can pick back up again w/o having to revisit my doctor.  Physically I'm feeling not perfect but worlds better than I was in August when I missed a day of work because my back wouldn't support me upright!  Still some soreness in my QLs & glutes, but I'm feeling much looser.  Meanwhile, my coach has decided it's time to work on my form again.  Tuck your tailbone under!  Make an "L" with your arms!  Try to strike mid-foot!  Lift your legs like you're running through tall grass!  Relax!

Fiesta Bowl HM coming up this weekend - the original plan was to try and break the 2-hour mark but that's looking a bit doubtful at the moment.  I think I'll settle for not killing myself on this one!

Smooth trails and following winds everyone,

-Nan

HI Nan:

THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE!!

Will keep that in mind, I have yet to visit New England as well.

thanks!

I didn't post the WSJ article link to discourage distance running for us in the over 50 crowd. I just thought it gave me something to think about as I plan my running calendar and my effort level. If I can get good health benefits in the 20-25 mile per week range, I'm happy with it. Quality of miles just like quality of life is the name of the game.

I had a nice run through parts of London today. I got out early so the streets were nearly empty. I had a stranger give me a high five for being an early morning jogger which was kind of funny! The morning was cool (32) but the sky was a beautiful blue. I don't know the city well but had mapped out a course in my mind the night before. Well, I missed the first turn and continued gingerly for the next mile or so until I was comfortable that I knew where I was and could make my way back to the hotel.

I passed through the theatre district, saw Les Miserable, Singing in the Rain, and Mama Mia (so to speak). I passed through Picadilly Circus and on to St. James Park. The Royals were not on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but I waved to them as I ran by. There were a few other runners out and about but the area was very quiet. I started my return trip, passing Trafalgar Square and up through Covent Garden. It was a nice quiet four miles. Later in the day my husband and I returned to St. James Park. The streets were packed with people!! Where had they all been at 8:00? I guess now I understand why I got a high five!

I'm learning to love to run in 32 degree weather. I'm even rethinking retirement locations ;-)

Have a good week all.

Thanks lenzlaw, your post and the article in runner world make it clearer.  Too bad people fudge stuff like that to fit their ideas.

urun- sounds like a beautiful place to run, especially when quiet at 8 AM.  Enjoy your time there!

The weather is staying warmer, 45 again today, so I did some speed work for most of my 3.2 miles today.  Ran right after church so I could get home for the Packer game!  trying to get my stride rate up to close to 180, would run near that for a minute, then walk for a minute.  With time hopefully will be able to stretch the time at the faster turnover.  plan to try that once/week with the other days being slow base building.  That's the plan for now anyway.

have a great week friends, run strong and safe.

Dan, "nice 5.2 miler" - Great! Your training plan sounds good. I may steal.

Urun, great article! Thanks for posting that! "Waved to the Royals" Glad you're enjoying London! Great way to visit a place!

Nancy, good grief that's some serious mud! Bay of Fundy sounds fun! Glad to hear you're healing. Good luck!!

Nadine, welcome and great going on your race times!

Debra, thank you! I hadn't compared my times from last year and this until you mentioned them. Great race times 31:45 and 29:25. those training runs and hikes paid off! Congrats on the PR!! Don't beat yourself up over the shoe laces; if it's not one thing ... Relay training sounds fun!

Ray, agreed; I had many questions after reading the article. Sorry about your injury but race sounds like an awesome experience.

Rich, glad you enjoyed the 10k in Sun Diego with your wife!

Marie, fatastic progress training at 20 mi with a 10 mi hike!!!

Az, good luck with your 10 mi. race training in Az. Can't imagine running in MN in winter cold.

Capt.Jer, welcome!

No runs here. Am nursing cold and planning trips to the gym for strength training. Hopefully I'll follow through.

Strong and happy runs to all!!