Debra~ Sounds like a nice training run along the river path before speed work.  Just a suggestion if you have a smart phone and don't want to bother looking at your Garmin to track your pace:  Some apps (I use MayMy Run) have a feature that will speak your progress (distance, pace, minutes) out loud as you run at intervals you can select.  I wear my Samsung Galaxy S3 on my arm and will occassionaly use this feature.  Sometimes though, I don't want to hear it so I shut that feature down.

I'll be doing an 8-mile run tomorrow moning as I'm training for the Resolution 15k on January 6th.  After that, it will be the San Diego HM in March.

Cheers!

Am back in northern AZ since Dec. 9th, Saturday, too late to run that evening, temps drop by 20 degrees once the sun sets and too dark on the trails.

Sunday, 8.1 miles, 1:29, on the most flat trail I know, slow and easy run at 7,300 ft in elevation, avoiding "too much, too fast, too soon"......... tempting but don't want to invite injury and muscle fatigue.

Then drove 3 hours for work in eastern AZ, spent the rest of the week in that area and western NM.

Monday:  rested.

Tuesday:  9.1 miles on TM, 1:35 ??

Wed:  rested

Thursday:  hectic work day, drove back 5 hours from NM to home in northern AZ, too late to run so called it a rest day.

Friday:  10.1 miles, on trail, 1:44.

Saturday:  10.2 miles, on a more rocky and hilly trail, 1:58, made it!! YAY!! Tough but sooooo awesome to be back!!

Then son-in-law called that daughter was experiencing strong contractions, so drove down to PHX just to be near and I predict she will have baby sooner than due date (Dec. 30th). 

Hubby flying down to AZ for a week to see the baby and to celebrate our 10th anniversary!!  YAY!!

Took all my running gear to take advantage of desert mts for endurance at lower elevation.  May be here for the week, and next race is a 10 miler on the 16th.

Will be flying back to MN in Jan for a few weeks.  

So much going on before the year ends but LIFE IS GRAND!! 

We are soooo anxious for our second grandbaby to arrive..........maybe on 12/12/12????? How cool will that be?!?

Hope to run my 3rd marathon sometime in FEB when I return to AZ for followup work for a few weeks.

Reading all your posts, WELCOME to the new ones, and thanks for all the encouragement from everyone!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Ran 8 miles at the indoor track that surrounds the speed-skating oval.  Lots of company on the 2 lane run/walk track, and fun to watch the junior speed skating heats on the ice.  It's great to have the 400+ meter track to run indoors when the weather is bad.  I'll run outdoors in most conditions, but 33 degrees and rain/sleet isn't one of them.  Not fond of running with wet, freezing feet for over an hour!  Heading out for a 5 mile walk today.

Dan~Sounds like a nice run along the river in the snow.  Bet it was beautiful!  Too warm here yesterday, just rain/sleet.  I know what you mean about a 3 mile run being harder than I think it should be sometimes!

az2mn~Awesome mileage for you this week!  Congrats on your 10 yr. anniversary, and impending birth of second grandbaby -- Lots to celebrate!

Mary Kay~Totally get the volunteer thing -- I'm just a girl who can't say no to volunteering!   

Rich~Thanks for the app suggestion, time for a phone upgrade for me.  Mine is, ehh..."vintage".  Hope your 8 miler was great! 

Have a great week, and run strong, friends!

WDWRick:

hope you're back to running shape this week.  I, too, feel disappointed and depressed when I have to rest to let an injury subside or heal.  But as we age, those 'rest days' and recoveries after races are necessary ........if to continue in later years.  That's what I tell myself to work against my stubborn desire to 'suck it up' .......... I use those in actual races.  Listen to your body and keep those muscles limber by simple easy stretches, i.e. yoga, walks, hikes, etc. 

girlintheorchard:

I don't care for the windy freezing temps either.  I consider myself fortunate that I can experience two different climates, although I think it does take a toll on me which sometimes results in my not feeling well and body needing a rest to re-acclimate.  My work travels keeps me discipline in my training runs but it's still a challenge in time management and keeping a base mileage to reach a goal of running my third marathon in Feb. or March, and again, in May or June. 

I think my goal is pretty realistic .......... but it can be daunting sometimes, dealing with temperature changes and where I need to be.

My daughter had a false alarm Saturday night, but I am still in PHX just to be near.  I would rather be at 7,000+ elevation for my training runs on the mountain trails but I am taking advantage of the desert mts with challenging inclines. 

Ran 4 miles on mt trail which had a pretty good incline for almost a mile from the start, and rest was rocky/dirt/hilly terrain. WOW!! made it!! Last 2 miles got dark so I ran on paved road around the neighborhood, ugh!!!  Worked on my speed, and my legs are feeling them now, a good hurt!! 

urun2me- Welcome!  I hope you get to join the ranks of Grandparents too.  The wife and I have 6 grandchildren and another on the way- they are a joy!  Glad you enjoy running.  Even if you choose not to race, the mental and physical benefits are wonderful.

Happy Holidays.

Happy Birthday Mimi!. Congrats on being the pacer for the HM and being that extra special mentor. Awesome!

MaryKay, you will do fantastic w/ your beginning group come January! They will love it too!

WDWRich sorry to hear of your groin strain. Hope it is really minor.

Dan, beautiful picture.

We had been blessed with unseasonably warm temp which I loved, but today, reality set in. While it was clear, it was quite chilly. I admire all of you who love the cold weather....me, I prefer warm, not hot, but warm. :-)

Debra, sounds like your indoor track is a very nice option when inclement weather sets in.

AZ, keep us posted as soon as the baby arrives....today 12-12-12 would be an ideal time to arrive. Your mountain runs inspire me.

My training for Goofy is still on track. I did miss Monday's short run, but didn't sweat it. This weekend is 12 mile hike one day and the next a 26 mile run. I pray DD & I survive. She has had to miss way too many of her runs, so we may have to alter the schedule.  This is the last long run before Disney. I don't know if I'm more excited about Christmas or Disney.

Happy and safe holidays to all my mighty masters friends. We have been blessed through out this year with the gift of running and the friendships (albeit cyber variety) formed. Thanks to all of your for that wonderful present!

Hello, all!

Just came back from office Xmas party and am giving myself time to sober up a little before I hop on the TM for a quickish 3 mi. at the gym.

Az, two 10+ mile trail runs back to back? You are amazing! Life is Grand!!  I know about that "Stubborn desire to suck it up". It's what get's me injured and makes it so hard for me to heal.

Dan, loved the pic! It's kinda dreamy. My runs lately have been really hard also.

Debra, love the sounds of your track! What a good alternative to a TM!!

Rich, groin pull? Ouch! take care!

Urun, so glad you're enjoying the sheer fun of running!! Wish I could just let go and do that. Don't forget the gingerbread, peppermint and pumpkin pie. They only come around once a year!

Mimi, you *get* me!! Everything is a balance of stress with me. I've crafted my life evidently on the edge of what is tolerable and any new demand seems to send it into overwhelming. I suppose this is a bad thing but I'm not convinced. Keep thinking it's like speed training, if you maintain this level long enough, it will feel normal and you'll be able to deal. Probably wishful thinking but for now, I don't see any responsibility I can get rid of. The fact that you were able to lead your runners in their first HM across the finish in under 3 hrs and then finish yourself in under 3 hours is awesome fantastic!!! What a great role model you are!! Happy 60th!! I personally love the way you define and wear it!!

Marie, I didn't realize your races were so soon. You will kill these!! You are absolutely ready!! Best of luck to you and your daughter!! I was shopping for jewelry online and found a pendant that was handstamped with "Goofy, 39.3" and thought of you. I'm sure Disney will have the bling covered.

I am still looking for runner girl or something like that earrings. I want to wear them when I run and don't want them bouncing around. Unfortunately, all I could find were dangling earrings. I guess others prefer to wear theirs after runs? Idk. Anyway, if you come across any that just have posts and not wires, let me know? It's actually almost warm enough for a run outside right now but am babying myself with a gym trot. Am still coughing a lot. Lousy cold!!

Run strong and fearless out there!!