My last run was this past monday - 5.3K in 43 min.  not too bad as I was hit by the flu saterday and spend most of sat and sun laying around.  had recovered enough to get out monday evening.  tuesday was Karate and Christmas party and today was moving piano.  Hope to get out tomorrow as my weather will not be too bad.

Old Coyote:  I did manage couple three waddles mostly on the bike trails around boulder - not counting the 2 miles I did in Breckinridge - big difference noted between 1600 and 2900 meters!   (my base is at 100M) More power to everyone who is running at altitude  -- maybe thats were the runners high comes from?

aiming toward PR in 4 mile on 31st   I'd like to end the year on a up note

Tried something different on the TM yesterday. Was aiming for about 7 or 8 miles, but while I was running the first couple, I turned it up a little and made myself a deal. I'd run 3, maybe 4, 3-mile repeats, at 10k pace, with a couple-minutes walk in between, instead of the 8 continuous miles at a slower pace. I'd read something like this a couple months ago, but probably not exactly like it. I was going by memory, which in my case, is going bye. So I did the first three in good times, a little faster each time, with the third run about 20:20. The fourth one, though, started getting to my quads, so I lowered the incline and turned the speed down after the first mile, and finished it in 23:00. Total time for the four runs (12 miles) was 1:28:26,   7:22 pace.

My marathoner friend just posted on Facebook a picture of her raffle drawing prize from last April's Boston Marathon Expo. The package was delivered to her house the other day:  A huge case of Energy Bars (about 27 pounds, I think), a new Garmin watch, and a certificate for a nutrition-plan discussion session with a food expert from the Energy Bar company.

Chell..... Excellent, excellent work!!! You cut your time in half, or, another way to look at it (which I personally like), you doubled your speed!!! You're twice as fast as you were last year!!

Az2Mn...2nd in AG, prizes, and a total of 10.1 miles - All VERY GOOD!!!!!!

Jerry 78..... Way to get back at it, but listen to the ol' body.

JustrunDan.... With the snow and winter becoming more of a reality, the TM may become your best friend. It does in my training.

Maureen0131...... You are an inspiration for many. I'm glad your knee pain is just "losing pains." Three 5ks is something to be very proud of. If you aren't working on NY's Day, and you can find a race that day, it's a good psychological booster, to be able to say you ran your fastest 5k of the year!  Good luck in your continued successes.

DebM and Melody... "Strong" and "Great" runs.  Good feelings to have, no doubt.

Coyote... I've been meaning to ask -- did you get a new job?

There's some big, round, white thing in the sky today. I can't remember what they call it, but it hasn't been there for a while.

Run like there's no tomorrow, Mayans!!

No running for me today. I'll be running tomorrow! I just wanted to share that I am sooo excited about 2013.  A friend of mine and I are planning to run 1000 miles a piece next year!! I've started on my race schedule and am shocked! I've got 2-5ks, 1-7k, 1-10k, 2 half marathons and a marathon scheduled already.  I am sure that I'll be doing a few other 5k's (Pretty sure I'll be doing a 5k in June in honor of my grandmother and probably another 2 in the fall and another 10k.)  I'm soooo excited. I can't wait for 2013. 

It's been awhile, I'm warming up in Starbucks and waiting for some updates to download on my computer. You've all been very busy. I'm kinda jealous. just to turn the tables: It's a chilly 79*f here and very windy, I'm wishing I brought my hoodie with me. :-)

Francessmom: you were so far ahead of me in Philly! Good job. I'm hoping to hit it again this year (I've already registered but my work schedule might not line up.)

I've been lazy. Last week I just swam. I didn't know how far I went because I was doing laps between buoys working on my breathing and form. Yesterday I should have swam again but I decided I needed to finally get my Christmas presents finished and wrapped. I put four boxes in the mail this morning (cost me $60!) at least they should get them by New Year's! I've just been exhausted with work. I had 3 long days followed by 2 early mornings. Today is my shortest day and I have to be back to work in 3 hours. Hopefully my downloads are finished by then.

We had a christmas bar-b-que tuesday and I pigged out on lobster and cookies... I was so happy to hit my goal weight on weight watcher's last week and then I forgot to weigh myself this morning. oops.

I have a hard time finding the will power to run when all I want to do is sleep on my off time. And if I want to get anything done I have to choose between squeezing in a workout or running errands. It helps that I walk everywhere. Except today because I had to ride the shuttle. Can't walk 3 miles carrying 4 boxes of presents in the wind. I'll see if I have enough time to walk back once my comp is updated.

I wish I could get online more often you are all such good motivation. If only the e-mail updates still worked.

sigh.

Happy holiday's ya'll!

Wow, so much going on! Welcome to JerryRunner78, Maureen, glad you're running pain free.

AZ2MN - grats on the AG award. Ogr44 - Good luck in the 4 miler. Francessmom - Just run. CKLindsay - Hi!  jmsab - No job, good interview today, but nothing moving right now. Everybody else - I read your posts, I just got swamped by them

About 6 miles tonight, in an hour, with a group on Green Mountain. I ran in my new screw shoes (say that 5x fast), probably didn't need them, but it was nice to have that security. The snow was drifted shin deep in spots and in others the ground was bare. I ran with a small hand held flashlight as well as my headlamp and the additional light source really gave dimension to the terrain. I never so much as kicked a rock tonight.

As far as 1000 miles per year goes, that is 20 miles/week, which really will provide all the health benefits that 100 miles/ week would and none of the injuries. Most intelligent people would stop at that distance.

Oh, well. Run free!

jmsab - I'm still shooting for 1200 miles, which means 4.1 miles/day, or basically 30 mpw. I would probably do better by running less days per week, more miles per day, but It's doing me some good in other ways to run daily. I'm just running easy, making sure I stay uninjured. After New Years Day (gotta run New Years Eve and Day) I'll change up my training, take a step back week or two.

3.34 miles this morning, 31:34 overall including just missing the light out and back. I ran a slow warmup and then about 2.1 miles at tempo, followed by a slow cooldown. And it was cool; 25 degrees and a little breeze will cool your wicking fabrics quite well.

I have a 5K on January 5th and one on the 13th. The one on the 13th is a tradition for me, and there's a club run 5K on the 5th I'll use to tune up.

OC- I was low on the snow estimate- we got anywhere from 16-18" of wet snow over a 24 hour period, along with lots of wind.  More schools closed in south central WI than I've ever seen for one storm, and for 2 days!  No running outside anytime soon!

Chell- great job on the drop in your running time!  Excellent.  It will be great to see your progress in the next year.

OshCat- I looked at the Hal Higdon site, those look interesting. I'm thinking about doing Novice 2 for the May HM and perhaps Intermediate for the one in September.

az2mn- thanks for the tip; with the way this winter is shaping up, I just need to research some different ways of using the TM so it isn't so boring.  Embrace it and make it work for me.

Family arriving tonight through the weekend, looking forward to great family time.

Run strong and safe!

jmsab - ouch, don't do that again!  My yoga instructor makes a point to say each class "don't do something because I tell you to, only do what feels good for your body."  Sometimes I even listen to her. 

az - I need to get some TM routines too - I hate hate hate the TM.  I have a feeling there is going to come a time very soon when weather conditions will not permit outdoor running here.  I have a 5 mile race scheduled for New Year's Day, but nothing beyond that yet.  Insane work schedule isn't helping my motivation or my sleep levels.

chell - wow you certainly believe in planning ahead - look at that race schedule!  Can  you bottle that motivaion?  I'll take 2.

francesmom - I've been having login problems too but usually get in afer a couple of tries.

CK - hi!  nice to hear from you.  your weather sounds dreamy

MelodyLea - talk about bottling energy - I'll take 3!  Whoot on your super 5 mile run!!

OldCoyote - 7 days a week - wow.  Just make sure you get some rest here and there.

Dan - that's a lot of snow!  Have fun with your family

no run today - ankle is taped and unhappy.  Yesterday was 2.5 miles - no sleep, tired legs, twingy ankle.  I'm not setting the alarm tonight - if I wake up for my water aerobics class, good for me but I'm not pushing it.