NHLA - That's some miles. If I had 40 mph winds, I'd get a treadmill.

http://www.ultimatedirection.com/p-593-wasp.aspx

I got a gift card for Boulder Running Company for Christmas, and I'd had my eye on this for months. I'm now the proud owner . Now I have to get my mileage back up and go for some 3 hour runs!

10.2 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes. I ran on the cement path today to try to give my quads a break, and now my feet hate me. Oh well. It was a beautiful morning for a run along the creek.

Today did 3.85 in 30 minutes.  Very strong headwind fro 2.3 miles, but finish was with wind at my back.  Weather today is sunny and 40 - not to bad to run in.  I keep reading about everyone's plans for 2013. I don't really have any at this time.  I keep looking at races to do but my weekends are pretty busy until mid March.  I would like to try another HM, but don't think I could get training in  for a spring HM.  Oh well - I guess I will just keep running and see what

develops.

I despise the TM.  My pace is always slower and it is sooo boring!  Our town has a community center with an indoor track (1/10th mile).  I will run there is the roads get too bad.  There is an older gentleman that runs there that often runs 10 miles or more which is over 100 times around the track! 

NHLA - 40 miles an hour is crazy!  Your scenery always sounds amazing!

OC - I never ran with a pack.  Let me know what it is like.

Dan  - I love that kind of snow when everyone is forced to slow down.  It brings out the good in people. 

Chell - Great mileage! I wish I could get my DH to start running.  Sometimes he rides along when I run.  I did get him to do the Warrior Dash last June.

Deb - Take care of that ankle.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Have a Safe and Healthy week!

francessmom - This pack was designed by trail runners. You know, no-names like Anton Krupicka and Scott Jurek. I read a dozen reviews, and the 2 worst reviews were 4 stars out of 5. It's been tested at Hardrock 100. I have been wearing a large fanny pack with 2 bottle holders, which has plenty of space but I have no hips for the belt to sit on. I end up with the buckle tight across my lower abdomen, and after about 10 miles I start to feel some pain. A fanny pack may be a viable option for you, and they're a lot cheaper.

You can train for a half in 20 miles/week, easily. Getting some 10-12 mile long runs on weekends may mean getting up before dawn, though.

An easy 4.5 today, 9:30 pace. It was sunny and 45, so I was in shorts and a long sleeve shirt. Then to church, and then "happened" to walk into Runner'sRoost Lakewood. They happened to have a pair of these on clearance.

So, I picked them up. The North Face Singletrack, heavier than my Minimus, but sometimes my feet hurt and I want more shoe, more protection.

Hello all, and hope you have a very Merry Christmas! 

Been a while since last post, maybe a month or so.  Since my trip to Afghanistan, I have been very tired and really trying hard to get back into a running groove.  Have been reading all your posts and keeping up but life keeps getting in the way in terms of time to respond.

You all have some great stories over the last month, and the entire year.  Take a moment to look back and reflect on what you have done, and how far you have come.  Congrats to you!

And how we have all benefited from the support of this incredible group.  PR's for some, first time Marathoners, beginners changing their lives for the better, you are all "runners".  The best story of the year is from coyote who shared his experience during a race where a new runner, very overweight and struggling was approached by a very experienced and fit runner that stopped to say: "...there are two kinds of people in this world, runners and everyone else...and you are a runner."  How cool is that?

I honestly never really thought of myself as a runner.  But this year, at age 49, I ran two 10 mile races and 3 HM's, plus some local 5k's, 7k's etc.  With one week to go in the year, I have run 200 times, logged just over 1160 miles in 204 hours for an average of 10:30 m/m, and burned 116,000 calories.  So while I am not ecstatic about my recent attempts to get an average of 20 mpw, this year has been a huge success, especially since I have achieved my main goal of running injury free!

And you all have similarly exceptional experiences!  I promise that I will be better about responding and keeping up more regularly heading into the New Year.

So as you wind down 2012, enjoy the time with your families, celebrate the Holidays, and look forward to an even more incredible 2013. 

Thought I would share a quick view of my run yesterday from a local trail overlooking the Boulder Valley, the Flatiron Mountains to the left and the Rocky Mtns in the background.  Am sure that coyote recognizes all of this!

Run strong, run free, and be "Fearless" in all that you do!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

linuscatch What a beautiful and thoughtful post! Thank you for reminding us about the "big picture". Welcome back.

Debm2011 Your run around the pond sounds so relaxing. I'm glad that ankle is feeling better.

For those of you that remember Avery's story, her parents are in Hawaii as they had planned with her before she lost her fight with cancer.  They had gone there almost every year as a family and it truly was Avery's favorite place.  Last night they spread her ashes in her favorite spot, the Pacific Ocean, and rememberd "A VERY" special girl...

Just two days ago, Avery's mom, Vicki sent me a great message about running:

"I don't run to add days to my life.  I run to add life to my days."

Words to live by...

Fearless!

"I don't run to add days to my life.  I run to add life to my days." That's very true for me lately.

melodylea - Nice 10 spot!

Debm - 9:00? I can't imagine. I made it to 8 once, in October.

linus - Great shot. Hard to tell with the zoom available, but were you up by NIST? On the Mesa trail?

I ran a nice 4.2 miler this morning, cold 20 degrees, but I was dressed right. I've taken to wearing 2 pair of compression shorts under my tights or running pants. Guys, I gotta tell you, that extra layer is a little bit of Heaven right here on Earth. I may do 90-120 minutes tomorrow, depending. We're supposed to get 5" or so of snow, slowing by dawn. That sounds like perfect running weather to me, so let's hope!

On a personal note, I saw Mrs Coyote today. She's back in this reality praise God, but still fragile and in need of help. However, because I don't have a job (and am frankly rather emotionally fragile myself) there is really nothing I can do right now. It was a bittersweet morning.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I wish you all love.