I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.  Joy to the World!

Dan~We dodged the big snow last Thursday!  We received a lot of well needed rain, and when the thermometer dipped around 3 pm it turned to snow.  Only a few inches, but it created a winter wonderland for Christmas. 

MaryKay~Congrats on your 4 mile run!  Winter hiking is great, I really enjoy it, too.  Hope DD is feeling well soon.

Steve~We missed you!  Those winter hikes sound great.  How did you find the group that you hike with?  Most of the time I prefer solitary hiking, but it would be nice to go with a group occasionally.

Last Sunday I ran a strong 8 miles on the bike path along the river.  Just a few spots where the snow had not melted and it was icy, but overall the path was in great condition for winter running.   Late afternoon on Christmas Day, DH and I ventured out for a chilly 4 mile run/walk on the bike path near our home.  I was glad I wore my Yaktrax, because the path was snowy and icy.  Along the way, we greeted a runner in green tights, red shorts, red/white striped socks and a battery operated blinking "star" stocking cap. Gotta love the holiday spirit!

Run strong, friends!

Hi everyone!! 

I hope everyone had a blessed and joyous holiday with family and friends!!  And hope Santa brought what you 'needed' ...........

After my 10 mile race on the 16th, I had to travel to NM for a couple of days for work. 

Came home for a day and had to drive back down to Phoenix on Saturday, another false alarm.

Just had enough time to run 5.5 miles before it got dark on trail, 59 minutes!

Sunday:  10.1 miles on rocky and a couple of good incline trail, 2:02.

Monday:  rested.

Tuesday, Christmas Day:  10.2 miles on different trail with at least 5% degree incline and I ran three of them without stopping, YAY!!  2:11.

today:  watching 1st grandbaby .......... much more fun!!  need a rest anyway.

Daughter's due date is SUNDAY and she finally decided TODAY is her last day of work!!!

She is SOOOO ready, LOL!!! 

So I am staying close and will not miss this grandbaby's entrance into the world.  Exciting!!

Take care and be safe and warm everyone!!

Dan~All the best with your 5 miler on NYD!  Hopefully we will be experiencing a February "thaw" when you visit MKE.  There is always the track at the Pettit Ice Center if the weather is bad or trails icy.  It is located at I-94 and 84th St., near the State Fair Grounds. The 400+ meter 2-lane indoor track surrounds the speed skating oval.  It's cold inside the center, but no wind.  Always something to watch:  figure skaters, hockey games, and Olympic speed skaters.  It's the only running track with a Zamboni crossing!

az2mn~Great to read you have been able to enjoy all the trail running.  I pray "labor day" goes easy-breezy for your daughter.  Can't wait to hear the news!

Steve~Thanks, I may check with my local REI about hiking groups.  I'm heading out for a trek on the ravines along Lake Michigan today with my sons.  Not sure about the photo posting issue.....have you tried a different browser (Mozilla Firefox, maybe)?

Ran a 6 mile tempo run at the indoor track last night.  I'm running a 5k on New Year's Eve as part of the winter running series.  To date, over 2000 folks have signed up!  Many more will sign up on race day depending on the weather.   Hopeful to come in under 30 minutes again!

Run strong, run bold into the New Year friends!

Good Morning everyone!

Rest day today.

Yesterday, finally did a double run I have been wanting to do sometime this week. 

9.3 miles in the AM, 1:48.  Incorporated 45 seconds walk break after each mile on trail with a couple of steady long inclines, rocky and dirt packed.

4.1 miles in the PM just before sunset, 47 minutes with only one 30 seconds walk break at 2 miles.

Total of about 13.4 miles!!!  yippee!!

Thought about running 6 miles once legs started to feel better after 2 miles, but thunder and distant rain, slippery/muddy trail, pregnant daughter alone with napping 1st granddaughter, and left cell phone at the house ("it's only a short run") forced me to stick to my plan.

Slight soreness this morning but yoga stretches really helped!!

So far this week, about 38 miles!!

Can't imagine how long I might need to adapt to the winter conditions once back in MN but until then, getting in the mileage when I can!!

No snow during December just doesn't seem/feel 'right' but I it's nice to know I can be in the middle of it just 2 hours north of here.

Stay healthy, warm and strong everyone!!  You are my motivation!!  HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

az2mn- Nice job on the double run!  Arizona is being very good to you.  Hang in there when you head back north!

urun2me- Excellent job on the 2012 miles!!  I've gotten in about 680 this year, and am happy with that, all things considered.  Now for some goal setting for 2013. 

Debra-great to see wildlife in the city.    I have a little over 400 on my Brooks Ghost4 shoes and am thinking I should replace them in the next month.  I sent you a PM with a few questions about the track at the Pettit Center.

Good luck to all as you run into 2013- may it be a year of new goals achieved and new friends made, all without injury!!  Run strong and safe friends.

MaryKay~I prefer using the YakTraxs on at least 2 - 3 inches of packed snow.  For.me, they do not work as well on ice or bare pavement.  When we get snow the DPW does plow the bike trails, The plows actually compress the snow and it isn't too bad running on it with or without the YakTrax.  Thanks for the tip on Meetup! 

Ran the 3rd race of the Winter Running Series to benefit childhood cancer research with my older son.  The route was a tad over 5k at 3.17miles and the finish times were slower due to the crowds.  The route was run through our State Fair grounds.  It isn't very scenic, but a good spectator course.  The course was cleared of the recent snowfall, and only a few slushy puddle remained.  I woke up not feeling tip-top, a virus has been speading through our household, and too many nights of merry making during the holiday had left me a bit sluggish.  The weather was overcast, 25 degrees and a slight NW wind causing a windchill of 19 degrees.  Nice winter running actually, and it helped to have about 2000 runners to huddle with at the start.  Decided to just run the event as a training run, but that could have been my rationilization for not pushing it.  Ended up with negative splits which is a good thing, and took 1:24 off my time in this same race last year.  Always a great group of folks and a festive post-race atmosphere.  Runners received the traditonal post race goodies including THE best chocolate chip cookies, plus choice of either short/long sleeve tech or cotton t-shirt and commemorative 2012 and 2013 bottle of locally brewed beer/soda.  Total 2012 mileage after today's race was 839.76.  There had to be a missing quarter mile run during the year somewhere!!!

Happy New Year to the Mighty Masters!  May you have a 2013 filled with new PR's, no injuries and miles and miles of strong running!

Dan~Great way to begin the New Year!  Congratulations on getting out there in the frigid temps.  It probably helped to have the sunshine yesterday, didn't it?  All the best on training for your spring races.  What training plan are you using for DCHM? 

Yesterday, ran an easy 4 miles to bring in 2013.   As Dan mentioned, it was cold in Wisconsin, and "colder" after our beloved Badgers lost the Rose Bowl.....again.  Celebrating my 2 year running anniversary with a 45 minute tempo run at the indoor track today.  When I read my journal from those first few weeks of c25k, I am amazed how far I've come.  Thank you to all on this thread for your encouragement, advice and the kick out the door when I needed it! 

Goals for 2013:

1. Run 2 Spring HMs and 2 Fall HMs.
2. 10k under 1 hour.
3. 1200 miles for the year.
4. Be more consistent with strength/cross-training.
5. Run 50 mile 5-person relay in October.
6. Keep building a strong base to run a FM at age 57 in 2014.

Run strong friends!

Great goals for 2013 Debra and I cannot wait for you to run your Marathon in 2014!!

Like you and Steve, I did get out for 5 mile New Year's Day run, but like Steve it was in the warmth and in my case dryness of the gym! I will go out for a run in the rain, but not when it is literally pouring down rain all day long and cold to boot! So, I wimped and went to the gym, but I did get out in the dark cold world very early this morning for a 3 mile shake out run so not a total wimp! LOL

Happy New Year to all the Mighty Masters!!! We are an AWESOME group of people and I know we are going to have a wonderful 2013 running year!

Marie~ I do not know if you have already left for Disney World or not, but good luck to you and your daughter in the Goofy Challenge!!! I cannot imagine running a HM on Sat and then a FM on Sunday! YIKES!!! But, I am sure that you and your daughter will do it and do it well!!!!

I have a HM this weekend and one next weekend to kick off 2013! I have no idea how these runs will go. My Morton's Neuroma has been acting up for the past couple of weeks and it is still 4 months until I can get another injection in it. Sooo... the goal of these HM's will be a high level on the Fred Standard meter which is FUN!!!!! Fun no matter what the time or pace is what it takes to make it to the Fred Standards Meter! I have finally realized that the only way that I am ever going to be free of the pain from the MN is to have surgery and I really do not want to have surgery on my foot, but it may be my only way to run without pain, sometimes even walk without pain and to ever be able to wear a pair of heels again. Big decsion.