So many posts in just a few days!  So I[m only touching on a few  . . . .

NHLA - thanks for the article.  Agreed re:  focus. I can actually run faster on the TM - if I don't stay focused I'll fall right off the back. 

Francesmom- hugs!  I'm praying for only good news on DD's leg.

jmsab - good news on your wife's surgery!

Monday - rest day

Tuesday - 3.1 on the TM at the Y - progressively built up  my speed from 5.1 to 5.7 mph and then progressively dropped it back down again.  What gets me through is saying to myself "just one more minute" every time the timer ticks another minute off.  Why does a mile on the TM take so much longer than a mile on road, even though I running at a faster pace on the TM? 

Today was a planned trip to the Y for cycling/weightlifting.  alarm went off - I hit snooze.  Then I fell prey to the feline exercise saboteuse.  Somewhere between alarm rings, my kitty curled up under my chin and starting purring. It was all over at that point.  I just stayed cuddled up next to kitty for a while and enjoyed the purring. 

JM, so glad to hear your wife's great news!!

All, your runs sound great! Glad you're enjoying them!! Deb, I did the same thing this morning - without the cat. I'll get to the gym tonight.

I am trying many of your suggestions. Checked in on some newbie threads to cheer them on and read about training at maximum aerobic heart rate (a la Maffetone and Hadd). Has anyone tried this and if you have, how long did you do it? I'm thinking of trying it for the next four months since my symptoms sound like overtraining stress.

Keep up the good work, all!!

Today I did 4.73 miles in 42 minutes (pace of 8:53), ran in the door leashed up dogs and walked them 2 miles in 30 minutes.  It was a nice way to cool down, and made the puppies very happy!  We are experiencing a bit of a heat wave here.  Today near 50  and maybe 60 by Sunday!  My son got a new sled for Christmas - I hope he gets to use it!  Thanks for well wishes regarding my DD.  Appt with ortho went okay.  Xray showed 2-3 cm osteochondroma on left medial, distal femur. ( It looks like a rhino horn!) She has MRI tomorrow with f/u with ortho on Wednesday.  Trying to stay postive, and take each day as it comes.  Internet sites terrified me so I am avoiding further research until we have definite answers.  Tha fact that she has had no pain is a big positive. BTW - I hate insurance companies!

jmsab - Great news regarding your wife!  Is she a runner too? Don't forhget to take care of yourself while taking care of her!

Jeff - We are seriously considering getting chickens.  I would love to have fresh eggs everyday.  Do you have a variety or all the same kind?  My brother has over 30, all different kinds. He gives us eggs that are all shade of pastels and browns.

Melody - If I don't run before lunch, I have trouble with fueling too.  I guess my breakfast routine is pretty strict.  Lunch can be anything and usually includes leftovers which can cause issues with my running in afternoon.  I am sooo glad most races are in the morning!

Deb - Instead of stopping to smell the roses, you were stopping to feel the purring!  Everyone needs a rest day!

Tomorrow is Friday - Yeah! 

After snowshoeing outside for 30 min.s in the mild temps but strong winds, I decided NOT to attempt an outdoor run. There were trees down in the area with winds about 35 mph (gusts). Did some core XRs and hit the stationary bike for 30 mins. My bike meter screen isn't working, so I used my watch and checked the meter when I was done --  13.4 miles. I thought I'd make 15, but I didn't.

Got the OK from the local Rec Club last night to start the C25K program this spring. I'll be under their insurance and will have access to a school gym in inclement weather. I can also use their web site and coordinate registrations with their spring youth sports signups. Now to get people interested.

Treadmill haters.... Has anyone tried one of those virtual run screens where you run the route showing on the TM screen? I haven't, but it would seem to take some of the boredom away for those who dislike TMs.

Mkay..... When I do my speed workouts on the TM, my HR is around 150, and I've run 1/2 miles at the 10 mph speed, so those are for 3:00 at a time.

Francessmom... Wife was running until 2011 when her hip problem began. We'll see if she wants to get back into it this summer.

NHLA.... I hope your run was at least on a road and not a trail, if you finished in the dark!!!

Everyone have nice days.

Wow. I've been taking it easy this week and had a lot of posts to read.

MaryK - "restricted content" is most likely a bland and innocent word you have used that also happens to be a top "spam" subject. I got that when I described the time of day I ran, a synonym for dawn or dusk, that is the name of a series of "teen romantic vampire fiction", IYKWIM.

I had a great group run tonight up Lookout Mountain Trail to the Boettcher Mansion. It's a 3.25 mile climb with 1350' elevation gain. I made the up and back in 1:14, not counting the time I spent at the top looking at the lights of Denver. It was 30-35 degrees, and just beautiful.  Then down, and to dinner at a place called Toned Bones, catering to "active lifestyle" people. Healthy food. Like a ground buffalo and uncured bacon cheeseburger, and a bowl of green chile. They had vegetarian options, too, but buffalo's a good, lean option. The healthiest part of the meal was the portion size; I usually end up with 2 meals worth of food at any restaurant but only 1 here. There were 17 of us. We overwhelmed the place, but we sat and talked while we waited, and the food was good. Stone bruise on my left foot - ouch.

Hi all,

Not a lot of running this week as I'm still resting my sore knee.  I did a weight workout Tues and cario classes on Wed & Thur.  I told DAS that I was not going to run this weekend either, not til the pain goes away.  Tonight I think I'll do some elliptical and then another weight workout.  More than one of the articles I read about Runner's Knee indicate that strengthening the quads can help so that's what I'm going to try.  I admit I have lost strength in the past year by being somewhat lax with my weight routines.  I was also advised to not run on TM but with the cold weather returning this weekend I don't have a whole lot of options.

A fun thing happened yesterday.  I got my mail and had an envelope with a bulky item inside.  I opened it up to discover a finisher medal from the New Year's Color Run!  I'm guessing that they ordered medals but they didn't arrive in time for the race.  How fun!

I also discovered that one of my sisters in law, and also a cousin, have started the C25k program.  Now I can't wait til I see them again so we can go for a run together!

The whirlwind in the last couple of weeks didn't stop when I ran the 20k trail race this past Sunday.

I stayed with daughter to take care of grandbabies till my flight back home to MN on Thursday (yesterday).

But on Monday morning, hubby called to see how the grandbabies and daughter were doing, etc.....

Then, he said "everything is ok" ........... I held my breath ........... then "I'm calling from the hospital" .............. thought it was about his parents.

"I had a heart attack" ........I'm stunned ......... I will take the next flight out I said, but he told me to stay with my scheduled flight, "I'm being taken care of at the hospital, nothing you can do except wait around, just take care of the babies because you need to keep yourself busy." 

We are both health care professionals so we do stay calm, assess the situation, etc. when there's a crisis but it's more personal when it hits home, right?  But I didn't want to stress him out so I stayed, anxiously, till Thursday.  Couldn't eat but taking care of newborn left me little sleep so didn't have the energy or focus to run .............. don't want that when training on TRAILS!

He was discharged Wed and has been recovering very well at home, diagnosis is positive, on meds for rest of his life, but most importantly, healthier diet and lifestyle to maintain from now on. 

Of course he has known this for years!!!!!! He's only 50!!!! 

Both sides of his family have histories of heart problems, heart surgeries, crappy eating, practically no exercises/active lifestyles, and have died from them. 

He is feeling much better now, just fighting off a cold now.  I made it home last night, LONGEST HUG ever. 

It is sooo freaking cold and slick outdoors here, don't want to drive much less run .............. just gonna spend time with hubby. 

Will need to find a club so to run indoors till I need to travel back to AZ, CO, CA, and NM in another month but think I need to seriously shop for a TM, ugh!!