Fred, we owe you.  32 degrees here this morning.  I'll continue my cycle of pt, pool running, and swimming.  I optimistically purchased a winter cycling jacket.

Rich, all that xc skiing will keep you in good stead.

Has anyone called Ribs to tell him we have a new thread for December?

No workouts since last Saturday' sski.  Too busy at work.  I may get one in tomorrow.  We will see.

Euph, that's Tigger doing all the skiing, but I'll get my turn. We got a dusting of snow the other day, but still haven't seen our first substantial snowstorm yet.

I went to see my 88 year old mother this weekend and she said she'd seen the picture of me in the race Thanksgiving morning. I told her I didn't think anyone would recognize me, since I was going so fast I'd probably be just a blurr in the picture. She said, "no dear, you weren't a blurr." lol

Speaking of blurrs...

Tuesday,

Walked 2 miles with walking sticks, stashed those, then ran 3 miles easy. I think I like this workout, but am going to hold judgement for a while. The sticks work your upper body, coupled with the run it should work great.

Jim, are you still targeting sub 3 in your marathon?

Jim - tell me again when and what marathon you are running.   I've never seen a sub 3 pace group at a marathon.  

Ran 10 miles of hills this morning at 7:48 pace.   If charts are correct my "easy" pace is suppose to be 7:50-8:10.   Didn't have to work too hard to run at the fast end of my easy pace.   Local 1/2 on Dec. 20.   Should be a good race for me (if I warmup properly )

Ks, thanks for the prompt back on the November thread.  Yes Tigger, I am a dope two months in a row.

Fred, it looks like Chicago area got about 5 inches.  Only annoying part for me is how few sidewalks got plowed or shoveled.  I'm running a short stretch of sidewalk over and over.   Yesterday and today did the same thing, 4.6 miles.  I should get about 25 miles in this week and feeling very good.

Jim, in the '06 White Rock half-marathon, I warmed up with Billy Rodgers for well over two miles, and Ks is a much tougher runner than I am.  I think a 3 mile warm-up for a half marathon is about right for a strong marathoner.  But I will add that what you do immediately after that warm up and before the race, and the time gap between the two is very important.  Here is what I would add:  change shoes, drink, some nutrition (a sport drink for me), change into race clothing (dry is key), toilet, keep moving, and no more than 20 minutes or so of a gap.  You don't want to warm up at 7 o'clock and race at 8:30 for example.  I always believed it took iron nerves to do this right and in the big races it's darned near impossible. Spareribs

I don't imagine pacers get paid, eh?  The joy of carrying a sign for 26.2 miles must be payment enough.  Yikes.

Jim, my mother's a tough old girl.  She fell a few years ago, busted a hip, leg and wrist.  After some rehab, she bounced right back.  Lately it's been bouts with cancer, including the removal of both breasts.  She's still semi-independent and likes a home-cooked meal about as much as anything.  That's where I come in, I like to cook on weekends and bring her a plate whenever I do.

I'm sore lately so ran a 3 mile recovery run Wednesday...

Hey roch, sounds like retirement's going well, good for you.