Hello again gang. I have been AWOL again for a while.

First off CONGRATS Spice on your marathon. Absolutely great time you turned in on your first full. You an are inspriation to us all.

I have been busy since I last posted. Last weekend I ran a local 5k and finished 9th over all with a 22:19 time. I even suprised myself with that.

This past weekend I ran the Spirit of Pittsburgh half marathon and what a nice course is was to run. It was a little hillier than I thought it would be but I run steeper and longer hills during training runs, thanks god. It was my hardest race to date. I think I over trained (lesson learned I hope), and it was only three weeks since I ran my last half. Plus my 5k the previous weekend I followed it with a 12 mile run. The run started out great, cool temps and they had pace groups, the first time I have been in a race that had them and seeing how I am bad at pacing myself I joing the 1:45 pace group because I was shooting for that time or better.

At around the 5 mile mark my left hamstring got a knot in it and it would only get progressively worse through the rest of the course. I was still doing good and staying with the group until the 10.5 mile mark and then the pain was too much to keep that pace up. So by the 12 mile mark I could no longer see the 1:45 group but I was still pressing on. The last mile had one more bridge to cross and the steepest, or so it seemed to me appraoch to the bridge, and it was very apinful to make it to top but I did and then it was about 1/3 of a mile to the finish. I sucked it up and picked up the pace as best I could the last stretch and managed to finish with a PR time of 1:46:15. My previous best from September was 1:48:40. I ended up 433rd out of I think 2072 finishers. I am still happy about the results and have learned that more running is not always better.

I am going to take two weeks off of running and then start my 18 week schedule for my first full marathon. I believe I will be running the one in Va. Beach on March 21st. The Yuengling Shamrock something or other. I have not signed up yest because I am not sure if I will be able to get that weekend off of work yet but if I can that is the one I am running.

I am hoping I can be more active on the site, work is finally slowing down some, knock on wood, and the house projects are done for the year.

Ron

Early morning today with cross-training. Another 45 min run planned for tomorrow.

fsucurran – Welcome! You are absolutely a ½ marathon trainer! Glad to have you! Did you go to FSU?

Cyndi – Dealing with 7^th graders in any capacity qualifies as cross training.

Jay – I feel ya’. Decent run for me this yesterday but it was all downhill from there. Hope today is a better day.

Snowman – Take care of that knee now.

Joe – LOL – Funny joke!

Misswendy – You are going to have to change your name to “Miss sixy”. Once again, awesome job on your PR. That’s the only great thing about being called a “master” – winning sometimes (not that I would know!). OMG! Great job on the weight loss too!!

Cary – Great runs for the week! Don’t feel bad, I can’t hang any more either. Halloween party Saturday night and come Sunday morning, I was really glad I had done my 8 the day before.

Jeanette – Glad to hear you mending. Here’s hoping for good news from the Dr. on Thursday.

Lisa – Glad to hear it’s nothing too bad for DD (and hopefully not contagious for the rest of the fam).

Robby-B – Once again, I am far from experienced enough to give the best advice but my plan is to run  2-3 halfs (and break 2 hours) before I try a full. You are certainly closer to that 2 hour mark than

am!

Ron – Good to have you back. As I recall, you always had a crazy work schedule so it’s good to hear it’s settling down for you. Great PR in your half even with the hamstring troubles. Good idea to rest. Congratulations!

Sue – Hope your run today went/goes well. Safe travels. PS – I just bookmarked the link to 1/2 Marathon Trainers Group in my favorites and it takes me right to it.

Going to vote then it’s on to the dreaded continuing Ed. Have a great day all!

Jay- I use a hydration belt that holds 4 small 6oz bottles.  I hate the belt and want to try the hand held bottle Lisa mentioned.  Gatorade endurance formula works well for me on the longer runs.  If you can you should weigh yourself before and after to see if you are losing too much fluids.  I know during the summer one of my long runs I was down 5lbs after drinking a couple of bottles of water and Gatorade.  I was junk all day after being so dehydrated.  It hasn't been much of an issue since the fall when the weather changed up here.

just a quick congrats to spice girl, we all knew you would kick butt!! great story and hope you're super proud of yourself (as we all are! )

looks like i am so behind on shoutouts and didnt have time to read the posts yet. i have been pretty lazy this week, nothing since my 10 on saturday. hopefully plan to make up for it this week. i'm using the world series as my lame excuse. yeah, i know, pathetic...

oh well, hopefully will have better workouts to report later this week!

so looks like we're staying here then. just happy we're all sticking together. ultimately that was the most important. hope you guys dont mind me still sticking around. 

take care everybody!

Thanks to all of you that helped me get thru a bad case of the Mondays, I do appreciate having a great group.  Today is an actual rest day I walked the dogs this morning, good to just keep the legs moving. 

Being new to the running thing, I am trying to figure out the whole taper thing, I have my first 10K this Sunday with a personal goal of below 1 hour, so I am planning my last two runs prior the the race tomorrow  doing a 8 Mile easy run and Thursday doing a 4 or 5 mile bit faster run would appreciate any input you all would have. 

I do appreciate everyone's input on the hydration issue, I know Saturday I took a 16 oz bottle of water with me and had drank about 20 oz prior to the run, I would guess I lost between 4 and 6 pounds on the run but I did weigh my self before the run but did after and I was over 4 pounds off from the day before.  I have been looking at the Hydration belts and the handheld bottles but not sure if I could get use to the belt the handheld bottle might be a better option since they are insulated around the hand and would not chill me when I start, but it is a good arm workout, I do have a big camelpack, but I do tend to sweat a bit and I don't think I could take my back being hotter than it already is.  What exactly are NUUN Tablets?  a few of you mentioned them but I have never seen them.  I guess I I am going to use a drink I will be looking at G2 or Powerade Zero to keep the calories down since I am still trying to lose weight. 

Thanks again to all of you for getting me thru a Monday, and all of the input on the hydration issues, this is really what the forums are about, and what makes this community great we are at 5 pages on Tuesday Morning!

Happy Running All,

Jay 

Hey all, no reply button earlier this morning but I have one now so I'll try to get a post in.

I did the #1 dumb thing that you don't want to do 4 days before your race this morning - fell. I even had the full moon and my firefly for light, but caught my shoe on something on a bridge and down I went. Rolled my foot, landed on my hand and then smacked my head (cheekbone). I look just dandy now. Cheek has a few scrapes, is swollen and turning black & blue; hand is quite swollen (moves okay so I don't think anything broke); foot didn't bother me to run home on, but after taking my shoe off and icing it, I can definitely feel it, probably pulled the ligaments on the outside of my ankle a bit. Should be okay to go on Saturday as long as I don't step wrong (again), but I will look like h#ll. Maybe it will help me run that way!

Snowman, take it easy on that knee!

Lorie, good luck on the lottery! When do they announce the results?

Joe, too funny that that joke came from church! Nice job on your 8 last weekend, btw... what is the longest run your group does? Seems like your mileage is getting up there well in advance of the race. I had those technical difficulties earlier, and then couldn't find the thread w/out going to RA for the link... Hope it improves - and soon!

Jay, hope today is going better! Your taper plan sounds okay to me, though 8 is probably more than I would run if I were trying to PR on the 10K... but I'm sure others can give you better advice.

misswendy, congrats on the 5k PR & placing! And nice 6 + 15... sounds like you are training for a race again Do you still get the sk emails? today's brown butter rice krispie treats sound tasty & easy (and Jacob is so cute!).

Cary, sounds like you had a great week away! Welcome back.

Jeannette, I hope the dr clears you for the elliptical. And thanks for the reminder that it's running, and not how fast, that counts.

Truss Lisa, hope the rest of the family avoids that virus. Did you try the Runners World pace calculator?

Ron, congrats on your 5k and the Pittsburgh half - great time for such a hilly course! Enjoy your rest weeks, and I hope work settles down.

Sue, how was the post bootcamp run? I probably would have been putting it off for another day. How do like the new job so far?

Jenny, sounds like you are getting regular x training in, good job!

Cara, loved the pictures - beautiful area! And the glow in the dark capris... hmmm, wonder if those could have lit my way this morning? Good job on the intervals!

Doc, those late night games make it hard for me to get up to run in the morning, so that excuse works for me.

Cyndi, too bad about the ipod - but nice to get a new one! My DDs gave me a shuffle for my birthday - so light I don't even notice I'm wearing it... and nice to have if I forget to charge the nano. It sounds like your pace is picking up nicely... you may have to revise that goal for the More!

Okay, while I am more or less caught up, I'm signing off... Happy running, all!

Hi, everybody!

  Well, I had a really nice run this morning for 6.07 miles with a time of 57:43.  We did pick-ups for some laps during the run which was fun.   I am excited because tomorrow morning I start working with my running coach!  I am also trying to make up my mind if I should run with my group as normal tomorrow or if I should conserve my energy to work with him.  Any thoughts?   After doing speedwork today, I am tempted to just do the one run with him but wonder if I am being lazy.

Thank you all for your kind words about my youngest daughter.  So far no signs that anyone else in the family has contracted her virus.  I am hoping to get her H1N1 vaccine this week.  Our pediatric office still does not have a supply of it yet so I am going to have to take her to the county department of health.

Macd019-All I can say is OUCH!!!  When I first started running, I took a really hard fall like that once but I saved my face with my hands.  I had very little skin left on my hands and I remember how painful it was. I hope you heal quickly and nothing was hurt too badly.

Cyndi-How awesome that you were picked as a role model!   That is wonderful.

Miss Wendy-Thank you and the others for the tip about the runner’s world pace calc.  I am going to check it out.

RB67-You must live in the South too!

Cara-Well, I took all of last week off or almost all of it due to upper respiratory stuff going on so I was just going crazy!  But I  felt great today for the first time in two weeks!  WOOHOO!  Great job on your bootcamp.  I want to do one of those.

Doc825-I don’t know but I think the World Series is a pretty good excuseJ

Juli-I am trying to do a full marathon next year so I may join you at St. Jude’s again!  I also need to build leg strength but I think I need to work on my abs as well.  Well, I know but I just keep hoping those ab muscles will magically appear without the pain.  So far, the six-pack fairy has not arrived though.  Well, maybe in another form.

Happy Running to all.  Will try to post tomorrow on how my first session with my coach goes.

Lisa

It`s back to the grind !! Kind of !! 45 mins biking today - still sore from Sunday - down hill and down steps still suck ! Tomorrow I think I need to do a short slow run and start working these aches out !!

Don`t know if anyone noticed but Toby added a large ad type link to the Newbie Cafe to the group so we are far from buried now ! I think the traffic in and new threads is showing that people are finding us just fine !

Before I try and catch up with all the shout outs I just want to say a huge thank you again for al the support - it is so humbling to have some many people rooting for you and being so excited -

Lorie - Good Luck getting into NYC ! I`m thinking of doing Harford next year to try for my boston time !!

Jay - you can do a marathon - Just take your time and do it when you ready to enjoy the training and the race - I think I timed my first perfectly ! I  run a route where there are water fountains or I run with a fuel belt on long runs or a hand held bottle for 4 milers - I just drink water in training and use gels every 8 - 10 miles but you can use gatorade instead - in a race I drink gatorade after 8 miles and use gels every 4 - 5 miles - I try and train my body to break down stored energy so in race conditions when I`m pushing harder I am less likely to ht the wall - I think it worked while I was tired Sunday I kept going ! Jay I would just do a couple of eay 3 mile runs the week before you race

misswendy - congrats on the 3rd place !! you really are the queen of the 5k around here !!

Juli I think I missed your race report post - but congrats !!

Rob a lot of people race the Staten Island half 3 weeks before the NYC marathon as a test of fitness before the full - I think running a half and push yourself 3 weeks out is fine.

macd I`m sorry I missed that hot chocolate race !! Anything else coming up next month I have to go to Chicago on business !!

Robby-B congrats on your half !!

Ron Great 5K and very nice job on the Half marathon !! Good luck with the marathon training !!

Sue Looking forward to seeing you at the Half in Jax !!

For those you not on Facebook - no race picture yet - but a post race pic of me and my trainer Jon - also known as the eye candy !