Hi everyone,

I've been catching up on reading again.  Congratulations to all those who ran recently.  The tal of the RnR's make me jealous but the closest to me would be Phoenix next year.  that's about 6 1/2 hours away.  The others are way further.  Maybe one day.  But possibly next year I'll be ready for the Phoenix half.  Sounds like so much fun.

The temps have warmed up here too, into the upper 60's and low 70's during the day the past 4 or 5 days.  Sooooo nice after our record setting low temps like -9.  I'm so ready for spring.  The only problem here is that we get high winds in the spring for a couple of months.  Winds that cause so much dust that frequently roads out of town in a couple of directions get shut down in the afternoons because of blowing dust.  Mornings are usually much better though.  But then it will get hot in a few months and I'll be complaining about that instead of the cold.  Only really happy a few weeks in the spring and a few in the fall LOL!

I'm getting psyched and building up my walking and hopefully my running mileage for my 15 mile Bataan Death March Memorial on March 27th.  I'm an no where near to running that, but will walk and run a little of it.  If St. Jude's were near me I know that would be an inspiring event, and I would love to do that because of the kids.  Bataan is so inspiring to me because of the military personnel that are involved in it.  About 3/4 of the 5000 or so participants are military in uniform.  Last year it got me hooked because regardless of how I feel about decisions made one way or other at the highest levels, military personnel in general are heros to me.  I have a niece going into the Marines in July after her high school graduation, and my brother retired from the military about a year and a half ago after 20 years.  His other daughter wanted to go in too since she was about  13 but in high school developed Crohn's disease so wasn't able to.  She's graduates from college in a year.

So I'm working on the running and also working on building up my mileage walking again after not doing as far during the winter months.  THere is only so far I can go on a treadmill before I get totally bored.  Also, the treadmill is at the gym and they do have some time limits but they don't enforce it when it's not busy.  But trying to walk 15 miles on the treadmill would definitely be pushing it.  The limit is 30 minutes but if there are free machines, like middle of the afternoon, I have done 60 quite a few times.  But 3 hours or so would definitely be beyond what they might overlook LOL!

Love reading about how everyone is doing at the different stages as a runner.  I get inspired by the ones that can do the long distances and also encouraged by those like me who can't do near that yet and now I'm not alone.  Love being part of a group over 50 like me.  The end of this month I'll be 56, and until a year ago never even dreamed of running and although there have been some setbacks over the past year am so excited with my progress and being part of all of you.

I shaved 45 seconds off of my mile from the one I ran Friday. So I went from a really slow mile to a still pretty slow mile. Now I am trying how to figure out how to continue on into that 2nd mile. I am pretty much ready to stop after the 1st.

Linda

"15 mile Bataan Death March15 mile Bataan Death in March"    Wow, that sounds  scary!!    Good luck. Hope you have a beautiful day to run.

Linda

"15 mile Bataan Death March15 mile Bataan Death in March"    Wow, that sounds  scary!!

Someone else on another board said the same thing.  It's a memorial march but not a reenactment.  We don't undergo those kind of conditions of the Bataan Death March.  There is a 15 mile and a full marathon distance on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.  The day before the event they've had survivors from the original death march give a talk about it for anyone who wants to come.  Last year there were only 3 survivors there because now they are in their upper 80's and 90's.  In a ceremony before the event starts they read off the names of those who have died during the past year.  They have the color guard and taps.  It is open to both military and civilian entrants.  Military can run individually or in teams of 5 and can run with or without a 35 lb pack.  The pack is weighed the day before the event and they ask them to fill the pack with things like dried beans, rice, non perishable stuff and then to donate it at the end of the event to the food bank in Las Cruces NM.  It's an awesome event.  They also have a category for wounded miitary and last year there was one guy with a hand operated bike, (the only time the bikes are allowed), a girl with a prosthetic running leg, a man who was on crutches with 2 prosthetic legs (they were wearing shorts) that I saw.  There was over 5000 participants from every state in the US, the US possessions, and a few other countries.  I just thought it was so inspiring to be a part of.  Lots of water and gatorade stations with fruit and definitely not the conditions of the original death march.  But a great reminder and a time to honor veterans of the original death march as well as all military men and women past and present.  They only give awards for the 2 fastest in the 26.2 event but it was still so much worth it.  There are runners and walkers.

I've never had that experience, Marie, but it sounds kind of like a pinched nerve or something?  Yikes!

Coolbikermom, will you be doing any local runs this spring?

Today is an unbelievable 75 degrees here in the Kansas City area.  I'm still pinching myself!  Haven't dragged myself out for a walk yet, but will shortly.  Gotta polish off a pitcher of banana smoothie first.  Warm, humid and windy - kind of a weird combo for the middle of February.  There's even a "heat index" of 77, lol.

I'm so glad I signed that "100 Days Challenge" certificate that someone mentioned on here.  It has kept me moving many a day that I otherwise wouldn't have done anything.  When I tell myself "I can do 30 min. in my sleep" and just get going, I invariably do more than 30 minutes.  It's brilliant!

DJ

"Does  anybody wear Newtons??  I bought a pair at the expo Satureday and I'm  not sure....... but then I have only ran one mile in them tonight."

I bought a pair of Newtons last Dec. After I ran the first time I was convinced they were right for me and I bought a second pair.  I bought them to help my transition to Natural/Chi/Pose running.

It has been a bitter sweet transition so far. I can get the technique for a while but as I change terrain or lose concentration I fall out of the form and have to work to get it back. During those times when I am following the form correctly, I run qicker with less effort than with the old technique, I can really tell that it is less effort and stress.

A big part of the technique is to relax. That is one of the things I find difficult. I have to think about it to do it and then the other things that go with the style may get lost.

The transition uses the bones, muscles and joints differently than the traditioal 70's style of heel striking and pushing off with the front of your foot.  It is that muscle memory of running the old way that I fall back on when I get tired or lose concentration. It is the use of muscles differently in new angles that makes for sore muscles or a bit worse.

I would not personally use Newtons if I was not trying to change styles. The lower heel and overall struture of the shoe is designed for the new minimalist techniques.  I will keep working at the transition and using the Newtons until I get it down right.

I don't like walking in the Newtons. I bought a pair of Nike Free Run + to walk in . They have a low heel  also and have helped build the muscles in my feet aiding the transition.

I bought the second pair of Newtons at Road Runer Sports. If you join their VIP club, you get 10% discount and free shipping  on most things.

Hope the info helps.

Jack

Marie

The shoe it self is very comfortable for general wear and  walking. They are a different kind of shoe in that they fit more like a  slipper. You could remove the laces and there is elastic all around the  foot and over the arch to keep them in place.  I occationally get the  urge to wear them without socks,  but I am in the habit of wearing  socks.

I have jogged in them briefly during my walks but have not taken a run in them. The sole is very flexible and the shoe is very lite. That is the sensation I got during those jogs, like not a lot of shoe between me and the road.  I keep thinking I should try a slow run in them.  A few people try them to help transition to running bare foot. I can  see that they could be useful that way as they feel kind of like your feet are in  more touch with the ground you run on.

I play golf tomorrow and my next run is Saturday. I may use them if I can remembr and it feels right.  I have finaly learned  to go slower as I recover from a minor injury.  Yesterday I ran 2.5 miles at about 11 m/m. It felt so easy!  I can't wait for the leg to get to 100% so I can get back to going  longer distances.  I feel that I am learning more about running as I rehab.

J