...a bit chilly.  Temps down to 0C / 32F again today, but I refused to get my long legged running tights out of storage.  I have declared winter over!  I did keep the Polartech hat and the UU shirt on, but that was it.  The run was very nice, despite the chiily air and the stiff breeze.  My feet were fine for 1.5 miles of barefoot on the paved trail after which I pulled on my VFFs. I ran another 4 miles at a good pace of about 8 m/m.  I feel so happy when I finish these loops.  No stress, no sore legs.  I feel like I could just carry on and do another 5 mile loop without a worry.  I'll wait and build up to it, but still, it's a great way to feel so early in the year, I think.

How do other folks feel about their late winter / beginning of spring condition?

Just wanting to log a followup success story in pushing through adversity.  Earlier in the life of this thread, I posted that several of my "last runs" were just awful.  I know sometimes people are skeptical about other peoples tales of woe...I think that's just human nature.  This incident was a very difficult time for me, and that I know without a doubt.    I was seriously considering throwing in the towel due to ongoing struggles with pain and injury.  I do think it was the low point, of numerous lows, in my 3 years of running since since 2009.  Not my worst injury for sure - but certainly the one that got to my running mental state more than any other.

I determined at least try to not to let it get me down.  It wasn't easy.  I started to stress eat, stress drink, and had tacked on 7-10 pounds very quickly.  I saw a doctor, a "sports medicine" doctor, who was no help, and his advice of "you're not 20 anymore" surely didn't help to motivate me in my struggle.

I ignored his advice, and kept at least trying to run through the pains.  While I doubt any doctor would say that's a good thing, I've found the only way to make progress at 47 is to try and ignore aches and pains for the most part.  Surely if they're debilitating, there's nothing I can do.  But, for the most part, I cannot wait till pain dissipates before hitting the next big outing.  I then decided to punish myself and prove my determination to the cause by making sure I lost the weight I'd put on, and then lose an extra 5 pounds to boot.

As for the running, I gradually was able to ramp it back up.  After the 2nd week of mild depression, one day things just began to get noticably better.

It's been about 3 weeks of recovery now.  The past two I've finally been able to progress back to the point where I can comfortably say I'm in better condition than when this last issue started.

So, long story long, my last workout I did a 9 mile stretch with an overall pace below 7 minutes.  Hadn't really had a workout at such a pace at this age, so that really excited me.  I wasn't actually looking forward to that run, one of those days when you just don't feel like it, but as I got going, it just kept developing into a good one.  It was what I needed to finally get my brain to say after a long winter's push, I'm just about ready for the racing season to start.

Thanks for the encouragement to the encouraging types on this board.  People here of all shapes, sizes, and abilities, but most all I've read seem genuinely interested in helping others and themselves find the most out of this wonderful sport.

Here's wishing a great 2011 racing season with lots of PRs for all.

RunTwin,  Good for you!  You sound, as usual, a bit more aggressive with yourself and your running than I tend to be, but Hey! - we're all different and it sounds like you're on track.  I hope you have a great running season.

I totally bagged tonight's run.  Got home early because I had a dentist appointment and then felt like I needed to be eating dinner with the family tonight.  I guess the cold night and my full stomach were factors keeping from running.  Spaghetti with Meatballs for dinner...Yumm yumm.

LMWEL - Nice going the extra distance!  It's a sign of motivation and that fact that you're really conditioned for that 1/2 M.

You probably already know this but here's what I recommend to all racers:  Running is all about being efficient in a process.  The process starts the day you begin training for the race and ends at the finish line on race day.

• Run no more that 3 miles two days before the race and rest the day before the race.  That means no cross training. 
• Carb load, that means eat lots of Carbs (pasta) day -3, -2, and -1 before the race.
• Wake up early (2-3 hrs before start time) to eat and drink, this will give you the energy and extra kick after mile 10.
• Waking up early will also get your system running so you don't waste time going #2 during the race. lol  But it happens a lot to those that don't give their bodies enough time to wake up and can blow your PR/time.
• Get to the race early enough to use the rest rooms and stretch/warm up.
• Pace yourself using goal time pace, you can always back off of it depending how you feel.  A even split or slightly faster 1st half is what you should be shooting for.  If you look at the elite runners splits in a 1/2 Marathon, their 2nd 1/2 splits are typically slower than the 1/2 half.    If your 2nd half is faster, that means you had too much energy left in you and you could have had a faster time...
• Never pass up a water station, take the Gatorade it will give you the extra sugar you will need.
• GU stations will be located in certain stations.  Sometime you can look at the race map to see where those are located.  I personally have never taken the stuff, but a lot of people have so do what you do on this tip.
• Dress for the weather, you can always shed your clothes.

My last run, over a week ago, wasn't bad.  I've had to nix my training until my 3rd cold leaves my system.  It's been such a struggle this year getting things started.  I feel like I no more get going then i have to stop again because i've got a cold.

I have adjusted my diet, and fluid intake as well as my vitamin C and i'm hopeful things turn around.  I have a 1/2 marathon in 3wks and would love to run it with no cold symptoms.

I've also suffered with very minor calf issues, that i'm working on getting stronger.  It's just been an interesting start to my running year, that i hope to turn around with strength training, and some other changes to my work outs to make my runs better.