A quick post, I just about managed a new PB - 3:50:35, the race was pretty much identical to Edinburgh - stuck with the 3:45 pacers until about 22 miles then couldn't keep it up to the finish. I'm in an internet cafe in Amsterdam, so won't fill you in on all the gory details until I get home, at the moment I'm wondering what state my legs will be in for New York. They're not too bad, but they don't feel like running another marathon just yet!

Congrats Helen!!!! Great job!

cakses – So glad you’re back and doing better!

LeedaRenee – Was your 5k this last weekend? If so, how did it go?

Shay – Thanks for the link. Looks like I can jump in to week 5 of the OHR program, it’s perfect because I usually plan just one longer run a week and this plan has nothing longer that 40 min for the shorter runs.

Rachel – That virtual half sounds cool. I wish I had one of those iPod kits. I hear you don’t necessarily have to use the Nike shoes with the special place for the device, it that right?

Helen – Congrats on your new PB! You’re amazing.

I have a new PB to report, my first sub-30 5k! I posted about it in mini goals. I really wish I had an official chip time, I even forgot my stopwatch so all I had to go by was the clock at the finish line. When I rounded that corner saw the clock at 28:30 I couldn’t believe it! Found a little extra energy to make it over the line by 29:00.

Woot, Helen!! That is terrific!

Rachael, my best friend has something like that that came with her Nikes, I didnt know they had events like that to go with it. How neat is that? I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Shay, thanks for the link, after my 5k, I think I will start that program.

Cakses, your ticker is just amovin' (sorry, been hanging out in the country)! You are so right about the weight loss maknig it easier. I can't wait to feel the difference 40 more lbs would make! I'm glad you're back and without injury.

Shananigans -My 5k is this saturday. I am super excited and a little nervous. Thanks for thinking of me though! Grats on the 29 minutes, I know that must have felt amazing! I will be happy if I make sub 40 hehe. That sucks about your chip, but at least you know you did do it!

I ran 2.3 miles yesterday and it took me 31 minutes, though I did stop once to tie my shoe. This was without the stroller. My next few runs before the 5k will be with the stroller. It's supposed to be terrible weather here this week, so I'm going to go and look for a stroller cover and a poncho for myself.

Helen---Yay! Happy for you.

Come run with me, ladies!
http://www.geisthalf.com/

Any of you Midwesterners who are looking for a half this spring, I am going to train for this one. I am realistic and suspect that I will have to walk part of it, but I plan to do this one.

Congratulations, Helen!!

I ran only one mile tonight and my pulled hamstring started hurting pretty bad. Seriously worried about Saturday's 5k....

Look at those leg muscles...

Oh my gosh, I can only dream of having legs like that one day! Looking great, Helen!!

Those muscles represent a lot more work than I am willing to do. Hats off to you, Madame!!


(not worthy, not worthy, not worthy)

Right, I've written the full race report on my blog, it's a bit long to paste onto here, so you can click here if you want to read it.

I'm trying to decide when to get my legs ticking over again before New York. I'm going to do a short-ish, gentle-ish swim tomorrow morning. In the evening it's running club, and I'd like to go to have a chat with everyone but suspect that they might be running further than I'd like to go - my "two weeks between marathons" training plan (isn't the internet a wonderful thing...) suggests 2 miles, and the shortest run I'll get away with them is about 4, so I might just run on the treadmill on my own if I feel like it, it will be more cushioned too. Or if I don't feel like it, I might not run at all - I think that recovery is more important than training!

Oh my, I dind't know that was a 40k! Wow! I enjoyed reading your account, thanks for sharing it.

I ran almost 2 miles today. It was freezing here (yes, low 50s is 'freezing' in Mississippi lol) and I decided to go the course nearest my house. I've been avoiding it just because it's VERY hilly and I also tend to encounter a very rude woman there, but she only comes in the morning, so I thought I would be safe from her hehe.
I wore jogging pants and a tshirt and was sooo cold at first, but then once I got moving, I of course warmed up. Those hills always get me, sigh... Luckily the 5k route is relatively flat. The wind was also hammering me and pushing me back, so it was a difficult run, especially on a stroller day.
DS enjoyed his ride though!

Edited to add: I also had the biggest, ugliest red hat on while I was running. People were doing double takes at the sight of me. I dont know why I felt the need to include that last bit.

I like the ugly red hat detail, LeedaRenee!!

I did a quick 2-mile trail run tonight with the cross country team. My leg felt better today, so that's good...

Congratulations Helen, sounds like you had a great race, and could still do even better. 3:50 is amazing to me, you rock! Loved reading your report on your blog too - I felt like I was right there running it with you.

Shenanigans, to answer your question about the Nike iPod kit - you do not need to run in Nike shoes to use it. I have a little pouch that I bought which holds the chip on top of my shoelaces and it works just fine.

Lisa, glad to hear your hamstring is feeling better. Sounds like you've been battling the injury demons lately...here's hoping that you continue on the mend.

Wooohoo Helen - that is awesome

We are still trying to figure out what is wrong with my foot. I ran up to 3 miles on treadmill last week so tried to run on pavement and made it 1/4 mile before the pain came back.

I had an MRI yesterday so hopefully today or tomorrow I should know if it is a stress fracture or not. Meanwhile I am not doing any weight bearing exercise, just recumbent bike boring boring boring.

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if there's a product similar to the Nike Ipod thing that doesn't require an ipod? I have a non-ipod mp3 player so the gadget wouldn't work for me. I'd love a little device that can tell me my speeds--I find it very difficult to gauge how fast or slow I'm running when I run outdoors.