Fat PantS-- YAY for deciding to try out "winter running"!! Its very different...during the summer we get so used to running in as few,lightweight pieces of clothing as possible, but in the winter you have to get used to running wearing all thiat extra crap!! FOr me personally, it feels very constrictive and confining...but you get used to it!! You will also have to find that very delicate balance between overheating and tempting frostbite!! Good luck!!
Oh, and from what i hear, no it is NOT likely we will have a mild winter...El Nino is going to bring a very wet snowy winter to the front range and this side of the divide!! EXCELLENT skiing conditions though!!!! Im SO READY!! Im getting that itch that only freeing my heels and telemarking can scratch!!!

ahh don't tell me that! I'm not a Colorado native! But true, I expect lots of snow this winter... the summer has been a wet one. It reminds me of the summer I moved to Parker 16 years ago. Hmm maybe we will have some snow days this year?

I'm already checking out the winter running gear at REI. Talk about another place that's overpriced on their apparel...

Last winter was fantastic...there was only a handful of days that is was too cold out in the morning to run..thats it!! We had one stretch where it didnt get above zero for a couple days, and then afew instances where it was below 10 degrees...as long as its *close* to 15 or 20 i will go run!!

Mk - Ah, a stress fracture? I sure hope not! Thu and Fri are my days off from running so I'm hoping it doesn't bother me on Saturday. I guess we'll see! Did yours hurt only when you ran or other times as well?

Smee and cr - Sorry to hear about your injuries! That's the worst, when you're really getting into it and then you get sidelined. But you'll be back, with a vengeance!

Cake - I know where you're coming from cuz I've definitely been there. As much as we're into fitness and running, sometimes that number on the scale is all you can think about! Hope it was worth it and you had a good loss! But if not, just remember that you're getting stronger and leaner, whether or not the scale reflects it right away!

Oh, I LOVE buying new running clothes! Nike makes awesome cropped pants with a little pocket sewn in to hold your keys! My bday is coming up next week and my sister said she'd buy me new running shoes! Woohoo!!! I'm gonna go to a running store and have them watch me run and recommend a really good shoe to get me through the half marathon! Sooo excited!

I lost 3 lbs for a total of 49lbs. YAY! Also I regret to inform you I will not be able to run my HM in september due to some extenuating circumstances. However I will run a 10K for halloween and 2 5Ks somewhere in there and FINALLY my HM on 11/14. So yeah I am bummed for training so long for something that has been pushed to November but maybe it will work out better for me who knows.....

MK and Fatpants - Yeah I think I am taking up winter running as well. Well maybe twice a week. But it is NEVER gets below 15 here that is like our absolute coldest!!!!

TC - Yea it was worth it thanks. Yay for bday presents. Mine is monday I hope a some things for the "cause", the running cause that is. I hope you feel better by Saturday

6 am here---getting ready to go out for my 15-17 mile run...i SAY 15 - 17 miles because i am doing this 5 mile loop that goes past my house at the end everytime, and i am SUPPOSED to run 17......miles 16 and 17 of my 20 miler last weekend were where things started to fall apart, so i need to try and run up to that range if i can. WE will see how i feel at mile 15 though, when im approaching my house AGAIN..for the third time.... Ive never run a loop like this before for my long run....we will find out this am if i have the discipline to not stop becauz im "tired" at mile 10, or whatever......

Cake - Congrats on the huge loss! That's awesome!! I'm sorry to hear about the HM postponement though. Just think that you'll have an extra month to train and kick even more butt than you would have in october! Happy early bday!! We're almost bday twins!

Mk - Hope your run went well and you made it past your tough spot! Running is such a mental sport, it's crazy. You can do it! And if not today, then next week, but it'll happen!

As for me, I completely failed at making this my "step back" week...oops. I ran 6.25 miles (in 62:30) this morning, my longest distance yet! I had such a bad food and overall mental health week, with my exam coming up next friday and all this stress, I just felt like I needed a great run to put it all behind me. It was AWESOME! I really wasn't even that tired by the end, but it was a treadmill run, which are easier for me. Didn't get in my outdoor run this week because of the fires in LA county, but man, running for an hour is a great way to start the day!

Hope everyone's doing well! Happy running!

Hello to all the new people! Feeling so much better. There's no swelling in my ankle, and I'm walking close to normal, so Monday I'll be walking my 2 miles. I won't use the C25K podcast because I'll be tempted to run, but I think I'll make sure there is plenty of Disturbed on my MP3 player. I'll anger my body into healing. I spent my days off cleaning and scrubbing my kitchen. It made me a little sore, but the accomplishment of not having to rest too often with my ankle was awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I surprised the fam by breaking out my 9-year-old Belgian waffle maker and whipping up some fantastic waffles. I'm thinking on Monday, when the girl is at school and the hubby is at work, I'll get my doughnut baker out and make some muffin doughnuts.

I'm so happy everyone is doing well! Reading all the mileage everyone is putting is making me take my time healing so I can get back to pounding the pavement quicker

I did 3.2 miles, to celebrate that I am officially registered for the 5k race that is 2 weeks from today

I felt pretty good during it! I'm excited for the race. I then biked 25.5 miles like 20 mins later, and am dead for the night!

Cakebatter - thats great on the 49 lbs!! Awesome!

16 miler on sat went FANTASTIC!! i can honestly say i actually ENJOYED IT!! Paced myself ( at a 9 min mile) for the first 10 miles, then felt so fantastic and awesome i let it rip the last 6 miles and ran 7- 730s on avg.....at one point i looked down at my garmin and was running a 6 10!!! so wahoos!!! Coulda ran forever.....
And then, this morning....easy 10k.....my shoes had a serious blowout! I knew it was getting CLOSE to being time to replace them.....but DAMN!! I didnt make it more than a quarter mile before i was suddenly and without warning experiencing SEVERE pain in my post tibial tendonitis...both sides!! I could barely move it hurt so bad.......it eventually worked itself out down to a tolerable pain by about 3 miles in.....SIGH.....wasnt planning on having to buy new shoes with this paycheck, but i cant run another step in those, so.....
how is everyone doing??

16 miler.... jebus! I'm just in awe every time I read a post! I didn't run, still swollen, but I did do some walking. Went to a charity thrift store and found and awesome sewing basket that is begging to be reborn. Did a ton of walking there, just looking, did some squats- and am paying for not wrapping my ankle before I left. It's more swollen and achy now, but I'll manage. Will choke down some meds, then head into my front room to organize it, then break out the flute for some practicing. Orchestra starts tomorrow and I haven't done a darn thing since May, when we had our last concert. Hoo boy.

Keep up the inspiration, ladies! I'm getting edgy thinking about when I can run again!

MK - ouch on the tendonitis! I've had some luck finding now discontinued running shoes in my favorite NB series online at pretty steep discounts and I'm really indifferent to whether I have the latest colors or this year's model. Unfortunately, that would only work if you have a backup pair to last you in the meantime. Congrats on the great 16 miler though - that is soooo impressive! You are a speed demon!

lizzyg - good for you!

Smee - glad your ankle is healing, although probably slower than you would like! Are you icing it? Taking advil?

TC - wow on your new mileage! Sounds like you were very successful at using the run to turn things around - wooohoo!

It's a no run day for me but am looking forward to shooting for 5 miles again tomorrow. Hope everyone's having a good one...