smisen - thanks so much for the response on your knee pain - that was very helpful! I'm going to see if running every other day and getting in the stretches and quad exercises keeps it at bay - if not, I'll head to a doc or PT for some more help.

Sounds like you are all doing great!

MK - did you go to that crazy class at red rocks afterall?

6 days to HM.....getting nervous and excited all at the same time....but I get a medal at the end...how cool.

CRK - Welcome!

Mk - You are right people must think we are crazy! I love being crazy then...

* i just lost everything* argh

Mk- someone actually held a sign that said that?! OMG that's hilarious!

cake- you can do this hm! Go you!

Today is my last day of week 2. I'm gonna go out there and kick some butt!

Everyone have a great day!

Hey guys! Cakebatter -- which half are you doing? I've got the 131 Ft. Lauderdale this Sunday, my first half of this season.

I had a busy running weekend. Did 7.5 miles of bridge repeats on Saturday - bridges are the only hills we have around here! Then went to lifting class and we did a ton of squats and lunges. On Sunday morning, the marathon gals did 18 -- I had planned to hang with them as long as I could but bailed out at 15.5. My legs were really tired, that's about all I could manage! But, for half training, that's plenty good enough.

This week, I have the taper dilemma again. I tend not to taper at all. Which is fine for calorie burn, but not for optimal race performance! For me, a 13 mile run is just an average Sunday morning long run distance, but if I expect to run it FAST, then a little taper would probably help. I'm not sure I even care about "optimal race performance" any more .... I just hate to take a day off of working out. I'm running for fun more than time these days. It takes the pressure totally out of the whole race thing too.

So - HM this weekend. Then a Thanksgiving day Turkey Trot 5K, and maybe I'll do the Jingle bell jog again this year. It's always amusing to see the costumes and hear the jingle bells that everyone wears on their shoes!

Happy Monday everyone ....

MBN-- i dont taper either...ast least, not for a half....... you said yourself you werent running this to "perform"...do what feels good!!! you didnt take a day off the day befor eyou ran 15 miles this sunday! Thats my opinion....of course, you are a more seasoned runner, and i wouldnt suggest that to a newbie I get exactly the same way if i cant/dont/shouldnt get a run in..... i lose out on all those calories burned!!!! Ijust about lost my mind tapering for the darned marathon!!!

CAKE---5days to go!!! are you tapering?? whats your running/workout plan for the week?? as far as the night before, i dont htink you need to go too crazy carbo loading (itll just sabotauge your weightloss!) I would suggest adding just a little bit of extra carbs the night before. I dont know what you usually eat, but maybe add like HALF a whole wheat bagel, and the have the other half as part of your breakfast in the am...... alittle bit of honey on top is always good, and whatever other carb you normally have for dinner i would increase the serving size..... you should be good to go!! ( Your welcome for the unsolicited advice)... Or you could do oatmeal!! Yummy!!!

Evel-- how did week 2 wrap up for you??? All ready for week three now?


I went to the gym this am and did my track workout on the tread.....2 X 1600 at a 6:48 pace and 1X 800 with 400 m rest in between....thats all..... plus warm up/cool down mile.....

Went to that crazy red rocks fitness yesterday!! WOW!! I am SO SORE in my upper body!! it was awseom!! It was really a lot of fun, and VERY challenging---although not as cardio challenging as i thought it would be!! I thought there would be more running and sprinting up the stairs and around red rocks park, but it was a lot more strength stuff...really crazy stuff, like crawling backwards up all the stairs..we did do SOME high intesity cardio though...all in all it was fantastic, and i will DEF continue to go!!
As a bonus.... I kept getting hit on by all the really hot, REALLY FIT guys there !! HUGE ego boost !!!! I think some of the gals were hitting on me too!

LOL...glad you had such a blast at RR fitness! I checked out the website.. it looks tough! Maybe not for a superstar like you, MK, but I'm still pudgy!

I do have a major NSV... I bough size 8 jeans from American Eagle this weekend. SO happy... got a little teary in the dressing room... it seems like not that long ago I was still twice this size in clothing (16/18). Geez. It's taken a lot of hard work to get here.

My 10k is this Saturday! So not ready!!

FP, or should I say "Formerly Knows as FP"? - Fantastic on the size 8!

MK - red rocks fitness is pretty intimidating. Glad you had a good time!

MK- week 2 went great! Everything felt good and it wasn't too challenging. I'm nervous about week 3! Jogging for 3 minutes is intimidating but I will give it a try! My mind is screaming 'you can't go for 3 minutes!' But I'm going to ignore it and see how I do! Glad you had fun at RR and kudos to you for getting hit on!

fatpants- (skinny jeans!) Congrats on American Eagle size 8's! I would be teary eyed too! You're doing great! I know you will do awesome at your 10k don't worry!

ETA: Weigh in today.....SOOO CLOSE! 3 more pounds til ONEDERLAND!

MBN - I am doing the McDonalds Half in Richmond VA

Mk _ No carb loading for me. But the boy and I will be going out to dinner the night before, due to us staying at a hotel that night. The race is an hour 20 from where I live and I HAVE to go up the evening before to pick up my packet.....didn't see the since of coming right back just to repeat less than 10 hours later.

This week: Today I am running for two hours or 10 miles. Then tomorrow 4, Wed 6, Thursday very light crosstraining and friday...NADA

Fatpants - WaHOOOO! Congratulations. Even though I wear a 8 now i still try on the 10 or 11 first....It took me a while to adjust!

Eve - The mental is like 80% of battle inmy opinion, You are going to rock it!

Happy Monday everyone! Today was my first day back at work after a great vacation, so meh on that, but it actually ended up being not so bad. Now I'm just contemplating what to do at the gym tonight since I didn't get to workout earlier in the day...

Fatpants - Congrats on the Skinny Jeans!! Awesome! And best of luck with your 10K this weekend.

Eve - great job on finishing week 2. I know you will ROCK week 3! Mind over matter! It sounds like a big jump in the amount of running that you have to do, but you will be ready!

Hello to all the new sconny ladies, The land of my birth. We are leaving for Thanksgiving in WI in a little over a week.

Good luck on your halves ladies

Evel : your enthusiasm makes me happy, you'll do it.

MK: Congrats on your weight loss, I remember you r were very concerned about this.

5 suckfesty miles for me today. I think I need new shoes ( my low back hurt the whole time) and my lungs are still a little congested ( complain much) Also I skipped my yoga class tonight for no real reason. Sad because it's the thing that keeps me injury free. Ah well tomorrow is an another day. Hopefully it will bring a new attitude and a trip to the running store.

Morning! 6 miles at the park last night. I may also be nearing the time for new running shoes... Got mine in January, have probably done somewhere in the 350-400 mile range on them now.

Good luck to everyone on the weekend races!

Eve - you will be great in week 3, the three minutes will fly by.

I'm still giving serious consideration to the half in March. Found a ten week half marathon training schedule online. Wow. Have to decide if I can really commit to all the time it will take before I sign up. I have 12/31 to still get discounted registration, so I'm going to see how the next couple of weeks go before I decide. Will ramp up the running over that time and see how much I can really get done.

Good day everyone!

3 days and one hour to race day.....nervous....nervous. THere is a NorEaster coming thru. I am hoping the storm clears out by Thursday because the race will be rescheduled if it is storming and pouring on Saturday (at least that is what I am guessing). And I have to drive up on Friday. *sigh*

Shannon- WTG on 6 miles. I say if you are running 6 miles now you "breeze" through your training schedule for a race in March!!!! Gor for it!

SG - Did you make it yoga last night? I hope your workout went better than the day before.

Crk - I do WW too!!!!