Good morning all - welcome to the DECEMBER running thread - hope everyone will run loads of miles this month to burn off all of the holiday parties & food!

I'll start us off - 8.5 cold hilly miles this past Saturday while on vacation in the Poconos - absolutely beautiful run!

How is everybody else doing?

Deva - how is the recovery? Up to 100% yet?

I took my last antibiotic last night. I've got to get my mom in to surgery today, and then tomorrow is my last day of class for the semester. Wednesday though, I'm going to head out for an easy run. I'm so excited! I haven't been able to run since the 18th, and I'm really missing it. My half marathon is 12 weeks from yesterday, so I'm ready to get back out there.

Does anyone here know anything about IT Band Syndrome? I think I have it

I did an 11 mile run on the treadmill yesterday and by mile 8 my knee was killing me - never had ANY problems with my knee before. Like an idiot I kept running and now my knee is KILLING me today.

Tabbycat here.

I ran my second 5K on Saturday. It was wickedly hot and humid (south Texas coast). My goal was to run the whole way and finish in under 38 minutes. (A modest goal, but I'm almost 57 and only started jogging last spring.)

My chip time was 37:50, which beat my first 5K time by almost two minutes, so I'm moving in the right direction.

I did a three mile run again on Monday. I'm in the December Exercise Challenge to run 35 miles this month.

Thanks for the new thread lm3898! I have set a modest goal of 35 miles for the month. Do any of you run in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise or at night? I'm looking for a lightweight headlamp and would appreciate any recommendations you might have. I'd prefer something lightweight and efficient and NOT the ones that look like you're wearing a jock strap on your head!

Sorry, Cherry, don't know a thing about IT band issues but from what I hear from my hardcore runner friends, it's a pretty common ailment. Do you use a foam roller to massage and stretch it out? It seems to be the one item that works that comes up in our running conversations.

Have not run since Fri. But got in a glorious 5 1/2 miles in today took it easy and just enjoyed myself do not want to push it to quick after illness ..or to get injury from starting back to fast.
Cherry...I am familiar with IT band issues they do involve the knee but there are a couple of other issues that can happen with the knees.Depends where the pain is IT band can go anywhere from hip to ankle. It is the band that connects the whole thing,as was referred the roller helps and you can use a rolling pin. Read up on UTube they have a ton of stretches ect on it...even if you are not having trouble you should be stretching it to AVOID injury......As for the knee there is some things think its called patella (.) has something to do with the way your knee tracks and falls as you run also you can google or u tube.
If you have a really good sports massage therapist (I love deep tissue) they can sometimes work your problem out. Years ago in my backpacking days I had IT band and went through orthopedic doc all they had me do was ice and rest It took months to heal,so now if I get a hinkling I really stretch every time esp my hips cause they are part of your knee(see the stretches) The still get tight! Good luck!

A little over 4 miles today! I'm still kind of a running noob so that's a lot for me.

Cherry - sorry I don't know too much about that...good luck.

Nice run Deva & novangel.

Tabby that's a HUGE improvement in time - way to go!!!

Two miles last night followed by one of the toughest kickboxing classes ever haha. It felt great. Hoping to get another run in late tonight.

Still no running for me. I'm off the Cipro now & the meds have my BP under control. (It was 220/118 when I went in to the ER 2 weeks ago. This morning it was 120/76. ) However, I've been dealing with my mom's surgery and finals. I'm so stressed and busy that I'm not sleeping and not eating and taking care of everyone but me, which it the entire reason I got overweight in the first place. I've got a final today, and then I'm taking my husband and kids to Dollywood to see the Christmas lights and stuff and just have some enjoyable family time. Tomorrow, I AM napping, even if it means going to my in-laws house to do it. Then Saturday I'm going to try to get a mile or two in. I want to be careful not to push too hard; I'm clearly still exhausted and weak. I'd rather take it easy and have a really slow time at my half in Feb than push too hard not and not get to run the Princess Half at all.

Ran 6.6 miles this morn felt good but my time sucks I have lost a minute a mile since I was sick guess I will pick it back up eventually but it still SUCKS!

4.1 mile run in perfect running conditions. Upper 50s with full sun!

For whatever reason, when I do indoor cycling class twice a week, no IT band problems, but as soon as I back off, they creep up.

I was supposed to do a long run today, but had a miscommunication with my running partner. I have been running fast this week. Got third in my age group in a 5k last Saturday. Trying to up the intensity of my workouts. I did run 17 miles last Sunday supporting my friend in her marathon route. That was kind of awesome, and not intense at all.

Another 4 miles today so that's 8 total this weekend. My next goal is to make it to 5 miles in one shot.

Ran a Hanukkah 5k today, and my time was 27:46. One of my goals for 2012 was to run a 5k in under 30 minutes, and today I did it. I'm very pleased with my time, and next year hope to knock off a couple more minutes.

Faster and farther, running friends!

Congrats Beck that's a great accomplishment!

Defense - 17 miles WOW that's awesome.

Cherry - how are you feeling?

Ran 5 miles outside Saturday night after a LONG day...I got custom orthodics from my doc but have yet to run in them, need to spend a little more time breaking them in. Did 5 miles on the treadmill Sunday to switch things up - still prefer outdoor 100000 to 1 but I just didn't want to get sick from running in the cold/rain...