I live in west Mi and we have state paved trail's (these were at one time railroad track's). We have all kind's of runner's ,biker's roller blade's, walker's and some skate boarder's, I'm always glad to see so many people out there exercising. But on the week end's it's a very busy place The problem is we have Mom's who take the little one's (age's 3 to 5) out on the trail's and don't get me wrong i think it's wonderful to see them out there, here's the problem these mother's let the little one's ride all over both side's of the trail while these mom's talk on their cell phone's and pay no mind to their kid's. Now we have unwritten rule's on the trail that if you come up on someone from behind you state to them "on your left " so you can pass, Well we do this and these women act as if your the one with the problem? Yes, the trails are for everyone, But what do you say to these women? What i want to say is talk all you want at home & spend some time with your kid's. Maybe i'm making a big deal out of nothing, I hate to say it,But sooner or later someone is going to colide with a bike, Thank God most of these kid's are wearing a helment.

Now that i vented i have another ? I have been doing my walk/run (8.49 mi)at least 6/7day's a week and on Friday i ran 3 mile's OMG i still can't believe i did it, But on Saturday it took everything i had to do it again?? Than today i went to a different part of the trail and i don't think i ran even a mile i just didn't have it in me, so i walked most of it and that was only abt 2.5 mi's. What's up with that is it my bodies way of saying i need a day off?

Last thing is i have only started running this yr March, And have only lost 3 pd's & 1.5 inch of my waist, cool i can live with that, But last night my hubby said to me wow look at the muscle's in your leg's he also said he noticed my body was taking on a different shape. Than i had to spoil it by saying "What did you do now" Followed that up with "Your not getting new golf club's"

Let me just say how AWESOME it is that you can run that long/far! Holy crap!! As far as others on the trails, I don't know what to say. I agree that people should take their children outside, on trails, hiking , whatever for good family time. But they really need to pay attention to them and teach them correct trail "etiquette".
Your body probably does need a break. After reading your post, MY body needs a break ). Give it a day or two rest and see how you feel! Congrats on your body changes! Maybe you could thank your hubby for noticing all the great things that are happening! Good luck and keep up the good fight!!

Jenny

I completely know what you are talking about: there are also paved trails all over the place where I live, and they fill up with people on bikes, rollerblades, etc. And lots of them are very inconsiderate: mommy's with strollers walking 3-abreast, blocking the path, and yapping away with little regard to those who want to get by them. Joggers running down the middle of the bike lanes rather than on the convenient running trail right next to it, and so on.

I remember one time I was cruising along the path on my bike, and ahead of me was a rollerblading couple. Well, without even looking, boneheads just decide to do a little U-turn twirl right in front of me! Had I been going any faster, or not been paying attention, I would have collided with one (or both) of them! Unfortunately I was going too fast to even give them a pissy look as I went by.

I do not understand why people would make a sudden move like that! You wouldn't do a U-turn on the freeway, and those trails are no different with all the zooming bikes and runners! Some people just lack all common sense.

I've been wanting to rant about that for ages. AHHHHH! I feel better now.

I was starting to think that maybe it was just me, But i do know that when i'm on the trail's running i have to keep full control of my dog when i'm out there. And she run's right next to me, she is on the paved & i'm on the unpaved grass side. It look's like she is taking me for a walk,lol. I'm thinking that from now on i'll try to find a part of the trail that is not so busy on the week end's, this way i'm not cringing & thinking OMG that little kid is going to get run over.

I did take Sunday off and i was back on track Monday morn. I think it may have also had something to do with what i ate Sat nite, Weight Watcher's Smart One for dinner (680 mg of sodium) and than i had a couple of drink's & more than likely not enough water, my leg's felt like lead Sun. I won't make that mistake again.

I know your pain with some of the people on the trail. I live right by a bike trail and walking trail. Theres a paved part for bikes and bladers, with a dirt and gravel trail for those on foot. A lot of people use the cycle side for running or jogging, which is fine if they follow the 'stay to the right' rule (we too have an unwritten rule to announce passing on the left), but it never fails that there will be a small group of people taking up the whole thing, who make no attempt to move over when someone comes up to pass. And yes, there are kids running amock sometimes and I worry they're going to get hurt too. My boyfriend had an experience riding his bike where a little girl standing near the trail suddenly decided to do a somersault right in front of him. He and that girl were really lucky that he managed to avoid her and neither was hurt, he said it was really close and he left a lot of tread on the asphault. The parents were mad at my boyfriend of course...why take responsibilty for your kids when you can blame others for their actions?

Anyway, in regards to the other part of your post, I too have some days where I feel like I'm in a lot better shape than others. Like I'll climb 2000 feet on the stair climber one day and the next I am out of breath around 800 feet...I don't really understand it either, I thought it might be a rest thing too but I am not sure. I guess so long as overall we're getting in better shape, not worse its ok. And I'm very impressed by the distances you can run by the way! I just bought running shoes and have started taking a few tentative walk/jog sessions to build my strength, I hope someday I can say I ran 3 miles!

I can't believe that i can run that far(i'm geeked as my dd would say), just a yr ago i would not have been able to run to the mail box, but i also smoked a pack & a half a day, Best thing i've ever did was to quit.