The runners return!

A big group this morning, cousins, CU Gals and Kwik Trip gal. A beautiful morning to get caught up on vacation news. 6.5 miles this morning. My foot felt pretty good. Dr. appt today and like hair on the day you are getting it cut, my foot is feeling the best it has in awhile. Oh well - no complaints!

Another beautiful day

Everyone is enjoying summer, so it was just Jill and I again this morning. Mike couldn't pull himself out of bed after a WEEK of vacation! A relaxing 5.5 miles.

Miles

I finally got to add some miles to my running log! I ran 5.6 with Jill today. We will see how my foot reacts. If it feels okay, I plan on running tomorrow too. It really sucks to look at my weekly mileage log and see only 8 miles!

There is nothing else to talk about so...

I might as well talk about biking. Did you notice that my lifetime log now includes biking? In desperation to get some exercise I took middle son (on tag-a-long) biking on Sunday. Of course we biked one of our running loops.

I gotta say - I still don't like biking (I hear the Schmidts and Fannings groaning!) And I have to say (a day later) that my butt doesn't either. Plus heaven showed it agreed with me by giving us a sign - pouring rain down on us at the very end. I just have a hard time ever imagining enjoying it. Of course, I haven't tried it with a iPod audio book, maybe that would help.

I need to figure out how to get that biking off my lifetime log. I think it is going to stay at 9 miles for along time. It would be even more embarrassing if you knew how long it took me!

My foot experiment: My foot hurts today (after my mega distance run of 2.6 miles), but not as bad as last week and no limping. I take that as a good sign. I may have to join Kwik Trip girl on Friday for a run.

Injury Reserve List

My foot "issues" flamed up last week to the point where walking was a painful endeavor. I have an appointment with a podiatrist on the 26Th, so I have decided to take a break from running until then. However, I am finding this an exercise in willpower. I am seriously thinking about running tomorrow am to see what happens.

Well, apparently my willpower is weak because I wrote the above paragraph yesterday and I just got back from a shortened (2.6) morning run. I wanted to see how my foot responded the rest of the day. It felt okay during the run, but that is not when I experience the pain. So, the true test will be the rest of the day. It had been feeling better, so I know the rest did help.

Keeping toes crossed......

Butterfest Recovery Run

I am thinking that we should start a tradition of a Butterfest Recovery Run or even better a Triathlon, but in reverse order. The run would be first, followed by a breakfast at Country Kitchen and the liquid portion would be a Bloody Mary just to chase any remaining Butterfest after effects away.

Of course, the biggest glitch in this whole plan is getting people out of bed on the Monday morning after Butterfest. I, of course, was able to do it this morning - but the cousins conspicuously missing! I will have to remember this next time Mike accuses anyone of being wimpy.

A nice 5 mile run with Sandy, Jenny and Wendy this a.m. Sandy and I did 5 and they did 6. It was nice of them to let me run even though my name doesn't end in 'y'.

The psychology of marathons

A nice 5.5 with the cousins catching up on stories which will soon become Butterfest Lore and Legend!

Apparently, I am thinking about running the Chicago Marathon next year (2008). How do I know this? I found myself searching the Internet for cheap lodging and yes, I found a couple of options. However, I am not running it without a LARGE training group. Hmmmmmm.... we will see if the other Sparta runners have bite behind their bark. It will give Mike and Tom (See! I did it again!) time to buy in to the idea that they should run a marathon at least once and if so, it should be a MEGA Marathon! Tom will never stop wearing his shirt - so it better be pretty! Of course, I still have 18 months to change my mind!

Better late the never

Yes Fans - I did run this morning, but I also had to "run" to work, so I my blog didn't make my morning 'to do' list.

I hate to admit it, but Sandy, Wendy, Mike and I were talking about doing Chicago next fall. Hmmmmmm - I might.

Okay, I haven't given you anything to laugh at in awhile, so since school is out and the national spelling bee was last week, I thought this video was appropriate. Does it make you remember your own middle school awkwardness?

No rain

Again! No rain to allow me to go back to bed, but actually this morning I wanted to run. I needed the recovery from all the laughter that Tom S. gave us on Saturday night - not to mention all the food, wine and beer. (See Tom, I always find a way to work you in!)

A nice usual run with Sandy and Christy this morning - making and talking about all our plans for Butterfest weekend. I guess I can pretty much count on no one wanting to run next Monday!

Shoot! It's not raining!

Imagine an aerial view of Sparta at 4:35 this morning and "Shoot! It's not raining!" would appear in 2 big dialogue bubbles in the skies above the city!

Poll

Which is worse:

1. Getting up and ready to run only to realize when you go outside that it is raining.
2. Thinking it is going to be raining in the morning (b/c you made the mistake of trusting the weather forecast) therefore anticipating being able to go back to bed, but it ends up being dry?

So, Mike and I did our 5.5 miles this morning like good soldiers. It felt a little better then Tuesday, but I will be happy when I get my groove back!

What Beer, Brats and ....

a week off or running feels like! Ugh! Okay, it may have been the heat too, but Christy and I were struggling this morning. Or maybe she was just being nice! But we got 5.75 miles in and are looking forward to the next run which has to be a lot better!

Talking about pain.... at the recent half/marathon adventure, my SIL - the Dr. - told us that we shouldn't take ibuprofen before the run due to how it is processed through the body. Tylenol would be better (but not for the post race beer consumption). Jim decided to risk it, but it raised the question in our minds. I came upon this article about it. You should really read the article, but I know you are busy, so the recommendation is:

"Based on what we know from research, the use of Ibuprofen can impair health and performance if taken in larger doses and if in combination with dehydration due to altered renal function. Endurance training and competition is highly dependent on your body’s ability to move fluids through the kidneys. The restriction of this fluid movement can cause numerous adverse effects including dehydration, hyponatremia and kidney failure. All of which do not bode well for a PR. For races and hard training sessions, the risks seem to outweigh the questionable benefits.
Therefore, the use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS), ibuprofen) should be reserved for post-exercise and taken in moderation. A proper warm-up and good fueling practices may do more for you to prevent muscle soreness and inflammation than popping a few Ibuprofen.

First run after the big Race!

A beautiful run this morning with the Cousins. We are still filling the effects of our race or maybe it is the sluggishness that follows a week off from running. Still, it was good to be back out there. I was feeling lonely without my morning runs!

Best picture from the Green Bay Marathon my title is

GIVN'ER!

(Tom - not just a mention of you, but a picture too!)

Green Bay CellCom Half and Full Marathon!

WE DID IT! What a great achievement for everyone!

This photo is before the race, but I think we would look even happier after the - and not just because of the beer!

I was able to make my goal of setting a new PR - 1:51:14 - 2:25 faster then my previous best! My strategy of running a comfortable fast pace the first half and then trying for negative splits the second half worked! It was a much less painful experience than St. Clare's.

I was so proud of the rest of the group too! A lot of personal achievements/goals were reached! Plus it is just a great group of friends to enjoy the experience and a few beers after the race! It is after all "All about the Beer!"

Last pre race run

I cool 3.27 mile run this morning with my half marathon partner -Mike . It is going to be a little cold race day morning if the weather forecast is right, but we are EXCITED! Gotta go send e-mails to the group!