Leapin' Leftovers - it's February 29th

JJJessee · Feb 29, 2008

Total rest day. 
Not that I've really ran the pedometer up this week. 
Exciting news is, today's me DW's last day of work at the state mental hospital. 
Finally she'll be able to focus all her therapeutic skills on me for a while <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"> 
She'd been there for 2.5 years on the extended care unit and loved her patients and most of the staff, 
but the System finally wore her down. 
Time for something new. She'll take a month or two off to figure out what she wants to do in the private sector. 
She's an RN and an LCSW so she has options and is highly motivated. 
She's the adventurer in the family. 
Come to think of it, wears pants more often too. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> 
Have a happy leap day 
jjj 
ETA: I wonder when the relayers are going to link and switch on the VanCam?

gin79 · Feb 29, 2008

Good morning JJJ! 
Sounds like a rewarding but tiring job for your DW. Happy resting to her. 
Not sure if I'll get my run in today but wanted to ask a question. 
Yesterday I did a strong 21 miler. I felt pretty good after, until the evening and then suffered excruciating foot cramps! It was one of the most painful things! It happened 4 different times, even while trying to stretch out my foot. What could've happened? Not enough to drink? Not enough of the right recovery foods? Any suggestions so it doesn't happen again? 
All seems ok this morning. 
Thanks.......

oldgraydog · Feb 29, 2008

That happens to me as well if I do a workout that is harder than usual. I'm not sure there is any magic bullet to prevent it, but Accelerade seems to help me. Also, drinking more water than usual a couple of hours before the run seems to help.

breger1 · Feb 29, 2008

My Garmin lost the satellite signal for some reason early in my workout today, so I have no idea of mile split paces. (It was a clear morning too. ???) 
But the workout was planned for 10 miles with negative splits. I ran the first half real easy (felt near recovery pace) and then ran it back in at what felt like GA, maybe even MP for a bit. 10.1 miles on a known course in 1:30 overall. 
Good luck to our Relayers in wonderful AZ! 
Bill

Pink · Feb 29, 2008

Good Morning! 
I've got a few hours of work that I can do from home today, so I've started that while I wait for it to get a little warmer . . . It's about 14 degrees F. 
VRAA Question - Not sure what level of badass I am. I should be running 30 miles a week - is that just a plain badass or super badass? I'm thinking of doing it . . .

tomwhite · Feb 29, 2008

.....pink// if I tried 30-miles a week, 
I'd Qualify as ''Dumbass''....... 
======================== 
............rest day...........

choovie · Feb 29, 2008

Good morning. Rest day for me and I'm glad as my quads feel as hard as bricks after all the quad work in yoga last night. 
I'm chuckling over TripleJay's post about his wife using her skills on him. I liked the February poem yesterday too. 
Pink, last round I put myself down as a badass running 20 - 30 mpw but all my xtraining really pushed me far past that and easily into the next level or even 2 levels beyond the badass level. You'd be surprised how easily you can rack up points. So keep any extra activities in mind as you make your determination. I'm going super badass this time. 
I wanted to share a poem with everyone that really reasonates with me. My yoga instructor always recites it during shavasna. I'm sure many of you are familiar with it. I love the images it creates. I live my life in growing orbits 
which move out over the things of the world. 
Perhaps I can never achieve the last, 
but that will be my attempt. 
I am circling around God, around the ancient tower, 
and I have been circling for a thousand years, 
and I still don’t know if I am a falcon, or a storm 
or a great song. 
~Rainer Maria Rilke~

hally · Feb 29, 2008

Gin, sounds like you needed electrolytes or potassium or something that a recovery type drink or gu would supply? 
Pink, do you do anything besides run? 30 miles is at the top of badass....you can count even miles walked warming up, cooling down, shooting hoops with kids etc. I even opted to walk to the closer stores and to the gym to add miles on last round. I'd say be a super badass. 
Oh, rest day today for me. 
Barb

RunsTheBitterroot · Feb 29, 2008

Good Morning folks! Glad that your wife is getting a break Jessie. Gin this is my cure for lower leg and foot cramps. During warmer weather when I am doing longer runs I drink a can a day. <img alt="" src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/RunsTheBitterroot/kerns.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
I have learned to recognize some signs before the cramps and am careful not to activate those muscles while trying to relax them does seem to reduce the pain somewhat. 
Nice poem Cheryl. 
My lower legs were sore yestarday, today I am crippled. To much enthusiasm on my short sproink run. I might have to settle for a walk this morning. I know I need to take it easy as next week and the following week I will have some opertunities for xcountry and nordic skiing. The conditions are excellant right now and it will be my last chance this season. 
Good Runs All, Larry

lyndenrunner · Feb 29, 2008

5 easy peasy miles this morning at an 8:02 pace...Coach wanted me to run a half marathon tomorrow...I talked him out of it <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">...But I still have to run with him tomorrow <img alt="sad2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad2.gif">... 
Nice runnin' Herr Bergermeister...

breger1 · Feb 29, 2008

Not as good as you, Herr LyndenMeister!

dtoce · Feb 29, 2008

11.5 miles this morning-running for the first time to my satellite office...crossed three towns. Left at 10 degrees. Paged once so I had to stop and answer else uneventful run dodging ice and cars. Running home tonight will be more exciting... 
Have a good day all.

Opie · Feb 29, 2008

Today's a rest day for me, although I had a little spring in my step coming into work today.<img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

FlyingFinn · Feb 29, 2008

jura · Feb 29, 2008

Hello all! 
Happy happy Leap Day! This particular one is a huge anniversary for me and DH, we entered Canada exactly 20 years ago on Feb. 29. 1988! We were young, had 2 suitcases each, a couple 100 dollars in our pocket and I didn't speak english (DH did a little, but not much)... It's fun to look back and reminisce, we accomplished so much in the last 20 years... 
No run yet, but I will do some x-trainingy thang later today, then have a massage <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">. 
Pink, Choovie, I took the plunge the first time and signed up as Super Badass. I figured with all the x-training I do the points should add up. 
Nice runs all around. 
j

mariposai · Feb 29, 2008

Dtoce- you are such an inspiration to the rest of us. Running to your satellite office wow!!!...do you share your running stories with your patients?...I bit you would inspire many to start moving. Lynden, great job on your training. When is your next target mary? Butterfly hugs for RESTing to Larry, Tomwhite, Opie, JJJ and Choovie.AND Hally<img alt="icon_salut.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_salut.gif"> 
Thanks for the poem Choovie. Rilke's poems are always so inspiring to me. I was thinking of the following poem this morining as I was getting all my baking ingredients ready to bake a wedding cake tonight. For the human being to love another: 
That is the most difficult of all our tasks 
The ultimate, the last test of proof 
The work for which all other work 
Is but preparation - Rainer M> Rilke 
No running yet this morning, but I hope to fit in a nice stroll before I bury myself into wedding cake baking mood.

mariposai · Feb 29, 2008

I celebrate this day with you and Mr. Jura. You indeed have accomplished so much in such a short period of time. I am proud of you sistahhh<img alt="surprised.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/surprised.gif">ccasion5:. As a fellow immigrant I know the steps you had to take to get here. 
Just wondering how many beers the relay team have comsuemed so far. GO team!!!!!!!

Tamster · Feb 29, 2008

Jura - I had no idea you were a canadian immigrant. Maybe this has been mentioned in passing before and I just never picked up on it. Where did you immigrate from? Opie - that spring in your step wouldn't have anything to do with your boss being gone now would it? <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> JJJ - best wishes to your wife and she takes time off and finds another suitable spot for her skills. I'm sure she'll be a valuable asset whereever she goes. Glad you hear you'll be getting more one on one attention with your mental health needs. Mill - feeling better today? Lab - nice monthly mileage since you are still on a comeback. Has the foot been giving you any trouble as you increase your speed and mileage? Gin - I will chime in with the others that perhaps the cramping was caused by inadequate recovery nutrition and hydration. Maybe some more water, chocolate milk and a banana or two would be a good recovery snack. Pink - I'll agree with the others that said to put yourself into the super BA category when you are on the edge of one category and going into the next category. VRAA is a great motivator for getting in some cross training and even making us stretch a bit longer then we normally would for the sake of getting more points. So, with your running at 30 mpw + additional points you will get for even minimal cross training, stretching, ab work, walking, etc. you would easily be in the Super BA category. 
I'm feeling better today - still a bit of residual sore throat stuff, but not the achy flu-like feeling I had yesterday. I took a sudafed type medicine throughout the day yesterday (I normally am not a medicine taker and just ride illnesses out, but I wanted to accelerate the process this time so I wouldn't get behind in training), I drank tons of fluids yesterday and got about 9 hrs of sleep last night. So, I'll get in my 4 miles on my lunch hour today, after I get adjusted from my chiro. 
I have 15 miles on the schedule for this weekend and I'm debating on whether I should join my running club at 8 a.m. tomorrow a.m., when there is a 70% of light rain/drizzle, or do I wait til Sunday afternoon, when it'll be partly sunny and low 50's, but then I'd have to run solo? I'm thinking a nice long run in the warmth of the sun would feel great, but would sure like someone to run with. 
I'm anxious for this round of VRAA to start up. I volunteered to be a captain this time and am looking forward to some of the fun things Billy is adding to this round. Fun surprises in store! Teams should be announced by monday evening or tuesday morning at the latest.

Pink · Feb 29, 2008

Gin - listen to Tamster - choc. milk (made w/ nesquick or choc instant carnation breakfast) is an excellent post run drink! It's my favorite! 
Choov, Hally, Jura & Tamster - It's sad to say, but I really do not do much other than running. I'm just a lazy ass compared to most on this site <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">. I'm just building my mileage back up, so maybe I can manage up to 35 mpw as the weather, hopefully, starts to warm up. 
Well, I got my first double digit run in post surgery. 10 miles at a much faster than anticipated pace and faster than all my other post surgery runs. I don't know where it came from, but I'm very happy to report a time of 1:20:25 for an 8:02 pace! I'm sure I'll be plenty sore tomorrow - which will be a rest day. We're supposedly getting more snow tonight. 
IleneF - how have you been doing since your surgery? 
Time for some choc. milk and a shower . . . Have a nice weekend!

Better than yesterday · Feb 29, 2008

I went looking for "Smartass", but apparently no one wants one on their team, not surprisingly. 
I got to try out my new Asics Gels this afternoon along the slowly-freezing-back-up Hudson River. 20F and sunny, very little breeze at lunchtime run time. These shoes should be called Asics Gel Symmetry - My splits over 4 miles were 9:06 / 8:54 / 8:54 / 9:06. Summary - 4.0 miles in 36:00. 
Good luck to this weekend's racers. Don't forget to post your miles in the monthly thread.

Leapin' Leftovers - it's February 29th

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