Motivation gets you started, habit keeps u going

Happy New Year!

thanks! You too!

That is horribly cold! I go for the elliptical too. Have a great week.

I agree. That is really cold. I don't blame you for staying indoors. I would have too.

If I hadn't mentally committed to the race I did today, I would have run indoors too.

Last year we had a few days that were this cold and we actually had no school. At least in IL, there is a minimum temp (I think it is -10 or something) before school could be held. We wouldn't have held school today for sure.

I hope it warms up.

Believe it or not that makes me feel better...I keep feeling soo wussy b/c I can't run! The elliptical is more mentally challenging b/c it is sooo boring. I"m going to have to move the TV or something so that I can watch it. IPOD just isn't doing it!

Oh yeah! And good luck on your first day of school on Monday :)

Tracy--it is -11 now...grrr...

Maybe I should have gotten the gym membership...I just really don't remember it being this cold last year...but I guess I'm doing okay. I think I had 80 miles in December. I wanted to be over 100...but it just wasn't in the weather cards.

I know there was about a week in late January last year. But I wasn't running outside last year (actually, I was using the elliptical at this time last year because of an injury) so it wasn't as bothersome.

Man, that's cold! Nothing wrong with the eliptical. Try doing some intervals on there or something. It really makes the time pass quicker.

Aunt--funny u said that. I did do intervals or something and all of a sudden I was like wow i'm in mud! hahahaha

It's somewhat abnormal isn't it? If so, it can't last too much longer. Don't worry about it; it's out of your hands. :)

I think so. But I had less mileage last year. and I think I was only running 3 days a week so it wouldn't have been a big deal if it was cold.

I"m thinking more positively--When I get off the elliptical I'm more apt to do weights (they are right next to each other)

I think that is unusually cold. It's bound to warm up soon. I don't think that cold will last all through January. But here in Colorado, we seem to be having a snowier winter than last year.

Good job on the elliptical.

Smartboards ARE so cool! I was always soooo jealous of teachers who have them. You're so lucky!

That's great that you were able to switch so easily to evening running, especially with it so dark outside. I find that when its dark, I just want to stay in the house when I get home! Somehow morning is easier.

I'm glad your first day of student teaching went well!

7 degrees!?! BRRR!!! WAY to brave the cold and darkening hours. I think daylight is going to get longer hereon out. SO HAPPY your first day of student teaching went nicely! :)

Glad the first day went well. Sorry about the 7 degrees. I think it's supposed to warm a little by Thursday. In the 20s would be nice :)

Hang in there. It won't be this ridiculously cold for long. About a week, I think. I've made a declaration that I won't run outside unless the high for the day was above 20. Tomorrow is the day--and then we're getting slammed, supposedly. Snow day, perhaps?

Yes I hear we are in store for snow tomorrow too! I wonder if that would mean a snow day for Thursday. I have a student teaching meeting that night that I would not mind missing! LOL

I don't mind the cold. It's the WIND that kills! When the snow is horizontal I hit the treadmill instead.

Sorry your knee is bugging! Have you ever used kinesio tape? I had ITB flareup last year the week of Ogden marathon in May (overuse injury from not letting it rest after Boston in April). My friend, Teena, taped my knee up good with the Ktape and it worked magic.

Smooth--Where can I buy that from? And do I only weart it while running?

Bummer that your knee has been bothering you. My hip has been sore and I took a week off of running, but that was not very fun. I hope your knee gets feeling better soon.

April, I think it's also called KT tape and I got some at Sports Authority.

Funny story. I went to Sports Authority b/c on the KT site it said that it was sold there. I asked for the KT tape. No one knew what I was talking about. I finally found it on the bottom of some shelf. So I shall try it tomorrow!

You were brave getting out there in the cold. Be careful with that traffic.

I often neglect stretching in the morning because I don't have time.

Kids don't seem to be learning cursive very well these days. And today my oldest son was bemoaning the fact that kids don't diagram sentences anymore and thus don't learn the parts of speech. They need to bring back Schoolhouse Rock, I think.

Yes, I like pm runs for the same reasons. I love coming right home and having something warm and getting right in to my PJs.

Way to go! Also, cursive is the WORST! I never taught my kids it (shhhh!) since i can't do it myself, I decided to teach them typing instead, it's more useful. :-) I'm a rebel.

Your words sum up pretty much how I felt yesterday too. Just a blah run, seems like. The next time you get outside it will be better.

How did the kids take to your lessons? Hopefully it went well.

I hate winter p.m. runs. I won't mind p.m. running once we go back to Daylight Savings.

Tracy--the kids seem to take me well enough. They listen to me. I just need to work on a little louder. Sometimes when I call them from across the room (usually to get their attention b/c they are messing up) they don't hear me. So I have to say it a second time. The cooperating teacher is louder than me.

Sorry about the lame transcripts requirement. So frustrating!!! I'm sure it will all work out. On the bright side, you've done all the hard work!

Snow-shoveling counts as strength training, btw! Have another cookie, you deserve it!!! :)

Oh I forgot to answer your questions about the KT tape. You can check it out on www.kttape.com Most running stores carry them. The tape stays on pretty good for 3-5 days. This link kttape.com/runnersworld.asp used to show how to apply the tape.

Thanks for the info!

I second the recommendation for KT Tape. I hope the transcript mess gets worked out without too much trouble.

Colleges are full of aggravating red tape. But get used to it. So are elementary schools...

Snow day today?

You WILL get through the red tape, but I hear you on how frustrating that can be. I'm eating cookies too! I made some chocolate chip/oatmeal/coconut/cacao nib cookies to send to my son at college. If they sit here much longer, he will not get many!

Gosh Tracy you just crushed my dreams of everything working out and it all being hunky dory once I get my job!

Aunt--I want the recipe!! I'll PM you my email!

Oh and no snow day for me. It wasn't too bad today! but we only had 10 students show up for school today!

Only one store in the area sells the KT tape. We are going to be in that area tonight so I"m gonna pick some up just in time for hopefully a long run tomorrow..but guess what? there is going to be more artic blasts! yippee!

Good luck with the tape and getting outside!

9 hours of sleep and 7 miles running can't be all bad.

So I'm back...not really thinking too much more positively.

I wanted to 8...with out pain..and I did 7 with pain. And it was cold. I just could not keep warm etc. Right now I"m having a hissy fit saying I give up on running this week. I will just do the elliptical or some Jillian videos.

I'm just done with my knee at below 20 degree weather.

So, how was the run?

Not anybody can just up and run 7 miles when they choose. You're still fit! Hang in there it will get better. I want to quit during the first mile of almost every run.

You rock. I know you're frustrated, but you got out there and ran! I'm totally impressed.

You'll feel better about it tomorrow. But you should be proud--I don't know what time you ran, but at 11:00 here it was 3 degrees.

Did you try the tape?

Try duct tape if you can't find tape. It works just as well. So sorry the knee still hurts. Mine has been long (or at least seemed long to me) in healing, and I know it can be frustrating, especially when you don't really know what's going on.

Sorry about the knee. You still got out there and tough it out! Xtraining is probably a good idea at least until the weather co-operates with the knee. Hang in there! Wish I could help!

I did get some KT tape. I put it on like the video said to for an IT band issue. It started to peel off mid run. Ikept pulling up my pant leg to try to get it to stay but itkept peeling off. Not sure what I did wrong there. Aunt-maybe I will duct tape the KT tape to me!

I guess that was another reasong I thought I would run pain free..I had high hopes on the tape working!

Thank you all for your encouraging words!

Be sure to rub the tape right after you apply it. That's supposed to make it stick. But with that said, I did the ITB taping yesterday and had it peel off during the run too. I've taped other places that stuck better. Maybe that one's just tough to get to stick because of the constant movement of the knee.

Are you having IT band trouble? Or did you tape just for me??? if so how sweet!it was the lower portions that were coming up. Not so much the above knee tails.

I've just been having a tiny twinge in my right ITB occasionally lately.

It's 10:15 and our car thermometer just said it was 1 degree. I'm glad it warmed up. ha ha.

You'll feel better in a few days and then you'll realize that you did a good workout even though you didn't want to!

You should move, seriously. Your cookie recipe is in my blog for today.

Thanks Aunt I will look for it. and I wish moving was an option!

Tracy--it is now 3 and still 1 below! ridiculous!!!!!

The cold won't last forever and you got a good workout in spite of it.

Thanks Carolyn I need to hear that some more!

The cold won't last forever and you got a good workout in spite of it.

lol

I hear Wed. is supposed to be 46 or something. Hopefully there is some melting going on.

Way to stick with the workouts. I hope Tracy is right; 46 degrees sounds down right tropical!

Hoping for you that it does get a bit warmer.

OOH Tracy! that does sound wonderful. I'd be happy if it got over 30...I think i forgot how to dress in that!

My week looks so lonely with all the zeros...I just don't feel right putting elliptical miles on the board. They are too easy..I mean there isn't any wind or weather conditions to deal with...just ellipticalling! (is that a word? LOL)

I hope I'm right about the warmer temperatures. Or maybe that's just how rumors get started.

Here's hoping you and Tracy both get the warmer weather that's been promised.

Temps are looking up! Congrats on your 1st observation! Being a natural should help in your profession.

NICE workouts this week so far. Glad to hear the weather is going to cooperate for you later this week!

CONGRATS on a GREAT feedback from your 1st observation! :)

That's great news about your observation! That's got to boost your confidence.

I'm terribly uncoordinated. That's why I run - because I can't do anything dance-y, like aerobics.

Great warming trend! Now you can get back on track. :)

Sounds busy! Good job getting the run done anyway. Congratulations on your positive evaluation yesterday; that is great news. I am glad it is going so well for you.

As soon as you get your schedule down pat, something will throw a wrench in it. I say stress less. If the house isn't perfectly clean, who cares?

I personally don't care about a messy house. We're all too busy. Sometimes I wish I could just run, sleep, and eat, and maybe read.

Good job getting out to run and telling the pain where to go.

SO GLAD you got a run in today, you busy girl you!!!

Believe me..my perfectionism about the house has gotten less and less. We have three dogs so I have to make it apoint to vaccume. If I start seeing floating hair balls I go a little nutty. I don't dust and I don't even really clean floors. If there is a sticky area I will clean it but if not then it is good enough.

And the bathroom must get cleaned atleast once a week. I'm so glad we only have one at this point. and I'm really steering the SO clear of any new homes (we are looking for a new house) that have more than 2 or 21/2 bathrooms. He doesn't clean them so that is where I put my foot down! LOL

:) Glad the day went well!

I think you are probably very good at being in charge. GO GIRL! Have fun getting engagement photos done!

Good job.

I didn't get home till about 10 last night so the elliptical did not happen. The pics look so cool! I hope that I am able to post some one here.

I'm so glad my brother was able to do the photos!

Be sure to give the tape a good rub right after you put it on. And I also suggest putting it on well before you're going to run so it has a chance to stick before you start bending your knee a whole bunch.

Nice job getting 5 in today. Glad the knee is behaving.

I used to work in interlibrary loan at my school. There was nothing I couldn't find!

Hope you're able to make time to get a long run tomorrow.

Carolyn-Should I wear the tape even after the run(saying it does stay on) or maybe I should put it on tonight??

JD-Yes now that I know how to do it through my library I will be a interlibrary loan fanatic! I just hope I have the time to read it!

THe kind of tape I use stays on, sometimes for days! It will work best if you really clean the area first; I use facial cleanser and make sure it is really dry before applying the tape.

Better weather!

Should I put it on the night before then?

That's how KT tape works. You have to make sure the area is clean and dry. Also round off the corners seem to help. When you put on your pants just be sure that the tape edges don't get caught on the pants fabric.

GOOD LUCK with the bazillion things you have to do tomorrow!

I cleaned the area and I rounded the edges. I did probably run to quickly after putting the tape on. And i probably could have rubbed it on a little longer.

You can leave it on for 3-4 days. I would put it on tonight and leave it on after the run. You can even shower with it.

Nice haiku.

I'm afraid I don't have any gu advice for you. I used to take Sports Beans on long runs, but I never really had a system for when to eat them. Lately, I haven't been carrying anything. For example, today I ran 16, but I just had some water from a fountain after 5 and again after 11.

I've got my knee taped too. I did it last night. You know how you're supposed to do an X for the ITB taping? One strip of my X fell off overnight, but the other didn't.

Yeah that is what keeps falling off is the X...well usually just one part of it. Usually the part that is below the knee. If that makes sense. Oh sigh...one day we will get it right!

You had a nice run today! Sounds like you need a good dose of believing in yourself--your last 3 miles were great! So next long run, just think of that--you know you can do it when you are aching!

Thanks Tracy!

They say right before you start and then every 30-45 minutes is best for GU. I think the the most important thing about it though, is to make sure you try it before and during your training runs so you'll be sure it won't upset your stomach on race day. Most of them are so nasty, vanilla is the only flavor I can choke down.

NICE run, April!!! Looks like once you get that chi running in your head, you're in a groove and pick up the pace nicely.

As for GU during training, I agree w/ rattle that the main thing is to try them out on your long runs to make sure it agrees with your tummy. I don't take any gu on my weekday runs even if they go over an hour. But on long runs over 2 hours I have to take something or I'd bonk. When I race a Half marathon, I'd take one gu. In Marathon racing I take an average 4. Hydrating w/ sport drinks that have electrolytes and some carb is just as important.

Oh I never take one during my weekday runs! That would be ridiculous!

My long runs for now are 8-10 miles until I can figure out my IT band. So I have been just eating a little bit of the gu just to see what it tastes like.

Rattletrap-I'm partial to mostly the vanilla as well!

Thanks for the advice!

Oh and I have never used on on a 1/2 marathon before. Maybe if I did I would be speedier?? LOL

You were hurting? I hope you're feeling better now.

Yeah, My IT band.

Jillian Michaels makes good workouts. Great job with the kick boxing.

Sounds fun!

Yeah I realized today though that I need to find another video...It was too easy. Atleast it is 45 minutes though.

Carolyn--Do you still find the Shred videos difficult?

They're doable but still somewhat challenging for me. When they get too easy for me, I stop doing them for a while and then go back to them later. I should do something else when I'm not doing them, but I tend not to.

She scares me.

Kickboxing scares me.

Totally hear you on the freezing rain. Here too.

Good workout! Hope today at school is a good one.

I'm impressed that you considered 10 minutes more on the elliptical. I was off that thing as soon as I got my 30 minutes in this morning.

Freezing rain = yuck.

I hate eliptical. I always feel that it pulls me out of alignment somehow.

It is all about the entertainment while on the elliptical. The music helped. Even doing crunches was fun!

I take a warm bath if I'm having trouble settling down to go to sleep.

:)

:)

It's a big time commitment, but I know you can do it!

Yes one that I may not make for the spring ever again! I mean with thew winter being wintery and all and cutting my days sometimes down to 4 days of running. blah blah blah...I felt great over the summer. Atleas tthat is how I remember it!

Nothing wrong with slow! Not for 10+ miles. It's still money in the bank.

That is a nice long run. 25 degrees still seem awfully cold! Treat yourself a bit; you know why you run, and better runs are ahead.

Like Sno said, there's nothing wrong with slow, especially for a long run, and in the cold to boot. I hope you have a nice run soon that reminds you why you run.

Thanks all. Just seems like for every good run I have 5 bad. I have a calendar on my fridge for marathon training. I think i'm going to start putting a smilely face on it for every good run that way it doesn't seem like all my runs are bad.

I put smiley faces (hand drawn) on my paper log for all my "good" runs. I think there are three for December.

You're a good influence on your SO. Encourage him to light up AFTER the 5K. Although it would be pretty funny to see someone running a race with a lit cigarette dangling from their mouth! Lol!

Nice ten miler today!

Nice run! I think it says a lot that you went out and did it, and more importantly finished it, when you weren't mentally there. Keep that dedication. The runs will get better...

JD--I thought I wouldlet you know that your comment made me crack up. I told my SO about it andhe said, "What no one smokes in these races?" and then he said, "Don't think I won't be smoking" You guys are both hilarious, and I don't doubt that he won't be smoking while he is chugging along!

April, how about a really good sports massage? Do you have someone you can go to. They can really get in there and fix it; it won't be pleasant, but they can fix it! Also cannot recommend the tennis ball and the foam roller enough. These tools save my IT bands.

I don't have any advice beyond what Autieem said. I just hope you get feeling better. I guess the only other thing I can say is try to think positively.

I'm no help, really, other than to second Auntieem. Maybe seeing a professional would be in your best interest, because it might be in your form or in some sort of imbalance.

Hang in there, kiddo!

Just be glad you don't have kids. They always need something too.

Which is exactly like why I don't have any!

It is weird--my schedule changed dramatically and now I feel selfish. LIke I need to steal away the me time..I don't like that guilt feeling!

Life is a balancing act, and when there's any change, it always takes a while to get back into balance.

You'll figure it out. In the meantime, don't be so angry ;) When you feel angry, go yell at Virginia.

Good plan. You seem like you've been extra stressed lately. Maybe a change like that will help.

Teaching is a challenging profession, but you've got the strength to do it.

Thanks!

It sounds like you're figuring things out. Congratulations on feeling great today.

Looks like you had a great run. I hope early running is the answer :)

Way to go early bird!

It was very nice to be able tocome home today...and know tht my run was over for the day...Less stressful. I'm going to keep that up. Plus it is snowing now and I can enjoy the snow from my living room! (got another headache today though!)

Good EARLY run! And cold! Nice job getting out there.

You are getting tough going out so early in the really cold weather. I'm impressed.

Brrrr. Nice dedication.

Yup one tough cookie...that is me...LOL

mmmmm...coffee cake...

I think more days off will definitely help your recovery. Just go easy on the ice cream :) You won't lose all your fitness running 4 or even 3 days a week. I think running 6 days a week is the way to get maximum performance, but that's for runners without injuries or nagging aches and pains. I've learned this the hard way.

I second what rAtTLeTrAp said.

Yeah it stinks...I like my 5 days a week. But I can still work out those 5 days with my handy dandy elliptical. It doesn't hurt to do that physcially...just mentally.

and I honestly don't eat that much icecream. Probably my first bowl in months...and I think I was just feeling sorry for myself! LOL--I'm better today!

Hope the body is holding up! I agree about not running every day when you are feeling pain for sure!

Have a great weekend and have some more ice cream. There is no such thing as enough ice cream!

Nice bank deposit.

Your account is looking good!

Hey--you got it done! Nice. Hope the ITB felt okay during the run.

I wanted to do 10. But once I got to 4 I started feeling the twinges and decided to turn around at that point. Stinks..tomorrow starts marathon training and I"m not sure where to go from here since it a 5 day a week plan. I guess one of my 3 milers could be an ellip day. And as far as long runs I think taking the day off before and walking early is helping. I started hurting later in the run. This is all new to me!

Just read your whole week's posts...wow! You've been running VERY early in the morning. Hope the ITB behaves now that you've discovered the cause may be from the slant of the road. NICE banking that 8+ yesterday. GOOD LUCK this week starting your marathon training! You'll do great!

Twinges again! Its tough to know how much attention to pay to twinges. Sometimes they mean something and sometimes they don't. Do you ever try stopping mid run and stretching? I stop if I feel out of alignment in my hips/knees and do some drills.

Hang in there and don't feel obligated to a marathon plan. The best plan is one thst doesn't hurt. I have a pretty lofty goal and my current plan has more rest days than run days :)

Rattletrap-that makes me feel a lot better. Plus when I think about it I was at 80 miles per month at the peak of my mileage for my first 1/2. So I suppose if I"m hurt 85 isn't too bad.

Aunt--oh yes I stretch. That is why I can only really run 4.75 in the a.m. Takes me the full hour.

Smooth, I'm running so early that I can run in the middle of the street and avoid the slant!

Make sure you're wearing some high visibilty clothes if you run in the street when it's dark. You never know when some dummy in a Prius will forget to turn his lights on and sneak up on you. Those things are whisper quiet.

Rattletrap--Oh yes! I"m safety girl! even my gloves have some reflective stuff. I wear a sash and a head lamp! I"m ultra cool~

Is that -11 degrees or 11 degrees? Either way, no wind is good, but that is cold!

Wow, early start! Nice job with the consistency too.

OOPs! I was typing on the school puter and it is sooo slow! I didn't notice that symnbol! Just plain ol 11 degrees above zero!

You're really doing a good job lately of getting out in the early mornings and the cold.

Getting enough rest is important. (I figure if I tell enough people this, I will believe and act on it myself.)

Getting enough rest is important. I think I heard that somewhere. Life sounds chaotic; that kind of stuff is so disrupting!

Yeah I felt lost without my run yesterday...but i"m glad I got the extra sleep.

Gotta love new shoes! Just keep plugging away. The stopping to stretch should help your running. Have you been anywhere to see someone about your ITB?

Oooh, I just love new shoes!

Your early start to the day makes me feel older...oh wait, I am older. I'm older than dirt! Lol! Really though, great job getting out so early, especially considering the 11F windchill. I haven't bought a new pair of shoes in over 6 months. I've been rotating through the same 7 pair since August. Trying to pile miles on them and then just buy minimal support shoes from here on out. I like my mizuno waveriders, they still have a lot of life in them.

Tracy-I don't have insurance...I could go to the VA but it seems they got rid of their late hours...whichmeans I can't go.

Aunt-me too!

JD--you should not feel old! Rotating that many shoes sounds difficult. And I think I also maybe having issues b/c I think I jumped on the minimalist bandwagon too quickly...LOL

You continue to own the early mornings. Good luck with the new shoes and the ITB.

No insurance? Not even school insurance? Oh man! The fall and a new teaching job can't come soon enough!

At my old school I did...but that was UIC and they have their own medical thingy and teenie boppers go there and they have dorms.

The U I'm at now the mean age is 35 and I suppose they think you probably have all that taken care of...soooo...yeah my new job can not come soon enough. And at the restaurant I couldn't get insuarance b/c I didn't work enough hours to cover the 100 bucks a month to have it (which is hard to do at 2.13 and hour)sorry rambling...

I was just thinking that your miles look good this week! Low miles is fine--you'll build!

Another 5:00 am run. Good job!

I've been doing dynamic stretching before my runs and I think it's really helping.

It's always worth the effort no matter the distance.

It is worth the effort!

Carloyn--I saw that on your blog...tell me more..unless you added more about it on todays blog....

Agree! It's worth it!

April, they're just dynamic stretches from a book called "Brain Training for Runners" by Matt Fitzgerald. They are similar to the dynamic stretching exercises that are in the March issue of Runners World.

Carloyn-I googled it and got a youtube video. I found myself saying, "I do that" The problem is I don't do it enough!

The older I get the more I believe in the power of positivity.

Good luck with the long run tomorrow. Don't stress it if it gets snowed out.

Congratulations on the living room.

And finally, the Super Bowl is this weekend? I have so not been paying attention to that.

Thanks for the book ideas.

Sign up for Chicago! Just saw your post on my blog page. I lived in Chi for six years, and the course map shows that we run very near my old loft in Greektown and also downtown near where my office was! I think it will be fun.

Aunt--I"m a weener! It is a lot of money and I want to make sure I can do it first! It is funny that the marathon is on 10-10-10. I was trying to convince my fiance to get married on that day. He didn't like that it is on a Sunday though. I also started today Marathon Woman, very good so far. (I haven't even skipped around in it yet like I usually do!)

Carolyn-me too--I"m trying to be more positive...being jaded allthe time has a negative effect on the people around you...trying to ward that off as well!

That is dedication! Very impressive run with hills, wind, and snow.

Nice running! It's great when people give encouragement to runners. I always assume the person is himself a runner, and they know how much it means.

Thank you! Also I'm trying to keep my running in perspective. I"m not a 7 min/miler person right now. May never be. I think I got ahead of myself over the fall. I did a few great races and I think I tried to keep that pace during training. I think that is where I went wrong. So now I tell myself slow keeps me from injuring myself further. My knee is aching right now...but little rest will do it some good.

I struggle with giving advice because everyone's different. But here's a thought that you might try.

Run one day. Try to run a few more miles (like in the 4-6 range. If you have to walk, so be it). The next day do the equivalent on the elliptical. Keep your heart rate up and count those miles as cross training miles (12 min = 1 mile). Then go back to running outside the next day.

Try for 6 days (that should give you 20-24 miles with 1/2 of them as cross training miles).

See how your ITB cooperates for a couple weeks. It'll still probably bother you, but maybe not as much. Then after 2 weeks, if it's behaving, try to replace one of the cross training days with another day of running (so you are running 4 days, cross training 2). And then as your ITB continues to behave, slowly increase the running vs. cross training until you're back into it.

Whatever you do, I hope you find a solution. I know you've been frustrated!

Okay I like that. Guess tomorrow is going to be an ellip day...which is fine. I would rather do something than nothing. Also, it feelts fine on days I don't run. It was sore all day yesterday.

You should try giving advice more...you are good at it!

My husband always tells me I should do it less. He thinks I have a tendency to be interfering...

I say try Tracy's plan and if after a couple of weeks it's worse or not getting better, take some time off.

Tracy--Really? Well you have my permission to tell me what to do anytime! LOL...Especially when it comes to running or teaching...you are definitely the more experienced in both departments!

Carolyn--I agree!

Tracy's advice sounds good. Have you looked at some strength training exercises for the ITB? Try copy and paste these links on your browser:

http://runningtimes.com/Print.aspx?articleID=6099

http://runningtimes.com/Print.aspx?articleID=3528

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/0168-knee-injuries.htm

Hope these helps. GOOD LUCK! It's frustrating when the ITB is not happy.

smooth--some of those exercises are new to me! thank you! I have to read that one article slow so that I can picture the movements i'm suppose to make on the stairs. I'm such a visual person it is ridiculous!

You know what I'm going to say, right? I swear I'm not trying to be obnoxious and I truly care about you. S-U-G-A-R. And cereal, bread, etc. are *all* sugar when they hit your bloodstream. OK. I'll shut up now. Take care. :)

nah I thought you would mention TMS...ahahhaha...

You would be proud of me I have been eating oatmael for breakfast. I"m just going to finish my box of cherrios and no more cereal. And cherrios is it really bad for you? I sweart I read the label and thought I was doing okay. I don't eat the other sugary stuff.

and for my actual meals I do really well. with veggies fruits protein etc...it is between meals that messes me up! and yes I know sugars...but i'm down to one can of soda a day...I am making progress.

I couldn't run 13 miles the first day I started running, I can't be a good eater the first day I decide to eat well. I hope that makes sense...hmmm

what sort of things do you eat for snacks?

I'll stay out of the diet discussion, but will say that maybe the snow is a blessing in disguise for your ITB. Maybe a few days of the elliptical is what it needs.

LOL...I was just coming back on here to say sorry for the long list of excuses. I really just need to do it. But I haven't made it a priority...and then I want to complain about feeling blah and not fitting into jeans.

REally I just need to shut up and do it...like nike...LOL

Carolyn--are you a good eater or a horrible eater? I would say I"m mediocre...I"m not eating fast food everynight and cupcakes...my snacks in between meals need to be better...baby steps...

Hope I didn't sound like nagging. I know you have come a LONG way with your diet, so bravo for that!

I don't do well with snacking. It's just a personal preference, but I feel like I get on an insulin roller coaster when I do the "5-6 small meals a day" thing.

Sno--not at all...actually I was hoping I wasn't sounding whiney.

I have a friend who wants to lose weight...but doesn't exercise. I was feeling like her. I find it frustrating to talk to her about it with all of her excuses.

I need friends like you to smack me over the head with stuff I already know but don't want to acknowledge b/c I"m being lazy or just not making it a priority. Lord knows i have the healthy food in my house that I could choose to eat. But I choose to eat the crap (SO is not on board with the healthy food so we still have the sugar stuff for snacks)

One way to get only good food and snacks in the house, April, is just do the grocery shopping yourself. Whenever Chuck goes to the store, he comes back with always a little bit of junk food...just enough to entice me when I'm looking for something to snack on.

I try to keep lots of fruit and veggies on hand. And I know Sno won't like this one since it's bread, but I recently found these 70 calorie bagels--I eat one usually as a snack right after school and before running.

But I shouldn't be preaching. I'm a mediocre eater myself. If there is any candy around, I will eat it. Period. That's why I don't buy it. But I won't go so far as to ban it from the house :)

And you gotta kick that soda habit! Bring a bottle of water with you wherever you go! Whenever I drink an occasional soda (which I did this past weekend for no good reason), I instantly bloat.

I would totally hear it for the entire week if I didn't buy him his hostess cupcakes! LOL

But I don't realy eat those. I'm more into chips and candy...and my cooperating teacher keeps candy in her drawer. I stopped buying candy weeks ago.

Oh and I always have water on me. Always.

I think i'm just goign to have to be happy with being mediocre for right now. One day when i'm ready I will do better..

I have a foam roller but I don't use it as much as I should. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn't - depends where I roll and how much body weight I put on it, but it has never made me cry.

Sorry you didn't get a snow day. My husband always hopes for snow days but rarely gets them.

Good for you, getting the roller at last! It does usually hurt me if my IT bands are tight. I have never cried while using it, but I don't cry except for when my neck gets adjusted.

Okay hopefully I'm doing it right.

This is day three of no running. I think I may run tommorrow...maybe I will wait one more day.

You're rolling now!

What Yoga did you do? Just curious. And anything Jillian Michaels scares me.

Kelli-I would love it if Jillian would wake me up in the morning and run with me. it would be awesome! I wonder if I would get faster?

Yoga wise I'm doing stuff that I find on demand on my AT&T U-verse. The one I keep going back to is Yoga-Sculpt. I haven't found DVDs that I like so that is what I have found for free!

I'm actually looking into going on ITUNES and seeing if they have something on there. Just have been lazy. My brother is taking me to one of his heat yoga classes. 90 minutes of a lot of heat and yoga. Sounds wonderful to me!

Jillian HATES running, she rarely does it (or so she says!)

I'm afraid of all this kick boxing.

NICE kickboxing and yoga!

The first time I used the foam roller, I cried. It hurt bad. Then it got easier and hurt less. I'm glad your quads and ITB didn't get to that point. Keep up the good work!

Kelli--that makes me sad! :(

NO, it is a good thing, we could all take her on and probably win!!!!

Way to push through those miles! And in the cold...

I do find that the tv is a nice distracter for the boring machine workouts. Good luck getting that fixed.

You've had a full morning already. Good job. Good luck with the tv. I think the elliptical tomorrow is a good idea.

yeah maybe at the one hour mark and i can stop do some laundry and get back on. Just to break it up a bit!

Good job on the elliptical. I hope you didn't kill it. It sounds like you have a busy day today.

I think I'd rather have an ellipt. instead of a TM. I'll check out that movie.

Nice job on the elliptical. I'm sure it'll be fine when you need it again.

AW! Sounds like a fun Valentine's 5K holding hands and all. Boys are such show-offs sometimes! :) Next time you can chick him!

HAPPY VALENTINES!

Chick your man for Valentines (if you can)! Sounds like fun.

That was sweet of him to run a race with you for Valentines Day. But you really should chick him next time.

I've forgotten to stop my Garmin at the end of a race several times. It's easy to get distracted at that point.

Yeah, what a buttface! But he sounds kinda fun anyway, maybe even a keeper. You could totally chick him anytime anyway!

Um what is chick? Sounds like whatever it is he would deserve it!

Aunt-he is pretty funny!

Sounds like a nice Valentine's Day present.

Sorry I missed this report! That's what happens when your blog tracking is spotty. So I'm late saying: congratulations! Let the man gloat - maybe it will get him running regularly. (hehehe) Sounds like you had a great time. :)

Looks like it was a great run! Awesome.

A flatter route is probably good for now since you've been having trouble with your ITB. Good job getting it done.

Good news about the ITB! Progress is progress.

I had trouble waking up this morning too. I hit the snooze alarm 4 times before I was conscious that I was doing it.

It's hard to go to work some days. I hope it works out okay for you with the sub today.

The situation with that sub sounds annoying! Good luck!

Does 1/2 day for the kids mean you only have 1/2 too?

Sub was good today. Very happy about that!

Aunt-not it does not. It is ridiculous how many meetings teachers have to attend. I had a professional development meeting and then our normal building meeting! Yeesh! and of course I have to go so I can take notes for my teacher!

Carolyn--i try not to hit the snooze. Whenever I do I end up waking up an hour or so later. so I really try not to do that!

Writing the philosophy of education could take an awful lot of energy! Glad it is you and not me; good luck with that.

Those bridal fairs require a bit of energy expenditure too. Between the two, you could log some xtraining miles.

LOL...yeah it is 9:15...and I'm not seeing how I am going to get to the philosophy. The bridal fair was fn though...some pushy people but also some nice people.

It sounds like a busy day. Don't worry about missing the run.

Good miles today (and this week!). And good job on the soda free :)

I think casual and inexpensive is really much more fun...My sister and I got married in the same summer and we spent maybe half as much on our reception, but ours was just more relaxing. People who spend a lot of money on a reception are rolling in it, getting money from mom and dad--or putting it on credit cards and paying for it the rest of their lives! It just seems like a waste to spend too much money on one day. The VFW would be a good time.

That's the longest in quite a while with no ITB pain, isn't it? Good news! Now that you are feeling better, maybe you'll sign up for Chicago?

Totally agree with you about the $ on the wedding. I would think that all that extravagance would be not so fashionable now, anyway.

Soda free will change your life!

Aunt--I had some slight pain. So i walked a little and I felt better. I rolled when I got home.

Aunt and Tracy-I agree--plus I think I will feel more relaxed at a wedding where I only spent a little bit and not 20 grand!

Any cheap ideas you have are welcome!

Yikes, weddings are expensive. I don't think they should be so expensive.

I've heard roll then stretch is the sequence, but I'm not expert.

Good job on the no soda.

Carloyn and all--we went to the VFW tonight. If I join I can get the hall for 200 and pay the bartender for 50 and bring in our own liquor and our own food. I will have it catered. And will probably rent table clothes. There are tables there. So now we just have to find where we want to get married. I would do it in the middle of the VFW but I want pretty pics and the grand entrance as Mr and Mrs. Now I'm excited. That other place was 375 per hour!

Sounds like something I would do. I'm giving up candy for Lent.

Chocolate is hard to resist.

Sometimes, when there is too much candy in the house, I just throw it all in the food waste compost bin. Its not really food anyway, so I don't feel guilty.

I feel like I just exchanged one vice for another. Now instead of soda I overload on the sweets. Grrr...

Someone told me they would pour wax on food sweets they didn't want to eat so that they couldn't eat it. Maybe that was Jillian Michaels?

A girl at work brought in her cake. I may jsut throw it out!

Great job on this run! I'm off to a hot bath now myself... ah!

Awesome job! Looks like your running plan lately has been helpful for the ITB. That's a great run.

Good mileage for the week!

I can't remember: are you running the Shamrock Shuffle?

It is sore now. I feel like I have a bruise in my leg! Stinks!

No Shamrock Shuffle. Which is ashame b/c I know so many that will be there. My brother Jeremy will be there!

i will be in Evansville, IN for a bowling tournament!

Great run today. I hope your soreness goes away.

Great run!

Excellent progress on the ITB! I am so glad the rolling helps. I guess it does look pretty funny, though, to see someone rolling around on the floor with the foam thingy grimacing in pain - of course he stares!

GREAT JOB on the run!

He only stares and no comments? :) Glad the rolling helps the ITB!

He stares and laughs at me. He thinks I'm nuts...especially since he ran that 5 k with me and was so sore for days after.

Just get the momentum going tomorrow and don't worry about what happened today. It sounds like you worked hard today in any case.

As long as the ITB is bothering you, keep up the elliptical if it helps. If you can get the ITB better, shift the balance to more running.

Good luck with the program. I know that when I rehearse a piece of music with my church choir, I'm always kind of tired of it and glad to get it over with when we finally perform it.

Good luck with the program today!

I really think you will be sooo well prepared for this 1/2.

Carolyn--good advice and I will. In a way it is a nice break to watcha movie and work out.

Aunt-I think I should have mentioned the full marathon. I'm totally not worried about the 1/2. I feel super comfy with that distance. I would like to be under two hours this time. But I won't be upset if I"m not due to all these issues.

Marathon I would just like to cross the finish line at this point. Hopefully my condition changes and I can go back to my plan A wishes!

ie--sub 2 hours 1/2 and 4:30 full.

Carolyn--the program went well. Although some of our narrators were talking the entire time during the production and that URKED me!

Congrats to you on your no soda regime and congrats to fiance for his bowling! What Bruce Willis thing were you watching?

Good job on the no soda and the weights. And congratulations to your fiance on the bowling. That's amazing!

Yeah, that ten-pin is an evasive little bugger! :-)

JD-the ten pin is his arch nemesis!

Tracy-Leave Free or Die trying...the second Die Hard moving..sorry I"m ridiculous when it comes to names of movies and song titles. But it is great. But I am a Bruce fan.

I'm so proud of him too! Most people aren't interested in bowling but I like it to watch it. I think it is b/c it is like running--ie it is just you.

That is Live Free NOT leave...OOPS

Do you think Bruce Willis would drop in and do a workout with me? It would really motivate me.

Aunt- I bet he would if you stayed indoors more! But you are lucky and have good weather on yourside!LOL

Planks are the best.

I love planks too. My sister just told me about some channel (Oprah?) where she can get yoga at 3am. Gotta check it out.

Nice long one!

Hey, sounds like a good run with your bro! I love runs with my bro.

That was weird; as I was posting, JD's post popped in here ahead of mine. He is just too fast!

Nice long run in less than perfect conditions. Good job making your brother do it too.

He got me back with 90 minutes of yoga in 150 degree room!

Excellent running!

Great miles! Were you running in Cicero? What trails did you try to find?

We ran through Cicero, Riverside, and Stickney. That sounds so impressive the but cities are sooo close to each other!

We were trying up on Harlem. It is on the right hand side if you are going toward 55. It where that Statue memorial is for the people that found all the stinking rivers by the sanitation district. I hope that gives you some sort of clue.

We were going to drive to the trail (it is 6.5 our and the 6.5 back) but jeremy locked us out of the house and left his car keys in the house in stead of bringing them with) Sooo we ende dup running to the area but it was so snowed over the feet prints seemed to go in circles. Very bizzare. We will try again when the snow goes away!

Know exactly where you are talking about. Didn't know there were trails there. Do they go through the forest preserve or do they go along 55 and whatever gross river that is (it's not the Desplaines, I don't think)?

Ya know we couldn't get beyond this fence. There was an opening but no foot prints beyond it so we weren't sure if we should keep going and risk being murdered. So I think we will try againwhen we can actually see the path. I believe it goes through the forest preserves there. It would be a cool path though.

AWESOME run! Looks like you progressively got faster. NICE to have that "getting in the groove" feeling! Keep it up! Here's to more happy running days ahead!

Congratulations on a happy run!

Great groove today! Gotta love days like that, and it sounds like all your aches and pains are gone! Hooray.

:)

Those ball workouts are tough! I don't do them as much as I should.

I"m a multi tasker so I like doing exercises that work more than one muscle even if it is just balancing!

Very nice workout.

You're doing a great job getting up consistently to run. I'm glad you're being rewarded with good runs.

Good luck with the wedding planning.

So excited for another great run for you! You have really kicked all those aches and pains. Personally, I think its a good idea to get some of the stuff out of the way for your wedding; you'll feel less stressed later.

I don't see "harpist" on your list! lol (Shameless promotion of my trade.)

Sno are you volunteering?

If I lived near you, it would be my pleasure! Try http://www.gigmasters.com/Harp/Harpist.htm

I hear you, dawg.

Whenever I get sick it tends to be when seasons are changing.

Yuk.

Hooray! You are strong, fit, and dedicated. So excited that the ITB didn't bother you. AND, you had the mental strength to keep going even though your legs were falling off! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Awesome, awesome, awesome long run! Congratulations! It's a good accomplishment to go further than you ever have before, and a great feeling.

Congratulations on your longest run ever! Look at the progress you've made!

My calves often feel kind of knotted after long runs.

Carolyn--thanks I was getting a little worried but I woke up this morning with them feeling better. I think I will be ready for a 7 miler later on in the day.

JD-you will be seeing me do this a lot! Lots more miles ahead of me!

Aunt-I think i want to put that up as a banner or something. Maybe write it on my arm so when I"m feeliing tired on a run I can look at it and be renewed!

You've got a lot going on.

I almost wore my skirt also, but then I realized I don't have a skirt.

Nice recovery run.

JD-I'm glad to hear that you don't have a skirt! LOL

When's student teaching over? How's it going lately?

Good miles--I had a stinky run like that on Sunday too.

Tracy April 30th...I"m soooo ready for it to be over. I liked my teacher's anal retentive ways in the beginning but now it is just getting annoying. Not that I know it all...BUT she will interupt me while i'm saying directions just to say the same thing. and one time I said, "I was saying that" she said oh but you didn't...so I stopped arguing. And now she is taking what I say and flipping around and telling me supervisor stupid stuff but she makes it sound bad. and I have a headache almost every night. I just wnat my own classroom..and an older grade level.

That's when my student teacher is done. I'm getting to the point where I'm finally feeling comfortable leaving her alone in the classroom. When does your CT give you some breathing room?

Tracy-Oh she leaves me to teach all the time. She is in and out of the classroom probably since week two. She is just always there in the morning before the kids get there

Today I stayed late while she was in the meeting and tried to get all the stuff I would need the computer for done today.

You are just now leaving her alone? Does she stink? LOL

She's doing all right, but the problem is that when she first came in February, my kids were working on a project, so she hadn't really observed me teach. She's been teaching, but I've been staying in the room.

She is only 1/2 mine, but she's been left alone more with the other teacher's classes.

Oh wow that is so different! I have been in my class since January. That has to be hard juggling a bunch of cooperating teachers! Is she doing all English?

I have heard some of the students that got middle school positions are doing two subjects in some instances (weird I know!)

Yeah. All English. It's complicated why she has two: ISU was desperate to place this girl at our school. I didn't want a student teacher. The other teacher did. The principal told the other teacher that she couldn't have one alone because she has only been teaching 3 years. He said we could split one. I still didn't want one, but I got pressure from the 3 above parties.

I like her and all, but student teachers are a lot of work, unless you're like my CT when I did my student teaching: the kind who just hands you a book and then walks out. And that just ain't my style. I'm a nurturer, baby.

oh yeah I remember you telling me that. Did the three year teacher thing having a student teacher was goign ot be easy? That is weird. I don't think I would want one till I was atleast over the 5 year hump!

Gettin' stronger every day!

I sure hope so!

It's good to have a plan.

I figure it works for running...should probably work for weigths!

I need to do some strength training too! NICE job!

I've been ignoring my arms lately, but rocking on ab work. It's so hard to do it all unless you have some sort of plan, like a rotation of sorts.

Tracy I know! That is what I'm hoping for if I somewhat follow this book! Plus (not to be all vain) but all your are really going to see in my wedding dress is my arms and shoulders...sooo i figure I should probably work on those areas...then in 5 years i can look at my pics and complain about how I have let myself go (lol)

I say be vain. Those pictures will haunt you forever if you don't look good!

:) Have a fun day. Good miles!!

Those little things can be annoying. Try to keep a positive attitude. Enjoy pajama day.

Nice miles.

At least you get weekends off. :-)

JD--I dn't have weekends off for running...or did you mean for work? It is weird I thought I would like this schedule again...but I really like being off during the day b/c you can get sooo much more done. The traffic doesn't stink as bad. I feel like my weekend is full of catch up on all none fun stuff! LOL

Nice running once again, you are on a nice little roll. Hope PJ day was fun.

How come life just doesn't get out of the way and let you run as much as you want? Just kidding. Life does get in the way sometimes. But often life is more important.

Well, running is easier to fit in that some things. You just need your shoes. Is Evansville a scary place to run? Can you run 4 mile loops and check in with him each loop?

Well either way it looks like i will either skip it or move the run around...we shall see what life holds!

Stupid life getting in the way! But this is important to him so I have to be there for him!

He thought I was trying to run a race. I"m like oooh nooo!

Maybe Spring is coming after all.

Ahhhhh...rest...

What a motivated, multi tasking runner you are! Switching to today for the 16 miler seems to work with you schedule next weekend.

Way to go 4:00am! I did the same today. It feels good to get that long one done before most people are out of bed huh?

Great job! So funny about the cows. It's always funny when a dog encounters a cow, or a horse etc for the first time.

4 am? Wow. That is dedication! Way to get 16 miles done in the early morning.

I am either dedicated or got a little insane...LOL

I vote for insane. It takes one to know one :)

Wow! Great miles today--and so early.

Sounds like a good idea to switch next week and this week, since you weren't sure how to get in the miles. I'm sure the 10 will be more manageable next week when you're out of town.

Same here. I'm wondering how long it will take to get the sunrise back to the time it was at last week.

We are in agreement on that one. Even my cats hated it this morning.

I can imagine that cats being all squinty eyed...LOL

Hard to dress properly this time of year.

Sell the elliptical locally online?

I agree that dressing appropriately can be challenging this time of year, particularly when you're out for very long and the temperature changes drastically. (Maybe that happens more here where the humidity is lower.)

I'm sorry about the elliptical. That's frustrating.

I also struggle to do more than 8 in the morning, though I do it sometimes.

I think breaking up your weekday runs is okay as long as you get a continuous long run done on the weekends.

Tell me about the Run to WRigley!! That's my old neighborhood; might be worth a quick flight to Chicago.

Do tell about the run. When is it? I'll do it if I can arrange to be at home!

It's so hard to run a significant amount of miles in the morning. 6 is my max. That's why I run later! But it's good that you can get in 8!

Some of the best runners on the blog run two a day. You still get the volume for the week. I agree that at least one longer continuous run a week is important.

I would only have to split 1 maybe two runs a week. And that is only if for some reason I dn't run on Sunday and I have to move that run to during the week.

Run to Wrigley is a 5k, it is 35 bucks if you want to be times and 30 if you want it to be a fun run. You get a wicking shirt and it is April 24th.

It was tough for me to make the jump back to 10 miles in the mornings. I was doing 8's for a long time. I think I can thank Thaine for the extra incentive :)

WTF and the face that you are fast! My long runs are roughly around 10:30 to 11 minute miles on good days (which I have been having a lot of so I'm not complaining)

I like splitting my runs, I am feeling strong!!!

Wonderful.

Great run! So many miles in the morning! And so speedy! At least you can go through a day without your CT breathing down your neck!

Great job getting a long run in so early in the morning. I hope you have a better day with the kids today.

Nice long run!

Good job! Such an early start to the day, impressive.

I keep wanting to hit the "like" button when I'm on people's blogs. Too much lazy facebooking.

Bowling - so fun! Looks like a fun week of running to me.

I'm doing 17 this week, but I'm doing it on Sunday. Good luck this week. When is your spring break (sorry if I asked you already; I'm having a brain fart)?

Yeah you are having a brain fart--I start next week!

Sno--don't you mean a weekend of no running?

Well, I'm impressed that you continue to get out so early, even if you had to cut the run short.

I still feel awful. I took a 20 minute nap after I showered. so I'm not sure waking up that early really counts. I'll have to do it again tomorrow in order to get in 8 tomorrow...

Feel better!

I'm sorry you're feeling sick. There seems to be a lot of that going around.

You're smart to listen to your body. Hope you're feeling better.

I fainted during a run! It was not so great.

Aunt0wasn't that during a race? Running alone I would be afraid no one would find me!

It probably didn't pick up a satellite right away.

I wish the weather would just make up its mind!

Great job running in spite of the cold and the Garmin woes.

I am so ready for some warmer weather, and I was not as cold as you this morning.

That is SO annoying. My Garmin has been acting up too, saying that it is charged but then having the battery dead. I updated it on Garmin's website using webupdater and am hoping that will help, you might want to try that too? Good job pushing through all that!

I couldn't believe how cold it is. It is suppose to warm up next week. I"m crossing my fingers for 60s and then it can stay in that range for forever!

My Grm does that sometimes on pace. It will say 10:14 or 11:56, when I KNOW I'm going much faster. It did that yesterday, but then when I downloaded it was the correct pace.

Nice miles! Have fun at the quilt store!

I love quilt stores. I used to be a quilter before running took over my life. I don't have time for two hobbies.

9 miles, early, cold, many hills! Nice job. I'll probably never try quilting.

JD--you totally should!

Carolyn--that scares me. I think this will be my last and first marathon. I like quilting and knitting too much...I'll be a 1/2 marathoner!

OH and I found some fabric...so exciting! Tonight I will be a quilting fool on my other projects!

Maybe there's something to the stretching and rolling, eh?

Yeah but when it feels better I forget! LOL

Look at you cranking out the miles! Keep taking care of your leg--I'm sorry that you hate running today :(

Still, you ran over 14 miles.

Running definitely has that love/hate thing going for it sometimes.

If running was easy you wouldn't be so cool for sticking with it. Give it time, you'll get there.

JD-glad you said something. I only ran 13.46...must change that.

Rat-thanks for calling me cool.

Tracy--got a heating pad on it now...going to roll later...no running tomorrow (day off anyway)

Still, you ran over 13 miles...

Are you still talking to your brother? Almost 14 miles is still a super long run! Just take a look at how much your mileage has increased over the past year, tell your body (and your IT band) THANK YOU!

Whoops, did I miss Easter?

You're still on the first page of the mileage board!

Bummer! I hope happier runs are up ahead for you. Maybe the big dinner hindered your energy, or maybe the pace with bro was too fast for a long run? Just trying to come up with something for you, other than "running sucks," cuz it doesn't. Take care!

thanks guys--I'm sorry about being a negative Nancy. My IT Band is still hurting today. I took the dogs for a walk and getting up is a chore.

Aunt-my side of the family celebrates most holidays the week before so we can go to our SO's houses for the actual day. Keeps a lot of fighting at bay. And Aunt you are right I am running a lot more.

Rat-really? I need to look at that. I never look at that thing LOL

sno you are right-running doesn't suck. I just had a bad run. Learning how to deal with that!

Wow just realized I have 129 miles in for the month!

Like JD said, you still ran over 13 miles. Just don't try to do too much too soon. I hope you're enjoying your rest.

Nice ride.

How do you determine your body fat percentage?

It was on a scale with sensors. Who knows how accurate that is.

Good job on the bike ride and on the shred. Those are good options when you're letting your ITB rest.

Yeah I like the shred. Some of the moves she makes are things I was doing but I'm sure she does them in a better order in order to get maximum results!

Slow is fine.

Good luck with the job interview.

Best wishes in the interview. I'd hire you!

Nice miles.. I don't think you need to worry about the pace, you are doing great!

Good luck with the interview, I'm sure it will go well :)

Good luck on your interview!

Good luck with the interview. Found any teaching vacancies yet? This is going to be a tough year for graduating teachers...

Tracy--I'm applying like a crazy lady...well I'm searching like a crazy lady and applying when I can (ie when I qualify for a position) I have hopes!

Happy dogs and clean vehicles. Sounds like a good start to the day.

Very good day. I even got a bit of a sun burn!

You're doing great. Hang in there. :)

When you're training consistently and your mileage is going up (which I think yours has been), it's normal to feel sluggish sometimes. You've been doing a great job lately and your body will respond.

okay thanks...I needed to hear I"m normal!

Nice early Sunday morning exercise, but good that it doesn't have to be as early as a week day.

yes it is nice being able to 'sleep in'this week!

I'm assuming they are going to biopsy it?

Have a good week. How many more weeks of student teaching? Is it 3 or 4?

Yes they cut ia all out...pathology will look over it and he should know by his follow up next week. If he woudl call he would know in a few days. But I knowhe won't so next tuesday he will know for sure

4 weeks left! 19 days really thanks to spring break!

Nice early run, and good luck with your busy day, especially the observation and the interview!

What a terrible way to lose sleep! So they were sugar ants? Little ones? We had carpenter ants, as many people in this neighborhood do. But they don't want our food, just our timbers. :(

Good luck today!

yeah tiny ants! that want food!

So my observation went well and I got the job! Yippee!

Ants, no sleep, and being observed! Fun stuff! Hope it went well!!!

Speed work on the TM certainly makes things a little less monotonous.

Way to keep up the consistency.

Hey April ~ How've you been? Looks like you're as busy as always! NICE speedwork on the TM! Check out that 8:30!

COOL that the little girl noticed your "guns". Yep, kids are pretty honest in saying what they see/think! Keep up the good work, muscle girl!

Nothing like an unsolicited compliment to make you feel good about all the work you've been doing! Those arms'll look great in that wedding dress!

Smooth--been good--I have been feeling sluggish lately. I was hoping the TM would have kicked that out of me but today again I woke up not in time to run. Snooze Snooze Snooze!

Tracy--I sure hope so!

Yeah for muscles!

Enjoy a well-deserved Day Of Couch! Well done! The long runs don't just boost your endurance; they have a huge psychological benefit as well. Congratulations!

Congrats on a truly long run. Way to stick with it!

I'm glad that I can walk down the stairs again. My ITB still feels ick but not as bad...I still can't believe I ran that long. I have sun burn on the back of my arms. What is up with that? LOL

Great job on the great big long run! I agree with what Sno said, it's a psychological boost and a confidence builder.

It's tough when you're out so long that the temperature changes drastically during the course of your run. You must have done some running with the sun behind you to get the backs of your arms sunburned.

chia seed? really? I thought that stuff was only for growing hair on chia pets. Everything else sounds good and it's making me hungry. I wish I had a poptart. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for a banana.

Read Born to Run...you can put it in a bunch of stuff...supposedly really good for you omegas and all that goodness..but also you can grow chia hair!

Where did you buy it? I am reading that RIGHT NOW! And am obsessed. And you just put it on top of your oatmeal? Or how did you eat it?

Nicole-I bought it from amazon and there was no shipping. 26 dollars for 3 lbs. I just sprinkle some on my oatmael or I will swallow it with water. Just depends. It is good in smoothies as well!

LOVE Dairy Queen. I passed up an opportunity for it yesterday because I knew I had to get in a good run!

I didn't go to Dairy Queen, but my daughter and I did stop by Chick-Fil-A for ice cream after her dentist appointment.

Good job on your run.

How's the teaching going? Are you getting ready to take your cert tests? My student teacher does that this weekend...

How's the running? Just checking in, since I just got back from vacation.

How's the dog? :-)

Tracy-teaching is good. I just found out that I"m doing an extra week. Apparently wen they said you need to do 75 days they wanted us to count days off like casmir pulaski day. I"m a little mad but I told my CT and I think I'm earning brownie points by sticking it out. Besides my last week she won't be there Mon, Tues, Wednes. and She looked at my resume today and my cover letter so that was nice. Also have been looking for a job and I really live in the wrong area. My old apartment would have been perfect!

Aunt-running is going...I had a great 3 miler today with a friend. How was Maui? I'm sure I will find out by reading your blog! I feel so behind.

JD-did I mention I was going to the vet? Well I took the boy dog to the vet and he hates it. They sayhe is too skinny. Apparently he lost 20 lbs since last year. Oops! So we are feeding him even more to see if that helps. then he expressed his anal glands on the Vet. hahha. I don't like this vet very much...and lately I keep getting her rather than the vets I like! Plus I warned her that he pooped on me last year! Okay so I think I have talked enough!

That's what running is all about!

It sounds like both your body and your mind could use a break. I don't recommend quitting running completely. But maybe you should back off the marathon training and just run short and easy until you feel the love again.

I agree! I don't want to quit either! I love running...just not 15 and more...

I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope you will give yourself permission to adjust any and all goals and objectives to keep the running fun.

Above all, it should be a stress reliever in your life, not a ball and chain.

You can keep striving for this marathon, chuck the whole idea, or tell yourself that it's something to do later in life. You have every right to choose the path that will make you happy and healthy.

The only path I don't recommend is going into a marathon severely undertrained. Done that. Bad times. Finished in 5:16, and miserable from mile 10 on. I have also blown off a marathon for which I was registered, a Spring marathon a few years back when I had been very ill during the winter and never got over 80 miles per month. No regrets.

Look forward, don't worry, and enjoy your runs. Hugs, Sno.

I am sure you will know what is best, and will have a great life of running ahead of you.

Great job!

Don't forget to increase fats as well. A high protein diet is not much more satisfying/mood-stabilizing than a high carb diet, because any excess dietary protein converts to sugars, and you can still get the insulin swings. If you eat more non-starch veggies, and cover them with olive oil or melted butter, that should help a lot.

http://www.spacedoc.net/saturated_fat_is_good_for_you_1

I'm glad you found a friend to run with and I'll be interested to hear how the low carb diet works out for you.

Thanks for the link Sno--I"m finding that I"m only eating up t a 1000 calories or so before I get home from work. Which means I"m probably eating the bulk of them after work. I would say I should eat more while at school/work but I feel full after breakfast and lunch. Weird? no?

C IN C I will keep you posted!

So do you just rest during the cardio portion? What about the abs part?

Good luck with the work.

no I just fast forward! and I meant to do the abs but I think I hit the super fastfoward and it skipped that. I was really pressed for time!

good

Yeah I know I'm a slacker...LOL...I figure I ran around like an idiot for two nights in a row for 5 hours I didn't have to exercise. LOL I will run tonight though

I hope they are sore.

NICE RACE! That's a pretty good PR and nice splits. Good luck with the job hunt. It's a tough year to be graduating with a teaching degree!

Congratulations April! What an exciting time for you. Keep us informed on how the job search goes!

Thanks!

Tracy and Bonnie--Don't I know it! I have already prepared myself mentally to stay a Server for a while. But I will still sub so I won't completely be away from the kiddies.

Great job on the PR and pacing yourself right! I waited tables for many many years and enjoyed it--it's actually pretty decent money--always payed my bills!

April, You are right. I really do like it. This is only second serving job. I just started floor training tonight and the clientel is much better than at the other restaraunt I work at...so i"m pretty excited!

More abs. Your abs must be like steel now.

yeah I wish!

I did abs too! Thousands of 'em.

wow! thousands! I want your abs!

Blogging does take time.

Good luck on your 1/2 marathon.

You've got your priorities right.

I have felt bad b/c I haven't been able to read many or respond to many blogs either! I feel like a lurker!

Looks like your elliptical machine is working. Life IS grand!

Yippee!

I bet life will be a lot grander at the end of this week! Do you go to classes next week?

No classes for me! I'm done after tomorrow!

Done for the summer?

Aunt--no I will be a college graduate! The walk is Juen 12...I can't believe I have to wait that long. Hopefully I willhave my cert by mid May