Anyone know why one side of earbuds go out??? Besides the fact that I buy relatively inexpensive pairs?! Happens all the time - one side of audio - poof!!!
The wires get tears in them. Sometimes you can’t tell because the plastic tubing covers up the break. Earphones don’t last…
10.3 miles done. My long runs are not going well, which is why I dread even doing them. I am not slowing them down enough (not that I’m fast by any means). They wind up being the same pace, more or less, as my shorter runs, and I want them about 30 seconds a mile slower. I just get impatient and then they aren’t easy enough and it takes too much out of me.
Day 100 of the streak I wasn’t going to do. So there’s that. And 34.6 mile week. No, I did not feeling like doing .4 more to make it even! 
100 days is as good a celebration as a 5 lb party!
10 miles is a LONG run. Do you aim for that long of a run for a particular purpose - I mean, with a goal in mind - like doing a half soon or more? For me, 5 miles is a long run. I know you are mega more experienced. If you did 7 for instance would that be satisfactory (in your mind)???
MOfWC, I bet it is the drug that is making you tired during your long runs (in addition to the other stuff that is going on, as you say). I looked at some literature, and it is a plausible theory. When you don’t do as well as you want to do, you start dreding the task, and then you do even worse, and the cycle goes on and on… Been there, done that! Hang in there. You are an amazing role model for us.
Thanks! I have a 15K on Feb 14 and a half marathon (extremely hilly and difficult) the following weekend. I am not trying to really “race” either one, but just participate. I also thought I might try some marathons this year, but it might not be a good idea. I do believe that the 9-10 mile runs really strengthen me and I run better if I get a long run in most weeks. I have 3 weeks in a row now with 9.2, 10.1 and 10.3 after not running over 10 since October 19 Toronto Half. If I didn’t want to race longer races, I agree that 6-7 miles would be fine.
I really would not mind doing the longer runs really slowly- I mean 11:30-12:00 pace- I want them to feel very comfortable. I am struggling to find that pace that really feels like you could go all day. I don’t mind being slow, whether it’s from the Forteo drug or just getting old. I just don’t want it to feel hard!
We are due for more nasty weather starting tonight so even though I wasn’t planning to run, I went out for 6.3. Ran the same route as yesterday, only in reverse. Everywhere I run there’s a hill of some type so just trying to mix up the grade a little bit. My longest run of the year so far is 9 - not going to race until April 4th at the earliest, so I think I’m in good shape.
I’m really impressed, MOWC. Last week I did a little over 30 and this week just a bit over 20 - tired and stressed over work and personal stuff. Hard to drag out of bed and I just hate the treadmill.
“I am struggling to find that pace that really feels like you could go all day. I don’t mind being slow, whether it’s from the Forteo drug or just getting old.”
My bet is that the drug has a lot to do with it! Otherwise, you should be able to find a comfy pace (yeah, this piece of wisdom comes from the one who always struggles to do exactly that!) Also, if the weather has not been treating you to some sunshine, it can be very depressing… I wish I could send a small piece of the gorgeous blue skies and sun that we have today to all affected by the nasty winter weather.
Thanks, Bunsen. It’s just hard to know what is going on. One of our top runners here (he’s 73 or 74) was diagnosed with Graves Disease and it has really affected his running- to say the least. He’s the one that did the week-long run across Tennessee (Vol State) a couple of years ago and places in his age group at Boston. His attitude is good, but he struggles to accept 9 or 10 minute miles in place of what had been 8 minute miles or faster.
We had nice sun yesterday, and today was pretty sunny for my run but is now clouding up. What I DO like is the feeling of accomplishment from getting the runs done- even if I don’t want to do them. I just have to do them anyway. I can’t recall ever telling myself afterwards “I wish I had not run today.” I wore a cute Nuu-Muu (with a jacket over it).and fleece tights under it. My other issue is that for a 10 mile run I should carry water. Our fountains are not just turned off for the winter but literally removed from the walls of the bathrooms in the park. It is not hot, so I don’t get in real dehydration trouble, but it is a little long to be without water. I just don’t feel like carrying water in this cold weather, so I don’t.
I have the same iPod nano that MOWC has. Two of them, actually. I absolutely love it. The key is that I really don’t mess with it much while I’m hiking or exercising. I’ve got a never ending playlist of 400 songs selected at random from my 2000+ five star songs. The 400 are selected at random from songs I haven’t played in the last 18 months. This list updates every time I plug in the iPod, so it’s always there, alway fresh. A little over 24 hours of non-stop music if I need it.
I do mess with it selecting podcasts. But, those tend to last 45 minutes to an hour and I often have several in each playlist. For example, I always have hours of NPR podcasts in a playlist.
Snow shoeing for me this afternoon. Finally. We got a dinky little 6 inch snowstorm yesterday. Today was bright blue sky. Perfect to break out the snow shoes for the first time this year on a little 3 mile jaunt at the nearby Audubon center. I confirmed my suspicions about recent hiking conditions. The trail was six inches of powder on top of solid, thick, smooth, glare ice for the entire 3 miles. Felt so good to get out for some fresh air. Temps were right around freezing, so I just wore a long-sleeve Capilene 4 baselayer top and put on my favorite ultralight wind breaker when I to the point out in the lake where the wind is always howling. It’s crazy how these really thin hoodies as the only layer can keep you warm at 32 degrees.
Dozens and dozens of people out, on snowshoes and X-country skis. I love the married couples on skis. The woman is always in front, smiling. The guy is bringing up the rear, grim faced. I think there is something genetically handicapping men and x-country skiing!
Looks like we are going to get a blizzard starting Monday night. Currently predicting 18 to 24 inches of snow. Yikes. That should ensure good winter hiking conditions until spring.
Hey Michael, looks like you will be able to use your new XC skis :))
No new snow here and not much forecasted. Everything is an icy mess today. Stinks.
Tried to go XC skiing, it was bad.
I was complaining about the bad weather yesterday, no snow to ski, too icy to run. Not warm enough to do much of anything. H asked me where was the girl he married, because this person did not resemble her? 
iDad- we keep hearing about the upcoming storm! Glad you got to get out on your snowshoes.
DH and I went to the rec center and got in a long walk on the track, plus I played around with the 5 lb. dumbbells there. I think I’ll upgrade from my 3 pounders at home. He can certainly use them too!
Worried about the big storm forecast for the east coast. My DIL in NYC is due to give birth in a week. S says he’s going to Google “How to deliver a baby” just in case… :-o
The trail was packed! The weather was perfect, but I overdressed a bit. Wore my lulu capris, short sleeve tee, and my Boston hat (should have ran in shorts/tank instead). I panicked at the beginning of the run because I realized that i left my “talisman” knee brace at home. The knee did just fine. The plan was 10, but I stupidly decided to rely on mile markers so I would not be pressured by the clock on my Garmin. I needed to make the turn at marker #12, but it was nowhere to be found. Finally, I turned around and did some math: I ran closer to 11.5 miles instead of the planned 10. Not bad. Mr B almost lost me. He was waiting for me at the park and beginning to worry… Now off to eat late lunch and soak my sweaty body in the tub. Ahhh… Sun!
Hang in there, NE CCers! Hope the storm brings as little disruption to your lives as possible. Kiddo in Baltimore, apparently after listening to her Boston buddies, ordered food from Safeway - just in case.
I’m hoping Market Basket still has some food on the shelves tomorrow. If not, it’ll have to be ribs and chili out of the freezer for the foreseeable future!
Good run, Bunsen!
So jealous of those of you having warmer temps and seeing the yellow ball in the sky - not to whine, but it has been SOOOO grey here - and unfortunately, white. 
Glass half full our couple of inches and grey is nothing like what some of you will be shoveling soon. Stay safe!
I am going to relatively say ‘yay’ for my under 15 minute miles for 6.5 miles. It was (sorry) gorgeous today at 52. I cannot imagine the winter is gone just yet.
I absolutely am not complaining. I am grateful to be running 10 miles at age 62. I’m just puzzled about how to approach this. I may try a run/walk on the longer runs and see if that feels easy enough. I didn’t crash and burn during the run. I ran pretty evenly- just faster than I intended. I just want it to feel good.
Rockymtn- good for you! We are all individuals and our benchmark is ourselves! It sounds like a gorgeous day.
rockymtnhigh - yay!
Thanks, MOfWC. My butt aches a little after the run. Not surprising, since I got a notification from Mother Nature that my “gift” will arrive soon. Arrrrggghhh.