Just a thought Gertrude, but maybe try a different running shoe. The wrong type of shoe has caused me many bouts of tendonitis.
sabaray - I’m not doing much right now for cross-training. Up until recently I have done yoga & circuit training, but I stopped doing those as I thought they were contributing to strain on my hips. I probably need to stop trying to increase my weekly mileage & concentrate on some strengthening.
I think strengthening is a good idea - I might think about strengthening your glutes and hamstrings. I’m not as good at explaining all of this as others (MichaelnKat springs to mind) but I thought I had very strong legs - the reality was I had really strong quads and had gotten unbalanced - the same muscles were working all the time. I ran three days a week, used the bike or elliptical twice a week, and did Pilates once a week and it seemed to help. My routine is similar now, but I do two Pilates sessions instead of one. You have plenty of running ahead of you - I ran my first half when I was 50 - no need to push it now.
Core strengthening is always a good idea! Gertrude, does your insurance cover PT? If you can find a PT who is a runner herself, she can work with you on core stuff. (Or it could be a guy 
)
sabaray- You are my new idol for cross training. You are doing great and the Pilates sounds like it is helping you a lot.
My daughter has a new blog entry on her race disappointment from Saturday. We can’t post links, but it is calledtoendure dot com and the current entry is race disappointment. It’s pretty good, if I do say so myself.
I had to be at an early seminar this morning, so I did 2 miles on the dreadmill instead of digging out the headlamp.
I am running a half marathon in PA on Saturday that my son is also running. This could possibly be a very small race (I just don’t know) and it is not beyond the realm of possibility that my son could win and I could be last! H is riding the lead bicycle and it is supposed to be 32 degrees.
MOfWC, what a great blog entry! Thanks for sharing. It is now bookmarked. You both looked so stylish in that race!
Disappointment can be extremely demoralizing, I can relate to that. As I was running (running?) my last marathon from h@ll, I stopped looking at my Garmin after the first 6 miles or so. I knew that if I saw those speeds and splits, the numbers would crush my race confidence, and someone would have to carry me back to the start! I quickly set a new goal: finish and survive. I did place unexpectedly well in the Masters women (3rd) in the end…
For me, the cross training becomes mentally important in the winter - I can’t/won’t run outside on packed snow/ice and so running outside becomes limited. I can only take so much of the dreadmill!! So to counterbalance, I started some cross training - spin, rowing, some strength training and core work (which I don’t like either but will do some of) - in the long run I believe it has been good physically and mentally.
Has anyone here taken a cardio drumming or cardio pounding class???
Great blog post - your daughter is an excellent writer, MOWC. Kind of describes my spring half which I am really trying to forget!
Finish and survive - perfect motto, Bunsen!
I did cross training for weight loss and marathon training. Then I stopped and that was stupid. All I did was run - too much and too fast - and then my ankle started giving me fits. So I’m sticking with the three runs a week, cross training and Pilates. My ankle is very stiff after TRX, so I’m thinking that may not be the best option.
duplicate post.
Wow. Looking at 97 degrees today, a record which has never been matched in recorded weather history here (17 degrees above the normal high), so I’m having a hard time remembering what 32 degrees feels like.
Blech, somehow have to get through the next few days until we hit normal highs.
Oh Gertrude, sorry to hear of the hip problems. These poor old body parts are so stubbornly non-compliant sometimes–not that your body parts at sub-50 years of age are old I hope you feel better today and can give the hip some recovery time.
I’m with MoWC in bowing to Sabaray’s cross training perseverance. The eight month commitment to pilates is impressive. So glad you’re getting good results. I also loved the blog entry, MoWC! Your D is a good writer and that such a gorgeous photo!
CBB, sounds like a sad day indeed to pack up and leave summer behind.
Last night my husband took me out for a fantastic dinner, the highlight of which was Peking Duck with perfectly browned, crispy skin and dark meat cut in very thin slices . The meat is all wrapped up in small pancakes with sauce and scallions, like a moo shu dinner. I don’t think I’ve ever had better duck, ever; however I left the restaurant feeling like I’d eaten enough to fly or maybe sink. I am not used to eating such a fatty dish–finger licking good–but I think I will need a few veggie only days. I ran 4 miles this morning, feeling more like I was waddling like a …, lol!
Throwing in my praise for an inspiring blog post MOWC - and I LOVE your outfit!!!
THIS can be a real victory:
“I’m more comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Because there are days like that!
My cross training went out of the window this summer… It is hard to run when it is above 80, but doing weights and any other heavy sweat inducing activity is even harder! So, adjusting my goals a bit… Need to get back on the wagon with core stuff. Where is @interesteddad when we need him for motivating us with his “sweat like a pig” sets?!
Oh, speaking of footwear… Found this piece and decided it was worth sharing here:
http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/foot_types/foot_types.htm
That’s interesting, but aren’t they now sort of saying that it doesn’t help to wear stability shoes, etc?
Thanks, all. I love the Nuu-Muu dresses. They are so versatile and cute. I started with the short-sleeved tech shirt over the dress but got too hot and stuffed it in the back pocket. Looked like I had a tumor on my butt!
That link is from 2009, so we went a few circles around stability vs barefoot vs cushioning. It was interesting to see the comment about typical person averaging 10,000 steps a day Also, positioning of calluses etc. is foot-type specific.
Great blog & fun to see the photo MOWC!
@nrdsb4 - sorry about your continued heat. We seem to have turned a corner as of today in Southern California & will only hit the mid 80’s with a chance of rain. Hope you see the same very soon!!
PlantMom - the duck sounds amazing, my mouth was watering while reading about it!
@GertrudeMcFuzz, thanks. After having torrential rain and floods this spring, we’ve not had much rain at all since. The drought, combined with the intense heat, has contributed to the start of some bad wildfires. So far nothing here in DFW or out west where we have a lake house that survived 2 giant fires a few years ago. We might get some rain next week, but not sure it it is expected in the areas where these fires are currently burning.
Crazy day here! Against everyone’s good advice, I went ahead and did the 22 mile training run this morning. It was really hard! At mile 15, I realized that my iPhone and driver’s license had fallen out of my armband. I then turned around and re-traced my steps in a vain attempt to find them. I ended up walking a fair amount in the last 7 miles of the run, partly because of trying to scour the side of the trail for my things, but mostly because the run was really killing me. I stopped at 22 miles as planned, but that was 3 miles from home because of having to retrace my steps in one section of the run. It was a long, slow, painful walk home.
As I was coming down the street, my husband and daughter came rushing up to me. They were so concerned because I was so late getting back. About 10 minutes earlier,my husband had texted me asking if I was OK and where I was. He got a response back that the phone had been found and turned in at the park center. That really scared him because of course they didn’t know where I was and they were imagining all kinds of awful things that might have happened. Anyway, I am so grateful to whoever found my phone and license and turned them in!
The rest of the day has been a bit of a struggle. My stomach has really been bothering me all day and I feel pretty beat. I’m doing better now after soup and a half sandwich for dinner so I’m hoping I’ll be fine in the morning. My glute and hamstring didn’t bother me much during the run and have been fine the rest of the day.
Tomorrow morning we leave for St. Louis for a weekend of wedding festivities. Our son’s wedding isn’t until Sunday evening but there are lots of activities planned for all the days. It’s a non-traditional wedding in that our son is gay, but the wedding and reception sound like they will be fabulous. Looking forward to a weekend of fun!
C3Baker- wow! What a run! I’m so glad your phone and license were found but how scary for your family! Glad your body held up. Enjoy the wedding weekend. I’m happy for your son and his partner.
Now the forecast for my race is 38-40 degrees. I can handle that. I don’t plan to push this one as hard as last week.