Sunday, March 6, 2016

Big Sur Marathon Training Week 5

We continued on that weather roller coaster this week. This is my first time training for a spring marathon, and it has been interesting trying to plan my runs! Still, I've been staying on track!

Big Sur Marathon Training Week 5

Monday: rest day

Tuesday: I had that pair of YakTrax to review, and so I headed out into the blustery snow/sleet/ice to get my 6 miles in. For sure, it was slow but it felt good to be outside. 6.13m/8:58m/m

Post run selfie

Wednesday: It was really cold when I got up (14F) and I decided to do my speedwork on the treadmill. My son missed the bus, and I grudgingly put on my running clothes to do my speedwork at the pond. Turns out he did me a favor. The path was pretty clear, and the sunshine was brilliant on the open water of the lake. I hit paces I've not seen since last summer. Stunned and happy, I couldn't decide on a yoga pose to finish. Miles 2 and 4 were into the wind. Splits: 7:44, 7:51, 7:38, 7:56, 7:42

Big Sur Marathon Training Week 5
So cold you can see my breath!
I had to go into work early for a meeting, so I couldn't make my yoga class. I did the SeaWheeze 2014 yoga video at home. It felt great after that speedy running! But later in the day, my PF flared badly. I could barely walk. It didn't hurt after I ran, so I don't know if it was because I was sitting all afternoon and it tightened up? Or maybe it was the old pair of shoes I grabbed at the last minute for my run. I was too lazy to take the YakTrax off my yellow shoes or get out the new pair I had waiting for this week. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I had evening clinic, and between patients I kept icing my foot. I tried sleeping with my night split but my foot wasn't having it. It was very painful.

Thursday: When I woke up, my foot was still sore. I sat with it on the heating pad while I drank my coffee. I rode for an hour on the bike trainer. The YouTube video I rode along with this week was cycling intervals, and while I enjoyed it, 2 of the riders in the group were not wearing helmets. Come on, people! At least, this safety fail distracted me from the lingering PF pain.

Big Sur Marathon Training Week 5
Hey, inversions keep me off my feet, right?
At CrossFit, Becky and I shifted gears this week. The strength cycle was completed last week, and now we're doing more "CrossFit" types of workouts. Today I did intervals of sumo deadlifts alternating with kettlebell swings (I knew there would be kettlebells this week!), a glute strengthener with resistance band alternating with GHD extensions, and slam balls alternating with hanging knee ups. Becky had me finish with 3 mins all out on the rower. I came home, foam rolled, ate all the food, and put my feet up. No pictures today.

Friday: rest day

Saturday: I had a 6 mile run on the plan. It was also time for new shoes. After Wednesday's old shoe blunder, I wasn't taking any more chances with my foot. I pulled out the backup pair I had stashed in my closet and was stunned at the bright color (I didn't open them when they came). When I ordered them, the color was described as "coral" and didn't look quite so neon in the picture. Since it was such a gloomy, dreary, gray morning, the shoes put a smile on my face every time I looked down at my feet. This run was tough because my legs were still sore from Thursday's workout.  My PF was also sore. I really appreciated the cushioning of the new shoes. 6.01/8:39m/m

New neon orange shoes. A bright spot in the wet muddy snow.
Momentum foot notes that I won from Scoot-A-Doot!

Sunday: Every 3 weeks on my marathon training plan, Becky switches out the long run for a long bike ride. I haven't done any long rides yet, because riding outside in the cold is not at all an appealing option, nor is 2 hours on the trainer. But between my sore foot and the predicted temps in the 40s, I decided to go for it. I waited for it to warm up a bit, had my son take my bike out of the trainer, filled up the tires, and headed out. I was really excited to feel how easy the pedalling felt and my Wahoo Blue SC sensor was working perfectly. The air was chilly and the south wind was brisk, but I was dressed perfectly for the conditions. About 11 miles into the ride, I stopped to take a picture of the beautiful dried wheat field behind me. That's when I noticed that my phone was dead. It was a little unnerving, but not because I wouldn't be able to capture my ride. Although as they say, if you don't post it, it didn't happen, right? I didn't like the idea of not being able to get in touch with my family if something happened to me. We all know that I can't change a tire...

So in spite of my techno-failure, I kept on going. For the most part, the path was clear except for a few snowy patches, and there were very few people on the path. I passed a runner twice, and the second time, he was eating a snack, so I stopped to talk with him. He told me he's training for the Wisconsin marathon. We talked running and races. Aren't all runners just friends we haven't met yet? He wanted me to send him the name of my blog but since my phone was dead, I couldn't. Hopefully, you've found me, Mike!

After that, I headed home. Even though at that point I had the wind at my back, my hands and feet were numb, and I had had enough of the cool temps. When I got home, I took off my cleats and my feet were white. I couldn't feel them. A half hour and a warm shower later, I'm all toasty warm again. My phone is charged. That was the craziest. I have to figure out what went wrong. Even though I don't have a selfie to share, I've ridden this route enough to know how far I rode. 30+ miles/approx 2 hours.



The bike really is the best backup plan!

How was your week? Any training fails? Crazy weather?

I'm linking up with Holly and Tricia for their Weekly Wrap!

109 comments :

  1. Ooooh, I just found your blog and I love it! We had a bit of snow on Friday and a forecast of 70s for next week. Spring in the mid-Atlantic, for sure!

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    1. Thank you for reading!!! It's supposed to warm up here in the Chicago area too. I hope it stays warm. I loved getting out on the bike today.

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  2. Training for a spring race is never easy! I did one spring marathon in April 2014 and that was one of the worst winters I think. Nice job getting in your training despite some issues this week!

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  3. My last phone did that. I left with it fully charged and when I got downtown for Run10Feed10 I had zero battery. Got back home and the battery was back. So weird. Hope that PF settles down already!

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    1. That is exactly what happened with my phone today! I'd love an answer!

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  4. Great job on your workouts for the wk. I never do yoga. I should start looking up some videos to do. Love the shoes! I always think the fun colors make me feel faster:) Cute foot notes. I recently just got my first momentum bracelet and I really like it.

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    1. I am just loving the Momentum wraps and foot notes. So great, I wish I had thought of it!

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  5. That's awesome you got out for a ride! Do you have toe overs for your bike shoes? I find those pretty helpful for cool temp rides. I have the BlueSeventy ones, they look like neoprene. And yes, I hope the cushiony shoes help your PF. They seem to help mine. And I just ordered some new spring-y Danskos to keep my wardrobe fresh and the PF monster at bay.

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    1. And this is why I have the blog. Well, there are other reasons, but I have never heard of toe overs. I'm ordering them as we speak! I wear Danskos to work every day. Forever.

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  6. Ok...those mile splits are crazy fast in my book! Bravo!!

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  7. Love the bright shoes an excellent picture with the gloomy snow. This weekends warm weather in LA really makes me want Spring to hurry. I even wore shorts with my white legs an I didn't even care! I'm glad you didn't have problems when your phone died. I hate that.

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    1. The air had that spring smell to it, even tho it was only in the 50s. It felt great. I'm ready!

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  8. Love the orange shoes! I'd been buying the same color of my shoe model, and I've accidentally worn my old shoes a few times. This time I got a different color.

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    1. Yeah, don't wear the old shoes. Learn from me. I'm still paying for it!

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  9. Good gravy Wendy. Look your speed work splits! Super envious! My favorite pair of old running shoes were described as corral...with a red emblem. BRIGHT. Still love those things! My bike is still sitting on the trainer. I feel like I need to build up running mileage still. But, I look forward to an outdoor ride soon. Have fun this weekend in FL. You will crush that half. Thanks for linking with us.

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    1. I loved getting out on the bike today. I totally thought of you! My foot is grateful.

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  10. Love the bright colored shoes.

    I am in awe that when you can't go to yoga class, you actually do it with a video. I could do that. Maybe I will someday.

    We have have zero snow - not complaining.

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    1. We have almost zero snow. I hit a few slushy spots today. But it's happening! Spring!

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  11. The bike is a great back up for running. I am actually really looking forward to outdoor biking when it warms up! Sorry to hear that your PF is flaring again. I feel you! Have a great week

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    1. I know you do! I was sure glad to have that bike ride on the plan this week!

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  12. I LOVE the neon shoes. But i wear lots of "loud" running clothes in bright neon colors! it's so fun getting new gear to wear!

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  13. I am still just super impressed that you are out running in that cold of weather! Great job! That is also amazing how many miles you rode!

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    1. I would have run 14 today, about 2 hours, so I wanted to get that time in the road. It was awesome.

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  14. I never thought about subbing a long bike ride for a long run during a step back week, or even during the months where I'm not training & my long run is not so long. What a great idea!

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    1. My coach has done this with me for my last 2 marathons. It's a little tougher this time around because who wants to ride outside in the winter? But this week worked out just great.

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  15. Wow, what a fantastic speedy run, I can't even imagine ever being that fast. But your PF issues...ugh! Hopefully this was just one tough week and you'll be feeling better soon! Oh and nice new kicks!

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  16. My week was okay. I didn't run as much as I wanted during the week but I will make up for it. Way to go you. Hey this week I learned what GHD means - glute hamstring developer - (I think). Who knew? Not me. Found that out during a crossfit WOD. Stay strong with your training! You got this!

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    1. I probably should define those terms when I put them out there!

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  17. I love bright shoes! I've heard that super cold temps can make your phone die. This winter I had my car key not work after a cold run - that freaked me out but it warmed up and worked before I called my husband to rescue me.

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    1. It wasn't that cold but maybe it was the exposure to the elements that made it die. It was a little nerve-wracking!

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  18. Great job last week! Such awesome splits on your speedwork day!!

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  19. The weather has been super weird but I'm not complaining with the mildest winter ever. My week was meh. Kind of in a funk for a few days. Happily I knew it wouldn't last. It never does.

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    1. That's the good thing about the funk. It goes away! It's just kind of crummy when it's happening, tho!

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  20. Great job on your workouts, Wendy! Your mile repeat splits are awesome - go girl! I'm itching to get back to running fast but I'm still not there yet. I'm also really intrigued by the idea of a long bike ride in lieu of a long run. I would love to hear more about the reasons for that. I imagine it's a nice mental break to not have a long run. -C

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    1. This is probably the one thing we argue about with regards to my training. I always feel a little guilty/nervous not doing a long run on those days. It's only every 3 weeks. Becky's reason is to reduce the strain on my legs/feet. Endurance is endurance.

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  21. The more I read your training posts the more I realize how easy it would be for me to train for a marathon. Well. :-). Comparatively anyway. No ice snow or cold in Texas.
    YOU ROCK.

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  22. I need a bike. I'm determined to get one this year. Hopefully.

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    1. I bought my bike about 4 years ago after my first stress fracture. It has been the best backup plan ever.

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  23. I am sorry to hear about your PF. It sounds like it was better by the end of the week. So I think I found out your secret for your great pictures. Do you use your cell phone?

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    1. I do! And there's a ton of fun photo editing apps. I use Snapseed.

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  24. Your feet need some talking to!

    Oh yes, not taping my ankle was definitely a fail Tuesday, but I didn't forget the rest of the week and it's feeling pretty good after 9 somewhat hilly miles yesterday. Most of the path is quite flat, but there's that killer hill and after that it's very gently rolling hills for a couple of miles. Darlene didn't tackle it. :)

    I like your bright shoes!

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    1. I keep telling my foot to knock it off, but it seems to have a mind of it's own.

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  25. You constantly impress me with getting out in crazy weather! Congrats on that speedwork times-- killer! Hope your PF is feeling better. Stupid feet!

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    1. Seriously! All the pampering they get and this is what I get in return? SMH.

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  26. Yay for new shoes! Breaking in a new pair of shoes always helps to brighten up my week, and your bright shoes look like they really helped to brighten everything up, especially amidst the snow.

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  27. what another great week! I love that your long runs are swapped out for bike rides. That's so interesting. We had a weird snow overnight Thursday and Friday morning woke up to white trees and bushes but it didn't really stick on the ground and was gone within hours once the sun came up. I hear 70s this week though!

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  28. Congrats on those fast mile splits on Wednesday. Great job! Love the headstand!Hope your foot pain will go away fast. How awesome that you found such a cool pair of running shoes in the back of your closet - I wished that would happen to me! :):) Love the color!

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  29. Yikes! I did a run in an old pair of shoes last week and really regretted it! Not good to take chances.

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  30. It is terrifying to discover your phone has unexpectedly died. My phone's battery life has been getting more and more unreliable, so I've experienced similar instances. There have been times when it died even after showing 15% battery still left! Glad you were able to make it home safely with no issue. I LOVE those "coral" shoes! What a beacon of brightness in the gloomy weather! I wish your PF a speedy recovery, as always!!!!!

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    1. Yeah, once I got over the shock of the shoes, they made me smile every time I looked down at them!

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  31. I love the fun neon color of your shoes! You absolutely nailed those mile splits on your speed work, great job. I hope your feet feel better this week!

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    1. My foot feels better already. I did the smart thing, going for that bike ride. :)

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  32. I seriously don't know how you guys do it in that weather. It's SO cold!! I"m cold here if the first number is a 5, lol!!
    Great week!!

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  33. Great job this week! And great splits, too!!!! Hoping to get back at it this week!

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  34. Great week! Love your new shoes! The color is great! You had some awesome splits on your speed workout! I hate when that happens to your phone too! I think it has to do with the cold temperatures! Used to happen to me when I lived in NJ and would go out with the kids in the snow.

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    1. I'm pretty sure it was the cold, altho when I checked my stats, the Wahoo app used 48% of the battery. That's crazy!

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  35. Great mile splits on your speed work, Wendy!

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  36. Another killer week for you! No crazy weather here - it's actually starting to get warm this week - yahoo!

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    1. It's getting warm here too--62 right now! If only you could see my happy dance!

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  37. Awesome job on your training week! We had warmish weather, except for the day I had the long run... the day before it was 55 and sunny, long run was 38, windy and cloudy... but long run got done!

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  38. I'm looking at a bike to have here on Oahu. Thinking about a hybrid - the roads here are beat up about 80% of the time so I want a little wider of a tire. ITB troubles have pushed this up on my list of priorities. No races until Fall, so I'm just taking it really easy. Which is really hard!

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    1. I love my bike. But I know that the ITB gets engaged in biking too...

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  39. The weather last week was a bit crazy. So much snow and then by Sunday it was almost gone and I was running without a jacket. The next 10 days here are going to be well above normal and rainy so we should have NO snow by mid week. WAHOOO! Bye Bye WINTER! Good for you for getting outside on the bike! It's still too cold for me, ha ha.

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    1. This was the earliest ever for me. But I"m thrilled to have gotten it done. So is my PF.

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  40. awesome week! love the color of your new shoes ;)

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  41. Crazy to me to see the snow on the ground! its 77 here!

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  42. I have those same shoes!!!!! WOO HOO! I think this is a good sign for Sunday :) We got this- rest up!

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  43. I so miss riding my bike. I think I haven't been doing it lately for the silliest reason...I just don't want to have to pump up my tires. It only takes like a few minutes...Running is just so easy. It is definitely nice though that bike riding does keep pressure off the feet, especially when your PF is flaring up. #BeenThereHatedThat!

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    1. You know what? I hate pumping up my tires too! But it was so worth it.

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  44. Crazy weather in France this week too. Gorgeous bright blue sky and sun one day, then I had to use the treadmill 2 other days. Yuck. Rain, cold and snow ! At least the days are getting longer but that treadmill ? I could do without.

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    1. Especially this time of year, who wants to run on the treadmill?

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  45. Training is going great for you!

    The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous! Clear, blue skies, not too hot, low humidity!

    Unfortunately, I haven't been able to take advantage with the running side of it, but what can you do?

    Keep up the fabulous work!

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  46. I don't bike, in part because I don't have a decent one, in part because it's not a very safe ride to the trails and I don't like to ride in major traffic. But it sounds like a great option.

    My phone won't work in super cold weather, even if it's completely charged. Is it possible that was the problem?

    Our weather was all over the place last week - tank top one day, snow the next. Typical March in Virginia.

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    1. I'm pretty sure the cold weather is what killed my phone. It was just a little unnerving!

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  47. Last week was a tough one for motivation but I slogged through and got it done. I am sorry that your PF is still bothering you. That is no fun! Are you getting any relief? Love the new shoes. Bright ones are always great on gloomy days! I hate when my phone dies, Ever since Boston 2013 I never like to be out of communication with my family. Hope your training goes well this week!

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    1. I get relief when I don't run, which isn't good. I took a couple days off and ran today and holy moley! My run was great but afterwards, I couldn't walk without pain. Stay tuned.

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  48. Wendy Wendy Wendy.....I'm kinda disappointed in you. You get a new pair of shoes and DON'T take them out of the box immediately after getting them? Say what? On a similar note, I have several pairs of older shoes I rotate through for shorter runs...and now and then I (stupidly) wear them for runs that are a mile or two past the desired distance, so I can relate. ;-)

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    1. Nope, they go into the closet so I'm not tempted to run in them. I just got my new backup pair today. And into the closet they go...

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  49. Boo for your PF flaring up but hopefully it will only be smooth sailing from here on forward! This cycle with crossfit sounds fun ;)

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  50. I looooove when I *don't* want to get outside, but go anyway, and it turns out to be a beautiful day and a great run!

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  51. I can not wait for you to run Big Sur - living vicariously since I didn't get in to the lottery this year. :) Hope you have no more pain, friend!

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  52. So crazy to see snow there when it was 75 during my run today. I was we could split the difference.

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  53. Ahh! I can totally see your breath! Cool shot. It's warm here finally! First t-shirt run tonight :)

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  54. Curse that PF! Sorry to hear it flared up. I remember you mentioned about going through A.R.T. Therapy and was wondering how the experience was. Good to hear you had an awesome bike ride. It is easy to strike up a conversation with another runner although I am the introvert type so you won't see me approaching anyone to talk about running!

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    1. I didn't go to ART. Because it keeps coming and going, every time I get ready to make an appt, it's better. Yesterday it was terrible, and I went to see sports med. Got a steroid injection and am taking a couple days off. Stay tuned...

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    2. Oh no ��. I know rest is probably the last thing you want to do. Wish you a speedy recovery.

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  55. sounds like a great week of training! my next goal is to get my own bike so I can ride outseide. I mean I have one but It's this little mountain bike so I would feel embarassed riding it around town lol
    Hope your foot feels better asap!

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