Is it Summer Already????

I would like to present the Michigan Eastside 2010 Summer TNT participants.

Our first group training and the temperature was 4 degrees, so we took the picture inside.

These are the brave souls that came to run/walk for a cure!

The Hawaiian shirt represents the warmth that we were thinking as we froze our arses off!

Our team might be small but we definitely mighty!

Go Team

Wednesday's WOW

Wow, it's time to start another season of Team in Training!

Tonight we're having our Summer Kick-off at a new location with a new director.

We did such a great job that our old director was promoted!!!!

That's right, I'm taking credit for her promotion.......

Due to the economic conditions around here the teams are getting smaller but the effort of the participants isn't! We're also seeing so many alumni come back for more punishment.

God I love them..........

My New Running Conscience.....

Guilt is such an interesting motivator.

It's amazing what we can and will do when the right conditions arise.

Sunday was an unusually warm day for January in the high-five state but it was raining...

Now when I say warm, I'm talking high thirties and with rain it makes for an uncomfortable run.

So I conferred with my running team and we decided to postpone the run until June 23, 2010, which would have to be sunny and warm.

So while watching the rain pelt the den window I perused my Facebook friends and noticed a pattern of so many of them braving the elements to get in their morning run.

Talk about feeling like a slacker......

So I got my arse dressed and outside i went. Fortunately for me, the rain had stopped and the temps made it into the forties. As it always happens, I had a great run on a day when I didn't want to go out at all.

So thank you FB friends for being my new running conscience....

The Hills are Alive..........

Isn't it nice to see someone that really enjoys hills????

I wonder what Julie Andrew's PR is?????

Today was our TNT long run with a few hills thrown in. I know, I'm to nice to the team...

Since we've been void of the white stuff, I can actually add hills and not worry about traction.

Well, once again my team came through with shining colors. It does a coach's heart nice to know his team thinks he's number one. Although they could have smiled when they gave me the coach is number one sign????

Just kidding, they love me.....

I'm not sure how much longer we'll be experiencing this mile Winter weather but I know that February is just around the corner. We're suppose to have temps in the forties which is crazy...

It's funny how we appreciate these days and try to be out as much as possible and the rest of the population is inside their warm homes looking at us like we're strange....

Okay go out there and run...

I Like Big ................

Wednesday's Whys?????????

Can someone out there explain to me WHY is it when you're in a crunch for time and try to squeeze in a run, you feel like you could run forever?

Why is it that you don't have any aches or pains when you only have a limited amount of time to run?

Why do people thing that all automatic toilets flush automatically every time????

Why are they still talking about Leno and Conan???? I'm asleep at 9:00 PM during the week!

Okay, i feel better getting that off my chest.....

Team Michigan(High-Five) got our butts handed to us this week. It appears that all of Team AZ with one exception ran either the 1/2 or full marathon at PF Chang...... Great jobs Team AZ, don't keep up the good work.

Oh My God or OMG

Running in shorts? Yes, Jess you can do it in Florida and Pat can do the same in Arizona but I'm talking about doing it in Michigan!

Okay, maybe I do believe in that Global Warming thing a little. Almost forty degrees and runners here pull out the shorts. Granted we still have on hats, gloves and layered long sleeve tops but we're wearing shorts!

This morning at TNT training I knew a lot of the participants would be overdressed, since we've been training in sub-zero temps. It was almost like a scene at a strip club, people were disrobing left and right.

I was finally able to set a route that included a few hills and that didn't even seem to faze them. What do I have to do, bring out Rottweilers to chase them????

Okay, time to put on my Hawaiian shirt and fire up the grill! It's 37 degrees and the sun is out. Don't you just love this Winter Wonderland????

Team High-Five

We are in full swing(second week) of the 1000 Mile challenge, Team High-Five(Michigan) versus Team Arizona.

Week #1 was tight but we were edged out Arizona 48 miles to the Good Guys 43 miles. A couple of our runners didn't log any miles due to illness.

This week we logged 82 miles with everyone contributing. Yay...................

Our team even has a couple of Tri-geeks that are on their bikes training in addition to running.

This challenge should really get interesting when the weather conditions change for both states. it's probably comfortable in the desert in January.

We've started recruiting for the 2010 Summer season for Team in Training, boy does time fly when you're having fun................

Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.................

Wednesday's Why

We're expecting a heatwave(temps above freezing), so I'll be trying to log as many miles as possible before we get back to our January freeze.

Okay, I'm not sure if this is an age thing or what but 'Why do we still have land-line telephones'?

Everyone has a cell phone, even small children. Why are we paying the telephone companies twice?

Come on, give me some solid answers.

Thirteen Degrees and Sunshine.........

What a difference a few degrees of warmth and a lot of sunshine without winds makes. The team was all smiles as we started out to get in our weekly long run. The 1/2 marathon participants were scheduled to run five miles but our park loop is six miles total and I convinced them to stay with the full marathoners and complete the loop.

We still have some issues with the footing which took it's toll on the leg muscles, since everyone was more conscious of staying upright and not slipping on a patch of ice. Each time we would get to a dry patch of the path, it was like really running!

We're suppose to get a heatwave during the upcoming week, temps above freezing will be welcomed.

Looks like the Michigan chapter of TNT had a great time at Disney, although they weren't spending a lot of time at poolside.

Okay, time to get on my lucky Green Bay underwear for today's Playoff game.

Let's see, underwear check, jersey check, Packer sweatpants check, Packer cap check. I'm ready for some football.

Go Packers.

T.G.I.Football

Joy, joy, happy, happy.

It's the weekend, after this eight hours of work.

I'll be glued to the television watching the start of the NFL Playoff season. My beloved Packers will be in the desert to demolish the birds of Arizona!

We were hit with a few inches of snow yesterday and this morning.

I got in a run during the rush hour and it's always fun to run faster than the automobile traffic is going. I always imagine the drivers being pissed that I'm running faster than they're driving.

Although it was picturesque to run with the flakes floating down, my face was getting pelted because of the wind.

This might be a mall parking lot weekend of runs, since they 're all plowed.

All you Goofy people enjoy the weekend, as much as you can.

Wednesday's What????

What would your running persona nickname be, if we gave out names like other areas do?

You know how people in the 'Adult Entertainment industry' have different names for strippers and porn stars?????

Your name would be based on how you run or what your friends think of you or where you run.

Okay, maybe you don't know about these, but they do.

I would probably be 'Gazelle', since that's how I think I look when I'm running.

Of course if you ask anyone that knows me it would probably be 'Crack Runner', since that's what i really look like when I'm running.......

So give it some thought..........

Crap, Crap, Crappy Run and Random Thoughts

I hate running!

Okay, I hate running on ice!

Really, Okay I hate running on ice when I don't have to!

I attempted to have a leisurely lunchtime run to get away from the office and let my hair down......... Ha, I slay me.

I knew that some of the sidewalks would be covered in snow, since we got a dusting in the morning but I never expected to be running on ice ruts!!!!

I purposely check out route when I'm driving just to get an idea of where would be the best places to run and I thought roads would be free of snow/ice....

Does anyone still listen to Howard Stern??????????

I attribute the road conditions to all of those Senior citizens that don't drive in winter, thus leaving snow on the streets. Get out and make some tire ruts for us runners.

I think I pulled my groin a couple of times, I hope no one saw me......... Ha, I slay me.

Need less to say it was more about surviving than running. I would get to a patch of dry pavement and try to run fast only to be stopped by another patch of snow/ice.

I was so impressed with a lot of you guys not only recapping the year but a few even did the decade! I have to look down to make sure I have on socks! So I decided to journal 2010 and see what happens. Should be some really boring stuff......

What's the worst thing you put in the trash knowing that you shouldn't have?????

Not Again????

Okay, I've subscribed to Runner's World and Running Times for several years off and on. I try to be a good citizen of the Running community and ensure that these magazines continue to operate.



Normally, I leave the mags around the house so I can pick them up at my leisure and get my running motivation when needed.

The reasons I canceled my subscriptions in the past have been that the articles/commentary haven't held my attention.

• New Year, New you
  
• How to run in the Cold weather
• How to run in the Hot weather
• What foods are good to eat
• What foods you should avoid
• What Marathons are the best in the upcoming year
• Fall show review
• Spring shoe review
• Stretches that do everything
• Fabulous Abs/stronger core
• Cross training for runners

Okay, I got htat off my chest. Now don't gbet me wrong, I'll continue to support them but all I'm saying is..............



NOT AGAIN!

Six Degrees of Seperation

It was 6º without the wind chill and I didn't know what to expect from my team. I think a few of them were waiting on an email from their coach, saying that the training run was canceled due to frigid temps!




But noooooooooooooooo, we're like the Postal Service and we run in almost any type of weather.

This was a good learning experience for most of them, since they're relatively new to running.

• They drafted off each other when the wind gust turned into our faces.
  
• A few of them learned that mittens are better than gloves in keeping your fingers warm
• Exposed skin is a big no-no!
• Sunglasses of regular glasses fog up even in cold temps.
• You still sweat and lose fluids that need to be replenished.

I did tell them that they'll remember this day and now have no excuses for missing a training day!



Okay, time for me to get out and get my run in. It's a balmy 7º and the sun is shining. Who needs Florida?????

Oh My Aching Head...........

Happy New Year!

I have to run how far today?????