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Brian and I signed up for a half marathon on May. It’s taken a lot of work to get back on the running bandwagon. The hardest part is motivation. In addition, it turns out there are several things that have to come together too.

1. Our previous winter runs ended up in soreness, the kind that comes from a bad interface between the pavement and our bodies. Time to get new shoes. Brian’s were simply worn out, my pair isn’t too old but causes blisters on the ball of my foot. As of yesterday we both have new shoes. So far, these are a big win.
2. Brian got some new wicking underlayers back in November, and I got some for Christmas. Clothing is in good shape. I managed to not overdress the past couple weeks, even better. (I love the earbags, by the way.)
3. I still need my own training watch since the 30 lapper I’d gotten for the marathon in 2000 finally gave up the ghost, and a new battery didn’t help. As long as I go with Brian or can borrow his, it works ok. I think someone will buy me a new chrono for my birthday.
4. our actual legs are another story. The shoes help some. More running is really needed to recover full functionality. It really is different to start training in our 30s than it was in our 20s.

To start off the week, I lifted on Saturday and then ran with Beej on Sunday. I was VERY sore. In fact, because my legs bore such a resemblance to jello, I soaked in the tub with my old standby Actibath (which seems to be off the market, but is like alka-seltzer for the tub. The exercise treatment “flavor” has always worked well for me, like a mini-hot-tub treatment), and managed to be only slightly sore on Monday. Unfortunately between some email problems and helping out on a proposal at work, I didn’t get in another workout this week. So, today, I went running again. It was a nice sunny afternoon with sufficient bare pavement, and I felt MUCH better than last weekend. Tomorrow is snoeshoeing, and another opportunity to start a regular training routine this week. I’ll be happy if I get in two weekday workouts.