TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION

Here we are at the Houston Marathon in January. The runners often laugh about the questions we get asked-OVER AND OVER. In an effort to ONCE & FOR ALL-answer all those same questions-here goes-

"Did you run today?"- I now run 3 times a week and cross-train on the other days. Unless we are training for a specific event, the repetitive running is very hard. I work best when I have a day in between runs for my joints to recover. I take one day a week completely off and rest.

"How far did you run today?"- 5 miles during the week and on the weekend a long run with a base of 10 miles and no more than 12 or so. Babs, Mona & I are back at 8 miles after backing off for a while. In a couple of weeks we will be back to the 10 base. We plan to then run 10, 11, 12, and a shorter long run in 4 consecutive weeks. If we are not training for a marathon, that is plenty.

"Did I see you walking today?"-we all laugh and say the only time someone drives by you is when you are walking. We listen to our bodies and take a SHORT walk break if the day is difficult. We also walk on cross-training days and often walk 1-5 AFTER running our 5. So keep in mind-if you see us walking, we well may have already run 5 miles.

"Have you always run?"- the only sport ? I participated in during high school was cheer leading. Did LOTS of intramural sports-but no teams. I have run on and off since after #2 was born almost 32 years ago. I well remember BC & I running together in our first home-more than 25 years ago- and then after moving to Vienna. BC stopped running with knee and hip problems a long time ago. I have run continuously for more than 10 years now.

"How far was the marathon?"-ALL marathons are 26.2 miles. By the time you have run 26 miles you want credit for that .2.

"Do you run all year round?"-Yes-just like the Post office-I have run in rain, sleet, & snow. The STUPIDEST time I have run is being caught out when the lightning started. I have tried to be smarter about that lately.

and last but not all-

"Why do you run?"- # 1 Reason-Good endorphins
#2 Reason-Good health
#3 Reason-a hubby that tells me I am really slim. I weigh the same as I did before having 3 babies and wear the same size clothes that I have for years. It is more difficult to maintain these days-but I still work at it.

If you think of another question, I will be glad to answer. As I have told #3 daughter before, I will answer anything you ask me-but I may not give personal details-Just ask away.