The third year of Half Wits half marathon training kicked off today with a great crowd running from the west-side Panera...thanks to everyone who showed up!
The wind was a little tough going out, but at our behinds coming back (that's kinda of the idea when we try to design the routes!). I tried to keep info to a minimum this morning so we could get underway quick and not stand around for 30 minutes, so if you have any questions, please feel free to post them on the blog.
And a couple words about the blog...this is ABSOLUTELY the best place to stay on top of Half Wits news, get your questions answered, complement or criticize the program, or just sound off! All you have to do is click on comments to see the pop-up window with the comments. You can write your comment, click publish, and they will be up. You can either leave it anonymously or leave your name (names usually work better). So visit the blog often as I think we do a fairly good job of updating it!
Thanks again...and just let us know if you have any questions.
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29 comments:
That was a fun 6 miles!
Its go time!!! Nice to see everyone again.
What a great crowd today! It was fun seeing all the OLD people like Chuck and Tim as well as lots of new faces.
Good to be a part of Half Wits 07!
Jessica thinks the Channels 20 spot will be on Wed. or Thurs.
That was like a winter reunion! Thanks, Tim for giving us a great start and the work you did to pull everyone together. There will be a lot of half marathon finishers this spring!
Linda
I don't mean to sound like a wimp or a newbie (okay, I'm both of those things, but I don't want to *sound* like it), but are we really doing hills in the snow and what-not? Won't the roads be a little slick after dark?
I'm not sure if I'm looking for encouragement or just confirmation that this isn't the WholeWits but the HalfWits....
Great time on Saturday, by the way!
Steph
Steph and all newbie Half Wits,
To become a Half Wit you gotta experience everything. If its icy conditions, we should always be cautious. We don't want injuries. I'm not sure on the conditions of the hills at Washington Park, but it should be manageable.
As I told my Abe's Army group...
Why do we do hills?
- To work on our "Ass-sets" ;)
We are a crazy bunch of runners. We run in any temperature/conditions (except very icy roads). It is going to be very, very cold tonight, so dress appropriately. Don't worry you will do a warm up run and then hit the hills.
You wont be alone...trust me. We will go through this together. It's just part of being an idiot (oops thats me), I mean a Half Wit.
See you tonight.
Well, I suppose my asset could use some work...Thanks for the encouragement, Chuck.
Now I'll try to convince my reluctant husband to show up (of course, if I get in more training than him, I could really kick his assets).
Steph
If you don't feel like doing hills tonight, my "evil" (I say it with love and ugh-ness), marathon trainer Carl Benton, (he's the man pictured with the red stocking hat, with a black jacket on below this blog), is making us run 5 miles instead. We will also be at the Washington Park Shelter at 5:30 tonight as well.
Another invitation is tomorrow. I know most will be working still, but tomorrow we will be hitting the hills. He is taking us on the Frostbite route to do 10 miles. We will meet at FitClub west inside, at 1:30 PM.
I know 10 sounds a lot. If you don't want to do the 10, halfwits can still join us to get a great hill workout by only doing the first 2 miles!! :)
Saturday we will still join all at Panera at 7:30 AM to do the scheduled run with the half wits but continue on to do 15 miles.
Carl's schedule is to train us for the St. Louis marathon, but halfwits can still join us on the short runs during the week. :):):)
Anyone else doing a marathon? Please join us!!!!
Whoops! I'm the anonymous that wrote that above! I accidently hit the wrong button! Sorry! Silly me!
Brrrrrr, it was very cold. It was good to see some new Half Wits in the mix. We might have given last year's Arctic Amble a run for the money.
You all are crazy and earning your title.
Great job!!! Barb thanks for leading the way.
Half Wits prevail! We had over 20 people despite the cold and somewhat slick conditions last night. Can't keep a good Half Wit down! We did our hill repeats and everyone looked strong. This will make cruising the park Thursday like a walk in the park!
Okay that's my last mixed metaphor.
Great job everyone!
Barb B
Any word on when the footage from Saturday will be used? I know they had said Wed or Thursday.
Emily, what pace are you guys running on Saturday? I'm just getting over being sick so I didn't want to come back running an 8 min mile. Are you going to run to Fitclub and keep going towards the park?
Pam,
I will be there Sat at 7:30. What do you think you will be up for? You should take it easy since you have been sick. Let me know.
Jennifer
I think my toes are still thawing out from last night...but a good time overall :)
Thanks to everyone who offered me advice on my first “freezing” cold run and hill workout! See you all on Thursday!
Cara
I know, I feel like I haven't done anything for months. The last time I did anything was the hills with you, where I almost died, lol. The doctor changed my antibiotic so I do feel better but not up to great. I don't know if I should just do the 7 miles or go long with a slower pace. Are you runing long? or just doing the 7 miles?
Hi Pam!
I can only dream keeping up with you!!! :) (Can I be a clone of your running abilities?) Not sure what route Master Carl will want to do. But please join us if ya want! You and Carl can help pace me! My pace is not as fast as yours so I hope I won't bore you too much. But at least you won't have to worry about any injuries with me! :)
Hope to cya?
Hey there. I have a request. I am a new Half-Witter, and I was unable to stay on Saturday to receive the mileage course schedule. Would it be possible to post it on this blog?
I am finding it very, very challenging to fit everything in and trying to get back from pregnancy, which is hard to do.....especially when I have no choice but use a treadmill during the week (ugh!) So, I happily look forward to the Saturdays when Daddy takes over and I can run OUTSIDE!! Yipee!!
Anyway, if you can publish the schedule, I'd be very appreciative! Many thanks!
Pam,
What about 8? We can do the 7 and add on at the end if you are feeling good. We did the same hill last night that we did last week with Kim. Hope to see you Thursday.
Jennifer
HALF WITS SCHEDULE
Mondays cross train or run 30-45 mins
Every Tuesdays Halfwits meet at Washington Park 5:30 PM at the shelter area by the tennis courts; Group will do hills or speed work
Wednesdays cross train
Every Thursdays Halfwits meet at Washington Park 5:30 PM at the shelter area; group will do a 30-60 minute run
Fridays OFF
Sundays cross train or OFF
FOR THE SATURDAY LONG RUNS MEETING PLACE ALWAYS AT PANERA BREAD WEST AT 7:30 AM:
1/27 6 miles
2/3 7 miles
2/10 9 miles
2/17 6 miles
2/24 11 miles
3/3 12 miles
3/10 7 miles
3/17 13.1 miles will run the LM course. Meet at Prairie Heart Institue/St. John's Hospital 619 E. Mason Street. This is the start and finish spot.
3/24 7 miles
3/31 RACE DAY!!!!
If I missed the start of the Half Wits last saturday, can I still join in? I don't know what pace I am or anything, I just know it's not fast. Actually, could I just start by coming tomorrow (Thursday's) run? It sounds like a good group.
TO Anonymous who wants to jump in now:
Just show up for one of the scheduled times and places and just run. It's that easy. At some point we just want to get your emergency contact information. We'll probably have forms there at Panera on Saturday.
Just to follow up on what Wendy said (even though I really hate to agree with her) joining in on Half Wits training is pretty easy. The Saturday runs especially have so many people running at so many different speeds that you will have no trouble finding someone to run with.
When you find yourself running at the same pace as someone else, just start talking to them. All of us slow folks are VERY friendly!
Emily, thanks for all the compliments, but your butt is always in front of me. You go girl! Hey, I ran an easy 5 miles in the park on Wednesday and I don't think I will be up for 15 on Saturday. Yes, it was that bad, lol. I'll have to stick to something shorter. I'll catch you when you start tapering because you will probably have to run longer next Saturday, right? I'll cheer you on when I see ya on Sat.
Jennifer, sounds good about the 8 mile run. We can add a mile when we get to FitClub so we don't have to add it at the end. I like to finish at Panera so I can go straight to the bagels, lol.
Hey, did anyone see the footage yet? I missed the news last night so I was wondering how it turned out.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM NOONAN. YES, KIM IS 35 TODAY!!!!!!!
Kim,
I am glad to hear you are celebrating your 14 year anniversary of your 21st b-day!
OH Kim Happy b-day looks prettier than a Barbie doll, and young looking too!
Oh Pam, you're way too kind! But thanks! :) If I was so fast, then why did it take me 1hr and 50 mins to do the frostbite yesterday? Oh... must be because Carl had to do CPR on me because I DIED on those camel backs!!! LOL!
I saw the footage this AM. Tim, Marcia Grant, Chuck were all interviewed. I saw Debi M, Barb B, Wendy B, Lak M, Carl, Karen, Rob and many more all running. It was pretty cool!
OH~~ Jessica English did an awesome job. She really promoted SRRC so well!
Emily, I ran that frostbite route one time and I said I would never do that puppy again. That is the hardest route we have in Springfield so don't feel so bad. You keep doing that route and you will be able to run two marathons in a row! Running those hills will really help you on the back half of the marathon. Keep positive, you can do this!
Glad to hear the footage turned out awesome. Wish I could have seen it. That was nice of Jessica to have them do a clip on the HalfWits :).
Thanks for publishing the schedule! Not sure if I am brave enough to run outside Saturday ... may be doing those miles indoors! : ^)
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