M'kay

Nice workout. Is steady state the same concept as a tempo run? Anything different? I assume you are trying to keep the effort the same throughout.

Thanks Michelle. Yes, I was trying to keep a constant effort, although I invariably go a bit too hard uphill, which always zaps me a bit on the downhill side, but I'll use my HR to judge overall effort in those runs and keep it within a beat or two for the whole run (excluding the 1st mile, which is inevitably low).

Anyway, my run was nothing compared to yours today! I wish I had some sub-6 minute miles in me. Maybe someday, but those hurt really bad.

Anyway, a SS is a slower Tempo, a concept I grabbed from Greg McMillan's website. He described the concept in more depth there (www.mcmillanrunning.com), look under his six step training system. SS runs are prescribed in his base-phase. I hope to learn more when I start with his online coaching, which should be in about a week or so, since that's my Xmas gift this year!

My brother pointed out to me today that my left leg is smaller and less defined than my right. I've heard this is natural for many runners, but I don't want to have my right leg overcompensate and further exasperate the problem. Am I paranoid or is it a legit concern?

Sounds like a legit concern to me. I think most folks have a naturally stronger side, but that doesn't mean it should necessarily stay that way. I think working to even things out is probably the smart play, but that's just my layman's opinion.

In my case, the chiro showed me on xrays and using an electro-muscular stimulation test that I have some imbalances in my muscles that affect my spine that need corrected, and in addition to the manipulations he does, prescribed some exercises at a 3-to-1 ratio to strengthen the weaker side. Way too early to call, but sounds reasonable to me and I'm going to give his program a try.

Dale - what a great Christmas present, that beats socks and pants. I've read the McMillan info and it does sound excellent, it'll be interesting to follow your training and your comments on the coaching. Also how the coaching takes into account the terrain that you are running in.

My wife and I have gotten used to getting each other what we really want, even if the surprise factor is out the window (although we each usually managed to get *something* unexpected). I'll be sure to post about the training program good, bad, and ugly once I get started. I submitted the questionaire that kick-starts the program yesterday, and with the holidays, expect it'll be late next week earliest before I get the starting schedule back. I'm really looking forward to it.