Good luck Lisa Marie on your race ...

shananigans -- Here's a good site to measure your runs, www.mapmyrun.com ... just put your area or postal code in and you're in your town...

It's out and I finally ran this week to and from the gym, only 5k but it felt good,

Yay - it's finally getting nice here too. Ran 6 miles this morning, and felt like I could go another 6 if I didn't have to get to work.

Just got back from Boston where DH did the marathon. The weather turned out to be almost OK instead of the really awful stuff they were predicting. 45 and a little drizzly, which I would have found unpleasant, but that is just about perfect for him. I'm so impressed with everyone who runs that race. It is amazing to watch the pro women run.

My only run this last week was going to be a 1.5 out to this lovely bridge on the ocean near my SIL's place, walk on the bridge and run back. I got out, but getting back was a challenge. Later that day I found out why--got slammed with a really nasty GI illness and spent the rest of the vacation in the bathroom. Ah well, feeling better now.

Anne

Anne – Yikes! Glad you’re feeling better now.

Ilene – I got a mapmyrun.com account earlier this week. I’ve been using it to map various 3 mile routes in my neighborhood, very handy!

Lisa Marie – Good luck with your 5k tomorrow! I did my first last Saturday, my goal was also 35 min and I was quite pleased to get under 33. I enjoyed it so much I think I’ll do the Komen Race for the Cure on June 2. My goal for that is under 30.

Good Luck Lisa Marie!

I did another 20 miler this morning. Well, a bit short, but not far off considering I was guessing a route that might get me to about the right mileage. It was mainly cross country type stuff, and had some nasty hills in it so I'm quite pleased to do it in 3:08. i really noticed how much more I drink when it's warmer - the last time I did 20 miles I drank about half the water in my bottle - this time I finished it off, had to buy more at 18 miles and had finished all that by the time I got home.

Now I can relax all weekend and watch FLM in bed tomorrow morning without feeling like I'm skiving a run

I typed a longer message about my 5k this morning and my computer ate it, so here's the short version:

I finished it in 31:19! Woohoo!! That's much better than I thought I would do. It's about an average of a 10-minute mile pace, which is something I'm never usually able to maintain for long. My sister-in-law and I ran it together the whole time, just like we did the 10k a few weeks ago. It was so much fun, and I think I'm addicted to running races now! We placed 3rd in our age group, but that's because there were only about 5 or 6 people our age! The top runner for our age finished in about 28 minutes, so we'll pretty much win our division next year.

That's fantastic, well done! So, what's next?

Hey all! I would love to become a 'runner'! Is there a certain plan you all are following? How do i get started? TIA!

Thanks, Helen! Next is a 5k on May 12 (the Race for the Cure). After that, I'll start seriously training for the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, which is September 3. That one scares me quite a bit, but I'm perfectly ok with walking some of it! I found a 16-week training plan online that looks like it might help, and I'm already running 4 or 5 times a week anyway. I know there will be a few other 5ks that pop up before then, so I may take advantage of those as well. I'm planning to do a couple in October. It's so much fun!

A friend just called to ask if my husband and I want to join a running group he's starting, and we'll be doing Sunday runs. It sounds good because we'll get to branch out and run in some new locations, but I hate to be the slowest person there. I can't even see my husband running with a group because he's too speedy! He says his hips hurt if he runs too slow, because it feels awkward.

Lisa that is so great. You are inspiring.

Today was a drag myself out of bed day. It took me so long to get outside. I decided I needed music (I never run with music) and the only thing I have is a cheap old walkman tape player that my husband uses for audio lectures.

The only tape I had was a reallllllllly old Bob Dylan tape when he was in the Woody Guthrie folky mode, NOT the best workout tape but amazingly enough it got me through the run today. I have got to get an ipod and some more upbeat running music.

So it was an odd day. But I ran 5 miles in about an hour which is really good for me...especially when the rest of life is burning me out. Nothing serious just kids. Motherhood can sometimes be exhausting.

Ah music... Today my iPod battery died after about 14 miles, the last hour nearly killed me! I only listen to music when I run alone, but when I am alone I need it to keep me going. My own fault though, I hadn't charged it all week and knew it was low but didn't have time to charge it before going out.

Lisa - a half in September is achievable. I had 5 months between my first 10k and my first half, and managed to run all of the half (which is more than I managed in my first 5k or 10k!). You've got plenty of time to work up to it.

HeavensAngela - Couch to 5k is a good way to start, most beginners plans will do a good job though, the general theme being to build up slowly with a run/walk approach over several weeks until you can run for about 30 minutes. After that, the world is your oyster.

Wow Lisa, you are becoming a racing queen! I'm very proud of you.

Heavensangela, there's a great program at coolrunning.com called the "Couch to 5K" program that will take you gradually from very short runs to a 5K distance. That's how I started running, as well as lots of other folks around here, and it gets high marks.

Well, it's an unbelievably beautiful Sunday, so I think I'm off to run 10.5 miles.

Thanks, Rachel!

It's a beautiful day here too, so I did a long run -- 7 miles! That's the longest I've ever done, and my husband scolded me a little because he said I should've taken it easy today after yesterday's race. I did take it somewhat easy, though, because I was slow and I took a few walk breaks in the last 3 miles. It took me nearly an hour and a half to do the 7 miles! I hate walk breaks, because I still have that notion that I didn't REALLY run 7 miles if I walked a little, but I'm getting over that. I think I'll have to get over it in order to build my distance to train for the half marathon.

Yesterday I was determined to get an mp3 player but the stores were closed. Then today I went out and did 3 miles with no music. But instead the birds were singing and nature was making all sorts of wonderful noises. Still I am going to get one for those times when I need to "rock out".

Finally figured out what "map my run" thinks is my road (the names are all wrong). It is .52 miles so I was right about my distance. Kind of comforting that I wasn't grossly underestimating my runs. I am thinking about venturing off into the great world. but there are cars and such and unfamiliar dogs all sorts of dangers. We shall see.

Today was a tired dragging day but I am beginning to realize that I am getting better at my "tired days". They are becoming more and more like "regular" runs.