I have fallen off the running wagon as well. I got hurt, i couldn't run, then I tried to make a come back and I still haven't been able to do more than 1.4 miles. Now my back is out of sorts - it's neverending!

Going to try to run tomorrow and just walk every day to keep cardio going. My treadmill is staring at me and starting to get dusty...shh don't tell my husband! I will do at least 5 days this week! I'm promising myself now!

I didn't get to run today, so I'm just reporting back about how well my students did in their cross country invitational race this afternoon!

Our boys placed second in their division, with some of our boys coming in 2nd, 3rd, and 9th overall. The girls didn't place that high, but it was a great experience for them and they gave it their all. It was fun to see all the young folks out there running hard on a tough course. And it was very weird to be there as a coach. It's still so strange! It was a great experience for the kids, though -- running in a big race instead of our small district meets. They got to actually pin a number to their shirts and there was a water stop for them. For some reason, they were thrilled about grabbing that cup of water! It made them feel like "real runners," which they are! We took them out for ice cream afterward and took lots of pictures of them and felt like proud parents.

Ennay, I've been watching the forecast all week, and was relieved when Sunday finally came out looking rain free, after a lot of rainy days! And the forecast has changed over the last day (at least on weather.com) from sunny to partly cloudy - sounds like ideal weather for a marathon to me! (Now let's hope those weather folks have at least some clue what they're talking about).

Ran my measly little 3 miles today...and spent all that extra time on my hands shopping for more new fall clothes. Very dangerous stuff, this tapering.

Lisa, sounds like you are really enjoying your coaching duties. I am so glad you decided to do this, it must be really rewarding.

And for the rest of you struggling runners - hang in there! It is so true that some days are just tough - keep going, and enjoy the days that are good ones.

Well today the forecast says showers.. Showers are ok, showers here usually mean spritzing with maybe an occasional drizzle, but not enough to soak you or chill you. 80-90% of the time showers is at most a mist.

Rain means actual rain.

So ever since I started tapering, my knees, which didnt bother me the entire time I was training, have been aching. Not pain, it doesnt feel like an injury, just achy and tired - like what you expect to feel AFTER the marathon. I wake up in the morning and they ache. Grrrrr.. Did Ibu/ice and biking yesterday. (I had a similar feeling in may and went on one bike ride and my knees crackled and then they felt fine after that - the bike motion seems to help). They do feel a bit better this morning so I think I am going to ibu and ice today and tomorrow and do a little biking whenever it is not pouring (which is what it is doing today)

My first official 5k is done...phew! I had a great time last week so I'm slightly disappointed but I made my original goal of breaking the 30 minute mark. I came in at 29:59.6 Couldn't possibly have cut it any closer!!

Choosing a world class marathon with over 12,000 runners as your first 5k is probably not the best idea, but it was really cool. I was pretty nervous and completely overwhelmed by the number of people but still glad to be a part of it.

I was already able to get my official time, thanks to the magic of chip timing, and I could see that I finished 14/149 for my AG and 392/1756 for all the participants.

I can't say that I loved it. I was fairly winded and it was a bit crowded at the beginning. I'm proud of myself but do wish I could have done a bit better.

Thanks to everyone for their support!

OMG elisa that is an AWESOME 5K. Plus to be dealing with the crowds at the start...its really hard to make up that time in a 5K.

Fairly winded at the end of a 5K race....sounds like you ran it perfectly!

elisa, that is FANTASTIC!!!

I'm hoping to break the 30 minute mark in my 5K at the end of this month, but I don't really see it happening. I ran our course at school in 31:57 the other day. Eek.

I've become much faster than I used to be, though. I was looking at my training log today and I noticed that I have lots more 10 minute mile pace runs than 11 or 12 now. They're becoming the norm, with a few in the 9 range and a few in the slower range here and there. Today I did 4.6 miles at what felt like a comfortable, easy pace. When I got home and logged it I realized it was an average 10:28. I still think of that as fast for me, but I guess it's not anymore. I was a 12:00 runner for such a long time, it seemed, so I can't get used to the 10 range. Coaching and running with my students has made a HUGE difference. And then of course there's just the fact that you get better with more miles under your belt anyway.

Going back to the New Balance store again today for the 9 millionth time to try to finally get the right size shoes. My last pair were 9.5 and were too short (hence the one missing toenail and the other black one about to fall off). This time they put me in 11, which seems odd but felt ok at the store. When I run, though, it feels like I'm running in clown shoes...

Ok, enough rambling! I have so much to do today!

ennay, take care of those knees!
Rachel, I can't wait to hear your marathon report!

Elisa, that is an amazing performance for a first race! I just broke the 30 minute barrier for my 5k time about a month ago, so you rock!

Well done Elisa!

I jogged a half marathon today - it was my slowest half by almost an hour (and in fact within an hour of my marathon PB), but I was running with a team of runners, wheelchairs and cyclists, and the job was to stick together to get the wheelchairs round the course, rather than to go for individual good times. It was a really big race (40,000 runners I think), so it was nice to be able to jog/walk round and soak up the atmosphere - we got loads of extra cheers when we came into view - and I made it onto tv in running kit (and wasn't horrified by the thought!)

Lisa - good luck, I bet you can do it. One of the things I had to figure out for 5K races ...once I was a distance runner and 5K was now a "shorter run" was to NOT pace myself. That for most people once they are at a certain fitness level, even if they end up running the last mile slower they dont lose as much as if they had held back half-way. The first time I ever broke 30 min I was with a much faster friend and tried to stay with her. I faded badly at the end, but still shaved almost 2 minutes off my time. This last one I ran (I dont run 5K's often) I sprinted the first 1/2 mile, then I slowed a bit, but I still shaved several minutes off my PR.

That sounds like fun Helen

Yep, ennay, I'm sort of figuring that out too, but it's scary not to hold back in the beginning. Now that I can run 10 miles or slightly more without killing myself, I know that a 3.1 mile run is not going to tax me so I can give it my all if I want to, but I always still think I'll pass out if I run too hard! The other day when I ran the course at school, I started out a bit fast to keep up with the kids but then I faded in the middle. Then I had to step aside in the woods to let the fast boys by me (they'd started later and even though they were doing an easy pace they zoomed by!!), so that slowed me down. I had a little energy left at the end, though, so I could've pushed it more.

After the 5k on 10/27, I have an 8k on 11/10. How do you guys feel about that distance?

Thanks everyone for all your kind words...it really means a lot since you all probably know what it feels like to wish you could have done a bit better. And many are you are so far beyond me in the "running world".

I started running at the beginning of this year and all I wanted was to be able to run 5k without stopping and eventually hit under the 30 minute mark so I should be pleased with my successes!

Thanks again!!

I am braving my now fear of the treadmill and running tomorrow morning. Starting out Oct right. Wish me luck I am gonna need it so I don't fall off!