Cool Runners - December
 

So Lisa, did you get the Garmin? I want one but can't justify spending the money on it at the moment. Maybe if I ask nicely for christmas...

Anyway, onto my run this morning. I decided to solve the long run or time trial dilemma by doing both! I ran 4 or 5 miles down to the park where the time trial was, ran the time trial (5k), and then ran back home again.

But even more excitingly than that... I won it!!! Well, the ladies race anyway. I finished in 22:52, which is probably one of the slower winning times they've had, but I don't care! I started off pretty conservatively, but picked off a few people by the time I got to the end of the first lap. One of the marshalls shouted that I was third woman at that point. There were two more laps, and I picked off one of the women ahead of me on each lap. I caught up with the one who was in the lead at about the 4k mark and tried to decide when best to time my push as I'm no good at sprint finishes so knew I had to get some daylight between us before we got too close to the line. I saw a bit of a hill coming up, which is actually when I find it easiest to open up some ground, so I went for it and got enough of a gap to hold her off. I think in the end I finished a fair distance ahead of her, which was nice!

Then I ran back a trickier route through the woods, had to walk bits of it because there was mud covered with a layer of leaves, and you couldn't see what you were about to stand in, but in total I must have run about 12 - 13 miles in total.

Way to go!! That is awesome! As I posted in the challange thread. Im trying to get out before the snow comes it. I don't mind running in the snow. But I think there is some rain mixed in and I hate cold rain on my face. Well this week I have another lesson in Chi Running. This will be my third. I love it and it has helped me to run longer and more efficiant.

Helen, you're so fast!!! Congrats on the win!

There's snow on the ground here at the moment and it is NOT inspiring me to go out for a run. Something about going out for a run in the snow seems slightly inhuman!

I quite like running with snow on the ground (as long as it's not falling). It feels all wintry, and you get that smug feeling when you get back in. You just need the right kit (and even that is only believing you have the right kit sometimes. Sometimes I get all kitted up in loads of layers I don't need because I won't go out of the house unless I think I'll be warm, even though I'm actually too warm once I get moving. But if I only had the kit I actually need I wouldn't get out of the door because my brain would persuade me it wasn't enough. I'm sure that makes no sense when you look at it logically, but it works for me).

i ran last year when it was 5 -10 degrees...Helen is right...it is all in how you dress.....But it is still cold no matter what!

Helen, 22:52 is a great time! Especially since you ran some miles before you got there!

And no, I didn't purchase the Garmin myself, but there's a chance my husband did and will give it to me as a surprise for my birthday or Christmas. I don't think he did, but it would be nice!

Did a nice easy 4-mile run this morning. It's nice that my slow, easy pace (it was around 10:30 today) is so much faster than my fastest pace was just a few months ago.

I am so happy that Week 4 of C25K is done. Its been the toughest in that in weeks past I knew I could finish. This week I kept thinking I'm not gonna make it. I never stopped though I did the entire run/walk as outlined. Okay I start Week 5 on Tuesday. We'll see how that goes. I'm a little concerned but what can I do...I'm determined to complete this program so all this complaining along the way is a bit useless.

Helen--Congrats on winning!

Morning all - just posting as a check-in - I AM still alive! :lol:

My running really fell by the wayside throughout October - well, all my exercising, really - but I picked it up again in November and built my distance back up to four miles three or four times a week. It's been amazing how much better I feel getting back to it! I didn't even know I was missing it - !

Sounds like you are all doing well, and I am very glad to read it :) Have a great Monday!

Heather :D

Hi! I am new to posting to this thread. I read it all the time though! I started running about 9 months ago. I love it! I actually can get cranky on the one day a week I don't run!

I have built up slowly. I love to run, but I am definately NOT a natural! I am up to 6.4 mi and it takes me 1 hour 10 min to do it. I have a 10k this summer that I am doing and I hope to do it in under 1 hour. Even if it is 59 min and 59 secs!!

I just did a 5k this week end in 28:48 . The last one I did in Sept was 31:57. So I am slowly getting faster!

I love reading all your posts! They help alot! Jelly

Starting week 2 of C25K today... SCARED SCARED since I've NEVER been a runner!! eek!!

Week 1 was fine, but for some reason moving on makes me more nervous than starting!!

Last night I ran on the treadmill, and it was just a terrible workout. Usually the first mile is the hardest because I just want to give up, but then I settle into a rhythm and feel like I could go forever. The furthest I've ever gone is 10 miles (doing a race in the Adirondacks), but I've never finished a race and felt so wiped out that I couldn't take another step. I do always do a final sprint in when I'm doing a race, so I am temporarily tired at the finish, but a few minutes later I've recovered and I feel like I could run it again. Clearly I am a distance runner, not a speed runner - if only I could get myself to put in the time to do that!

Anyway, last night I didn't feel like going to the gym at all, but I forced myself to go down. I started running, did maybe 3/4 of a mile, and just felt tired and not into it. So I alternated running and walking for about 30 minutes. I pushed the incline way up when I walked, just to give myself a little bit more of a workout, but it was a pretty lazy workout for me. Around 2 miles, I felt a little bit of pain in my right shin (I sincerely hope I am not developing shin splints - never had a problem with them before), so I immediately took it down to a walk rather than do more damage. Later I ran a bit more, and my shin was fine, so hopefully it was just some kind of momentary annoyance.

Anyway, I usually run 3 miles at about an 8:15 pace (though last week I had an awesome day where I did 2 miles at 7:45!). Last night I clocked in at exactly a 10 min pace (average of the running/walking), and I just didn't feel good about that. Tonight is going to be an elliptical night, but I think I'll maybe jump on the treadmill for just one mile at my usual pace to try to make myself feel better.

Laura, hope your elliptical workout was a good one. I used to do the elliptical a lot, but I can't seem to force myself to do anything but run these days, and I can't force myself to do it on a treadmill because it bores me too much! Sometimes I'd like to escape the cold but I just can't -- not until there's actual ice on the road or something!

jellybelly, welcome! Your 5k time is a good one! My goal for my next 10k is to run it under an hour too -- it's on April 5. We can do it!

artsnsmarts, don't be scared -- you'll be fine! I'd never been a runner before either, but I became one. And if I became one, anyone can!

Ran 4 miles tonight but it was a struggle for some reason. Ugh. I was really tired. Unfortunately I won't be able to run tomorrow, and I couldn't yesterday. Bad running week. Sigh...

Hi Lisa and thanks for the welcome! I am hoping to get closer to your times for my runs!

I am starting to see some improvement lately though. I have been trying to vary my work outs. Speed work one day a week, hill work another, 2 long runs, 2 easy runs and a day off. It seems to help. Today I did a 3 mile easy run on the treadmil. I can only go outside 2 days a week when the DH is home to watch the 4 kids, that is when I do the longer runs. Jelly

I did it!!! it was hard and I had to take an extra 30 seconds of walking time on one section, but I did it!! :-)

Hi all, I've been offline for a few days because my grandma died on Monday night, so I've been over with family. I've actually found running has helped a lot, giving me a bit of space to clear my head. I went out for about 7 miles yesterday morning, and have been out for a club run tonight now I'm back home, it was nice being with people but not having to really talk to them if you know what I mean. You know they're there, but don't need to make too much of an effort.

Good news though, I think I've got a place in the London Marathon! It should be confirmed in the next week or so.

Helen~so sorry to hear about your grandma.

likenoother & artnsmarts~I started with the c25k last summer. I am proud to say that I--a certified non-runner--was able to complete w5 and parts of w6. Now I tend to just run for 30 minutes 3 times a week which keeps me around d3w5 or d3w6 and I'm happy with that. There's really nothing to be scared about!!

Hi to everyone else!!

Helen, I'm very sorry to hear about your grandma. That's wonderful about the marathon though! Is the process similar to the Boston process (qualifying time) or more like the New York process (lottery and/or running in a certain number of local races)?

I haven't run in a few days, but my legs are exhausted from a sculpting class last night that really kicked my butt - literally. Not sure yet if I'll make it for cardio tonight, but I did some weights already, so that's good. I just want to get my miles up!

Helen--Sorry to hear about your grandma. It is great that the running helps you cope.

Alinnell--Thanks for the feedback. I did WK5D1 yesterday and it wasn't too bad. I just needed to adjust my speed. I was getting too big for my britches. Getting a little ahead of myself so I stepped back a bit.

Helen, I'm so sorry for your loss. :hug: I'm glad the running helps -- I've found that to be true as well. And congrats on the marathon.

:hug: Helen, sorry to hear about your grandma.

I'm on track at the moment to meet my goal in December of running more than half the days... (as we're only 5 days in, it's not so impressive, but considering that I've let my running slip so bad I had to start over... not too bad). I ran a little over a mile and a half tonight... hoping that the rain would hold off the entire time. Hope you all had good runs today.. and wishing I could share our wonderful weather for all you running in the snow.

Dee

Thanks everyone.

Scenestealer - it's a bit of both. There are four main ways in.

1. Open ballot - anyone can enter, but it's a 1 in 5 chance of getting in, possibly worse. I did this and didn't get a place.
2. Qualifying times - I'm not far off, but not quite there - I need to run 3:45 and my PB is 3:50. Hopefully I'll be able to get the time I need next year so I can use that next time.
3. Charity places - way too expensive when I've just done New York on a charity place. There's no way I could raise the money, which would mean I'd have to make it up myself.
4. Club places - each running club gets a certain number of club places, depending how big they are, which they can allocate as they see fit. At my club you have to have been rejected through the ballot (which I was), and then they have various criteria you have to meet. If there are too many people wanting to run who meet all the criteria there is then a ballot to see who gets the place, but as things stand at the moment there are three of us (including me) who will get the places as long as no-one else comes out of the woodwork in the next week or so (and even if they do, I think I'd be the last of those three to drop off the list because the other two have done it before and I haven't). So fingers crossed no-one else wants a place!

Helen - sorry to hear about your loss :( And congrats on the Marathon - how exciting!

Nothing new here - haven't run since Monday as I am fighting off some kind of sinus cold or something - grr... DESPERATE to run - :lol:!

Have a great day, all!
Heather :D

I had a really good outside 6.4 miles today! I can't even believe I enjoyed it. It is 22 deg. outside and about 3/4 of the way through it started snowing! Those really big snowflakes. About every other breath I was inhaling snowflakes. It was beautiful! Maybe, I am turning into a real runner! I felt like a little kid. Good day! Jelly

I did 8 miles or so in total today. I ran to the 5k TT (4.5 miles), did the 5k and then did about a mile to the bus stop to cool down before getting the bus home as it was about to start to rain.

I just about got a PB (22:51 - a whopping 1 second off!) and was third woman. I was really pleased though because there's someone else at running club who I always used to beat, but recently she's been running really well and I wanted to see if I could still beat her! I did, she was about 10 seconds behind me. She has run a faster time on that course than I have, but we've never raced against each other on it before today.

Helen, congratulations on your time and on beating that other runner!

jellybelly, that sounds like a great run you had! :)

Heather, I've been sick this week too and haven't been able to run since Tuesday. Ugh!

I think I'm going to take today off too, just to be safe. I'm feeling somewhat better but not completely, and I don't want to get out in the cold if I'm not well. Sigh... I may try to do some sort of workout inside. It's been AGES since I've done anything but run outside. I don't even have access to a treadmill today unless I go to my school, and I don't see that happening. Oh well...I hope to get back on track tomorrow. I haven't had a good 10+ mile run in about 3 weeks.

Okay so I made it through D3 of Week 5. I was distracted most of the time watching tv and po'd at my mp3 player. I think that really helped. 20 minutes straight. I can't believe it. On to Week 6 on Tuesday. I am proud of myself.

Seems like posts are slowing down a bit! To much shopping maybe?

Sunday I had to do my long run on the treadmil. It was cold and raining outside! I have run in the cold and the rain, but that is cuz the rain started after I was out there! I just couldn't bring myself to run outside! I also only did 5 of the 6.4 miles I was supposed to do yesterday. I was a little disappointed in myself, but it was boring!! I love long runs outside. Oh well. Today I did 2 mile of speed work and weight training. Have a great week. Jelly

After being sick for nearly a week, I finally got back to running today and it was TOUGH. It's hard when it's been more than a few days since your last run! I only did 2 miles with some students -- one mile on a trail and one on a track. I fell at the end of the trail -- tripped on a tree root, which I was afraid of all through cross country season. I'm fine, though, it was just a stumble.

I really need to get back to my long Sunday runs -- I really missed that yesterday!

It's been one week and two days since I last ran. The stomach flu tore through our house so I was either personally sick or taking care of kiddos each day. I did the elliptical twice but right now I am so worried about when I do hit the road again. It is raining here so I won't run tomorrow morning (dark and wet....uh....nope), so my plan is to do the elliptical in the morning and run Wednesday afternoon. I think I will follow your example, Lisa, and try just 2 or 3 miles.

:wave:

Lisa and Midwife - I just got back to it today, too - managed 2.75 miles, walked a quarter mile and then ran the last quarter mile to make it 3. It WAS hard... I am also missing my longer runs, Lisa - here's to getting back into a nice routine!

Nothing else of news :lol:
Heather :D

I had a day off today for the funeral. Well, also because I needed a day off, but it worked best today.

But... I do have exciting running related news for you - I have in my hand a guaranteed entry form for the London marathon (through the club entry route). A nice end to a long and difficult day.

So it looks like more marathon training for me!

Helen, yay! I'm glad you got into the marathon! Have fun training, and let us know all about it! I enjoy learning from you...

midwife, were you able to get a few miles in?

Heather, I'm glad you got back to it!

I just HAD to do a bit of a longer run today, so I cancelled my haircut appointment (even though I desperately need a haircut) and went home right after school to put in 6 miles. I felt like I was going relatively fast, but it was about a 10:00 mile average. I'm trying to get that average down on my six-mile runs. Oh well, it wasn't bad considering I haven't been running much this week and I was tired as ****.

I'm hoping my husband got me that Garmin Forerunner for my birthday -- I'll find out tomorrow! :crossed:

Hey, where is everyone? :?:

I did an easy 2 miles today, but I was tired so it was kind of tough.

Oh yeah, my husband DID get me the Garmin Forerunner for my b-day! Woohoo!! It hasn't come in the mail yet but I'll get it by the weekend. I'm excited! :)

I reached a little milestone today, according to my running log. I passed the 800 mile point -- I've run 801.3 miles in 2007 so far!

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

I'm here. Still haven't gone out for that first short run since the stomach flu of '07, but I WILL! Tomorrow morning I am OFF work. I have a couple of things to do, but I am going to run....even if I can only carve out 20 minutes.

I was feeling a bit blah yesterday, so didn't run. I'm a bit better today, I managed half an hour of speedwork on the treadmill this morning, and fingers crossed I'll be running into work tomorrow if it isn't horrendously icy.

I ran! :-)

I'm not running at the moment - horrid sore throat and achey :(

Lisa - let us know how the Garmin is, and WHOOT on your 800+ miles this year!!

Midwife - good on ya!

Helen - how's your weather? Okay to run into work?

Heather :D

midwife -- yay! I'm glad you got out there!

Helen -- how's it going? I wish I could run to work but it's about 20 miles and I might not be able to teach when I got there. Plus, I'd have to leave home at about 2:00am, I guess! :lol:

Heather -- I'm sorry you're feeling sick. That's no good! Hope you feel better soon. :hug:

The Garmin is WONDERFUL so far. I haven't figured out all its little tricks yet, and I haven't used the heart rate monitor yet, but I'm just excited about the fact that I can head out and run anywhere I want and not worry about measuring out the route with my car. I'm one of those people who has to log every mile and time or I get antsy, so it's perfect for me.

My run yesterday was pretty good -- I liked being able to check my pace as I went with my Garmin, and it kind of helped me realize that I'm just sort of shuffling too much. When I make my stride longer, I'm much faster but more relaxed. The problem is that my legs start hurting more quickly that way. I need to figure all that out. Today's run was TOUGH because I'm super tired today. I went pretty fast for the first 1.6 and then I said screw it, I'm slowing down. I think I need to do more easy miles and stop thinking about pace for a while.

Hey all - still not running, but bumping the thread up ;)

How are ya'll? Lisa, have you figured out that fabulous Garmin? :lol:

Lisa, I¨m really tempted to get a Garmin with my christmas money from my grandparents, so I´ll be interested in seeing what you think of it!

I´ve been in Spain for the past week staying with my parents (I still am), but have actually done a fair amount of running. I´ve been out pretty much every morning, and also done some more ambitious runs than my usual 1.5 miles along the seafront and back route which I usually do. Mind you, last time I was here it was the week after a marathon so I had an excuse - whereas today is officially the First Day of Marathon Training on my 16 week schedule!