Cool Runners -- October Thread!
 

Welcome to October folks! A bright and shiny new month that we can run all over!

A "proper" runner is anybody who is running -- no matter how far, how long, or how fast. You are most certainly a proper runner! How exciting to have a target race already, that will help motivate you through the C25k! We're glad to have you in the thread, post often and let everyone know how it is going!


Well, the "cool" front I want looking forward didn't quite happen but it was at least in the mid-70s (though really, really humid) this morning. I did 5.08 miles and felt fine but very, very sweaty even at 5:30 am. Ick.

There is an inaugural 5k to be held at a beach park right down from my house later this month that I may do because I can bike to it, do the race, then bike home. That sounds like fun!

I completely agree with your definition about a real runner. But sometimes you reach a point where it *feels* more real :D. And that, for me, is now! Because I'm in week 7 of C25K, and I'm not doing any more walking intervals! 25 minutes of running - but not 2.5 miles, like their schedule says. Somebody down there was on drugs when they decided to estimate distances based on a 10-minute mile. I mean, 6 weeks ago they had me running only 60 seconds at a time. Duh. I think I'm maybe doing a 12 or 12:30 mile, but haven't formally timed it. Not that I'm pushing speed right now at all, it's just fun to know.

It feels good. And my family is at least pretending to be suitably impressed too ;).

Congratulations, Julie!!! Your family should be impressed, it's awesome!

Hey all!

Last night was first day of running class and it was awesome to be running with a large group of people. There were about 20 of us or so. Right now we are doing walk 3 minutes, run 1 minute and I was actually near the front of the pack! Today was another run day on our schedule (we are to run 4 times/week) so I ran before my swim and it was good but not as fun as with the group. I can't wait until next Wednesday even though I was sooo nervous.

How exciting Nelie! It sounds like the group running is alot of fun!

Hey gals,

very cool on the "official" running Julie and Nelie... super wow on the group runs. Those are a bit intimidating for me. And Josephine... I don't think I ever gave you a solid "CONGRATs, awesome job!!!!" on the goal attained status you now have!!

My update is that I now am very proactive about making sure cars see me and allow me to proceed. Wild arm waving occurs regularly ;)

Let's see, yesterday I did 3.27 miles (then did some walking later, too) and I'm planning on either a 9 or 10 miler on Monday morning as my weekly long run. Tomorrow I'm volunteering at the local triathlon that I've raced a couple of times. I'm looking forward to it.

The only thing I dislike about the really long runs is how absolutely drenched my clothes and hat (and I) get. It is still so warm and humid here that after about 5 miles (at 5:30 am) my clothes are saturated and no longer able to wick away the sweat. I haven't settled on a good solution for this. For my last 10 miler, I did a double loop route and used my mailbox as a water station AND a shirt/hat change at the halfway point. I think I need to do that again, but instead of doing the same loop twice maybe do 5 miles to the north of my mailbox and then 5 miles to the south of it. I need the change of scenery.

Hi everyone. I had a nice cool day to do 12 miles today, and my pacing was better than usual. That's one thing I really need to work harder on. For those of you who do run negative splits, do you have any tricks/tips on how you were able to get there? I generally do okay keeping some energy for the end, but it's the middle of the run where I slow down. I'd like to make it a little more linear on the speed from the beginning of the run.

oh wise running chicks, what is a negative split?? :)

kittycat - I actually thought about that while I was running and thought I should explain, but of course forgot when I actually logged on!

Anyway, negative splits are when you run faster miles in your later miles than your earlier miles. The definitions I can find all say to run the last half of your race faster than your first half.

Hopefully I can learn some definitions I have been wondering about since I started running too - anyone care to explain the term fartlek to me?

:)

I think the only reason I run negative splits is that I'm more and more ready to be home as the run goes on and I start running faster to get there, lol. Plus I'm a cautious starter, always trying to conserve something for the end.

Fartlek is just a fancy Swiss term for speed work.

Hey all,
I ran this morning. Our program had us increasing from 16 minutes to 24 minutes. I was actually amazed at how easier running seems in just a short period of time. I really wanted to just keep going but I know... start slow.. I want my legs to catch up to the demands that'll be placed on them.

This morning, I experienced the tragedy of running 10.11 miles while apparently wicked under-fueled. It wasn't pleasant and now I have to try and get barf out of my favorite running shoes.

I'll make EXTRA sure next time that I've eaten enough the 2 days prior to a long run. Duh.

Hi October runners,
My computer caught a virus and I was so sad. I have been running 5K twice a week and trying to go for longer runs once a week. My knee was giving me a little grief but I think it worked itself out for now.

Josephine~I can't believe you were sick. poor you :( poor running shoes

Nelie~ great job on the 24 minute run and pacing yourself

Tyler - sorry to hear that!

I came home after work and ran/walked for 22 minutes. (My training plan calls for 16). I then grabbed the dogs and went on a brisk walk with them for another 19 minutes. Tomorrow is swim!

Hi everyone,

I'm doing a ten mile race on 19 Oct - the Twickenham Cabbage Patch Run in case any other Londoners are about. The longest run I've done to date is 9 miles but I felt pretty fit after that, so I know I can go the distance. I usually run 5 miles twice a week, with one longer run of 7 or 8. Does anyone have any ten-mile tips?

I only have these tips:

Don't start out too fast and have fun! The only other thing I would tell you is to repeat the advice about not starting out too fast.

:)

To repeat the great advice you've already gotten: don't go out to fast at the start so you can save something for the finish. You want to look good crossing the finish line! ;)
Have a blast and come tell us how to went!


I did 5.14 miles this morning and thankfully didn't feel any ill effects from my under-fueled 10 miler debacle on Monday.

Tonight is run class!

Thanks Nelie for the biking advice. (I'm a little slow in replying, I need to catch up here a bit, I think!) It's what I thought -just give it a try. One day it will happen, I think -you know, you just decide, OK, I'm going to try it. thanks for the encouragement.

I have run a couple of 5K's in the past few weeks and they've been fun. In the last one, a totally flat course along a river, I did 24:05. Surprised myself, especially since I've been having trouble with asthma recently, but I have new medication and it helps a lot. After all, I do need to breathe to run, right?

I will be doing a xcountry 5K this Saturday and I'm really looking forward to it - I like the mental challenge as well as the physical. Plus, since each course is different, I can't compare times, and I just go out and run and enjoy it. This one is also interesting in that it is for women only, an annual event to encourage women of all ages to run. Right afterwards they have the county high schools championship event so we will stay and watch that too.

I did 8.4 miles yesterday and I'm thrilled I made it. My 2nd longest run ever!

Pink Geranium -- Oh jeeze, I lust after a 24:05 5k! I'm happy when I bring them in anywhere is the 28 min range. Congratulations! Did you win your age group with that time?

Hi Tyler, Yes, actually I did (win my age group), thanks for your compliments. I was jumping up and down like the kids do (I prefer to think I'm young at heart, not childish!). I have to say I was totally shocked by the time, although I thought I was going pretty fast, since the course was totally flat and easy to run. And it was a perfect pleasant morning to run. Cool and the course was shady.

I think I was also helped by the fact that a friend of ours who does about 22 minutes also ran the race and I was able to judge a bit from how far ahead of me he was at the turnaround (the race was a simple out and back). I don't run with a watch since given the way my mind works, I'd be looking at it every 10 yards and worrying about my speed, etc., so I usually just run along and let it be what it is. I felt pretty good and figured that it was all going fine, so just keep it up!

I was also very happy that no speedy 9 year olds passed me in the final quarter mile (like in the last race I did, and where do they get all that energy??? And this particular kid was running for a while with his shoes untied. As a mother I could not let that go and yelled at him to tie his shoe. He gave me that look, but he did stop and tie the laces, and then he STILL beat me...)

Anyway, it seems that my endurance is getting better as I was able to keep up a good pace at the finish rather than fading as I did at the beginning of the summer. I think this was also because I tried to run strong at the beginning, but not as hard as I have been doing, and then build up some speed, and then I wasn't tired out for the middle of the race.

Seems like I learn something every race! And it encourages me to keep trying.

I'm bad... I have a training plan... it says to run/walk for 16 minutes. Last night, I ran/walked for 33 minutes and it was a little over 2 miles. "oops" I had fun but it was kind of scary because it got dark quick and the roads were a bit deserted.

Congrats Geranium on the AG win! that is awesome.

Pink Geranium, :lol: at telling the kid to tie his shoes. I can just see him busting to pass you again. It might be a good racing strategy to "mother" your competitors though! "Have you had enough water?" "Where is your sunscreen?" Leave them perplexed and thinking as you fly by.

Congrats on the 24 min 5K. That's awesome!

Wow Pink, awesome time on that 5K and congrats on winning in your age group!

Nelie good job on your walk/run. I don't like running in the dark either. I really miss the longer days of sunlight minus the heat and humidity.

Great job pink.

I have been trying to get some miles in. This past wednesday I ran from Penn Station, NYC to my work site (5m) and then back after the work day. While I was at work I felt like I could fly. - wonderful.
Today I was aiming for 8 or 9 miles but allowed myself to get interrupted and ended up running 7 miles. The good news is that I realized my 6 mile loop used to be 80 min and it is now 70 min whereas my 7 mile run today was 80 min. SOunds like improvement, eh?

happy weekend, all.

Pink Geranium, well done on winning your age group! And how funny about the kid with the shoelaces, that sounds exactly like something I would have done.

My own little personal achievement this week? I'm doing week 4 of C25K, which is the 90 sec/90/3 min/3 repeats. Yesterday I got to the end of my second 3 minute jog, which finished a lap of the track I run at. I was feeling pretty good, so I decided to keep going and see how far I could go. I managed another entire lap! So I jogged for over 6 minutes straight, without stopping!.

I worked a night shift last night, and I wanted to go for another run when I got home. But I was totally knackered, so I decided sleep was more important and I'd do it when I got up.

Cheers chickies!

hey all, ive got my first 5K on thanksgiving lol oh i dont know how you guys go 5+ miles im so jealous, well my training plan from runners world has me going up to 6 miles on week 5. ive been jogging for a few months the most ive ever gone was 3 miles. my problem is if im not on a treadmill i never know how fast im going and i dont want to burn out maybe i need to do some pace counting in my head, i wonder if that would work hmmm.....

Kittycat ~you sound like you're definitely improving, awesome job on 7 mile run

Primm~ great job on week 4, running 6 minutes straight is super.

I went out this AM planning on a 4.6 mile run. I decided to keep going and ran 5.3 miles. I normally only run 3.5miles and didn't want to push it too much and make myself sore. Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty stoked. :D

awesome! :)

Congrats Lene!!

Haleygirl -- learning to pace yourself if part of the excitement of running. If you bonk a few times you'll really learn how to be conservative for the first few miles! ;)

I did 10.31 miles this morning and felt great -- definitely banished the memory of puking on my last 10 miler! I'm contemplating adding a half-marathon race at the end of November to my schedule because it has a fun space theme and I want Princess Leia and Captain Kirk to give me water!

how do you know exactly how far you go? my problem is im going to try and pace myself with my ipod because its a bikepath so i cant exactly drive through it and check the mileage that way lol

Some people use gps devices to tell them. When I get home, I try to map my runs online, there are a few good places to do it.

Hi gang, I'm back from a week out of town ... I had some AWESOME hikes in the mountains and just loved that cool clear autumn weather!! I didn't do a whole lot of running, but did get about 9 miles in on hilly trails. However, I hiked about 27 miles in 3 days. :D One morning, I ran in 48 degree weather, what a change for this South Florida gal. Loved it!!

Getting back home, I struggled through a hot and sweaty 13 miler yesterday ... I intended to do 15, but the 13 was about all I could manage. I don't know if it was the weather contrast, a fueling/hydration issue, or just not running enough the previous week. Two weeks ago, I did 14 miles and felt strong. I didn't have quite as bad an experience as Jo, just my butt was draggin'. At least, I didn't have to clean my shoes. :p

I'm going to sign up for my first 5K of the season, scheduled a week from Saturday. It should be a nice speed workout .... and I, too, lust after a 24 min 5K!! My quickest EVER was in the 26 min range. I just hope I haven't slowed down too much over the hot summer.

well im pretty sure i jogged 2 miles on the bikepath lol i went by my ipod cause i went to mapmyrun.com and i dont think it helped but ill look again

When I first started training, I picked up a copy of Microsoft Streets and Maps. It let me pull up a map of my neighborhood and "draw" out my running route. It calculated the distance for me, and I found it to be pretty darn accurate. I mapped out routes from 3 miles up to 14 miles, for higher mileage, I do loops. That was 5-6 years ago, I bet you could find something online now.

The other alternative is to get one of the fancy GPS thingys, but that would be more expensive.

hmm ya i have a gps but its not a road so i dont know how that would work but im gonna look into that microsoft thing, thanks!

Some people (not me!) have fancy GPS sports watches that are made for biking/running/etc so they keep track of that stuff.

I was able to drive my distance to track my miles. On the web there is a site called http://www.mapmyrun.com/create_new that you can track your distance.

thanks for all the answers! i tried to create my own but i ended up getting frustrated with it lol