I agree with FatPants. The humidity kicks my butt worse than the heat, so I always watch the humidity levels as well as pollen. Something down here in the South just gets my allergies going, drives me batty.

FP: Congrats on signing up for the run!

And thanks, Cake. My "avi" as you put it is from one of Gina Carano's earlier fights. She's my main source of fitness inspiration. Just adore her.

Sorry cake- i have no experience running in high humidity or really high heat.....no help here!!
FatPants- Congrats in signing up for the 10k!!! it is SUCH a fun distance!!

So, my marathon training just *kicked* up another notch, mileage wise. This week my 2 moderate-distance pace runs are each 8.5 miles. And this weekend i have my first ever 20 mile run (uber stressed about THAT, dont want to talk about it now!! ) All i can think going into this 8.5 miles this morning was how DESPERATELY i needed a "good" run! REALLY. It has been BAD for the past 4 or 5 runs at LEAST...it SUX. My 12 miles on sunday was a godawful suck fest, my easy 5 miler on Friday was a suckfest, my intervals on wedsday and 7 miler on thursday were ALL SUCKY SUCK FESTs!! (FYI, i DID get to see the meteor shower wedsnday morning between 430am and 530am when i was at the track running intervals, which was AWESOME). So, thats why i havent been posting. I know its not an excuse. Like i said, i NEEDED to have a good run this am, and i DID!! FINALLY. I was on the ball, holding paces, charging up hills, hauling ***....i LOVED IT. I remember now that i DO like running .... Great all-around run, and i NEEDED it.
8.43 miles = 1:06:and change. I was averaged an 8 min. mile, in reality though, that is not true, because the first 4 miles of the run are ALL UP HILL (it SUX!), and the LAst 4 are, you guessed it, DOWN and flat! Really more gently and rolling, but nice. So i HAULED those last 4 miles, running between 6:15's (not lying!!) and 7:45's. Its the slow first 4 miles that dragged my time down!! Anyway, like i said i am pleased. Im not going to push my luck though, tomorrow i have off from running, so i go in and do a 5am cycle class instead..
How is everyone else doing?? FYI at my WI on fri i lost 2 WHOLE Pounds, in ONE week!!! AND im on stabilization!!! Im not supposed to be loosing weight any more! Its all these extra calories came right at the right time in my training and my body is eating them up, and burning fat like a machine!

Cake - I totally understand how you feel. One crappy run can be so discouraging, but the heat and humidity both KILL me, so I really wouldn't worry about it. You're doing so well and are clearly in awesome shape, so just keep it up and I'm sure your next run will be great again!

Fat Pants - Go 10K!!! That's so awesome! I can't wait for mine, and then we can trade stories about our first 10K experiences!

Mk - Wow girl, you're kicking butt! Doesn't a great run just make your day? Especially after a few bad ones, but everyone gets into ruts, and you've clearly beat yours and I'm sure will have an insanely awesome (and maybe slightly challenging...haha) 20 mile run!!

I was supposed to run 6 miles yesterday morning, but I think Monday morning at 5:45am, my body was just not ready for it, so I made it 4.5 and stopped. But tomorrow morning will be another attempt at 6 miles, so I'll let you all know how it goes! Quick question for you all: right now, I'm only running outside on Saturdays because Mon/Wed mornings it's dark out, and I'm kind of scared to run in the dark around my neighborhood (it's not super sketchy but not the safest), so do you think that's ok in terms of training for the 10K? Is that putting me at a disadvantage since I'm not really training outside? I'll probably have to change that for my half marathon training, but is it ok for now?

Thanks!!

Takingcharge- I think as long as your training at least one day a week outside you will be perfectly fine.....is saturday one of your longer runs? Id definitely make your outdoor run your longer run of thee week. Also, when you ARE running on a treadmill, if you set the incline to 1.0 or 1.5 it will better simulate running outside (road/wind resistance, no moving belt under your feet , etc) I admire all of you with the patience to run on a treadmill!!!! Cant stand it myself, not for any distance!! Even in the dead of winter i would prefer to just bundle up and brave the cold or snow then run on a treadmill, unless its super icy...thats just not safe. BTW, i always run in the dark, and my neighborhood is more than a *little* sketchy . ... . Honestly though, at 4 or 5 am, most people you encounter on the road are just trying to make it on time to an early shift, and arent up to no good...and when i see someone walking, i just run a wide path around them! i KNOW i could outrun them if i had too!!! PLus i stick mostly to main roads, that are heavily-ish trafficked and decently lit.....
As far as the 20 miler, i wouldn't go so far as to say "insanely awesome"....maybe "ludicrously awesome"? or "outrageously awesome", which we all know is one step above ludicrously awesome and one step below "insanely awesome"!!! In any case, i will be lucky merely to survive it.....and that is all im giong for on that run.. on the PLUS SIDE, i told my BF to go ahead and make that cake hes been itching to bake, cuz after running 20 miles, im going to definitely allow myself a well deserved indulgence!!

Mk - Thanks for the response! Right now, my 6 mile is on the treadmill, but as my training buddy and I get better with running outside (right now we're at 4.5miles), I think I'll make the Saturday outdoor run the long one. I actually always use the 1% incline on the treadmill and it definitely makes a huge difference! I know the treadmill training will carry over to outside, but it's just a slower process than it would be if I were only training outside, I think. Maybe I"ll try running in the dark and see if it's dangerous or not.

You definitely deserve to have some cake after such a long run!! Work your butt off and then enjoy your success!

Ok so I took 2 weeks off to try and heal. After quite a bit of research it all seemed to point to a strained hip flexor.

Today I went out again but went back to wk4 of the C25k program (3 min run, 90 sec walk, 5 min run, repeat) . About halfway through it started again. ARGH!!!

Interesting though I realized if I ran faster (longer strides) it didn't hurt....but I couldn't keep it up more than 30 sec.

I'm not sure what to do next. Any advice?

MK - glad you got in a good run! Ahhh I can't even fathom doing 8.5 miles right now, let alone 20...that's incredible. I know the "suckfest" feeling all too well - I had a sucktacular 5k run on Saturday. Right when I feel like I want to throw in the towel for good, a good run comes along...nice timing to keep us motivated, huh??

TC - YES! We'll definitely have to trade 10k stories... I am sooo excited to have another race before the year is over. As for treadmill vs outside - I started running on the treadmill but now I can't stand to do it. I really admire you and everyone who can do TM running... it just wreaks havoc on me mentally because I just stare at the clock and then I start to focus on how tired I am... lol. So I do all of my running outside - not sure what's going to happen during the winter because unlike Mkroyer, I hate running outside when it's cold!! I'll either have to suck it up and do it or run on the treadmill again. ANYWAY. I do find a huge difference between running outside vs treadmill. There are just so many variables that you get when running outside that you can't truly simulate on the TM. But I think doing your long runs on Saturday outside is a great idea, especially if you don't feel comfortable running outside so early in the morning. Also, do you know what the 10k route is? I found that - for my 5k - running the course once a week has REALLY helped me prepare for it... there is a huge hill for the first MILE of the race and I know if I hadn't checked it out, there is no way I could run the whole thing without stopping. Hill training does wonders for strength and speed!

crcossel - I deal with IT Band issues (outside knee pain) and have found a lot of help with a foam roller that you use to relax and work out the inflammation of the muscles. My guess is the same can be used for hip flexor issues - here's a video showing how to do it: http://ofit.wordpress.com/2009/07/28...r-for-runners/

My protocol is usually stretching/massaging my IT Band, run, use the foam roller and possibly Advil to reduce inflammation if it is bad. Sometimes it bothers me, other times it doesn't. This is where I bought my foam roller: http://www.zombierunner.com/store/ca...ry_prevention/ It helps a lot!

Well ladies, as for me my long run is today. I did 3.5 miles on Monday and today is a 5-miler. Monday's run was so-so... I need a good run today! Also - VERY happy this week because I finally hit the 160s!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!

Woohoo! Congrats!!! A carrot line for you!

Fat Pants - Congrats on breaking into the 160's! I'm so happy for you! You're so in the swing of things these days - way to go!!

Crcossel - Sorry about your injury! What a bummer! Have you been the to PT at all? I'm sure they can give you some specific exercises in case the ones Fat Pants suggests don't work for your specific injury. Make sure to keep icing and you could even try taking advil before your run to see if the anti-inflammatory action helps prevent the pain. Good luck!

I was able to make it through my 6 mile run this morning! It was really tough, way harder than the past 2 times I did it, but I think my body's just tired and stressed from starting school again and sleeping less these days. I had to take 2 quick water breaks, but ultimately ran all the way through, so I'm not too upset! Yay for good long runs!

I wrote this big long post and the internet connection went out great! I got 9.25 miles done yesterday in 1:50 . Yeah it was slow but IDC I did it. I love running again. I have to remember every run is not a good run. I usually remember that but sometimes I don't remind myself

MK - You will kill the 20 miler like you always do. But for now liek you said focus on your 8.5 miler and then cross the 20 mile bridge when you get to it

TC - Yay for your long rin. I feel you on running outside in the dark. I don't feel comfortable with it. I do one a week outside otherwise I am on the TM and I seem to be just fine.

FatPants - how was your long run?

Ok so this is really interesting...

Yesterday I went out running but I decided to go back to week 3 of C25k (this is hard mentally because I've already completed a 25 min run!) Anyway, week 3 is 5 min warm-up, 90 sec run, 90 sec walk, 3 min run, 3 min walk,repeat then 5 min cool down.

Ok, so I stepped up my speed. I would say about double what I was doing before. 2 things i noticed.

1. My hip flexor didn't hurt. I did feel a slight ache in the last 3 minute run but no sharp pain.

2. It was hard. I had to work alot harder to run faster. I had a hard time catching my breathe when I was done.

I don't know if I should keep this up. It will be alot harder to do longer runs at this pace but obviously something changes when I slow down.

-Candice

crcossel- based on everything youve written lately about your hip problems, and hwat seems to make it go away and come back, i would take a gander that it is your FORM that is causing stress on your hips!
When you run fast maybe you open up your stride more, land on a different part of your hip, run more smoothly, any of the above...I know when i run slowly i feel like a clydesdale clomping along....If its too difficult to maintain that faster pace that makes the pain go away, then try and focus on HOW you are running when you are running faster, what is different about it, then try to incorporate that into your slower pace.....Theres a great book out there entitled "Chi Running", and it stresses using good form, fluid and efficient movements, etc to improve running and eliminate pain.... might be something you want to check out??
Cake batter-- WAHOOS!! on the 9.25 miler!!! WHo cares if it was slow, as long as it FELT GOOD?!?! I too have to constantly remind myself that not every run can be a winner!! But its so HARD when we desparately want them to be winners! All of them!! But just getting out and finishing it, even ifit WAS a suckfest, will make you a better runner in the end...

ALL-
So im pretty sure most of us here are very quickley approching our goal races in the next few upcoming weeks, if not sooner!! Why dont we all give a quick recap about which race we are doing, where it is, why we chose it, and goals for it (just FINISHING is a goal), and whatever else seems appropriate to tell....
Ill start:
I am now seven weeks out from my first full marathon, the Denver Marathon.... Its on OCtober 18th, which also happens to be my birthday, which is one of the big reasons i chose to do this marathon for my first!! The course is also flat, and fast, another big bonus for a first time marathon. At this point, i am just going to finish it! Possibly a fun finish?? Secretly though, with the way ive been running as of late, im REALLY hoping for a sub 4 hour time.....if i dont get it, no big deal, but seriously, how cool would that be for a first marathon???
In between now and then i have 2 20 mile races, and one more half marathon. after my last 20 mile training run around september 20th or so, then i begin TAPER MADNESS...for those of you not familiar with the term, it is the RIDICULOUSLY long period before a marathon (about 3-4 weeks) where you start reducing your mileage to allow your body to fully recover for the marathon. 4 weeks though?? That is RIDICULOUS!! It is also why they call it taper madness!! I will go INSANE only running 3-10 miles at most for even my longest runs!!! On the other hand...its going to be WONDERFUL....

Upcoming Race: VA Beach Rock n' ROll Half Marathon. I started running in late december and I ultimately (didn't know when) wanted to run a ahalf marathon. So I set up 5ks here and there! I realized how quickly I was progressing and decided the Labor Day HM was a perfect amount of time away plus it is one year anniversary of my WL journey. So I started a training program and here I am averageing 20-23 miles a week! I have 2 weeks until race day...


Crcossel - I am not what it is but it seems like it takes more work to run slower and I get weird little pains but as soo as I speed up its gone. I would say run the pace that is comfortable to you. endurance will come eventually.

Hi girls! My upcoming race (and first race ever!) is the Santa Monica 10K on 10/11. It's a pretty flat course and runs right along the ocean for a bit! Should be beautiful. My goal is to finish in under an hour, but since I only have about 6 works to get down from my normal 10min/mil, I'm not sure that'll happen, but it's ok! I'm excited to finish my first race and then really start training for the half!

Mk - Wow, you have so many races lined up! I'm sure you've talked about this before, but would you mind sharing a little bit of your running history with us? If you've posted it somewhere else or earlier on this thread (sorry I didn't check), feel free to just direct me there.

Question for you all: what do you do when all of your running makes you STARVING?? Sometimes I'm hungry on the days I run, sometimes I'm famished the day after, but I feel like now that I'm running much more than before, I get these days when I just want to eat everything around me! Any suggestions? Thanks!