I'll add in a comment about the cold. I live in a pretty cold place aka whenever I'm asked where I go to school, people TELL me how cold it is and how much it snows. When I run outside in winter, I tend to wear obviously sweatpants, thick socks, THIN long-sleeve shirt with a tank underneath and maybe, a hat if it's really bad. I agree with midwife and mkroyer, I overheat SO QUICKLY that I basically wear the same exact things in fall...

thanks for all the advice!! I have one moisture wicking shirt but I think I'll hunt for a long one and find a shell to wear to block the wind. I went to the gym today and it was 40 degrees when I left work... got out of the car and thought "see this isn't so bad, I can TOTALLY stand running in winter.." and then the wind blew. And then I booked it inside the gym because I HATE BEING COLD! (Midwife, sounds like you can relate!) By the way, I am in Colorado Springs. So glad to have so many Colorado girls on this thread... you all can relate and tell me what to do! And today it went straight from summer to WINTER... we had snow down here at 6500ft...can you believe it! I have been here for 16 years and I don't ever remember getting snow this early... I'm in denial...

I had a fantastic run today. 5 miles in under 55 minutes. I ran a 10:19 pace consisstently for three miles! Woot i hope to be running 10 min miles by end of October!!!!!

Just wanted to post that. Personals in the morning. Muwaahhh! XOXOXO

Good morning ladies! I must remember to check in here on my non-running days too so that I don't get too far behind!

MK~ So glad to hear you had a fantastic run!!! That's awesome!! Take care of that hip, I hope it's nothing serious!

Lizzy~ I do the loopy thing my laces too--it helps tons with my heel slipping. I hope you're able to get someone to really help you! I bad fitting pair of shoes can be such a pain! I ended up returning my first pair too and I'm so glad I did!

TakingCharge~ Oooh a date! That sounds like it was fun!! Thanks, yeah, I was pretty bummed out about that run--it's been so long since I ran regularly (like 20 years!!) that I'd forgotten how some runs are better than others. Hey, when you're running on the treadmill, how do you keep from going bonkers from boredom? My treadmill is in my basement and I do my HIIT workouts on it, but running for 30+ mins would drive me batty! I don't know if I could stand staring at the wall that long! Maybe I should turn on a tv or something (even though I wouldn't be able to hear it over my super loud treadmill).

loquacious~ Welcome! These ladies are super sweet and have lots of great info to share! I'm a newbie to running so I can't be of much help, but good luck on your 5K this week!!

CakeBatter~ Congrats on a great 5 mile run!!! Thanks for the advice too!

jayjay~ The one cross country course I ran on (in H.S.) was on a trail in a wooded area behind the H.S. It was a little hilly but not horrible. If it's a dirt trail you just have to watch out for holes--that's what did me in. Hit one just right, rolled my ankle and re-injured my knee, it was the last race I ran.

Fatpants~ congrats on getting that 5 miles in!! Sorry your knee is giving you issues--are you wearing a brace or anything? I keep waiting for my knee to start giving me problems and I'm wondering if I should wear a brace of some sort as a preventative measure? Brrr! Snow already? Wow! This has been a weird year for weather!

Sharon~ Congrats on your first 5K!! That's awesome!!!

Ilene~ thanks for the pic of that jacket and sharing your system with us! I've been wondering if I'm going to brave the colder weather here or move it indoors...

Iris~ how fun to be training with a group!! I hear ya on the Arizona heat--I've only been there a couple of times, but it was right in the middle of Summer and wow was it hot!!


Well, my run today went much better than Saturday's!! You ladies weren't lyin'!! I ran my 3 miles in about 32:15 or so (couldn't read the seconds very well because it was still dark out ) and didn't feel like quitting the whole time. My knees and hips are griping less afterwards too, although I did get a little crampy (menstrual-like cramps), but I'm thinking that might be because I'm due for TOM today.

I've got a question for you ladies. I run pre-breakfast at about 5:30 in the morning, then I come home, shower (if I'm lucky) and eat breakfast at around 8:00 (got to get kids fed, lunches made, etc.). My 5K doesn't start until 9:30 and obviously I'm going to need some food before then or I'm going to have a hard time running it. My question is, what do you think I should eat before the race? I know if I ate my regular breakfast I'd feel sick 5 mins in from being full, so maybe a protein bar or something? If so, any type in particular? I'm not all that familiar with them.

Okay girls, I'll quit now. Have a wonderful day!!

iDream - Re: knees - I hiked a 14'er this year and on the way down, irritated my iliotibial band (it's a tendon that runs from your hip to your outer knee), and my knee's been giving me problems on and off ever since. The biggest mistake I keep making is running when I should be rest. But it's so hard not to run! I don't wear a knee brace, though I do have an IT Band "strap" that's supposed to help. So far I think it makes it hurt more than helps.

Before my first race I ate a Powerbar... it's not too heavy and has enough calories (220) to get my energy up. I like the "smoothie" ones.... they're about the only type of energy bars that I can choke down.

iDream - I also run about 545 and don't eat until 8ish. My first 5k began at 8, so I got up at my usual time and ate a banana first thing. This Saturday, I'm running a 5K that starts at 10! So I will probably get up early and eat a banana and peanut butter toast at least a couple hours ahead of race time - but I will be keeping an eye on this thread to see what the rest of you suggest!

I'm also curious about pre-race food. My half marathon will be starting at 7 am... earlier than I want to eat but I know I need something in my system!

Sharon has the right idea RE:Before race food. I was going to suggest a whole wheat bagel (or toast) with peanut butter. Cut up like half a banna and put it on top. Drizzl a little honey on it....mmmmmm......delicious!

Mk - Congrats on the awesome run! I knew it would come back to you. It just takes one great run and now you're back! Yay!

Cake - Congrats to you too on the great run! What a great improvement in your pace!

Idream - So glad you had a good run! Running for an hour on the treadmill actually isn't too hard for me. For one, it's a lot easier physically that running for an hour outside, and I turn on an interesting show (west wing, law and order, etc) and just let that run in the background. Sometimes my mind just wanders about my day and other random thoughts, other times I would pay someone $100 to tell me it's ok to stop running on that damn treadmill (haha), but like any other running, it has its ups and downs. In terms of eating, I've never done a race, but have read a lot about eating something like a banana+pb or a cliff bar at least 1-2 hours before the race. I would suggest trying it one morning if you can, just to see what your body handles best.

As for me, I got in a great interval run today. 3 miles in 27:55! Mk, I took your advice and did all the fast bursts at 8:30 instead of starting off slower and it felt great. I did the recovery periods at 9:40, so also a little faster, but I was feeling good and was definitely exhausted by the end. I'm excited for all of our upcoming races! So much reporting to come!

It's a running room brand, but all the sports company have something similar, I've seen Nikes, Adidas, just pop into a running store... A tip for running in the winter is that you should feel slightly chilly when you start out. I also wear shorts or capris for as long as possible in the Fall....

No run for me yesterday and today, I'm just feeling really lazy... I've gone to the gym and I biked yesterday, so I'm just not sitting idle...

Hello everyone! I love reading about what everyone is doing..and dreaming of the day I'll be running as fast and/or as far!

I ran 3.5 miles on Sunday (which went just fine) and then Sunday night I did a half hour of leg workouts on the EA Active Sport on my Wii with my teenager (and kicked his a$$ by the way ) and...oh man were my legs sore yesterday!!

In fact, they are still sore today so I think that doing both in one day was just too much!

So, needless to say, my run today was rather crappy and I only did 2+ miles. I know I won't have time to run tomorrow anyway, so hopefully by Thursday, my legs will feel better.

Lesson learned, I guess: Only try to out "squat" your fifteen year old son on non-running days!!

In total today I came in just under 3 miles, but they were intervals on the track. Two of those miles were all run/jogging... although the slow jogs were slow enough that another woman was power walking along beside me!

So far what I've been told about pre-race food is to do what your body is used to as much as possible. My answer to that is my body is NOT used to getting up at 4 am to drive and then running over 13 miles starting at 7!! I love PB but I always feel like eating it before I exercise it's all a rock in my stomach... anyone else get this feeling?

I've had good luck with like half a PBJ Sandwich.

I need to hear more about winter time running. We get a lot of snow where I live and I'm trying to figure out how it is that you all enjoy running in snow. Because here, with snow comes compact ice. The sidewalks are hit-and-miss as to whether or not they'll be shoveled and usually the streets are a lot narrower due to the snow. So for all you snow-runners--how and where do you do it? And WHEN? In the winter, it doesn't get light till after 7 AM (I have to be to work at 8) and it's dark by 4:30 PM (I get off at 5). So I'm assuming that you guys are also running in the dark? I don't want to give up my budding running career, but running in the dark on icy streets in 10 degree weather sounds a little scary!

for all you cold runners.....i am DEATHLY afraid of the winter. I will out there as long as I can. But around late November I will become a bear and hibernate....in a gym....on a treadmill! HA!
I know ya'll are tired of hearing this but I am so excited about my new normal pace. I mean 10:42 PACE is so awesome for me! And know I can run that fast for about as long as want!

As for eating before running....I always eat fruit or like a 1/2 c of beans/legumes and that is still like 45-60 min before I run.

TC~ -28 min WOW! You are doing so awesome.....i am looking up to you....

momof5~ That is funny. By thursday you will be feeling good as new. How did your son feel about getting his a$$ kicked by his mother...LOL

FatPants~ How are your knees doing?

MK~ I think I am going to try your wheat bagel, banana, honey recipe....sounds yummy. How have you been feeling??

Iris~ People used to power walk past me all the time But slowly but surely I got faster and so will you!

Mk, ilene, iDream, idealmuse, windchime