Hey everyone! I haven't been posting here, but I've been working at my weight-loss goal. I've been working out everyday (besides yesterday because I was really sore from weights!) and running. I haven't been doing distance lately though I've had some really great sprints!

FAT- the 7 am start means you have to catch the requred shuttle at like 5 am
i did it last year.
it sucked

IM SORRY!! Im not trying to rain on your HM Parade.....i was just trying to recall pros/cons of running that race!! Theres only ONE short section where you even FEEL like you are going up hill, as i recall, which is GREAT!

LOL no worries! Did you stay at a hotel in town the night before? I'm thinking that's what we'll have to do. My in-laws live in Brighton but that's still 1.5 hrs away from FoCo. I don't foresee me getting up at 3 a.m. to drive from their house.

yay
we got a hotel..... one of the ones associated with the race ( NOT the hilton) so we got a discount. Maybe ramada?? the good thing about staying at a hotel associted with the race is that they provided a shuttle TO the Shuttles!!

I hurt my achilles yesterday. All the research I've done says absolutely no running until it's pretty much healed. I'm seeing my pod today though, and getting new shoes (old ones are too big from my weight loss, I think that contributed to the problem).

I still woke up at 4am, and am bored and itching to go for a run. Who knew this could be so addictive?

Yes, it looks like the walkers at this race go FAST, at least fast compared to me right now the website lists last year results...winning race walker did the 5K in 33:08.1. The slowest person took just over an hour, so I know I can at least beat him (I hope )

The winning runner came in at 19:19.77 (female) and 16 something for the top male.

I will just be a fun walker this time around that's okay with me.

I hope to be addicted one day, right now it's just hard....hard but feels good in the end, surprisingly (walking, not running just yet). I also hope you heal very quick and can get back out there where you belong.

Do you go by yourself? I'm hoping to convince my hubby to go with me to mine and I want to put my little boy in the kid's race, i think he'd like it. i wondered though if some people go on their own, as I may have to.

33:08! Yowza, that is some FAST walking! That is faster than I jogged my first 5K!

World class racewalkers can do 7-8 min miles!! But to achieve that, they have to have a very quick pace and racewalking looks awkward and kind of painful to me! I'd rather jog, it seems much more natural.

Primm - I hope you heal quickly! Yes, this running thing IS addictive.

MK - is the running going better now that you've taken a bit of a break?

I've got a busy weekend ahead: TWO parties today, one tomorrow. I plan to do an easy 5 miler tomorrow morning (as usual) and then am shooting for 18 on Sunday morning. My marathon-training friends are scheduled for 22, so we are starting at 4 am. Even though I'm only training for halfs, I've been gradually trying to increase my long run, to see how the knees hold up. I've done several 16 milers, so now I want to step up. So far, so good. If I can make it to 20 miles without problems, then, maybe (possibly), I might CONSIDER training for a full marathon next year. I'm a little gun-shy, because my first full marathon experience (back in 2004) wasn't very positive and the training just about killed. It was too much for me at the time. But, I'm in a totally different place physically now AND I'm training with a group (I went solo the first time), so we'll see .... I really do like halfs, they are just no pressure to complete.

I have tried racewalking but I kept breaking out into a jog, the walking that fast actually burned and hurt more than just running, so I think I will build up my natural walking pace and then start running instead. I was just amazed at how fast they can go walking though!

7-8 mm??? That's faster than I can run!

MBN - if I remember correctly, you did your marathon with the 10 min run/1 min walk strategy, right? How do you think that worked for you? There is a training group here that does the 4 min run/1 min walk Jeff Galloway (I think) plan. Not sure how I feel about it or if I'd rather just run and judge my walk breaks as needed.

Primm - hope you heel quickly!

MK - thanks for the tips. I'm glad you're on here, I would never know to do these things!

Youre Welcome, Fat!!
One more thing to note, i see you mentioned a running group (the 4 mi run/walkers)..are you thinking about for MArathon Training?
Heres the-- some people REALLY NEED to be part of a running/training group to finish marathon training. Training for a marathon is VERY LONELY, when you do it solo. You have to consider if you are going to be able to handle very long/lonely hours spent doing long runs........were taling 3 to 4 + hour runs by yourself.......

MBN-- im actually freaking out. I have this pent up energy that is just about boiling o ver from not being able to run outside all week!! IM FREAKING OUT I told myslef last night that i would do 8 miles this morning outsde, no matter what! Then when i got up (at 3 am), the temperature was NEGATIVE 10 DEGREES. I woulda ran if it had been just above 5, i was so desparate! GRRRRrrrrrr.......... DOWN WITH TREADMILLS

Yep - probably going to do the Mountain Air Marathon in September if the half marathon goes well. I don't know if it is too much too soon, but DH and I keep talking about having kids and I want to get this stuff knocked out next year before I get knocked up, know what I mean?

I think a running group will keep me motivated AND keep me from wimping out. If I run with other people I will be like, well crap I can't quit now, everyone is watching! I joined the Pikes Peak Road Runners at my last race and this group is associated with them - they do "long runs" anywhere between 6-15 miles on Saturday mornings and use the Jeff Galloway plan. I will probably start up with them in January or February. I should start up in January so I can practice for the Snowman Stampede 10M.

Im starting to have serious doubts about training for a marathon in the winter around here.....

ok!! It is 6 am!!! it is 14 degrees! i AM RUNNING OUTSIDE TODAY!! WAHOOS!!! Just waiting for the sun to come up so i can SEE the icy patches!! Want to do 20, will end up doing around 10..... (time constraints, and its DAMN COLD OUT) Hope everyone gets their runs in!!

and i am doing this run slow, slow SLOW........... AaAAhhhhhhh........... maybe a 9 min mi?? then again i havent ran outside all week-- i might not be able to contain myelef and hold back!!