SGeranium - i am skeeeerd right along with you.
Know what else is a bad idea? Getting a pedicure just before a race :(
I had a pedi on Monday and my big toe is sore - should have left the unruly feet until after the run.

Good luck SG - see you at the finish line!!

S

Hello everyone, finally get back into running this week after a really bad month. I jammed my toe at karate two weeks ago and it is still sore but I haven't had any issues this week so far, I'm hoping that will continue.

I'm at a loss as to what to do for my training right now. I have a half marathon scheduled for July 10th, and the last month I have basically not run due to stupidity and injury. I did 2 miles Monday and 1 yesterday, I'm aiming for 3 today. I'm just not sure where to go from here! What would you do as far as increasing mileage with 2 1/2 weeks to go? My longest run before I stopped was 6 miles I think. I'm fairly certain I can go the distance no matter what, whether or not I should well, we'll see. I appreciate any input :)

I suppose I should add that my foot doesn't hurt when I run since the shoes cushion it.

Hey everyone! Hope all is well and I am excited for those of you who have an upcoming half marathon! SGeranium, sznn, bigknitter, soo excited!

I totally tempted fate as well, my husband took me out for sushi the night before my race. Surprisingly enough my nerves weren't really that bad. I only got a little jittery right at the starting line waiting for the gun to go off. We got there pretty early, and I picked up my timing chip and walked around a bit. All the vendors were still setting up though so there wasn't much to look at. I met up with my friend who was there to support me and her mother in law. She planned on meeting her mil every few miles with water, aspirin, gu chewies whatever she may need and she volunteered to help me out as well. She also has a very expensive and sexy camera that she took pictures with. Haven't seen the pics yet, but I am excited and can't wait! (hope my face isn't too red, lol) Anyway, they had an 80's type warm up where we jumped around a bit and then stretched and we were soon on our way. I was not worried about speed at all, I took my time but also tried to stay with my friends mil. She was definitely faster than me, but I kept her in sight for most of the race. This was the most well organized race I have ever participated in. There were water stations and porta potties every 2 miles and I even got some extra water and encouragement from my friend in between water stations. They had powerade and water as well as a huge group of very encouraging up-beat volunteers. The scenery was beautiful, and there were only a few stretches where there was no shade and the sun was beating down on me. I forgot to wear sunscreen but didn't even get burnt. I was so worried the whole time that i would get injured or something would happen to prevent me from crossing that finish line, but I just kept pushing forward. At mile 6 they had water, powerade, and chocolate flavored guu. I grabbed it and held on to it until mile 8. It was very yummy! Tasted just like cake frosting. yum. I'm thinking my shoes are pretty much done because I started getting knee pain during the race. I never had any knee pain at all during my training so I was a bit worried. My mantra became "FORWARD not UP" to remind myself not to bounce so much and cause my knees any more stress. Shortly after mile 10 I looked up and my wonderful husband was walking towards me! He ran with me and helped push me when I wanted to start walking. He was such an amazing encouragement. When I had only about a mile left he went to the finish line to cheer me on. When there was only half a mile left there began to be so many people along the road side yelling and cheering. It was so amazing. I was pretty much by myself at that point i couldn't see any other runners ahead of me so it felt great that they were cheering for *me.* I almost teared up when I saw the finish line ahead of me but for fear of my throat closing up I got a grip. I sprinted across the finish line and got handed my finisher's medal and was met by my friend and my hubby. My legs were jello but I've never felt so good in my life. It was amazing! DH kept handing me things to refuel (water, bagel, fruit,). I had such a blast! My finish time ended up being 2 hours and 40 minutes and I took the number gladly. My main focus was simply to finish and I had met that goal. I was on top of the world.

The race was so amazing. The support was completely awesome and it really touched me. I would love to do this race again, but I won't be in the area this time next year. Oh well, I will have to look up local races back home. I am so glad I signed up for this race and even gladder that I stuck with the training and crossed that finish line. I am still sore!

EveL sounds like you had a great experience - congratulations!!! Gotta love a well organized race!

EVE - How awesome a story. I am sooo glad you had such a great experience. There is no other feeling is all i can say...

SGeranium - HI!!

I did fartleks on tuesday and skipped wed because my niece was born so i was at the hospital. But tuesday work out was awesome. Did some fartleks 4 X 400 and then some high knees and backwards running combo for 2 X400 . Then I just jogged a couple miles. I have really been working on my strength as well...trying so hard to improve speed and strength.

Everyone is doing fabulous, you're all such an inspiration to me.
After my interval workout on Tuesday I was having problems with my left ankle/shin/calf. Not really sure exactly what the problem is but have been icing it and although it was much improved yesterday I missed my usual step class to rest it. I have my first 5k race in 9 days and I really need to be able to do it after all the training I've put in, so am very wary of causing anymore harm before then.
This morning it felt a little better still, so I decided to go to the gym and see what I could do. I promised myself if it bothered me a lot when I ran I would stop and just spend the equivalent time on a different cardio machine. Anyway, although it felt a bit tight and uncomfortable to begin with it did ease off and I managed my full 6k steady run, and the rest of my workout.
And now although I'm sat icing it again, it doesn't feel any worse than it did this morning, so I'm crossing everything that it's going to be ok. Tomorrow is my day to either swim or run outside, so I'll see how it is in the morning and decide which I think is the best way to go. Just so relieved I could workout today, have only been able to exercise 3 times in the last week and I usually do at least 5 times, so I'm really feeling it.

Thanks, cake and congrats on your new niece!

Loving me, hope your 5k goes really well. Prepare to be addicted!

I haven't posted in here for some months, but now I'm running again, I'd like to reconnect with the other runners on 3FC! I took a few months off running for various reasons - too busy at work, too dark in the mornings to run outside (detest the treadmill), runner's knee flared up - but now I'm back at it. I still have some issues with my left knee, but it's manageable. I'm working towards a half marathon at the end of October, which is terrifying as my longest run ever is four miles! I'm comfortably running 3 miles now, and mostly on hilly routes (nothing flat near my house without driving to it!), so I feel good about doing a couple of 5k's in the next months. I also have a 10k pencilled in for September, which I think will be fun. I'm following Hal Hidgon's novice half marathon plan, which is 16 weeks, and using these first couple of weeks to get back into the groove of running 3-4 times a week. I also know I need to get back to the gym and start strength training to improve my legs, especially my quads to help support my dodgy knees.

Talking of support - has anyone tried the running tights by CW-X? They're expensive - like $90 - but I recently got some money as a gift and treated myself to a pair. They are major compression tights but they have additional support that mimics kinesio taping (like the US volleyball player at the last summer Olympics) - I don't know if there's scientific proof they work, but they sure make my legs feel better when I'm running!

Evel: Thanks for sharing. It sounds truly wonderful.

Sznn: I'm in corral 29. I'll be sending you strength vibes in the morning. Good luck my friend.

I think I have my shoe thing worked out cross your fingers that it doesn't go horribly wrong......................

i'm up to about 45 min running now after a broken foot in March. I've averaged 19min a day during June which i'm really happy about after only being able to do 5min at a time at the start of the month. I'm going to join in this thread next month if there's a July version (!) and aim for a race of some sort. 10Km?

Go all you running chicks!

Jules - i love the Skins. Mainly because they always make my legs the right temp and you never get chafeing when it's hot, and they're great if it's raining. A must-have for me for anything over 2hr.
Don't know about the post-run recovery thing that they're supposed to be for because i just use mine for running!

SGeranium - how was your run?
I had a fabulous run!!:carrot::carrot:
Great 1st time experience.
Fantastic route - but i must say that last 1km seemed waaaaay longer than the 1st 20!
Finished @ 2:18:17

Ready to do it all again next year... faster.
Kind of wished i signed up for next year at the expo - could have saved $40.

S

Sznn: Way to go!!!!!! That's fantastic. I didn't know you could get a discount at the expo . I totally missed a bunch of stuff there, to much stimulation for me.

my run was pretty good. I finish 2:43 which was a little slower than I hoped for,but realistic for sure. Great day though, perfect weather for a run, and everyone I ran into was in a great mood. With all my last minute shoe shenanigans I end up with only one blister and achy arches, so nothing tragic. I would also totally do it again.

My Dh rock his first race ever with a 3:43 in the full. My MIL qualified for Boston and won her age group in the full as well. Her advice is to keep running when your old when it's loads easier to win stuff. ;)A really great experience for all of us. Really great to do it together. ( except when everyone was crabby at the same time Thursday)

SGeranium - awesome job!! :cb:
It might be awhile till i get in an age bracket where i am the winner.
I was in the 45-49 y/o's ....and the winner ran almost 2X as fast as me.
S

6 miles yesterday...HM in September and November. Sooo longer runs to come.

Sgeranium and Sznn - WTG ladies, that is cool that you two ran the same race!!!

Geranium - glad your feet are okay

Congrats Eve and SGeranium... you gals absolutely ROCKED your halfs!! Great job all around! I'm so proud of you ladies. :)

Cake - nice to see you around! Running has been kind of iffy for me, too. Too much other fun stuff to squeeze in during these warm summer months.

I have a 4 mile race on Saturday, a duathlon (run/bike/run) in 3 weeks and a 10k after that. Also squeezing in a 14'er climb somewhere in there. Hoping upon hopes that my ITBS doesn't act up on the 14'er climb... that was the beginning of my issues last time.

good luck FatPants - i've had ITBS issues for the last couple of years too. It never really goes away for me, and it tolerates me doing about 3-4hrs a week but i have to be careful going over that..... Very dull!

Hi, everyone! I used to love running but I haven't done it in several months for many different reasons. I decided to try my first half marathon in October so I began training today. Started off with a 3.1 mile run which was not as bad as I thought it was going to be, considering it's been some time since I've done it. I've been doing Insanity workouts, though, and that's really helped my endurance and strength. Can't wait to get to know everyone!