jojo- thanks!

due to my angry knees, i have to take a break. im thinking of resting for two scheduled runs, which means my next rrun will be on saturday. however, in the meantime, i've cut my calories and i am doing jillian michaels yoga as well as playing in my xbox kinect... i am so addicted to running, though!

Anyone care to share their favorite running pants? I ran in yoga pants last winter, the heavy, black, cotton type, but they are too big now and were never the best for running. I want something that isn't too tight, but that doesn't have a flowy, loose leg either. I am thinking a full length running tight with a running skirt would fit what I am wanting, some coverage but with ease of movement, but I want another less fou-fou, girly option

whenever i'm after new running pants i pick up literally about 10 pairs and go and try them all on. Maybe i'm a weird shape or something, but i just can't tell by looking at them how they're going to fit.
Avoid cotton though and go for the specialist synthetic stuff if you can.

aimebell While I prefer to run in quick-dry, to-your-butt running shorts (seriously! I love having my legs free!), I live in India where woman aren't even supposed to be running in public anyway so I have to be more modest.

I just wear cheap cotton black 3/4 length leggings. I have a pair of expensive Nike Dri-Fit 3/4 length pants too, but the cheap cotton ones work just fine :)

ncuneo I could feel some relief after the first session, but it took a few sessions to mitigate the discomfort continually. It really hurts the first time, or the first time you do it in a while, but it's so worth it!

aimebell: I agree with ange82much - it really is essential that you find a material for running (cotton is terrible for running, it doesn't let your skin breathe!). I personally like adidas clima-lite; nike dri-fit is also okay. Of course my favorite-ever running clothing is by Falke - expensive german quality running clothing. If you buy anything from Falke, you'll never notice you are wearing it and it lasts for years! Try to buy running apparel, if possible, at special sport-stores or a running store (or an online store for runners). It really is worth the extra money - the right clothes and shoes will definitely improve your running and make it overall more enjoyable.

I also skeptically bought a pair of Mizuno's last time I was in America. I'm usually in Brook's. Anyway, the Mizuno's have been surprisingly really nice and offer a tad bit more cushion than the Brook's - really great for harder, city surfaces.

So, just did a quick 6km and yoga yesterday. It was a good run - one of those surprise days .... I had tons of energy and could have ran longer, but my boyfriend didn't had time - he had to pack his bags for a business trip.

I'm going to continue the shorter sprints, but put in more time on cross training this week.

Poll: does listening to music improve your running or distract your breathing?

Hey girls, I've just started running in my gym and I must say I love it! I just love those hill-like programmes and having control over my route! Plus, I'm all alone in the gym at 6 am, yaaay :D

Ran 6.5km on Tuesday. It started lightly raining - a bit cold, but I love running when it drizzles!

Aleksandra: there are so many days I wish I had a treadmill! (my apartment is small and european - big exercise equipment is a no-go) I saw your exercise journal - pretty cool! I love how consistent you are, its very motivating to me.

Hi all, new runner here. After hating running my entire life (I used to seriously dread running the mile in PE in high school), I was shocked to find out last week that I can actually do it relatively comfortably now and even enjoy it! My longest run so far has been 2.6 miles, and that was at a very slow pace (really, I'm jogging, not running, but I have to start somewhere!). A co-worker recently sent a link to a 5K race at the beginning of Nov, and at the time I thought there was no way I could even run part of it... but now I'm thinking about registering. I put together a training schedule for the next month, and if I can get through the 3.5 mile run on the treadmill at the end of next week I'm going to go ahead and register. I am excited to see where this goes!

Tonight was just 1.5 miles, but at a faster pace than the longer runs. On Friday I'll attempt 3 miles at the slower pace.

Hi, my name is Rebecca, a running addict :) It's great to meet others who struggle with the same addiction as I do :) lol

just kidding :) But it is great to meet others who love this as much as I do. I started running at the beginning of April and ran my first 5k on April 16. Now I'm training for my first 1/2 marathon that is scheduled for Nov. 20. I haven't lost much weight b/c of running but I feel so much better and am so much more confident! Can't wait to get to know you all :)

Welcome! Nice to talk with fellow running addicts - it is really so super for mental health and general well-being.

I did 6.5km today. It actually was one of those really energetic runs, where you feel like you could just run forever, like Forest Gump. Those don't happen very often!

I'm actually wandering if it is partly due to my small weight loss this past month. My muscles were expecting 170lbs, but I don't weigh that much right now....

Ran 3 miles today - another personal best - I finally broke under 30 minutes - 29:48. When I started running outside just a few short months ago, I seriously could not even THINK that I would be able to break 36 mins let alone under 30. It's very surreal.

I have to tell you that I have been doing a lot of core work lately - a lot of balance ball ab and back work, and my running has improved dramatically since then - both in terms of time as well as form and I'm not sore in my shoulder area like I was after running.

A friend who is a competitive biker told me that running (like biking) relies heavily on your core, but does not work it. So core work is really important. And, oh, yeah, my balance is really improving as well!

Holy Moly!! That's a great time!! I've not improved any more than 33 minutes. It seems like that's as fast as I can go right now. I have been trying to train a friend for a 5k, and she just began running so we don't get too far during the week. Tomorrow I have 8 miles and I'm really looking forward to it :carrot: So keep up the good work peeps!

Sorry I've been MIA guys...work has been...well hectic. Back to 10 hour days for a few weeks and while the extra cash is awesome and so needed right now, it's metally exhausting.

Running has been going awesome! 3,5,3 this week and am going to do 8 Sunday to reach 800 miles for the year. With my marathon training I should have no troubles reaching 1000 for the year.

Oh and have I mentioned that the foam roller is the greatest thing since sliced bread! My knees feel the best they've felt in months and I was able to do full expressions of poses in yoga this week that I've been struggle with forever. Speaking of which I really need to go do some now. :)

So I've been really getting into detail about my marathon training in my blog over at runnersworld. Maybe I'll eventually get around to linking it in my siggy. But my user name is the same over there if anyone wants to follow my trials and tribulations. It sure to really interest when that milage ramps up.

Oh and one other thing I have to mention PODCASTS! I have found the most fabulous podcast. It's called Two Gomers. They have one about them running a half marathon, then one about running a full and then one about them trying to run a full faster. It's just two regular guys with no running experience. It's fun and really motivating. Another one I also like, I may have mentioned it already, is marathon training academy. More technically but equally awesome.

Alrighty, that's it for me today. Have a great weekend everyone.

Just wanted to pop in here, and say that I've been keeping up my walking/running intervals. I'm now doing a 4 minute warm-up walk (mostly uphill). I then do running intervals either to 19 minutes, or until I reach 5 or 6 full minutes of running altogether. Not bad since I started at only doing 2-3 whole minutes of running altogether.

I'm trying to do my first 3 (at least) running intervals as full minutes with only a minute of walking between them. Once I get to my 4th interval, however, I might only do 30-40 seconds with the rest of that minute and the next as a walking break. I then do a cool-down walk until I reach 30 minutes.

(I aim for 30 minutes outside altogether, but usually end up doing 31-38 depending on how far I've made it from my house, and how long it takes me to get back.)

This seems to be really working for me. When I was at my highest weight (227) I was struggling to find something that I could keep up, and kept trying to use dvds, equipment, or games, and I would usually abandon them, but this is so easy to keep up, because as soon as I go outside I get it done. I have never once walked outside thinking I was going to do this, and then changed my mind and came back. Once I'm outside, I'm in the "Zone". :D

Oh, and I've been shedding weight fairly consistently for me. It's slow, but it's pretty steady. Today the scale said 211, but I haven't changed it on the ticker just yet. I have a fear that if I accept this new, lower weight, it will pop back up. lol.

Cherry that is an AWESOME time!!

ncuneo glad your knees are feeling good! nice on the 800 and good runs for the week :)

serval way to stick with it! and see improvements! I'm glad you're getting results on the scale for all your hard work

**

Did a nice enjoyable 45 minutes yesterday at the park. I did the outer loop instead of the usual inner loop. It was longer and SUPER hilly... so hilly that at times there are stairs built into the path.