Thanks for all the great advice! I took two days rest due to work anyhow and plan on running 4/5 days a week.

I wanted to do c25k for another day just because it's easier than paying attention myself, haha. I think I'll start paying attention once I can run for 10mins and everything after. I jumped from week 3 (jogging 3 mins per interval) to week 5 (jogging 5 minutes per interval) because I felt I was up to it. And it was a piece of cake. I took 30 mins for a 2 mile-route and ran about a 1mile in that. I think I could do 1 mile without intervals too but I don't wanna push it yet.

I really am starting to love running. Especially since I am taking our german shepherd and she is just so great to run with. Have to mind my posture though, I start bending slightly forward with her.

I have a stepper at home and do that about 3-5 days a week also. And as of today I am starting a weight-routine for 3 days a week. I ride my bike to work (3.5 miles / 7 miles back and forth) 3-4 times a week also.

Update: To keep myself really committed I just registered for a 5k on march 11th. Should be possible!

ncuneo: omg. Here I am talking about my first 1 mile run and you are talking about 20 times that much. Haha! How awesome! How long did it take you to get from 'beginning' to 3miles to where you are at now? What's the biggest beginners-mistake you made? And what's the most awesome hurdle you took?

LOVE to read what you have all been doing its like talking to my friends you are all doing great and all have such great advice KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND BE SAFE!!!Been out of touch lately work and nursing rhese knees have been doing the elliptical weights cross training thing...I have an exercise class I go to twice a week instuctor is very knowlegeable. She has suggested some cross training things {quads get soo strong in running} need to work on some other parts to sterenthen knee tracking. I have HUNDREDS od exercise dvds of everytype and enjoy working out with them. So have pulled out a few with stuff that works that area. Yesterday I did Capo Flex {type of caproeria} not spelling it right but works the knee at lots of differnt angles and lots of kicks core work ect and great steady cardio.And she said to do the elliptial backward part of the time. I MISS RUNNING.....BUT IT SNOWED today soooo it made today easier!

ncuneo - WOOT! Hope it went well yup, 12-15 sounds about right for post marathon not really training for anything long runs! There is something incredibly awesome about feeling that at any moment if a friend called you up and said, "Hey I am running a half marathon this weekend, want to join me" you would be totally ready. Maybe not PR ready, but finish happy ready.

Go ncuneo! Well done on the long run. And thats great that you are feeling like you'll miss the long distances.

Trying to keep adding the miliage slowly. Only 5 miles for this weeks long run. I feel motivated ot try to go more, but especially since the puppy cant do more than 5 miles, and I feel so guilty when I run outside without him, I'll definitely stick with the plan. Tomorrow is long run day. Gonna do some crosstraining on the stairclimber today. I feel like that is the best sweat inducing workout besides running, and the nice positive to that is I can read while on it.

Since my race is such a long hill climb (5 miles of climbing!) I want to try to do an hour on the stairmaster once a week. Hopefully I'll be going faster as the weeks progress. So tuesday thursday and friday are the running days, and monday wednesday crosstraining. Saturday HIIT and SUnday rest. And lift five days.

Glad everyone seems to be doing great in training, crosstraining while healing etc.

Hope everyone has a great day!

It went AWESOME!!! Could not have gone any better, probably one of my best long runs ever! I paced perfectly, fueled well and ate well in the days leading up to it. I even negative split my time (meaning I ran the second half faster than the first) first time I've ever done this and what a superior strategy to going out too fast and hitting the wall LOL! It left me very excited about my 20 milers coming up and confindent that I can infact run a marathon!

Philana - Great questions. I started running in January 2010, could barely run 5 mins, by April I was running 3 miles. Didn't do any program to get there, just did it by feel. By July I ran my first 5 miler and decided that I wanted to run a half marathon which I did in November 2010. I continued to run about 20 miles per week after that and ran my second half last August in which I did a 15 miler to prepare for. I'm running my first full marathon in March, my third half in June and hopefully another half in October.

The full marathon was supposed to be a one and done deal, but I already know I want to run another!

ncuneo - all I can say is :woohoo: - I'M NOT WORTHY!!
I am sooooo impressed.

I ran 7 miles for the first time yesterday on the dreadmill - I don't know how you put in those longer miles!

ncuneo: That is really awesome!! Great work and you're quite an inspiration!!

Today was a run day. I did pretty good I ran 3 miles in 34:30, which is my fastest so far. I've been working on increasing my speeds over time.

I have a question: In general I don't have joint pain while running. The only time I do is when I'm in the middle of TOM. Anyone else have to deal with that? It has gotten better over time though.

tdi - Sounds like you are having a bit of systemic inflammation. It can happen from hormones/water retention and/or from changes in diet (if you give in to TOM carb cravings). Also in general pain receptors are on full alert during TOM (no waxing!!!).

You can try reducing carbs/sugar slightly during TOM to help with inflammation, but frankly thats like a double whammy. I have low tolerance for protein during PMS so reducing carbs is very tough. You could try other things like adding fishoil to your diet or experiment with reducing carbs the week BEFORE to provide an inflammation buffer.

Dont try to treat it with Nsaids - never use them to allow you to run. If post run the joint pain is enough to bother you, try ice or a cold bath.

If it is getting better with time it is probably going to continue to improve. Once you are a more seasoned runner you can try and cycle your training to match. 3 hard weeks and a step back week is a great improvement strategy so might as well time it when your body is asking for it.

I have Mirena, so I dont know where I am in my cycle and after being frustrated with weeks that I would just lose the ability to bring it, I charted everything and my "laziness" was striking every 28 days. Go figure.

Ennay- Thank you very much for the suggestions! I like the idea of cycling my training to fit my TOM. In the past my hips and knees would start to bother me during TOM. Today it was just my left knee and honestly not enough to make me stop. I'll take it easy this week and then back to normal next week.

I have recently started keeping track of my TOM with an iPhone App. I knew I'd be getting it this week, which helped me to prepare for everything.

I'm not too good at restricting foods before TOM. Sometimes the week before though I can't get enough to eat. This time though today I can't seem to get enough to eat, so it switched a little bit. They're always so strange it seems LOL!!

Thanks again. I really like this thread because I'm so new and don't really know much about running and things pertaining to it. It's great to be able to post a question and get a quick and good response! :D

Hello everyone! I'm new to this thread...

I ran my third half marathon yesterday (Carlsbad half in SoCal), and it was awesome. I PR'ed and broke 2 hours with 1:58 :)

Any and all tips on post-half recovery/muscle soreness are welcome!!

move. Stationary bike or swimming are 2 of the best, but move gently for 20 minutes a day at low intensity

^exactly! Yesterday I did spin for my recovery, today yoga and strength training. Then a run on Wednesday.

Hi ladies,
I'm back into the swing of things after TOM upset my strategies last week.
Between the chiropractor, massage therapist, TOM, hot yoga, and active "rest" days, I was ready to hop back on my dreadmill by Sunday! (4 miler)

This week is core, weights, and a run today--outside :sunny:
Finally!! I'd choose to run outside any day over my :tread:
Thurs/Fri is work nights for me, making my long run this week probably on Sunday (5 miler).

Ncuneo: Awesome::Awesome work over the weekend!! :cheer:

nunceno...I am so impessed with your progress!!!Wow and also was reading through your weight loss again you are an inspiration!All this and a wife and mother WOW my hats off to you!!!!
Yesterday I did the elliptical one song forward and one backward to cross train my knees it DOES use different mucsles.I could not use the arm handles going backward,had to use stationary holds.
Today I start a different work scedule which should work better for running
I just work 2 days a week Tues and Thur day shift and its they same nights as my exercise class. That leaves MWF for running and a long run on weekends. When I can hit the dirt again......goin to give it a go this Fri.

Just checking in before I head out into the cold morning for my 5 miler. Have two nice hills that I'll be running on. Reading everyones posts are a great motivator to go and have a great run!