Definitely, I've decided that until October there's no such thing as too many carbs as long as they're good ones!

My carbs yesterday consisted of Chineese food, crackers, cheese, pizza and beer Are they good?? Don't answer Helen, I know the answer to that one ....

Hope no one minds if I join in! I'm pretty excited about improving on this one individual cardio activity that I truly enjoy.

I started running about 20 pounds ago ... time-wise that was about 6 months ago (yeah, weightloss has been *really* slow lately). I've trained extremely slowly - I've been cautious because I still carry so much extra weight; I didn't want to cause harm to my body and joints. I've also had a couple periods where I took 2-3 weeks off of running because I was feeling not 100% in my knees or hips. I've been really conservative about that. I've also only run on a treadmill - I think I'm still a little shy about running outdoors, and I will admit that is because I still look *far* from what an athletic person should look like. Silly, I know, but I guess I feel vulnerable to comments from people "outside." I don't want to lose motivation because I hear something that bothers me.

Anyway, I'm very proud because I ran for 28 minutes straight the other day and yesterday I did 35 minutes total (but split 10 minutes on, 1 minute off). I'm quite slow at 4.6 mph, but still I'm excited!

It amazes me what my body is now capable of. Six months ago, running for 1 minute seemed like such a *long* and excruciatingly painful time. It is incomprehensible to me that now I can go for at least a half hour and still be capable of carrying on a conversation. It boggles my mind that I'm at this stage! I've always wanted to be a runner, but being so overweight for my entire life, I thought it was just a pipe dream. Finally one day I just started. I thought, if I wait until I lose weight to run, I'll never run. It was difficult to stay motivated in the beginning because it was so tough, but then that 1 minute turned into 2, then 3, then 4 and up to 10 minutes and now 28 minutes straight?! I'm ecstatic.

Now, I have a question for some of you experienced runners...should I focus more on increasing time, or should I try to increase speed (as you saw, I'm not the fastest)? I'm leaning towards increasing time/distance - I typically train now where I'll run 10 minutes on, 1 off (even though I can run longer than 10 minutes). I only run 2-3 times/week - this is again because I don't want to put too much pressure on my body with higher intensity cardio. My other cardio is either biking or the cross-trainer. I play floor hockey as well and there I have short bursts of speed - so I was thinking that might be good enough now for working on speed. Actually, I'm not sure that speed is that important to me, it's just that so often when I see speed charts and things that approximate calories burnt, the slowest speed they list is 5mph, so I get the impression that I'm just toddling along...

Thanks!

Welcome Lekker and Suspendagirl!

Wow, 28 minutes Lekker. I'm impressed! I'm currently doing the Couch to 5K program from Cool Running. It will be Week 3 for me next week which includes a three minute run segment and I'm gearing myself up for that.

I finished up week 2 of the C25K today. It was much easier than the previous days from this week. I actually ended with a 3 minute segment that, while harder, was not difficult. I actually impressed myself, and found that my head games are my weakness. Now that I know this I will work on positive thinking.

I do have a question for running in the heat. Yesterday at the ballpark with our girls tying those gel wraps around their necks for cool and comfort, I thought what an idea for me when I am running in the 90 degree heat. Do any of you find that that would be a problem? I like going out right after work since I'm not an early person and once I get home I tend to get busy. I carry my water bottle, but would a cool neck wrap help or hurt? I'm thinking for the long haul when I start doing 5Ks and etc. Don't want to get use to something that won't benefit later. I also noticed you guys discussing fluid replacement drinks while training. Could you give some more detail on that for me to tuck into a brain cell for later when I'm ready to use it? Thanks..

Welcome Lekker and Suspendagirl ... I love newbies to running !

softballmom -- I've never heard of a cool neck wrap, so I have no idea if it would help or hinder...

Lekker -- I would think that doing both speed and length work would benefit... I love doing speed work and consider it HIIT (high intensity interval training) specially on a tread mill.... I'll warm up for 5 mins... then do a light jog of whatever feels comfortable for a minute then bring it up to another speed for a minute then bring it back down to a jog again. When I first started I would jog at let say 4.5mph then run at 5mph, then jog at 4.7mph and run at 5.1, and bring it slightly up every minute... These days on the treadmill a jog for me is 5mph and a full out run is 6 to 7mph... I can never run that fast outside for some reason... I like to do my long runs outside early in the morning, and I guarantee you that if anyone sees you out early in the morning jogging, they will NOT comment ... they will only have admiration on your dedication to the sport...

Nice way of thinking Ilene. I'll have to remember that the next time I hesitate to exercise outside.

Half-Marathon Training has OFFICIALLY STARTED I did a mile and a half this morning! I thought it was 3, but I obviously grossly underestimated! Never mind, I'll do better next time, promise!

Off to the gym for the heavy stuff now, the kickboxing later! Next run Weds AM!

Oh and as for running in the morning, this morning was the first time I've ever got out of bed early enough to exercise before breakfast! I am SO hungry now! There were some dedicated dog walkers and some other joggers about, and I always think "respect to them, I could never do that" when I see people jogging in the morning. Well I did it today - I feel annoyingly peppy!

Ilene (et al.) My dd's softball team uses these little neck wraps which are sewn up like a thin tube with some type of gel substance in the middle. When they are soaked in cold water they expand and stay cool for quite a while. My daughter loves catching and she especially likes the wrap as they keep her cool under all the gear.

It was just a lightbulb moment when I was running yesterday morning that they may work to keep me cool. The temps were better, around 80 degrees, but the humidity was very high. I just don't want to get used to using if they would become a nuisance during a race, etc.

Thanks for the words of welcome, everyone!

This morning I got up for a run (on the treadmill) and I did 3.5 miles total at 4.7mph (about 6 minutes of that was walking)! I will probably do my next run on Wednesday or Friday. I've been finding it easiest to run in the morning before I have breakfast (or at least on a really empty stomach). Another girl was in the exercise room with me this morning (there's one in our apartment building) and she was really chatty, so I was conversing for the last 15 minutes while running.

Ilene - thanks for the input...maybe once a week I will try to do some speed training.

softballmom, I'm not sure if neck wraps would stay in place without chaffing or being annoying. If you can get some easily enough, it's probably worth trying. Anything to make the heat more comfortable. Some races do give out wet sponges though, and I've thought about bringing a sponge with me on really hot days and wiping down my head and neck with cold water when I pass a water fountain.

2frustrated, great job on getting up this morning. Sorry about the distance mix up. :lol

I'm heading out for an easy 30-40 minutes soon before picking up my older kids from day camp. The 2 year old cried when we left the camp without her sister, but she seems to have adjusted.

Edit to add: About 35 minutes/6km done!

Softballmom, I was also thinking that the neck wraps might be hard to keep in place. The heat sure has been unbearable a few days here, though, so I wouldn't be against trying it. I have a hard time running holding onto anything though. I even have a problem with holding a water bottle. I don't know why--just makes me feel lopsided or something. I must get over that though, or it will be a very, very long summer!

Do any of you belong to running groups in your cities? I'm tempted to join one, but I'm afraid that they will be far more advanced than me. Any thoughts? I don't know anyone who belongs to it, so I don't know who to ask for details. Quite honestly, my husband and I moved here about 3 years ago, and I can pretty much say that I haven't met any friends. DH works with a lot of people his age, and I've met some people through him and his work, but no one that I can legitimately say our friends of mine. Sometimes it makes me sad, so I'm trying to come up with various methods of meeting new people!

Lekker--I really like to mix it up quite a bit. I like to run intervals some days, and some days just go on longer, easier runs. I'm a prisoner to my MP3 player....some days I'll do intervals by running as quickly as I can during the chorus of the songs and slow it done during the versus. Other days, I'll walk one song, then jog the next, etc. I have self-diagnosed exercise-ADD...I'll get bored if I don't switch it up quite frequently.

Ilene, you're so right about exercising in the morning. Also, it seems like some of the nicest people are out early.

iowasteph - so I don't feel as lopsided with my water bottle I usually change hands after every track on my MP3 player. Then at least I'm working both arms vaguely equally, and it kind of keeps me focussed because I'm switching it over quite often rather than "just" running.

I haven't joined a running club. I emailed one about joining, but haven't got round to doing it. Partly I still think I'd be too slow (even though I wouldn't be, the bloke I emailed said that about 70% would be faster than me, but with some about the same and some slower). The main reason though is just that the times don't suit me - they meet at 6.30 on Tuesdays, and it's rare I get out of work and back in the right part of town by then, and I prefer running in the morning anyway. If I don't run on a Tuesday morning and don't get out of work on time I might end up skipping the run, but if I do run on a Tuesday morning I might be too tired to run the club run too. I had the same problem with a running group I used to go out with - they ran at 6.15 on a tuesday (tuesday is running night round here!), but I'd always get delayed at work and miss them.

I love running early in the morning, it's so much quieter and nearly everyone out there is doing something healthy. You get a lot of smiles and hellos.

No run today, it was my cross training day, but back in the saddle for 4 miles tomorrow.

Hello everyone! Welcome Newbies, keep up the good work Softballmom!

Weekend was great. I finished my 10k race and was pleased that I was able to run the whole thing fairly easily. I was a little worried when I showed up and found out the course was hilly. Hills! What are hills? Around here my runs are flat as a pancake. Luckily all the big uphills were at the beginning of the race, with one in the middle so by the time I was tired it was a pretty easy course.

I got up and ran this morning again. I do love running in the mornings... I just hate the getting out of bed part. We have had a couple of pleasant days, but the humidity is going to start climbing again.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Helen, thanks for the info on your experience with running groups. I live in a college town, so my big fear is that everyone will be 20 years old, svelt, and speedy! I guess I won't know if I don't try (as I shrug my shoulders). Good idea on switching hands with your water bottle. How many ounces of water do you usually carry with you?

I did a nice 3 mile run tonight at nearly sunset. It was a great, invigorating running towards the sunset. It almost like a running dream or something from a movie. Now I know what Rocky felt like when he was running those stairs in the movie. Anyone remember that?!

Skinnyjeans, congrats on the 10k. I wish we had more 10k's around here. I've searched and searched, and I only came up with one in September.

Have a good night, and happy running!

I know how you feel. I also live in a college town. I see plenty of 20 year olds running daily - bouncing around like some gazelle. All those skinny perfect looking bodies. It makes me want to yell out "Eat something why don't you. Shouldn't you be at some keg party?" Darn them, making us normal people look bad.