Cake and Mk - Thanks for your encouragement! It's so amazing to see what your body can do and how much it can improve in such a short time. I'm training for a 10K in October and a 1/2 marathon in February, so I have a lot of time to increase my distance, but you're right Mk, I'm getting close to 10K level! I'm gonna try to increase my pace from 10min/mile to about 9:30/mile and slowly sustain that for longer distances.

It's funny, as much as I know that exercise will make me feel better after a long crappy day, I'm always surprised by just how much better it makes me feel! Like today, I had a loooong, stressful day at school and just wanted to sit around and eat, but went to 45 min of spinning and then 60 min of yoga and literally feel like a new person. Next time I feel like slacking, please remind me of this feeling!!! Thanks ladies!

My first race is tomorrow. I'm starting to get really nervous. It is a 6k (3.7 miles) and thankfully is all flat. The distance doesn't concern me since I've been running either 4 or 5 miles at least once a week.

Any last minute tips, hints, or advice I should know about?

TIP: THis the advice I was given: Relax and have fun. And don't do anything different than usual...i.e. wear the same shoes, no new workout gear and eat the same things u always do and most importantly HAVE FUN Good Luck

Zink---Dont eat anything different tonight or in the am than you would normally eat..Now is NOT the time to try out that new indian or thai restaurant!! Seriously, theres no reason to "carbo load" or do any of that nonsense for a race of this distance. Make sure you hydrate REALLY WELL all day TODAY, and dont worry so much about in the am.....Depending on how many people are racing (is it a big event?) the first thing you do when you get there is get in LINE FOR THE PORTER POTTYS!!!!! there may be a lot of people, there may not be enough bathrooms, and you might have to wait a LONG TIME In line.....AFter you go to the bathroom (this is what i do, at least) i get BACK IN LINE FOR THE PORTER POTTYS!!! repeat until race starts.... Im only partially kidding....for me, the stress and nervousness of the race makes me have to go GO GO, and the LAST thing i want is to have to pee a half mile into a race, when there ARENT bathrooms available! Umm, what else..? Make sure you dont do anything different in the am before the race than you would normally do before a training run, for instance, dont wear any new article of clothing that you havent already tested (INCLUDING socks and underwear) new clothing has a way of sometimes rubbing the wrong way, even if it *seems* fine. Make sure your ipod is charged, and try and *rest* today, but dont be a couch potatoe! I reccommend at least going for a brisk shorter walk, and then afterwards taking a nice long time to stretch stretch STRETCH...the reason you should walk (or jog) first is so you can loosen up and warm up your muscles prior to stretching... Try and lay out and pack everything you will need in the morning, so you dont forget anything in all the rush and nervousness getting out the door....remember to HAVE FUN!!!!!! Youll be amazed at how quickly the time goes by when you are running in a race!! Enjoy the atmosphere, soak in the environment of running with others who share your passion!! There will be faster runners, and slower runners...just do what feel right at the moment!! If you need to slow down or walk for a few during the race, its polite to make sure you move over to the right side of the road before you slow down, but check to make sure you dont run into anyone either!! Good luck!! make sur eyou post here and tell us all about it!!!

taking charge-- you are funny--just like me!! Us runners are seriously out to punish ourselves--masochistic in a sense!! As SOON AS we get cozy comfy happy running a 10 minute mile, we want to push ourselves to run a 9:30...as soon as you can comfortably do that, youll want to run a 9... and believe me, it never ever stops!!! I went through that whole process..when i was running 10s i thought i would be so happy and content as soon as i can run comfortably under a 9 minute mile.....now im trying to push myself to be able to run sub 7 minute miles!!! its TORTURE!! cant we just be happy with the status quo?!? of course not!!

Zink - you've gotten some great advice from cake and mk (our resident experts!). Ill have to come back and reread that before my first race in October! I just want to add - have fun!!

Mk - you're so right! Just 4 months ago, I started out dreaming about running the "5k" prgram setting on the treadmill, which is 3.1mi at 10min/mil and now I'm shutting down the treadmill as it stops after 60 min and pushing the + button for speed whenever I can. It keeps it so fun though! I crave running during my off days and can't wait to see how far I can go on the next run. Love, love, love it! And thanks for sharing all of your amazing experiences and revelations. It really inspires me!

I finished and didn't die.

Estimated finish time is 45:15. I was hoping for anything under 50 mins. If my time is right it was my best pace ever. It was cold and rainy so I didn't stick around for the official results but I'll find them out Thursday when the newspaper comes out.

Overall I am pleased.

Way to go, Zink! That's so awesome. You should feel so proud! Do something nice for yourself and enjoy your accomplishment!

hi all!! Dont have time to write up an "official" report right now, but will post my finishing times....
Ran the Georgetown to Idaho Springs half marathon this am.......Official time (which is WAY F**ed up--ill write about it later) is 1 hr 54 minutes!!!!! WAHOOS!!! 1:54 was my goal and i made it!! howEVER, my GARMIN time was 1 hr 50 minutes 45 seconds!!! WAY WAY WAY Faster than i planned on being able to run it! BTW, the reason there is such a discrepancy between the two times is because the race start was the most disorganized, choatic mess i have ever witnessed!! like i said, i will tell you guys about how horrible it was later... Hope everyone had great races/runs today!!

Way to go zinc!! Fantastic feeling coming in UNDER goal, isnt it?!?! Tell us more about the experience when you have a chance please....

Taking Charge - That is sweet of you but I am no expert....LOL I love to push and torture as well. If I am not then I don't feel like I am working hard you know???? You are doing awesome BTW. ANy long runs lately.

ZInc - You did awesome. I find that my pace is AMAZINGLY faster during a race than when I am training alone.....all that adrenanline.

MK - That is wonderful and you are not off the hoo...I am waiting to hear the story! You are the queen of torturing oneself!!! I apsire to be like you.

Well my HM is less than a month away and I am nervous, excited and ready to rock it out. I ran 8 miles Saturday and finished in about 91 minutes. Not great but not terrible, I think I call myself starting slow to build and I am going too slow. it is like I want to run faster initially buy afraid I will tire too quickly. Oh and did I say I LOVE tempo runs. My lactate threshold is unbelievable more than I ever thought possible. Have a great day everyone!!!!

cake-congrats on the 8 miles!!!! DOewsnt it feel great?? You are so close now to your HM...i hope you are starting to get excited!! (hopefully more excited than nervous!)
so, i saw that your run took 91 minutes......Here is my best advice i can give you (slightly off-topic?) WHat type of nutrition or "fuel" do you use before/during a long run?? It is my opinion that any run that takes you longer than 90 minutes to complete, you need to enhance your nutrition?fueling needs.... I personally start adding the running goo gel thingies on any run over 90 minutes, and the longer, and continue adding them for each half hour or so of exercise.... i might take one during a 90 minute run, 2 during a 2 hour run, etc.....have you started using them yet??? The prevalent theory is that our bodies only contain about enough readily available glycogen to fuel us for 90 minutes to 2 hours. You should always start replenishing BEFORE you are "out".....On longer run days (over 90 minutes) i also generally add an extra low cal carb (like sara lee light bread) at breakfast before the run, as well as my once weekly indulgence of a little bit of peanut butter to go with it (bonus protein and good fats, plus high calorie) if the run is REALLY long ill also smear honey on top of everything i eat for breakfast!! SOunds funny, but its extrememly high in readily available sugar carbs!!! Dont worry if its "off-plan" for you, your body will burn off more than its fair share of those calories, and its really important to have enough energy to complete your run strongly!! Maybe i am preaching to the choir here, and you already know all this??

Mk - No I didn't know about the running goo gel. I will look into it. Also I (definitely by coincidence) had a BIG blueberry pancake with sugar free syrup and an egg and a piece of bacon for breakfeast that morning. SO I think that has a lot to do with my energy levels. Thank you somuch for the encouragement

cake-batter- check out hammer gels, luna blocks, cliff shots and cliff blocks...all are little tiny puches of flavored "Goo" that are pure carbs....some taste better than others, but the are all the exact same thing, just different brands...you can find them at SPorts stores in general, and they will all be together, usually near the checkout...my grocery store even carries a very limited selection!!! Start using them...... Your an ENDURANCE RUNNER now!!! thats what endurance runners do...they eat gross endurance runners energy gels...

but i hear you cant REALLY be a runner till you lose a toenail.....
still waiting for one of mine to fall off.........

I thought is was having to stop to $hit mid run that made me a runner.