Did my first may run yesterday. Someone kick me if I decide to wear all black out running on a hot day again... especially if I decide to wear black crops.

Loving Me - Welcome! Congratulations on signing up for your first 5K! The first one I ran, I ran very slowly and was not well prepared. However, a challenge I face in every race is keeping a good pace. It's hard for me not to get swept up in the crowd and go out way too fast and then pay for it at the end of the race.

In my opinion, I think you should find a pace you like, practice running a little longer than 5K and then run the race and see how you do. That way, you'll feel confident that you can run the whole race and finish strong. After that, you can work on setting time goals and working on your strategy for a race.

Right now, I'd focus on finding a pace you like and figuring how to stick to it when you are not on a treadmill.

Good luck to you!

Hi Everybody,

I'm another C25k grad and I'm now floundering around trying to move from running on an indoor track to running outside. Did my longest ever outdoor run yesterday-- 2.88 miles, but I had to walk for 4 minutes....

I have been toying with signing up for a 5K on May 15th, but now I'm thinking I should sign up as a walker and then run as much as I can....

I've done 40 minutes running inside but haven't gotten past about two miles outside yet. I took up running at age 48 after several decades of being mostly sedentary, so I'm not picking up conditioning as fast as some of the younger folk.

Hope I can join in here.

Hi ubergirl...

It sounds like you are doing well with your new running program. I think it's a great idea to sign up as a walker for the 5K and run as much as you can. I think you will feel great afterward. It is your first race and you will never forget it. And you'll have a new t-shirt to run in!

Thanks chickie! Great idea about the tee-shirt! My kids tease me because my only regular sporty type tee- shirt is from '93, the last time I fit into an XL.

Thanks I ran a kind of informal fundraiser-esque 5K about a week and a half ago and I have an official one on Saturday actually. Now that 5K's seem pretty easy I'm thinking I'll work my way up to a 10K, and then see how I feel.

It's weird being a "runner". I have to say that I'm more proud of the fact that I can run than the fact that I've lost weight. I used to be a heavy smoker, and not only quitting, but picking up running to me is just such a great feeling. It seemed so daunting at first, but proving to myself that I could do it has shown me a lot about myself, and what I can do if I set my mind to something.

Lol random reflective moment.

And uber, I think you're doing great... keep plugging along. I bet a year ago you never thought you'd see yourself talking about running for 40 minutes straight.

Hey, I hope it's okay to join in.
I have been running officially since January and I started out by going,
I'm going to run from this tree to that tree, which typically was only 50 yards away.
To running a 5k distance and having my first race this week. I am so incredibly nervous about the race, even though I know I'm prepared.
Were yal this nervous for your first race?
And how long did it take you to work up to a 10k from a 5k?

I also believe that running outside, is MUCH better than running on the treadmill. Even though the weather here "in Texas" is fairly unpredictable.

I COMPLETELY understand that sentiment. Losing weight is awesome, no doubt. But there is something about RUNNING that makes me so much more proud than losing weight. It's weird, isn't it? It gives you this different kind of confidence that I don't think I would have had if I had lost weight through other forms of exercise (or no exercise).

^^ I'm the same way - I love the fact that when I need to run from my car into a store (because I'm late or rushed) I'm no longer winded from the 100m run. Yes, that is how I judge my progress.

totsandfries - it probably took me about a month to work from when I was comfortable running a 5k to running a 10k... but the 10k wasn't and still isn't easy. but I found it easier jumping from 5k to 10k (I only increased mileage once a week) than I did jumping from 0k to 5k... I found that increasing mileage tended to mean that I just ran slower on average.

I can now claim cycling and weight lifting as exercises I am supremely proud of. I hope to add running. I don't consider myself THAT much of a runner...yet. But both cycling and lifting have been amazing confidence boosters; cycling because I am so proud of myself for being able to keep up with the class and lifting because it makes me feel powerful. I am always amazed at what I can do today that I couldn't do one week ago.

I am constantly comparing myself to my own worst critic...me... and coming out ahead each and every time!

I agree. It was hard, but it was worth it.

I totally agree with everyone about running making you feel so strong and powerful and proud of yourself.
I've been exercising since the start of my weight loss journey and am very proud of the weight I've lost and the improvement in my fitness, but when I started running in January I just suddenly felt SO proud of myself and emotional about it. I've always looked at runners and thought, wow, they're so fit, and I'm actually one of them now, although slow and still building up distance.
For the first time in my life I feel so strong and feel like running has given me a new lease of life. At the start of my weight loss I was 36 and felt about 56, now I'm 37 and feel about 27! I want to challenge myself now and do things I never thought I would or could and that to me is amazing.

Hello everyone, hope it's OK to join.

I'm really impressed by all the people doing half marathons - hope it goes well for you. I once did a half but it was quite a while ago - ran six miles the other day and my legs are still complaining!

I'd like to sign up for a half but worry that I may have missed the season, as the hot weather (well, hot for the UK) is approaching. Anyone know any good ones?

I FINALLY lost 2 ounces! LOL! I've had a stall since April 12th when I hit my low of 188. Maybe the running will finally push me down again...maybe.

WOW So many posts to read! Welcome everyone!

I did 7 miles on the tm and it actually wasn't that bad. I watched some tv and listened to my ipod. It took me a lot longer than I planned because the last time I was on a tm the fastest I could run was 4.5. I found out now I can do 6.0 easy, which was exciting for me.

Running has helped me a lot along my weight loss journey because after a while, just looking forward to a number on the scale was getting boring. Running gave me something else to look forward to that was still in conjunction with my overall goal. Every time I reach a new mileage, or i do a new pr I feel like a million bucks. That feeling is ADDICTING!

Hubs and I are running in the Komen Race for the Cure this Saturday and I'm hoping for a pr. I hear it's really crowded with a lot of folks pushing strollers and just a lot of walkers so I'm going to get there early and try to stay ahead of them.

Time for me to get to work...I could sit on 3fc all day if I didn't have other things to do! Have a good day everyone!