Elle, that is awesome, I think we've all been there at one point or another. When I start last January I could barely run a 1/2 mile.

So after my 14 I was supposed to run 5 Monday morning, but I don't think anything could have drug my butt out of bed so I went for the dreadmill in the afternoon. Still didn't get in 5, for one I just wanted to rest my knees and two a friend I hadn't seen in a while show'd up to the gym so I joined her on the eliptical for 2 miles after running 3 miles. So close enough.

I've been going round and round mulling over the marathon decision and think I may postpone it for a bit. If my knees we're bothering me (I think it's a small injury from not replacing my insoles and running on them for 3 months) I may think differently and maybe I'll change my mind. But for now the plan is to run my half in August, cut my milage back a smidge for a few weeks then maybe do another half at the end of the year another small break and then start working toward a 20 mile long run and then see how I feel.

All I want is for this to be challenging but fun. I never want running to be a chore or something that I don't look forward to the majority of the time.

No run today (although I may sneak a mile warm up in) just ST and Yoga.

Hey everybody!

I've been laying low around deeez here parts cuz I haven't ran in 2 weeks. My knees are loving it, but my heart aches to run again. Its just tooo stinkin hot! I've been swimming alot though. I swam last night for 3 hours straight. I'm forming a new love right now...swimming. I will come back to running, for sure, but for now I'm gonna just enjoy my new love for a while.

Don't worry...my new love...it's just a summer fling! I'll be back to running soon enough.

Hi everyone-

Just stopping in to say hi. No running still for me. I'm going to try to do an hour on the elliptical today to get the heart rate up. Will try to run tomorrow AM... we'll see how the arch of my left foot feels :-/

I ran my 3 miles this morning in 26 minutes. I wanted to do it in 25 minutes but the heat was a bit much for me. Anyway, when I get back from my trip at the beginning of August, I'll be adding some mileage (slowly) on to work myself up to 4 miles. I eventually want to do 4 miles in about 40-45 minutes. My goal is to accomplish that sometime in September. Hopefully, I can do it.

fitmom, sounds totally doable! I’m impressed, you’re running that 3 quickly!
joyfull, your avatar is awesome! you’re so toned and fit! amazing.
indi, try intense intervals on the elliptical to help boost that heart rate. fingers crossed the run goes well tomorrow!
ncuneo, I think you have the right attitude about running. if it’s becoming less fun bc you’re pushing for mileage, then by all means, postpone! no big deal.

I do a short 3 mile run today. Feeling lethargic and my muscles are heavy. Plus, I’m starting a new acting class tonight and I’m all jittery and nervous! Will try to power through...

Hello, I am a jogger, I guess?! I'm not a runner by any means, that's for sure. I am training for a Spartan Race in October and it's a 5K, so I would love to jump in on this thread. I started my "jogging" training two days ago and did 1 mile straight at 4.5 and 1.0 incline (granted, it took me 13:26, but I did it). It's in the 90s and humid this week, so I'm sticking with the treadmill for now.

I would like to work my way up to 3 miles without stopping, but I don't know how often I should be jogging. Since I'm new at this, should I be doing this daily or every other day? I don't want to risk injury and I don't know much about jogging/running, so any advice would be appreciated!

@Emme: What works for me is jogging/running every other day - M, W, F and Sat. That way my body has a chance to rest and I don't get bored b/c it's not a daily thing. Good luck to you.

@shasha12: Is that fast? LOL. I have no idea. But if you say it is, then it is. Acting class? Very cool. I'm gonna spend my evening bathing my six-year old and needlepointing. Yep, I'm a mom.

@indiblue: Hope your foot feels better soon. I hate when pain sidelines my workouts. Grrr!

ncuneo Good for you for not allowing running to be a chore. I think for me anything more than a 10K would be a chore... so I have no intentions of doing any more than that... ever

joyful Way to give your knees a rest and continue to get in good exercise! Nice job on the swimming

fitmom Increasing speed/distance slowly is the way to go! You can definitely reach your goal of 4 miles/40 mins

shasha good advice on intervals. I just did steady-state elliptical yesterday... but I really should be doing intervals. Thanks for the reminder!

Emme congrats on the mile! That's good you are running on a slight incline. It helps make the transition from treadmill to outside easier.

--

I did 5K at the park today. Knee feels GREAT. Foot felt uncomfortable, but I don't think it really affected my run. It was hurting after I got home so I iced it quickly. Still numb from the ice but I think it helped.

I'll just stay at easy 5Ks for the next couple of weeks until my foot seems to have stabilized, I think.

Emme - Google C25K and you will find the Couch to 5K program. If you can run a mile straight already, you may find the first few weeks easy. It also gives you an idea on how much rest you might need between runs. BTW - you are already faster than I am, I jog an average of 15 min per mile. Although I think I did it slightly faster by jogging every other day. I currently jog 5 days a week.

I used to be in the military and was really into running & boxing when I was in (oh, and not to mention the best shape of my life... sigh). I have gotten back into running. This week I have done:

Monday: 5 miles @ 50 mins

Tuesday:5k @ 29:15

Yesterday: 5 miles @ 48:38

Right now I am debating taking today as a rest day from running & doing ST (as I forgot to stretch yesterday before my run & I am really feeling it today), or sucking it up & running 5k after work. We'll see.

I want to get up to 10k (which I think I could do in the next week or so), but I think I need to focus more on improving my speed/time for the distances I am currently doing. What do you all think? What is "more important"? Running further and slower, or faster and for a shorter distance? I want to make sure I have my runner's priorities straight! Thanks

Depends Nikki, although I think your times are great. If your goal is weight loss then slower and longer. If your goals are just running then you have to ask yourself do you want to train for speed or distance? Two totally different things. In runners terms I don't think one is better then another, they are just different goals.

indiblue: That's what I've heard too. To increase the speed and distance little by little. The last thing I need is to like blow out my knee or hurt my ankle b/c my enthusiasm gets the better of me, lol. I have a 2 mile circle-like route by my house that would be perfect for me to do twice around for the four miles (when I get to that point). It's weird about the speed b/c the longer I run, I'm finding I'm naturally getting a bit faster. When I first started, I used to trot, lol. Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better.

nikkinouille: My father is a former Marine and he always jokes about how he used to run like every morning. He showed me pictures of him from back then and his stomach was like a washboard, lol. Wow, I'm in awe of your distance and time. Maybe I'll get there...one day. But I just started so baby steps, I guess.

I'm not running today. Tomorrow morning I'm running my 3 miles. Hopefully, I will come in at like 24 or 25 minutes. *fingers crossed* We'll see.

This week I've logged a couple of shorter, faster runs (2.3 mi, 3.5 mi) and I have gotten my pace up to 11:20 min/mi (down from 13:40)! Tonight, despite the heat, I am going to shoot for 5.5 miles and keep it a little slower. I need to focus more on distance than speed since I am just aiming for being able to finish the half marathon in December, but it sure feels good to see progress in my speed! I'll shoot for 6 miles Saturday morning and then we are off to Vegas on Sunday. We are planning on getting up early at least one morning that we're there and running the strip. It should be fun!

To all of the newer runners (like myself) that have posted - keep up the good work You have no idea what your body is capable of until you push yourself! I started with C25K and never in a million years thought I would be able to run 2 miles without stopping much less 13.2, but I am going to do that half marathon in December come he** or high water!

ncuneo: you inspire me so much I hope it won't be long until I am going out for 14 mile runs!

Since I'm such a newbie to the world of running, I have a question for the more seasoned runners. I'm a bit *obsessed* with the way my stomach looks particularly since giving birth - twice, anyway, I read that you should be sucking in or holding your stomach in while you run, is this true? I tried doing that and then not doing that and didn't feel any difference, lol. Has anyone heard this and implemented it while running? Just curious.

@ ncuneo / fitmom - thanks for your perspectives! i think at this point, i would be more impressed with myself if i ran for a longer distance, rather than worrying about improving my speed. once i get where i am at comfortably, distance-wise - i can start upping the speed a little.