I'm heading out for a run with my 5K race buddies (my bff and sil) later this morning. It is SO COLD....barely 40 degrees at the moment. A big difference from Monday when it was high 80s and I almost drowned in sweat on my run! But it's only 2 weeks until we do the Color Run so we gotta get our run on.

Elvis, I'm so glad you're here! You're gonna be doing a marathon by autumn. I don't know that I've really noticed how running affects my body shape. I've always had narrow hips and thin legs so I tend to wear smaller pant sizes than many people who are at a similar weight as me. I do know that running gives me some fabulous muscle definition in my legs and butt! My calves are a beast to shave because of how ridgy they are.

Novus, I couldn't agree with you more. I have very narrow hips and really defined, toned legs. All from running and walking. However, I'm also apple shaped, not dramatically so, but I often can get away with a smaller pant size because my hips are narrower. And if you don't mind me saying...running has given me a pretty sweet backside as well

im going to try to run on pavement today...we'll see how that goes....im hoping that ive strengthened my muscles, tendons, ligaments etc enough that it wont hurt much....as much as I love the trail running, there are huge segments of that trail covered in big chunks of gravel that REALLY(!!!) hurt to step on when running and I find myself running unconsciously slower because i'm afraid of stepping on one of those sharp edges

Hello!

I am back after a two-week hiatus and what a run it was today.
I ran 6km and I was thinking to go for 7 as I was feeling pretty good, I slipped on mud, flew and fell.
Luckily, I only got a few scratches and my left hand hurts a bit. It was a spectacular fall. I cursed, stood up and continued running for a bit but I stopped to come home and put some ice on my hand.
Anyway, I am back.

Congrats Elvis and bravo everybody for progressing.

Good luck, alaskanlaughter and please be careful! When and if you can try to alternate between running in the grass and asphalt as it will lessen the impact on your joints. Regardless of surface be mindful of uneven ground. I hear you when it comes to chunks of gravel on trails. The trail near my home has embedded rocks and I have to be vigilant about making sure I pick up my feet so the tip of my running shoes doesn't catch the rock and I go flying! Been there done that, don't care to repeat it!

I'm so glad you're okay, Kitcherella! I've tripped more than once; my hands bear the scars of my most recent fall on the trail near my home. Skinned the palms of my hands and bruised my forearms. I was down but definitely not out



Welcome shoppingspout! Are you in the process of quitting smoking? Congrats if you are, but if not, I would think that's probably you're priority. And I think it's great that you want to run!! If you're just thinking about it at this time maybe you can set up a walking program for yourself. Lots of us runners, regardless of distance and time, began and/or still include walking as part of our routine and/or training. I walked for a very long time before I began running. While I've never been a smoker I have a compromised right ankle and was just too heavy to include running as a primary mode of exercise for myself. I could however walk and walk so that's what I did. Depending on your overall health and maybe consulting with your doctor, I think you could work on stopping smoking and regaining your fitness simultaneously.

You can do this!

Thanks everyone!!!

I'm not doing my regular Monday run today, I'll do it tomorrow. I get so paranoid that I'm going to retain water after a good run and I have 2 doctors appointments tomorrow so I get worried about the scale showing even 1 extra ounce! I play these silly games in my head.

Welcome to the newbies and hi again to the regulars! I love this thread and so happy I'm a part now.

Hi guys! I'm new but I love running. My goal is a half marathon. The farthest I've ever run is ten miles but I took a break this winter/spring and kinda fell off the horse. I'm working on hitting 30 miles a week. I usually fall short but I want this to be the week I finally reach my goal!

This week I'm going to do four miles Monday-Friday and then split up ten miles over the weekend. That = 30 miles (I think? Right? Never been too good at math haha)

Do you guys have running schedules you follow?

I do run/walk intervals and my goal is always to run much farther than I walk....for instance I will run the length of a street around here (distance varies) and then walk for exactly 3 driveways LOL and once I've crossed 3 driveways I run again.....I did 2.5 miles outside on pavement today, mostly running and a few walk breaks....so far my joints have held up pretty good

for a schedule during the winter I try to hit the gym every weekday between my work shifts, so somewhere around 10 a.m. usually...in the summer since I work a straight-through work shift I go to the gym earlier like around 530-6 a.m. or if its nice out, i'll run outside in the early morning....but usually the weather is rainy and bad around here so i'm mostly at the gym

Might be intruding the thread (even if, despite running 2 half-marathon, I still consider myself an in-between runner!), but I like to follow the training program of the Toronto Women Run series. They have nice program for different distance that take you to where you want to go, depending on your distance/time goal.

It's my second running season on them and I love their schedules

Yes--that's my problem with running. Exercise to me has to be FUN--and I am a social person so I stick with Jazzercise to get a little social time with the gals I am working out with.

But my husband is an ultra-runner. He's done the Pikes Peak Assent--and several other races that are longer than a marathon--33 miles. He used to train every day of the week--and on Saturdays he would run 19 miles on mountain trails. (He did this in his 50's and early 60's btw.) He's slowed down a little--down to running 3 miles every other day--and is still in great shape.

I also have a girlfriend that is doing the Leadville 50. And she is training at 12 miles a day now. That race comes up in July--and she is a little worried about making it all the way--as she doesn't feel she's training enough now for that one.

But regardless--running is the ultimate in endurance--it's just some of us don't have the patience or personalities for it.

Hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day. I got so involved responding to the comments this morning I forgot to log my run! Ran 3.99 miles first thing this morning. Weather was nice and cool.

I'm late to the conversation, but I think I qualify as an in between runner as well. I ran CC all through high school and then stopped in college, put on quite a bit of weight, and trying to start back up again. Doing weight watchers I find it helps quite a bit with the weight loss too. I started a Couch to 5K plan a few weeks ago and found that I am already in week 3. Somedays I do 2 mile runs without the app and feel fantastic. I did the Hunger walk (in Atlanta) and ran 5K in about 40 min. I would like to be much faster than that, hence the couch to 5K training. Looking for any tips I can get.

I might try an early morning outside run tomorrow if the weather holds good....hope I don't see any bears they are all over this town from spring to fall

Just did my first run since Friday and happy to report I survived!

I did W8D1 of Couch to 10k and increased my usual speed from 3.8mph to 4.2mph (it was like going from slow to fast, omg!). I think I'm sticking with the 3.8mph even though it's slow. I thought my legs were running so much faster under me, it was comical!

I'm so happy to have a program to follow. I was so lost last week repeating c25k's week 9 just to have something to follow!

Hope you are all having a nice day!

I'm using this 5K training program. I like that it combines distance runs, speed work, and cross training.

Yesterday's run was brutal. When I was going in one direction, I was running face-on into winds of 25-30 miles an hour. Going the opposite way I was dealing with blazing sun and 80% humidity. Oy.

Hope everyone is getting in some great runs and not having to deal with any wild critters (bears, geese, etc.) while doing so!