So when I focus on something I really focus on something. The more successful I feel with my running and its progress the more I seek out running magazines, running forums, running blogs. Here I am trying to work and now that I've officially registered for the 5km run on June 22nd for RunMelbourne I can't pull myself out of it, lol. Again the running blogs, the running forums.

Anyone else have he same sort of uh.... focus? Or obsession? LOL

and a race post.

Today was a local 5k race that I signed up for as a speed workout/tempo run, so I didn't taper for it.  But, the weather was great, the course was flat.  I was slightly sore this morning, but I was expecting to break 22:30, my last 5k was 22:50.  In the back of my head I thought maybe I could break 22:00.

My friend and I showed up for the race, checking out the competition, like always and we lined up so we'd be the first runners.  I, having scoped the females out there, figured I could have some fun and give someone a challenge for placing.  I surprised myself by being the first female out, kept this pace.  I passed the one mile mark at 6:34, 2mile mark at 13:47, and finished as first overall female in 21:11!!!

On top of breaking my time by 1:40, I won two round-trip tickets for anywhere in the US from Southwest airlines!  I've never even come close to winning overall female, and realize had there been more competition it would have been a different story, but for now - I have a trip to plan!

This race was in Houston, but I'm going home for the Bolder Boulder next weekend.  Anyone else planning on doing this 10K?  There are supposed to be around 50,000runner/walkers!

I'm curious about people who now run 20-30 miles in a day, per week or so. The runners out there that I'm in awe of.

I'm getting my barings, planning to run a 5km on June 22nd.

I wonder if you guys remember being where I am. Doing your best to get to the 5km, and having to put yourself through your pacing? Do you remember being there and imagining yourself to be where you are now?

Were you the kind of person who longed to keep running longer and harder or the kind of person who just got out there, and whatever you did you did and you now just happen to run that long?

i've really been bit by the racing bug this year. i'm pretty new to this, and running is pretty hard for me.

so i ran a 3k last week, and i've got another one scheduled in july.

there's one other local race this year... the harvest fair 3k/10k. it's oct 5th, a sunday.

my triathlon (the main thing i've been training for this year, my ultimate goal) is 6 days later, on saturday oct 11th. (the run portion is 4 miles). this is my FIRST triathlon, i'm not looking to win any medals or anything. but i do want to do my best.

i'm not sure if i'd want to do the 10k or the 3k. i'd LIKE to be able to do the 10k... and i obviously have plenty of time to train for the 10k if i want to. it would be my first 10k, if so.

is that a bad idea, running this race 6 days before my tri? am i supposed to be "tapering" or something at that point?

if i AM tapering... then maybe i should run the 3k? kind of like a short speed work thing?

please help me, more seasoned racers. thanks!

x-posted to trigeeks

I am always looking for great new music to run to..and recently one of my friends from Europe sent me some of the best songs. Some of them have been hits for a while..but others are pretty new and will be top hits! I love running to these, they are amazing!If you cannot find them anywhere..I'd be happy to send them. Just wanted to share..and if anyone else has some great music, feel free to add on!

( The List )

I'm ashamed to say I haven't had a real 'long' run since...maybe April 19th?  Eeeek!  I did run a decent half marathon on May 4th, but you know...that's not like a good 20 mile training run.  I have a full marathon coming up on June 1st - two weeks.  Apparently I did an 'early taper' because although my weekly mileage has dropped to about 35-45 mpw, I seem to be maintaining a decent clip (although no OFFICIAL speedwork).  

So this weekend I'm determined to squeeze in that LAST LONG RUN before the marathon.  Two weeks out and I'm looking to do a 20 miler.  Foolhardy?  Keep in mind that I'm for the most part quite used to doing long runs and long weeks.  Just...ahem...not recently.  

To add a little excitement to the mix, it's forecasted to be 98 degrees tomorrow, which could easily turn into 100 by late afternoon.  Of course, I'll be starting my 20 miles immediately after I drop my husband off at work (8:30), so I'll miss the brunt of the heat, but I haven't run MUCH in any substantial heat yet this year, so I'm hoping it doesn't hit 90 before noon.

*sigh*  Am I a glutton for punishment?  Should I just scrap this last long run and race by the seat of my pants June 4th?  You know, it's funny but I'm just SO much more relaxed about this marathon than the last, I'm not sure why.  Discussion for a later post...

Hey everybody.  I currently live in the beautiful state of Colorado, where running, hiking, climbing, cycling, etc. is convenient and enjoyable.  I have plenty of activity partners out here and I find it easy to get runs and cross training in regularly.  It's almost hard to avoid when I have people calling regularly for runs and whatnot.  However, I'm going to be living in the bay area of California for the summer where I only know people who have no interest in physical activity.  The last time I lived in that area, I quit running, started smoking and packed on 40 pounds.  AHH!  I'm desperate to prevent this from happening.  

Anyone in the bay area/ any suggestions?

So I just started running last spring, and while it took awhile (the first day I could only run .5 miles before I felt like I was going to pass out) I eventually got in much better shape (my longest run was 7.5 miles at about a 10 minute mile pace). But, here is where the problem lies - now for medical reasons, I am being restricted in the exercise I can do. I have a condition called ulcerative colitis and about 3 weeks ago, it started to flare. So the only exercise I have done in 3 weeks is yoga, walking (although not really exercise walking, more getting around places walking), and a little bit of weight lifting. And I really want to get back into exercising, but I am not sure what is the best to do. Until the flare stops, I cannot run. And I already know I am losing muscle mass because I did some light weight work two days ago and I am still sore from it. So here are my questions:

1) What are the best types of exercises to do now that are low impact, but will keep me in shape for when I can run again (I have access to most gym equipment and free weights, but really really really do not like swimming)?
2) How hard is it going to be to get back into running? Is it going to be as bad as I first started? Obviously this depends on how long it takes me to get back out there again, but any info would be appreciated.
3) Does anyone have experience dealing with ulcerative colitis (or Crohn's for that matter) and running? I would appreciate any tips anyone has.

Thanks!

So, not to be too weird, but I've been going to a different gym lately and for some reason at this gym, my underwear rubs against my legs a lot and starts to hurt from a rash-type thing. Is there anyway to... prevent this? Run with my legs wide apart? Take up jump roping? Wear no underwear at all? Please don't suggest the last one because I don't think I could do that.


Thanks!!

PS This is NOT a joke post. Completely serious problem. It hurts!

anyone ever done one of these? http://www.therelay.com/re_welcome.htm

looks kind of cool! i would be interested if anyone in the area is...

Current Mood: hot

It looks like I'm going to be out of running commission for a while, so I'm looking at cross-training options.

My plan is to bike (outside) until I can run again, so is there any sort of correlation (for lack of a better word) between how much you were running before and how much you should cycle now?  I really don't want to lose any of my fitness, and I'm not sure how much I should cycle in order to keep it (i.e. 6 miles of running = 12 miles of cycling, or something like that??).

I'm sorry if this is confusing and poorly worded and any ideas or advice are appreciated!

I get hurt. A lot.
If anyone's read any of my other posts, or any comments, I'm constantly bringing up my recurrent stress fractures and whatnot. Obviously, the fact that I'm hurt so often kills me.
Well, I thought I was getting another stress fracture and I had to get my tonsils out, so I quit track, and haven't been running in about a month.
My two best friends [who happen to be twins] are both in fall soccer and always talk about how they'd love to get in shape before soccer season, so I proposed that we go running. I figured they wouldn't pull through, but I invited them to come running with me when I started back up again [which was Tuesday]. They were busy Tuesday, but I got in a little workout [don't laugh, but it was 5 minutes of running on my treadmill, followed by 15 on my exercise bike, and as much ab stuff as I could fit in.] Then, yesterday, we planned to go running. Even though it was rainy, cool, and gray out, I decided I was going--with or without my friends. Surprisingly, they pulled through, and I took them on a "harder" run - about 20-30 minutes up-tempo on my cross country course. It was absolutely amazing. I missed running so much! I absolutely loved running up the hills I usually dread, and giving my friends tips and stuff. This is crazy for me, but I actually wanted to do hill repeats. And, after they were dead, I wanted to keep running and running! Now, after they had to stop and take a breather, I continued a little bit, and then when we were done, I figured they'd not want to go with me again. So I was pleasantly surprised when they called me this afternoon, asking when we were going to go running again. We went back to my high school hoping to do a flatter, longer part of the course, but it was a swamp, so we ran the same part as yesterday, just without as many hills. I took them in a big circle around one of the school buildings, and we had fun. They went longer and farther today, so I was impressed.

Now, if you're thinking there's a point to this post, stop reading, because there really isn't, haha.

To continue, my mother [who is 43] used to work out all the time before I was born, but stopped for a long time. When I got into running, I kept urging her to run. She is a tiny, bony little thing, but she complains when she feels "unhealthy" and "fat", just because she feels out of shape. So, finally, I began running with her. Now, I would race ahead of course, but I was still a source of motivation for her. Now, she's entirely addicted, and hardly skips a day of running. I even got her to do a race with me. I won it, and she came in, like, 3rd or 4th in her age group, but it was just really cool to run a race with your mom. Of course, this was just a little 5K, nothing big at all, just a small one in remembrance of a friend's son who died, but it was awesome(:

I guess there's a bit of a point to this post. I really love motivating people to run. I call it "the dark side" and am constantly trying to get people to start running or join cross country. I just think running is such an amazing thing. Also, when I drive past people who are running, I usually cheer out the window - and I never know the people.

No one has to respond to this, I'm just babbling. But, if anyone wants to add anything, feel free(:

Hi! I am doing my first half-marathon this weekend- the Cleveland Rock and Roll marathon. Is anyone else here doing it or have they done it before?

I always run with music, but because it's "rock and roll" will they have music playing from the different stops along the way?

Along the way I noticed that there were bathroom stops, are there usually long lines for those or can you hop in and hop out?

Any other hints about the race course or things I should check out while I am there?

Thanks!