OK, it's been awhile since I've visited here. The summer's been tough - long work hours, way too hot &humid - but I'm still plugging away. I get frustrated that I'm so slow - but I take heart from a few of you who are a bit slow as well. Actually my fastest run was a "quick" two miles this morning - it was early so not as hot, and I managed a 13:30 pace. I know it's slow compared to many of you, but it's much faster than my usual 14:30-ish pace. I'm trying to increase my distance to approach a 3-mile run as the norm, but I'm currently stuck around 2.2 miles for most of my runs. In the end though, the fact is that I keep running 3 times a week - maintaining that habit is probably the most important accomplishment for me. Thanks all for the continuing encouragement and good examples!

Hi Deb!

we are in the same boat- I fnished C 25K but am far from running 5K 3times a week. Jason's article has some helpful tipps:

http://strengthrunning.com/2010/06/how-to-increase-mileage/

I will follow his advice and start right off with a recovery week. teh-he-he.

Just1deb - If you have been running 2.2 miles 3 times per week for awhile, you are probably physically capable of running 3 miles.  You may be having the problem that a lot of us have.  Your head may be getting in the way.  Perhaps you could add .2 miles per run and just MAKE yourself do it.  I'm sure you can, and the mental boost can be very helpful.  For me, at least, increasing distance is a mental thing more than physical.  Just a thought.

KILLO - I think the headbands are called Bondi Bands.  One thing I have found about pace is that as you increase your distance, your pace gets better on the shorter distances.  I have always run at a really steady 12 minute mile.  Then, as I have increased distance (long run of 10 miles at 12:45 pace)  Now, my 5K pace falls out at about 11 minutes.  I didn't do anything else to get the number down, it just fell on it's own.  Not sure if this is normal, but it works for me...

I ran my first double digit milage yesterday.  10 miles on a dirt trail near my house.  It was an out and back that was uphill on the way there and downhill on the way back.  I'm amazed that I can say it was 10 pretty easy miles.  My breathing was great the whole time because I kept it nice and slow.  I used Stinger energy chews (cherry blossom flavor).  Did 5 chews at mile 4 and 5 at mile 7.  Carried water and took 2 big gulps at about every mile.  This formula really worked for this run.  Oh...and the temp was about 63.  That helped too!  Also, last week I went over 20 miles for the week (only 20.3 but still...)  So, it was a good week.

Jeannette

Just1Deb, I am right there with you - at least my body is. I wish it weren't. As soon as I reach a certain spot in my run it feels like I've hit a wall, my breathing gets rough and my head gets flooded with thoughts of stopping. I argue with the voices for a while and then usually give in. When I stop I feel like crying but it's as much because I am totally spent as from disappointment. I tried to return to intervals, adding distance to them rather than time and then increasing the distance by 10% each week. My body went for it awhile but is just not cooperating right now.

Kristi, here's the site for bondi bands. http://www.bondiband.com/  I think Cate originally posted it? maybe i'm wrong. I have one that says "SLOW  It's the new fast" but there were a lot of great choices. They are super comfortable and on a regular day keep me dry, on a hot, humid day, not so much. I've been using a visor but the bondi band was enough yesterday.  

Weather here is beautiful so I'm taking off early for a run. Suppose to be resting for Saturday but the course has 40 mud obstacles. I don't see anyone doing a lot of running, particularly not me. Jeanette, I so envy you running in the Rockys in 60 degree weather and no mud. I guess it will be like that here soon enough. You are steaming ahead really quickly! Richard, I bought a Garmin 350. Should get it tomorrow from Amazon. You'll be getting my questions Sunday. J/k, I hope.

Good runs all!

Mary Kay

So i ran today, and i feel great (32 minutes / 2.7 miles)  my longest to date!  I am not sure if it is because i started PT this week.  I found out that i have very weak ankles, and my flexiblity in my anckes is HORRIBLE!  I just keep thinking, i have gone this far with all of these issues, who know what kind of runner i can become after a few weeks physical therapy!

Just popping in to say I am still here.  I finished B210K on saturday, and decided to start on Jeff Galloway half marathon training.  I am gonna do a 50 mile relay in Sept (5-7 mile legs) so I figure this will get me confortable at that distance.  At the end of B210K I was only up to ~5.3-5.5 miles, so not quite the 10K, but close enough that I know I could finish one.  The half marathon plan actually seems easier than the B210K!  There is a lot less time needed on the weekday runs, which is better for me.  Now I have to get to crosstraining a little bit.

The kids sports are starting back up again, and hockey camp (every night for a week!) through me for a loop, but I am finding ways to make it work...yesterday I ran to my sons baseball practice.  My husband went up early with the kids, and I met them there a little after.  I have to say that felt pretty good.

I am still needing to negotiate with myself to finish those runs, but I just keep breaking it into little pieces (to the edge of the develpment, to the park, another loop, yay! heading home) and that seems to help.

Keep on running!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you don't mind me joining in...I know Mary Kay from another thread.  I've been reading all of your posts for a while now and because I've been struggling, I've been afraid to join in.

Mary Kay, what you're going through now is exactly what I've been experincing for the past few weeks.  I've hit a wall and my body has just said it's not going to take it any more.  I still run/walk everyother day and walk on the off days, but I haven't been able to increase my mileage for awhile now.  I usually do a least 2 miles.  What I have been doing lately is re-do weeks 4 5 and 6 of C25K while I'm trying to increase the mileage and my stride, since I have very short legs.  It seems to be working, however my 7 year old nephew saw me out running and has decided to run with me, so I have slowed down a little the past few days for him. He's so cute, he does not want me to get ahead of him... he'll look back and if I'm on his heals he speeds up.LOL

Oh well, I'll just keep running, sooner or later I'll master this.

Lori

Keep up the great work everyone!  I can't wait to get back to join you!  6 weeks after hip stress fracture diagnosis and 8 weeks after injury, I had a followup doctor appt. with xrays.  I was hoping I could at least get to a walking program, but the doctor said no, 3 more months of no weight bearing exercises.  It was definitely a fracture of the femoral neck.  Very scary. I have talked him into doing a MRI in a month to see if I can speed that up a bit. 

So I have now taken up my only option, aqua-jogging.  It is quite amusing, I strap on a flotation belt, put my i-pod in a plastic bag under my hat, and float around while doing running motions with legs and arms.  To keep inspired I listen to couch 2 5K podcast.  I really want to keep up my range of motion and some aerobics while I am in rehab, so I can get back as soon as possible.  I also have a ski trip planned in December!  I need to heal fast.

What do you call a pengiun swimming?.....Swaddling, Pladdling?

Desperation leads to invention!