My challenge is to improve on my 5K run and 1/2 marathon time.  I normally enter 5K races every quarter as a goal to myself.  But as I get older I feel the struggle among the other runners as they run so fast.  I also feel I have to lose another 10 pounds to feel lighter on my feet.  This week I will be 56 years old and will not let my age stop me from any acitivity.   When I was 50 years old, I ran my first full marathon and committed to myself to continue running for a healthy heart and to maintain my weight.  I have currently signed up for the Hollywood 1/2 marathon and hope my time improves and I also signed up for the Girls on the Run 5K.  I might consider joining a running club to help me speed up my run.  Overal I do enjoy running because my clothes fit real good and I feel good too. 

Good morning everyone! I assume everyone had a great weekend!!

First of all, let me say props to all of you who are out running in the snow and really cold temps! You are all my heros!!

We are having some really funky weather her in the South! Temps are in the mid 70's today and will be from the mid 60's to mid 70's all week! Daffodills are in full bloom! Mother Nature thinks it is Spring!!

Along with the warm weather we are also having more rain and some stormy weather. Saturday I had a 13 mile EZ run as this was the last run of my step down week. It was very warm, very humid and very overcast and dreary. I headed out at 6:00 hoping to

beat the rain, but alas it caught up with me at mile 10! The last 3 miles were run with sloshy shoes, dripping clothes and hair, but they got DONE!!!! Same thing this morning for my 5 miler except that we were under a tornado watch! I got up at my usual 4:00 for my 5:00 run, but it was raining and thundering so chalked it up to a missed run. But, the weather moved out pretty quickly and I was able to get the run in after all! I hate having to make up runs, so I was very happy with this!!!

This week my schedule is 5 today, 5 Wed, 5 Thurs, 4 Friday and 20 Saturday! Pray for me for the 20 on Saturday!!

Urun! Wise decision stopping the run at 20 miles!!! There is no doubt in my mind that with all the miles you have put in you will have no problem finishing the Marathon and I also am sure that you will do it with a great time!! 28 miles seems like overkill to me anyway!

My longest run will be 22 miles and I am happy with that. I feel if I can do 22, then I can crawl the other 4.2!!!

Welcome back to all of our "ole'' friends and good to see so many new faces!!!

Have a great day!

Kathy:  I've been seeing the tornado activity in Alabama.  I hope you're safe.

Phyllis:  Happy birthday from me as well.  All of us youngsters envy you and hope we will be as active as you are when we reach our 80s.  You set the example for us all.

We had about 4-5" of snow last Friday afternoon and now it's all melting.  I had hoped to get out the snowshoes this week, but I don't think any more snow is forecast and we'll be above freezing for the next few days.  Maybe some outside running.  Due to other things on the schedule, I haven't been to the gym since last Thursday. 

Spoke with my son this morning.  He plans to register for the Grandma's HM lottery next month.  It would be great if we both got in; he's faster than I am so we wouldn't run together, but we would all stay with my sister-in-law in Duluth and they have lots of room.

To Steve and Debra (GirlintheOrchard) and others - -

Thanks for the good birthday wishes. I don't feel any different than I did when I turned 80, so I think I may be good for another five years, even with all the non-factory equipment spare parts that I now have (hips, toe joint, cataract replacements, false tooth - and last week I got a prosthetic ear bone!) In another five years, some of you may be in my age group (70+) and we can really duke it out.

One of the things that is better about being my age, you realize that most of the runners in an event are going to pass you, so you don't let it bother. I like to focus on someone who starts out just a little ahead of me, and let them be my "rabbit". Sometimes they poop out, and I get to pass them and choose another rabbit - Whooray! On my New Years Day 5K there were two women who were behind me a short distace. I could hear their footsteps on the gravely pathway. I decided to try to stay ahead of them, but they eventually passed me. However, they slowed down and I went by - feeling pretty smart as they were jogging and I was fast walking. Well we kept leap frogging the whole distance. They came in ahead of me, but that was OK in that they were probably about 30 years younger than me.

I sometime feel kind of lonely in this 50 and over group as there don't seem to be many over 65 or even 70 correspondents.

To URun: "I've made so much progress in the last two years that I am just thrilled to have been brave enough to enter a race and pleased with myself for sticking to a plan for six months."  Great attitude - Hang in there, and continue to challenge yourself and have fun!

PhyllisK

Happy Birthday Phyllis!

Happy miles ahead!

Phyllis Happy Happy Birthday. Hope it is a Special one. The great think about the 50 and over 5K and beyond is it's ageless once we ALL hit 50. So don't be lonely looking for 65 + post. We all have one common thread Running!!!!!!. Hope you keep us all updated during 2012.

Happy Birthday Phyllis!!!! May you have many many more years of running, health, happiness and fun!!!

Steve! Thanks for being concerned for me during the bad weather. Actually, I live in Mississippi. Jasmine (JoAnn) lives in Alabama, but the bad weather was not close to her.

Urun2me! I am in awe of the miles that you have put in and at the speed in which you have done them. I feel like I have already won just by having the courage to sign up for a Marathon and do the training to begin with!

The rest is all icing on the cake!!

Welcome back chickadee!!!

Today is my SRD with Pilates/Kickboxing tonight!