Sue, good luck w/ the marathon challenge. That is so exciting to have 300 other kindred spirits running & training along with you. I know you will share a lot of good info and experiences with our little group here and we anxiously await hearing all about it!

I will be in as soon as I can with a complete RR. For now, just know that I did finish although not in the time I wanted, but finished no less!!

I have had some IT Band problems for the last 2 weeks and it became much worse to the point of totally locking up during the last 6.2 miles!

I finished in 5:49:55. My goal was loosely 5:30. I was on track for a 5:23 until mile 20. Oh, well...so goes it in the land of the running!!

I am still thrilled beyond belief that in just a little over 2 short years after starting C25K!

I am pretty sore today and my knee is painful, but better than yesterday!

Ok, make that MARATHONER!

Big Kudos to you on your race result!! You DID it!! That is awesome!!!

Kathy, Whoo Hooo....I am so proud of your accomplishments. While your time was not what you wanted, you finished and that is important!  So sorry to hear about your IT injury. Take it easy, get some therapy and relaxation. There are some good exercises listed on the runnersworld.com site to strengthen.  I look forward to reading the long version of the rr.

Tks Steve for the words of incouragement. We've never had any history of dementia either even with a strong history of longevity. 

I thought of Mary Kay today. I was so full of myself for having had a good run Saturday that I just practically danced down the road on the first half of my 5 mile trianing. A little voice inside kept saying, "Save somethig for coming back", but it was too much of a temptation to see how far I could get feeling so good. When I got to the 2.5 mile turn around point I was quite tired and paused my GPS tracker to rest up a bit. After I started home, my legs were feeling pretty heavy - no more jogging, just my speed walk style until I got back to the long hill. I call it the Big Slog. It's about a mile of moderate steepness. Bicyles use a low gear combination. I didn't have a low gear today.

By the time I was a mile from home I had finished all of my energy drink, and there was no gas left in the tank. That's when I thought of Mary Kay's comment about not wanting to deal with changing her registration for fear it would make her cry. I was so tired if there had been a convenient place, I would have sat down and just bawled. Well, nothing to do, but trudge on - no more power walking, just be happy to be able to put one foot in front of the next. Just as I finished 5.2 miles and could turn my tracker off, a neighbor came by and gave me a lift the final quarter of a mile to home. Due to the speed out, the average pace turned out not too bad: 16:15 mi/min. 

No ice bath this time, just a long very hot soak and a nap. Six hours later, I feel OK. Probably be a little stiff tomorrow, but no major aches or pains. Tomorrow is a cross training day, which after my sheepdog training, I'll hit the stationary bike for a half hour. Wednesday either the treadmill or a 3K practice. In spite of today's fiasco, I feel stronger than I have in ages. 10 K is beckoning way off in the distance, maybe by next year.

But, you'll not catch me even contemplating jumping out of an airplane! Mellisa - Great nerves! Your report had me laughing all day.

Suzeecat: Just think when you finish that marathon, you'll join the ranks of MARATHONERS! What a title!

Marie: I like your quote: "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

KATHY   Congratulations!  Be proud. You are a marathoner!! 

MELISSA  Totally agree with you. Running chagnes the way a person defines their capabilities.  However; SKY   

                  DIVING?  Wow!!

  MARY KAY  Marie is right; you learned so much from your race.  Hang in there; keep training; most important;

                     believe in yourself - your more capable than you think!  Good Happy running for your 5k or 10k!

Mary Kay -  I have found that it takes longer to recover - I am using the Divas Half Marathon Walking program, but I have to stretch it out with extra rest days. This program was the first I found that is for walkers -  not starting out walking, and after just a few times, goes into a running program. I have no intention of doing a half marathon in the near future, but wanted a guide to get me ready to move into the 8 K range.

I grew up in a dry area and never experienced the need to carry water on any hikes, but I have discovered that even on the 5K having the energy drink will keep me going better to the end. Now my job is to find one of those 10 oz bottles that doesn't leak. I don't want to carry extra weight of a pint bottle. I just want to use the small 10oz bottle that's held with a strap around my hand. I've tried one made by Nathon 10 oz, but I couldn't get the cap to screw down completely, so the fluid leaked out. I am now using the Fuel Belt 10 oz. It has a better neck that keeps the collar from getting in the way of screwing the cap all the way down, but unless the drinking valve is pushed all the way down, it spatters as you vigorously pump your arms. I can hold my thumb against it, but then I find that my whole hand is tensed and that works against keeping hands and arms relaxed.

PS: I'm not going to name this running out of gas effect after you - I like GirlintheOrchard's quote - that's us!

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal" Philippians 3:13,14