Just started up trying to run. Got started a while ago when I was about 25 pounds heavier and had to stop, just too much stress on the joints. So I'm started up again today and managed to finish a mile in 13:12, which is easily my PR and I feel like I could have even finished a little faster than that.

Good luck everyone, hope we can all reach our goals.

SloMo...

Check your private messages!

the conster

Good day/evening all - Been out of touch for a while - nothing exciting til this last sunday when I woke up and pretty much couldn't bend my right knee.  If it had been my left I wouldn't worry so much as its been an issue pretty much since I was 16...

Long story short...couple of weeks past tweeked it during karate workout or during weekend trail run not quite sure which.  nothing I hadn't done in the past.  actually had my best 6+k run for a while couple days later.  just had issues with lateral motion but straight/stairs were fine.  layed off twisty type stuff in karate (roundhouse kicks etc)  did 11+k run this past Saturday and lo and behold I could not walk down stairs sunday.   its gotten a little better as week has gone on...been alternating ice/heat in the evening and popping couple of motrin.  as this is new to me  (I've been pretty much injury free since i started waddling) any advice to how to best get thru this?  I have almost full range of motion and feel no other issues.  I have experience with torn ligaments in my other knee and am not too worry that this is anything more than strain/sprain.  Its frustrating as I had just PR'ed my opening race of 2012 and have been almost running vice waddling even pushing 10min miles on occasion. 

Anyway I hope this is temporary setback and that I will be back on the road shortly...

Well, I've been busy. I've run a double (Sat/Sun halfs) last weekend at the Bloodgusher HM in Midland, TX on Saturday and the Arbuckles to Ardmore (A2A) HM in Ardmore, OK on Sunday. This weekend I ran the Wayland Wellness HM in Plainview, TX. None of these ended up in a PR...but the A2A did end up in my WR (Worst Record...lol!) at 3:00:56, but the improtant thing was that I finished. I was just too worn out from the run in Midland where temps were in the mid-80s by the time I finished at 11:30 or so (late start at 9am). That was just a miserable run...started out at about 65° with NO wind then steadily the temp went up into the 80s. By the time I was finished I was soaking wet from sweat and from having thrown water all over myself and using ice cold wet rags that they offered every few miles. Again I ended up with cramping, I'm guessing from all the sweating,  of the calves but not as severe as when I ran in AZ. I did end up walking the last 3 miles but I was fine with that. As long as I finished. The A2A had better weather, started off slightly overcast with a nice breeze. The start was fairly cold in the high 50s. The race started as a downhill for the first 8 miles or so and then the rolling hills started...something I didn't really expect. Again I ended up walking the last 3 miles, mostly due to the hills. Thankfully the temp maxed in the low 70s and the breeze was fairly constant, so no excessive sweating and no cramping. I managed to finish in 2:46:28. Finally I ran today...it was a little on the cool side in the high 50-low 60s at the start with a decent wind at maybe 15mph max. I stuck to a 5:1 minute interval at a slower pace than I wanted just because I was still tired from last weekend (wait until you read what I have coming up). Just after 8 miles we hit the turnaround and I found myself running headon into a 20+ mph wind. Since I didn't feel like I was moving when I ran I decided to walk instead...the wind was so stiff that I started to make arm motions like I was trying to swim through the wind! lol! I did manage to stick with intervals throughout the race but the running intervals did become shorter as I headed for the finish. I finished in around 2:47 or so (still waiting for them to post results). So that's 4 halves in 3 weeks (including the AZ race).

Next week on tap is the Southern Indiana Classic in Evansville, IN on Saturday and the GO! St Louis HM in St. Louis, MO on Sunday. The following Saturday is the New Mexico Centennial HM, the Saturday after that is the OKC Memorial HM in OKC, OK and then the following weekend is the Wisconsin HM in Kenosha, WI and the 1st Midwest Bank Southwest HM in Palos Heights, IL. All this is followed by another single and double...ugh.

The question of "Why?" is probably going through your head about now. Since I joined Half Fanatics, there is a level/ladder system and my goal is to get to the highest level by March which means 30 HMs in 30 different states in 365 days. I figure I'll have myself at the next to the top level by August and during Sept and Oct I'll begin work on joining Marathon Maniac (need 3 fulls in 90 days) before finishing up the last 7 HMs that I'll need to reach the top level of Half Fanatics. Yes, I am certifiable! Let's see if I can do it!! lol!

Happy running, run safe and listen to your bodies! (If only I could follow my own advice!)

I'd like to know this as well. I have been running actively for almost a year. I am slower than anyone here and, frankly, don't even want to post the time from my 5k this weekend. However, I do know I am running better (maybe not a whole lot faster though) than I was a year ago.

My personal opinion is that you are a runner when you make the decision to do it regularly and ENJOY it. If it is work, then it is just exercise. I never in a million years thought I would like running  - I was always a sprinter and even hated running a 400! But now I love it, honestly love running. So, even though I am slower than molasses in January and I do not own every bit of runner apparatus available in the world, I still call  myself a runner.

Good job getting through the C25K!

If you're running, you're a runner!  Some runners just happen to be near the tail end of the pack.  Or even way behind the pack.  It's more fun to be a Penguin than to just be a slow runner. 

I came in last place at my most recent Half Marathon, but I'm still a runner and proud of it!

Croz69 -

I would say it's all in your perception of things. We have some people on this board that run an 8 minute mile who consider themselves slow and others (like me) who run an 12+ minute mile. Like SoulSong said if you're at the back of the pack you might consider yourself a slow runner...but if you've just gotten off of the couch and just started with say a 16 m/m but now run a 13 m/m you might not consider yourself so slow anymore. You might judge it as well from the point of view of where you want to be as far as pace...say you're at a 10 m/m but want to be at an 8 m/m maybe you'd consider yourself slow. There's not textbook answer to the question...it's all in the perception of the person who's running (and the idiotic others who sometimes make rude comments).

Its a bold statement to claim as you do

ILuvRugby wrote:

 

I'd like to know this as well. I have been running actively for almost a year. I am slower than anyone here....

however as a self proclaimed fan of the greatest team sport known RUGBY you get a pass.  I am a mostly retired Loose Head Prop who still laces up the boots once or twice a year to play in old man matches...I am betting I can give you a run for your title depending on the distance...

I have also said - its better to be a penguin than a walrus