MaryKay - Congrats!!   And cool medal.  What an amazing accomplishment. 

I think I'm going to focus on 5Ks and 10Ks for a while and might set my sights on a half next spring.  I've been averaging 15-20 miles a week.  I haven't been able to replicate the 8.6, though.  Last Sunday I ran on 4 hours sleep and it wasn't pretty (although I did manage 6 miles). This morning I was planning 7 and at mile 4 my calf knotted up and I ended up walking the 2 miles home. It's still tight and achey.   And it's the left calf this time! So maybe I've worked through right calf issues, now I move on to the left calf, and then my legs will be adjusted to running and stop acting up.  Or I'm just old and creaky.  . 

Run strong my friends!

MaryKay - Way to go! Loooove the medal. Sounds like you had a lot of fun and you can definitely be proud in what you accomplished.

Deb - Sometimes I just have off weeks. I tell myself that I need to "just finish" the runs on my plan, running or walking. Usually the week after is a little better. But then I think focusing on shorter runs is a great idea too, that's what I love about running there's always some new horizon, some new goal to meet.

My 8 mile on Friday felt pretty good. But then did a slow 5 mile this morning and my legs were complaining the whole way. Sometimes taking a full two days off between runs doesn't seem to help that much. Have my 4 mile race this coming Sunday. Planning to do a very short and easy run on Friday, maybe 2 or 3 miles, just so I don't run into the thing where two days off is one too many. I'm a little nervous that I will disappoint myself, but going to try to just enjoy the experience. Already planning ahead for maybe increasing my running days from 4 days a week to 5 afterwards. And also thinking about doing more speedwork over the summer. These 14 minute miles just means it's taking me forever. I'd love to get my training runs down to around a 12mm average. I don't know how impossible that is for a person to improve that much. Maybe I start over C25k again holding myself to a faster pace during my jog intervals? Not sure. Anyways, hope you are all having good running.

-Miles

Well I have to cop to it. Did not do my 4 mile race. Was busy all day on Saturday and was 10:00pm at night when I was looking at going to bed. Started thinking about how I'd have to drive downtown in the morning, get to the parking garage before 7am to secure a spot, hang out alone prior to the race and be alone and shuttling back to my car. All the logistics really just made me panic. 4 miles is no biggie for me but the race really put me off. Plus earlier that week I had ended up going the same direction as a few other runners in my loop around the park and it really stressed me out and reminded me that I don't like dealing with other folks. Even if a walker is in front of me it really stresses me out and makes me think I need to speed up from my 13/14 pace to an 11/12 just to pass them in reasonable time, and then I'm thinking I have to maintain that for a while so the walkers don't catch up with me. I know, silly mental games right? Anyways I decided it just wasn't going to be as much fun as I wanted it to be so I didn't do it. Have to be more choosey in future races and find places where the logistics are not that complex, or maybe where I can meet a friend at the start so I don't feel so alone.

Anyways, was a little depressed about copping out but on Monday was ready to start my post-race plans. Bumping up from 4 days a week to 5 days a week. That's meant this week's runs are all a little shorter (except for my long run, which will be the same). And I'm planning on doing speedwork 1 day a week and then 1 or 2 "tempo" runs as well. Averaged a 12:40 mm for my 3.3 miles of speedwork yesterday (including a few walk breaks inbetween intervals). Am definitely feeling it in new muscle groups. It's weird how you can be running for almost a year, than go a little faster and I am definitely feeling it in my legs and my core. For the first 2 miles of my "speedwork" I was aiming for a 12:30 pace. Since I might normally run in the 13/14 it just feels like lightning speed! I can't even comprehend running at something like a 10, that feels like sprinting for me, not jogging! Hopefully will get a little more natural as time goes on. Also down another couple pounds this week which is amazing since I was on work travel part of last week and ate like crap then and through the weekend. Back on track Monday, so I suppose consistency is key. Happy running everyone!

-Miles

Kathleen, that's a fantastic 5k time and you both look fabulous! I've noticed not everyone gets the running bug and sometimes it just gets tiresome.

Miles, I am right there with you. I have to be first in the lane on the freeway because I hate having someone blocking my view. Find some small local races. The only way you'll learn to handle it is by doing it. Having hundreds of people pass you at the start of the race is The. Worst. Feeling. Ever! But within 20 min many of those people are walking. If you are running your own pace, you can wave as you pass them (mentally). If you get sucked into a fast start chances are you'll be walking, too. Give it a try!

Hi everyone!

Don't beat yourself up Miles - I've run so few races because I'm very picky about the ones I select: proximity to home, availability of parking, etc. etc.

MaryKay - 2 half marathons?  in one month??  You rock girl!

Aliciacs - I know how you feel about the lightning speed!  My training runs are all around 11:00 to 12:00 mm so 5K race pace (10:20) seems so fast!  You'll be below 30 minutes soon - keep at it. 

Welcome back Kathlene!  You and your husband are quite the beautiful couple!

I'm nursing an achey calf.  It cramps up when I run but walking is fine.  The pain travels too - sometimes it's gastroc, sometimes is soleus, sometimes it's achilles and then it cycles around again.  I can't figure it out.  I got The Stick to roll out the muscles and it feels pretty good.  I'll try another short, slooooow run tomorrow to see how it feels.  I have a 5K on June 2 and a 4 miler on June 9 so I hope it heals up quick!

run strong friends!

Miles, sorry to hear about the race, but I think you made the right decision. If you're not going to have a good time, what's the point? It's not like we are profesional athletes or anything like that.

Personally, I always choose big races, which are usually walker and jogger friendly, so I don't feel out of place, and I know there will be lots of people behind me. One of the good things about living in Buenos Aires is that there are LOTS of races to choose from, sometimes 2 or 3 races a weekend. All kinds of races too. I signed up for a 7K at the end of June. My goal (aside from a 30 minute 5K) is to run a 10K before the end of the year.

Mary Kay, you say you are impressed with my time, I'm impressed with your distances! I guess we have different approaches to running and training, as long as we are making progress I think both are valid.

Debm2011, thanks for your words, I'll keep training and I know I will get to 30 minutes eventually. It's funny, because when I started C25K I tought I would be able do run 5K in 30 minutes after only 9 weeks. So naive!

Good luck with your achey calf, hope it heals in time!

As for myself, I bought new running shoes! Yay! Mine are still fine, but these were on sale and I had some extra discount with my credit card, so I couldn't resist. Now I can alternate shoes and don't have to worry so much if they get wet or anything.

Today is the first day without rain in almost a week, so it was my first run after a long time. I just can't bring myself to run under the rain, slippery roads scare me! I don't know what I'll do if it rains on a race day.

Have to go back to work, good runs for everyone!

Aliciacs, new shoes are such a great investment! They are expensive enough to make you question and reaffirm your commitment and so necessary that they will never be a waste. The best time to buy new shoes is when the others are not worn out. It doesn't happen often but folks have had shoes cause them running problems. Even well fitted shoes are stiff when new.

Deb, so good to hear you have no blood clot and hope you are on the road to healing! Getting your blood checked sounds like a good idea in any case. My knee/leg problem that side-lined me in April has gone from making me limp to just being a little nuisance after runs. It's so mild now I forget to ice it. After the Pig (5/6) I could barely walk to my car but after the Cleveland HM (5/20) I must have walked another 1.5 mi. to the train without any trouble in that specific area. Don't know if PT is the reason or it just made it possible for me to be more comfortable during the healing time but glad I was able to go.

Ran a 5k yesterday because new training group was doing it. Thought it was too soon to be racing after last weekend. I was surprised I had a pace under 12 mm at the end of my first mile! I took a mental inventory and thought, I can keep going at this pace. I might just be able to make that PR! Then we got into the sun and it was relentlessly hot. Five minutes later I was walking and never did run much again. What was different this time was the monologue in my head. I was able to allow myself this break without picking on myself for being weak. Instead of completely giving up, I walked as fast as I could and didn't have all the feelings of failure that haunted me last year because I remembered other races where walking didn't hurt my overall time much. Maybe I am really racing to give myself confidence. IDK but something is starting to work. My time wasn't good but I had an average pace 14.24 which is still an improvement over last year. The winning female had a pace of 6:25 and there was a 60 y.o. who ran it at 6:30 so... I have a lot of work to do.