If you have to run inside, try it. I really thought it made the whole workout better and more interesting.

Sully- I like that idea. I'm in Michigan and we were pounded over the weekend. I've been afraid to do an outdoor run since, not just for the slipping factor, but because I'm convinced my shoes will get soaked then my feet will get soaked and then I'll be running with cold feet and absolutely miserable. So, I run at the indoor track at the gym. But, glad you thought of something to get your mind off things.

Okay, good luck with the running today. I've got 3miles scheduled for the indoor track tonight. And then I have to do some grocery shopping. I've been slacking at everything lately, but hey, still a non-smoker so I won't beat myself up too hard.

Gotta get back to work!

Meg

I agree with you and Andy, need some music, especially on the treadmill. But I gave myself a Christmas present - a portable Satellite radio which won't work inside so I guess I'm going to have to get back out in the snow and ice again. lol I have an ipod, the first version, that works inside but won't work outside because the hard drive freezes when it gets bounced around.

Well I started smoking at about 17 I quit off and on, mostly on, but withing the last 5 years I had gone through a divorce and really ramped up my smoking. I was a pack a day easy, and on weekends or nights out drinking, I could smoke 2 packs no problem. Well to make a long story short. I had a life changing experience and gave up everything cold turkey at age 40.

Soon after in an effor to lose a few pounds, and combat the extra eating i was doing from not smoking, my GF and I decided to start running. I thought no problemo, and we took off I was going to show her, as I used to run track and jogged with my Dad as a kid. I took off through down our running trail, bounding like a deer and up the first long steep hill. When i reached the top, i was out of breath as to be expected, but however I was unable to catch my breath, We stopped and i was huffing and puffing bent over, not able to catch my breath, so we walked slowly. stopping every so often as i continue to huff, I had never in my life.....what is going on ? I thought i was going to have to send her back and call and ambulance.,,lol "come pick me up in the woods" So we manage to make it back the house one hour later i am still breathing heavy. now weasing. I soon found out that I had developed ASthma. GrEAT : ( So anyway we kept running days after that notorious first event, we started off slow now, and i would stop,,,and weeze. Eventually as we kept it up, some pounds came off and i was able to run farther- our typ run is 2.2 miles cross country (hills) . We both became faster and faster. When i craved a smoke, i would go for a run it was a sure cure as i figured out the deep breaths of fresh air mimicked the long drags of smoke that i was craving.

Then last summer we noticed something that we knew about but never really paid much attention to ....LOCAL 5k races We signed up for our first one, I ran a 27:18, then later in the summer, on a Flat course I ran a 25:18 (8:10 pace) finished with no weezing at all.

It has been 2 years since i last smoked. I found that the difficulties of quiting are directly proportional to the time you have under your belt. IT slowly drifts away, I rarely ever think about smoking now.

I would like to encourage all of you as coming from someone who smoked alot.,,,, you too can quit, everyday it gets easier and Running definitely is the key to helping.

my running overall has been kind of lax. i have been exercising a lot but not running. i have come to hate the treadmill. even when i get one in front of the window. except when it is snowing. so i have not been running very much.

well the gym is closing early lately because of the holidays. i was in a funk from a long day, stress from the holidays, stress from my ex, etc... so i layered, laced up, and took my lazy butt out into the cold. this is the first time i have went out since the cold. i have an aversion. but man was it fantastic. it took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to work my body in the cold, but then it was amazing. i remembered why i liked running so much to begin with.