Nico -- the Garmin's so cool! I'm just figuring out some of the training features, and it's just amazing. If anybody else is on the fence, I'd say get one. If you don't need the heart rate monitor or the other accessories (just GPS and pace stats, as well as some training features) you can pick up a 205 for about $160 on amazon.com, and about $125 refurbished from actiongps.com. (I've heard that the 201 and 301 units have trouble keeping a lock on the GPS satellites sometimes).

Congratulations, Mike! What a way to finish -- 7.1 miles is quite a haul. Doesn't it feel great? What's next for you? Just running around or are you going to move into another plan?

Val - How are you holding up? Sounds like your weather has gotten nicer. I'm still contending with 20F in the mornings. It'd be okay if spring came to the northeast sometime soon. Really.

I did my first ever interval workout this morning (FIRST half marathon program, W2D1). My plan had me doing 4 intervals of 800 meters (.5 miles) at 8:47 min/mile pace with a two minute recovery jog in between. Unfortunately, I managed to program my Garmin wrong and I ended up running the intervals at an 8:37 min/mile pace. I opened with a 20 minute warmup run at about 11:00-12:00 min/mile, then switched into the intervals. After the intervals, I did a 10 minute cooldown run (again, at 11:00-12:00 min/mile), then a brief walk back home.

Everything worked out fine, and I feel great! In total, I ended up covering 5.18 miles at an average speed of about 10:16 min/mile. The best part is that I'm not experiencing any knee pain at all. I've been doing some strenthening exercises for my quads and those seem to be helping quite a bit.

I hope you're all well. Happy running!

Don

Good job getting out there Val! It is a really good thing I live in Florida, the last two days have been cold (for me) and I was really reluctant to go out yesterday (but glad I did). Today it was 34 when I got up and I'm waiting for it to warm up a little bit before I head out. (That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!)

Great run Mike! I really like how long runs make me feel afterwards, but I don't always have the time for them. Am toying with the idea of doing a 6er today... are you heading for a race any time soon? I have an 8.6 on Saturday. It's the March of Dimes, which I guess is techinically a walk, but I know some people are running it.

Don, you're amazing. My "coach" friend calls intervals "repeats". I did one set back before my half and it almost killed me. It did improve my speed by a bit though. I was trying to do a set of 4 800's with a 400 recovery in between, but my last 800 I just ran out of gas and did a 400 instead.

Kevin, Iain what's up with y'all?

Nico

Frank, sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she's feeling better soon. I know it weirded me out when I had my heart episode. And it's always in the back of my mind. Some of my medication lowers my heart rate and it completely affects my workouts. If I workout in the morning, after I've taken the drugs, I'm kind of sluggish and I can't seem to get my HR over 130. I ran tonight, 12 hours after I had taken the drugs and my HR immediately went to 130 and climbed on up to 160. I actually had a much more productive bike ride and run tonight than I usually do. And that makes me want to stop taking the d*amn medication. I know I can't but I hadn't realized how much it was affecting me. You're a tough cookie Frank. I know you can handle just about anything. And I bet your Mom is the person who taught you how to be tough! So I think she'll be up and about in no time.

Don't forget peeps, I'm going to NYC on Thursday. I won't be back to the computer until next Wednesday at the earliest. Let the Mounties have this week off.

Be careful everyone.

juststarted, how's the running coming along?

I was able to run Monday afternoon at the Sportsplex, my 11yo grandson went with me and took his in-line skates and a bicycle. He rode beside me much of the time, it was nice to have him there. I ran 7.1 miles in 1:20, he rode about 10 miles. Having the Garmin 305 makes it easier to know your distance that you have ran and your pace.

Sounds like most of us are healthy now, that's good!!!! The weather is warming up and soon we won't have any excuses. LOL

Today is my hill run,

Happy Running,

Frank N Mississippi