Wow! Look at how many posts and how many new members we have! Welcome, everybody! Glad to have you all join the party!

I missed checking in this morning since I had to get to work nearly two hours earlier than normal, but I got out for my run. It was a thirty minute run and it's the first run since I caught that flu that has felt good and "normal"! I was so excited! That technically wraps up week 1 of One Hour Runner for me. On to week 2 (same as the first)!

Have a great night, everybody!

Thank you so much for telling me your experience in preparing for and completing W5 D3. I too am a little nervous about it. My day will be Friday. We are leaving for a 5 day vacation on Friday but I plan to do my 20 minute run before we leave.

I will tke your advice and go slowly.

Hello! I am new to the area and just registered for the Gobbler Run. I don't know a soul here, have a big weight-loss goal to acheive and figured I'd do everything I could to make running my new thing. I have started out run/walking about a 4 mile route through the neighborhood - takes me just under an hour to complete.  I have been toying with the idea of doing the Gobbler Run but kept opting out because I knew I could not run the entire way. After reading everyone's encouraging words I realized I will not be the only one who can't run a 5K in record time! I must say the iPod shuffle I bought was well worth the purchase - just when I am loosing steam I find an great song with a good fast beat and suddendly I find my second wind. I am still new to the sport, and have a lot to learn as far as training. I am reading alot about everyones schedules, Week 1, C25K, etc. and am wondering what exactly that's about? Could anyone help me with understanding a program or basic training schedule for a newbie like me? And what is Couch to 5k? I always tend to over-do it in th begining instead of starting out with smaller, more realistic goals and working upwards from that. Add that to the fact that I am extremely impatience for results = why I've never been able to stick to a running program and actually acheive a goal. For me and the Gobbler Run - it's about crossing the finish line. I don't care if I am the very last person to do it - I just want to achieve the success of crossing the line. The speed and strength will come later.

Good luck to everyone out there! I am excited about this new venture!

Hello.  I am soo very impressed with everyone here!!  I wish I had found this group way earlier! I can not believe you finished soo well and strong!! WAY TO GO.  I have done 4 5Ks this year.  I did one in Feb and March, but started to fast too soon and ended up with a shin splints / stress fractures.  OUCH.  I did my 3rd 5K on 10/3/09 finished in 51 mins,  I just did my 4th 5K 11/1/09 and finished in 48 mins with a sore foot!!   I am doing my 5th 5K on turkey day so I am hoping to finish under 45 mins.  I can not believe you did soo well your first time out, that is soo awesome.  I wish I would have found this program in Jan, but oh well ... you live and learn, right?  I figure there is always 5Ks to do which will mean I can keep improving my time.  Then move up to 10K and 15Ks.  I just love that no one is ashamed at being a over 200lb runner.  Ya'll rock and are inspiring!!! 

DanceWalkRunPenguin,

The kids know we are exercising, but don't know we're running.  Most days we went out early in the morning before they were up. We'd have our eldest get up and move to the couch, so she could hear the youngest if she woke, but other than her, most of them never even saw us going out until we had to fit in some afternoon workouts.

So far, our secret seems to have held.  I don't think any of them have figured it out, but me sitting in the living room with ice on my legs probably has some of them wondering.

NCgirl - WOW!  Looking at what you've achieved in such a short time - you should be very proud. I know I would be! You're times are impressive. You mention the desire to run again. So I'm thinking at some point you were a runner and have just gotten back to it. If that's so, welcome back! I started running at the end of August and I love it.

Hi all,

Just finished W7D1 today.  I know it's good that I'm running for 25 min. straight, but I miss the walk breaks, just a little bit.  Today I actually kept going and ran for 30 minutes (I knew that a downhill was coming on my route-is that cheating? ) , which I thought was 2 miles, but when I mapped it out, it was 1.95 miles (so close).  While I was slower than my previous run (15.3 min mile), I'm still so happy that I was able to keep going.  My hubby and I have a 5K on Sun, so I'm hoping to finish in 46 min or better.

Welcome to all the newbies out there; you will find that this board gives great support, motivation, and advice. Everybody is great here.

Aprillily-Let us know how the 20 minute run goes tomorrow.  I'm sure you'll do great!!

I have a couple of really stupid questions about what you do at your 5K:

1.  What do you do with your car keys?  Neither me or my husband has pockets, so we never know what to do with our keys.  Our car key isn't a small key either, it's pretty bulky.

2.  How do you normally warm up while you're waiting to start?  I usually hang out and stretch, but this time, I'm thinking of walking for a few minutes, then starting with a jog at the race.

Thanks for the info.  Happy running!!!

everyone's running stories have inspired me to accelerate my 5k schedule because i found a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in my hometown sponsored by Comal Cops for Kids - it is the inaugural run, so i think it'd be a lot of fun to participate in.  it is 3 weeks from today, so it'll be during W5 - but i'm sure that is fine, judging from the weeks that others on here say that they've run 5ks.

so i now have 2 5k runs scheduled before my C25k program finishes.  i think that is good though because of the extra motivation.  and you know what?  if i'm struggling too much during the first one, i'll just back off and walk for a couple of minutes and then run as much as i can.  i'm not racing anyone (but my own brain, of course), so there is no real pressure on me to run the whole thing or finish in a pre-determined time.

1st Annual Gruene Turkey Trot

26 November -- Gruene, TX

17th Annual St. Jude's Ranch for Children Jingle Bell 5k

12 December -- New Braunfels, TX

anyone in the 'area' should think about joining me!!