Ran in a 5k this morning. It was 18F. It was cold - no, It was surreal for Central Texas - but it was a lot of fun. I turned in my best time yet - 37:38 Five minutes better than my last 5k race. I really wasn't pushing myself that hard either. I got the pleasure of passing some of the other, younger, skinnier people who took off too fast, and then burned out about 1/3 the way through. I took some advice and bought a hood to cover my nose and mouth, and that did the trick nicely... Thanks a million, y'all!

Have a great week!

Hope everybody is keeping warm today (at least those of us in the 3/4 of the US where it's below freezing).  Ran the first of four January 5K's today and finished in 46:12.  Not my best time, but considering it was 15 degrees out and with a wind chill of close to 0 degrees, I'm satisfied.  As I was sitting in my car with my husband before going to the start line, I just kept saying "What are we doing here?!!  We could be in bed, chowing down on some egg sandwiches (scrambled eggs, cheese and bacon on a buttered, toasted roll-delish!!), watching TV."  But, it looks we are runners now, so it's a brave new world for us.  Who'd a thunk it less than 6 months ago, I'd be running with hundreds of other hardcores in the middle of winter.

I'm working in NYC this week, so my running is going to be limited (I leave the house before 7am, and get home after 7:30pm) so hopefully I can get a few miles in this week.  The weather is going to be in the (balmy) 30's this week (teens and 20's at night), so I guess it's back to bundling up and running at night again.

Have a good week everyone!!

Any ladies who might be thinking of doing a triathlon, might consider doing an Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon.  There are six this year: Las Vegas NV, Racine WI, Syracuse NY, Boulder CO, Columbia MD (sold out), and the one I'm doing: Atlanta GA.  For more information, go to: http://www.irongirl.com/Events.htm These events are for ladies only!

I'm back home in AL, but still haven't done a workout since Sat.  Re-entering training on Tues.  I'm falling behind the 50 mi. challenge, so I've got to get back on my feet again.  I can't wait to fit in a 5 or 6 mi run over by the river again.  Glad to hear that everyone else is back on track.  Sounds like many of you had great races this weekend.  I missed mine due to travel.

Jill- I'm 20 yrs older, lots shorter, but about the same weight.  Since I'm real slow still, I'm working on programs to improve my 5K speed, before I move up to the 10K programs.  After you finish your C25K program, you'll have a good idea if you need to increase your run times to reach 3 miles, or your run distance, cause you run pretty fast already.

Keep warm, y'all!

Jo Ann

WOW!!  All these people who ran races last weekend in the subfreezing weather - and in the "warmer" climates, too!  Nice job, warriors.  I think in this case you should not pay so much attention to your times as you should the fact that you sucked it up, gutted it out and actually went out and ran the race.  That is too cool.  That is motivation and dedication and regardless of your time you have every reason to be proud of yourselves.  Big pat on the back and an "I love me" is warranted.  And for the rest of us who braved the elements and ran in the garbage weather in other places (like Seattle ) excellent job on that as well.  My running is doing ok.  Coming along.  Lately it's been much easier than I had expected so I have to step it up a bit.  Don't know what's going on but I'll take it.  I have to train as much as I can as well as I can because I signed up with some friends to do the Odyssey Relay from the Gettysburg battleground in PA to Washington, DC the last weekend of April.  I know I'll have to run 3 different legs but I don't know which position I will take so I'm not sure of the terrain or distances yet.  I'll be looking for some 3Ks to start the season about mid-month next month and see where we go from there.

First off - I'd like to thank God for giving me the ability to run as well as putting me in SoCal to do it! I couldn't run in the cold like everybody else here! Great job and dedication!! Its like 72 degrees here, and every blessing is being counted as we speak. I only have to dodge the daily urban smog and the annual wildfires. With that said - I am grateful. I think about that when I run now. When I'm tired or lazy, I thank God that I can run, walk, breathe. Just something to think about if youre ever tired, less enthusiastic, or freezing to death.

Turtle - That's a good point, running will be a greart stress reliever for wedding drama!  Thanks for the kind words... it will be MY day... and thats why I choose to SEIZE IT ....and SQUEEZE into that darn dress!

Jasmine - I miss Mr & Mrs. AFMR!! I loved their stories. Thanks for posting the link to there blog!

Chunky - True - the bride puts the pressure on herself, but lets face it... no bride wants to look like a marshmallow!! Most women want to look good for their man, especially on that day. Nuttin' vain about the effort, just a good strong ol fashioned attempt to look great in that dress and eat like a wild beast on the honeymoon! Now don't get me wrong - he has seen me as a hot mess before in sweats and horrid ponytail with a bad cold...and he still loved me. But keep in mind that I also need to be in good health to take care of our family. Thanks for the "guy advice", we love it!!

Shell, I'm amused that your screen name is WetSneakers and you got hit by an overhead wave. Perhaps it should be WetHair.

I'm still on the injured list, but antsy to get back out there. This is the hard part: not starting back too early. I kept reading about it, thinking, "oh, that won't be my problem," and yet I find it's exactly the issue! If I hadn't done the treadmill walk Friday night I probably would be back out there already. That one session brought on three days of more intense hip pain than what I'd started with to begin with.

Bleh, I'm not here to complain.

Jasmine, I have seen some other people talking about that IronGirl tri. I'm not ready this year, but I might be by 2011. Plus I think I'm out of town that weekend.

Hi everyone,

It's been a long week, working 13 hrs. a day in NYC, so I've been absent from the thread for a bit.  Based on what I've been reading, it sounds like everyone is doing well (Penguin get well soon!!) and continues to run, either in races or on their own.  Awesome!!

I ran last Sunday in the frigid Northeast, and I was mistaken about my time. My chip time was acutally 45:45, which may not be fast for most, but IT WAS MY BEST TIME SO FAR!!  A PR if you will. I was so happy-I hope that means I'm getting faster.  We are running again tomorrow, and it's supposed to be in the 30's, but raining by race time (blah).  Can't wait for spring!!!

I ran both Wednesday and Friday, completing OHR week 6, and started week 7, so only a few more weeks to go.  After this, it's 10K training for me, so I can gear up for my first on 5/2/10 (yikes!).  I would love to eventually do the Irongirl triathalon that Jasmine was talking about, maybe in 2011.  I still have to get a bike, and find a place to swim.

I'm heading to Waltham, MA this week for work, so I'm hoping to find some roads/running trails that I can hit after work that are safe, so I can keep running.  I just can't run on the TM, I can't get over how much I hate it.  I'll check in with everyone on Sunday, after race #2.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

-Kelly

I started the C25k program back in July at 285.  I am down to 255 and finished my first 5k in December at 35:33.  I am going to do my first 10k the end of February so I am working on extending my runs each week on Sunday.  I did my first 5 miler today and it felt great.  I have set goals of 225 by June and 205 by the end of the year.  I havent been able to run longer than 35 minutes without walking though but at my weight I feel satisfied.  Good luck to everyone.  The C25k program gave me the goals and motivation to get out the door and change my life.  It has done so much for me just in the previous 6 months.