Mythic!!!  Thanks for the website/hydration suggestion!  Now I have to decide between the Hydroswift & Hydrospeed....decisions, decisions...but AWESOME price!!!

Does it make you talk in a high squeeky voice? (HA!)

Hi FLAmom.  I'm in FL also and am really having an adjustment to the rising temps.  I started running in the hot weather but it quickly turned cold and now that it's getting hot I'm slowing down a bit.  Of course, it does not help that I was sick all last week and still coughing a bit....and that we now have fires in the area from a controlled burn that was anything but controlled.  I'm with you....the earlier the better!  Congrats on making it through a 4.5 in the hot weather though!  Way to go.

Welcome to all the new people Mary Beth, Manuel Run, gem66, I’m new myself.

SloMo – Thanks for the kind welcome and I’m in California? Are you anywhere near there? You are right to listen to your body after that long walk, there’s no need to injure yourself, that is for sure. I’m so excited for you since you are training for a half-marathon. I think your idea of doing it mile by mile is a good idea. I totally understand about the momentum needed and I think it’s a good plan. I only got up to 5K’s last year but hearing about your training is motivating. J I hope to get at least a 10K in this year. 

PaintingLady – How is your 100 day challenge going? I haven’t looked for the thread yet but it sounds interesting.

Jasmine – Last year I read so many of your posts on the triath thread and you are inspiring.  Just wanted to say that.

Gakate – Amazingly I got a few of my workout clothes from Old Navy on clearance. Believe it or not, they actually have quite a few active pieces that are comfortable and keep me dry. Just make sure you look for the “dry wick”, “moisture wick” etc features on the tags. Some stuff looks like it’s the same thing but it’s not.

Patrick.shields – Good for you man! A one month mark is such a great start? How long is an ultra-marathon?

Liprippa – Congrats on your first duathlon and C25K completion!

I’m hoping to start this week with a mile to break me back in to the routine. Might still be a little cold and windy out so I’ll have to chain myself to the treadmill (ohhhh noooo). Did my first hike last Saturday and loved it.

Hi fellow penguins.The other day my daughter & I were running and I mentioned something about us being penguins. She asked why....because we were both wearing black pants & jackets? I got so tickled I almost fell. No dear...we are slow. But we did sort of fit the image, esp. since I had on white under my half zipped jacket.She had on a bright UT orange shirt.

Rocky, the 100 Days Challenge is going well. I finished day 53 today w/ a 3.2 mile run. Several on the thread have said the challenge and thread had kept them accountable. Join us here http://community.active.com/thread/133046/100-day-challenge/0/0 and start with day one if you want. I'm enjoying it so much and feeling so good about it that I plan/hope to go beyond the 100 to 365.

Did any of you watch the tv show HEAVY last night on A&E (I think). It takes morbidly obese couple and works w/ them over the course of 180 days to lose wt through exercise & nutrition. Last episode had a guy who lost 180 pounds and to celebrate, he ran 180 minutes on the treadmill. (I would have run outside!)  He covered 15 miles. It was very inspirational and made me KNOW in my mind that I can run a half marathon before the end of the year and later a marathon. My weight is in the normal range, but I want to lose about 15 pounds, just because I need to lower my cholesterol and think it would be easier on my joints. Who knows....it might even get me out of being a penguin. Naaaaa....I'll always be a penguin and proud of it.

Happy running.

Marie

Hi everyone and welcome all the newcomers!

I don't post here often, but I DO read. I can't miss to many days or there are pages and pages to catch up on.. you are a busy bunch! LOL!

I have trouble signing in sometimes and trouble posting sometimes, so I mainly read and keep up with you all. It's nice to hear about all of the stories of your running adventures.

As for myself,  I have signed up for a 1/2 marathon!! I'm very nervous but I have a plan to add more milage slowly over this year. The 1/2 isn't until Nov. and now that the weather is getting nicer, I've been able to get outside more, but then I go sick.. soooo..  now I am just getting well and trying to get back to where I was running-wise before illness set in. There is a 5K that I want to do next month just to get myself back into the whole race mentality. I LOVE having a race to train for. It motivates me more than anything else, and I just look forward to it. I really enjoy the whole atmosphere of a race! I did 3 miles the other day at a 17 mm pace. (no, not kidding... lol.. I'm that slow!)  I was getting that number down to just below a 16 mm pace before I got sick. If I ever get a 15 m mile, I'll be so surprised!!

I guess what I do is not "racing" but more like joining the group that IS racing and making sure no one is left behind...

Art, I've been reading your blog and I think you've got a good thing going there!

as for watches, I got one for Christmas and can't figure out my stride on the thing. When I measured my stride, the chart showed that it was off the chart. .(too short). and now when I run/walk I don't get an accurate distance on the watch. It'll say I've done 1 1/2 mile when I KNOW I've gone 3 etc. I'm kind of aggravated with it because I've tried several different "stride" lengths and none of them have been accurate to the distance. sigh.  So now I just use it to keep time and I measure the distance with my car.

Not always an option to do that, though, lol!

HOW does one go about measuring their correct stride?  If you know, please tell me because I love the watch but it's not doing me much good without this feature. I want to be able to run or walk anywhere and have it tell me the distance, or at least close to the distance.

Thanks!

Hi Nancy,
I often have the same problems with posting, so I tend to read this thread a lot more than I post to it. 

I'm not sure about the stride/watch question.  I got a Garmin 305 for Christmas and it measures my distance and pace by satellite which is really great.  I just got back from a vacation to Mexico and I used it to run around the resort.  I got in 2 - 3 miles most days I was there.  I wouldn't have had a clue how far I went without it. 

Best,
Laura

Hello, All. I'm a Penguin, too! I love having a more cheerful moniker than "slowest runner on the planet." Much happier. I'm over 50 and just started running this past summer. I fight with injuries from trying to do too much, too soon, or going too fast. I just signed up for a 1/2 marathon in Philly in May. My husband and daughter will be running as well. They promise to stay with me, but I almost hope they don't. I'd hate to think that I was holding them back. It should be fun in any case. Does anyone have tips for making treadmill runs a little more enjoyable? Right now I listen to my iPod, while watching TV with the sound off. Lately, though, even that leaves me pretty bored. Any suggestions are appreciated.