Soul:  what a trek!! congratulations: your event sounds treacherous, cold and FUN!!!

Luv:  woo-hoo! on your first event!!! this is a great site for us slow runners.

Earthmom: i think i'm with you on the stress of training, pre-race jitters, etc. Before my hm, had a meltdown a few weeks before the event:  i can't do it! i'm too old!  i'm going to die!  blah, blah, blah!  on the other hand on my long run this past friday i had 2 instances (around 2.5 miles and again around 4 miles) where everything was perfect: body was moving, rhythm was smooth; scenery was beautful!!  i guess i'm working toward feeling that more often and for longer moments. i know i'll never win any races, unless may i register for an event in an age category that's 20 to 30 years older than my actual age! 

in the meantime, let's just have some fun! 

Would love to do the mutt strut - love the dogs/pups/hounds/doggie dogs -

and to runlambrun - I love your name for the site - cute - we call our 20 year old daughter to this day 'lamb chop' or 'lambie' such a sweet reference.   

Site question - is there a trick to get your races listed - I seem to have limited space and get a message with 'error on page'  but no clear clue as to what that 'error' is......?     thanks anyone for the help with this technology stuff.....

Congratulations indigo!   Awesome time and placement!    wow   Congratulations to your brother as well!  I bet that was fun.  I come from just south of Chicago but am in CO now.  Cold + windy though - brrrrrrrrrr   That's a tough combo.

Today it's 84 degrees with 50+ mph winds!  I went out and felt like I was moving but the wind had me practically standing still!  I didn't last very long. 

Lamb - I'm with you on having fun but to have a HM under your belt must be awesome!   I bow to that!  

All in all I know that when I run for me I'm always happy and surprised and I feel like a rock star.   MsInside feels like I'm 30 years younger and strong and just running like the wind!  MsOutside is puttering along in slow motion and barely disturbing the air I'm moving through     Events tend to burst my illusion bubble!   lol

earthmom

I like to run these races when they fit my schedule and condition. It is not for competition per se' but for measure.  I find I pay attention to my body better if I occationally push it. Also, I see way too many people my age who seem to get more frail each season. I like the fact that by some measure I can get stronger even at retirement age. I know I get a lot of return on the running I do. A sense of freedom, of accomplishment, of relief from EVERYTHING ELSE that is going on, or just the glow of having finished a run. When I enter and run a "race" I am not racing against others, I am racing with others.  It is a shared experience that makes me very happy and re affirms that there are many many good people in this decaying world.

I do take the time to plan how I will prepare, and how I hope to run, but not with the anticipation of winning or losing. I do it because it is not easy and because I can. I do it because others can't. I do it because one never stays in one place, they go forward or backward.  I do it because if I don't there will come a time when I can't. I do it because it feels good. Other reasons I run in these races is for the experience. They are social events. They are a study in the best qualities of humans. They demonstrate the effort that hundereds or even thousands will put forth to improve some measure of them selves. You meet many people with whom you have something in common and it isn't competition, its running.

I doubt that anyone who gets a medal in his/her age group thinks they "won" the race, but they do feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that they are working toward some self defined goal and the race and result is a kind of feed back.  I don't put pressure on myself even though I do recognize and enjoy the anticipation.  The "competition" is fun. But is not high on the list of the best things about running and racing. I think reading and sharing on this site is also an enhancement to running. I learn from others and try to share and or help if I can.

Having droned on, I'll finish and just say races are FUN! That is the best summary I can give. I really wouldn't care if I was last and I know I will never be first. I am just doing and enjoying the experience and the people.  It is like adding spice to food. You're going to eat anyway, why not add a little spice?

Good running my friend.

Jack

Wow Jack - great post.  You have renewed my faith in humanity and in running events!   That's alot!      You really sound like you love what you do and I think that's tremendous.   In fact, that's the whole secret to happiness, right there.  I'll have to sign up for some more and test out your theories. 

Run on, my friend! 

:>  Linda

hey Dave in Denver: laffed out loud about meeting jesus face to face!!! i know the feeling.  welcome back to running!

Hello all penguins everywhere ... I have been around but just not having the time to post.

However... I just finished my second half marathon and I thought maybe someone might wanna read my story ...

For those of you who dont know me... Im fat and I started out running for 30 seconds and walking for 4 minutes and thinking I was going to die. This group of great people were integral in providing me support and not allowing me to give up. I saw people with success and believed I could have it too!

http://runningawayfromobesity.blogspot.com/

Take care and just keep running

My first 5K was on 9-11-11. I was so terrified. Here I am 45 years old, I have been "running" since August, just terrified. There was a high school girl who was running and , long story short, I was NOT the last, but she finished waaaayyy before me, and she came back to the last 1/4 mile and waited for me. When she saw me, she ran along side of me for the finish. It was the coolest gesture. I really love this sport..