Hi Rememberkcaco--

I just ran across this article and thought about your question about increasing 5k speed.  I learned a bit from it (totally guilty of running la-la pace).  Thought you might find it useful.

http://askcoachjenny.runnersworld.com/2010/11/newie-runner-learning-to-run-a-faster-5k.html

Cate

Kristi - thanks for the feedback on my posts.  I've been inspired by so many people on the site, it's good to know that I'm passing that along to others.  I tried W1D2 yesterday and didn't quite get is "as written," although I've chosen to see my run as a success anyway.  I had to bring my dog with me and give her a really good run, so I went for the woods.  The problem is, there are a bunch of steep hills and I was still a little stiff from Saturday's run and from 8 hours of yard work on Sunday.  I think that I would have been able to do it if I was on gradual hills or a flat surface.  But my woods run, which is one of my favs by the way, is filled with short steep hills a little like a roller coaster which if you're ready, it's actually a blasat.   I couldn't seem to keep up with the 10 run/1 walk routine AND do the hills.  So I decided to change it up a bit and sprint up the hills and then walk for a short time at the top and then start running again.  I put together about 40 minutes with this routine, but not quite in the way the program prescribes.

I'm loving this program and all the folks on the blog.  It's cool to hear how everyone is doing and progress together.

Matt - way to go! I'm feeling a little competitive and the need to yap at your heels.  I'm glad that you are ahead of me.  There's a 10K in Chatham in June that is supossed to be kick butt and gorgeous along the water.  You might want to come for the day for that one.  I'm running a 5K the day before in Harwich.  Maybe I'll walk the 10K just to do it.  Hmmmm.

Ok so I ran my first 5k in a long time

There were over 9000 people entered in the race

My time was 40 minutes and 11 seconds.

I did run the whole race and it felt really good to cross the finish line knowing that I did that.

The start was pretty congested with a lot of people.  I was suprised at the number of walkers early in the race that I needed to weave thru to get past them.  Seems like they should have been towards the back of the race.

I had fun

Now onto the next race on Fathers day

Richard-  I can't agree with you more on the staying away from processed foods; I really started taking that to heart a couple of years ago, and I immediately dropped a bunch of weight, even without otherwise paying too much attention to calories and such.  It definitely took a couple of weeks for the cravings to go away, but once I made it past that point, I never looked back.  In the years prior to that, I would always pick up a lot of "low-fat" and "lite" foods, but even though they might not have as much sugar or fat, they're replaced with chemicals and synthetics and I don't think our bodies really know what to do with that.  So now I just focus on eating "food that's food," and it's made such a huge difference.

Last night was my second 5k; I decided to sign up for another one in the same series as my first because I felt like I could really have improved on my time.  It was the first time that I've actually run the entire distance with no walk breaks, and I crushed my PR and finished feeling really great.  It had been cloudy and raining all day, but in the second half of the race the sun peeked out and sparkled over the lake, and as I came up over a hill for the last leg, there was even a rainbow!  I had to laugh to myself at how perfect it was

You know, that really isn't a bad idea.  But I've given up on Chicago in August.  I think it would be just too stinking hot to enjoy.  I am looking at a HM in late September to support an orphanage in Kenya.  It's an organization that I already support, so this may the HM for me.

I've seen the slogan that a HM is just a 5K with a 10-mile warm-up.  Yeah right! 

jivanmandm wrote:

 

MJ

thanks for sharing the pics- great job!!!- as for chicago- have you thought about walking the first 10 miles, then blowing every one's mind by runing the last 3?

So after a great weekend and counting the 5K as W1D1, I ran B210K's W1D2 yesterday and it went really well!  I covered 3.22 mi in the session which felt amazing.   I intended to come in and post about it when on my way home from work, my little Honda fought a  No Parking sign and lost.    No injuries - at least not to humans or the sign - but the whole front bumper of my car is now in back seat.  It came off like a Lego puzzle piece. 

Naturally, last night I was pretty depressed and couldn't bring myself to come on to post.  Now I can laugh about it. 

Long story short - boy do I need to run today!  I normally run first thing in the morning, but I think I'm going to find a way for at least a brisk walk after work.