MaryKay- Color races look pretty cool. Nothing close enough to me though, at least not until 2013. You bring up a good idea though of finding more races for the wow factor. I like the suggestion from Croz69 as well for the zombie run. Was also poking about on here this week and saw this Firefly Race: http://fireflyrun.com/ Though again nothing close enough to me. One of these days I'd like to do a Disney race but that's a bit more complicated considering the additional expenses (hotel and of course I'd have to spend the day in the park too...) not to mention how fast those things sell out. Would love to hear anyone's suggestions for other unique races!

Alicia- Good luck on your 6k this weekend, sounds like you will do fine if you're already in the B210k. I mentioned above the One Hour Runner which  you can look into if you don't want to do walk breaks anymore after C25k. Most important though to find something that works for you.

sederleaf- Good luck on your 5k on Sunday, that sounds pretty crazy with 10k people! I agree with the gradual approach. I tend to get injured less often that way and less fatigued which means I miss fewer runs. Glad to hear you are not actually sick.

Did 4 miles yesterday. Was much cooler out in low 60s. Also remembered to get a little food beforehand. All that combined with me getting back into the groove meant I'm under 15 mm again finally. Have a 7 mile planned for tomorrow, avoiding any exciting trails where snakes may lurk of course. Hopefully it will go smoothly.

-Miles

Sederleaf: Good luck on you race tomorrow! Have fun!

Miles: I looked into the One Hour Runner program, but I feel I still need the walking breaks. I wish I didn't.

Those trails where you run seem scary! I could deal with snakes (sort of), but big spiders, eek!

Mary Kay, love your 1st place medal!!!

I'm about to go to bed, my 6k is tomorrow and I feel undertrained, what with my cold last week and everything. Good thing is that there will be almost 10000 runners, so I probably won't be last.

It's raining right now, but hopefuly it will stop. My problem with rain is that I'm afraid of falling. Am I supposed to wear different shoes or something? Because roads and sidewalks are slippery when wet. How do you deal with wet surfaces?

Guayquilwriter....so glad to see you back posting again.  I have really enjoyed reading your posts. 

I started C25K early in 2011 and made some good progress for a non-runner starting at over 50, but then ended up with a hip stress fracture that had me sidelined for over 6 months with no weight bearing activities.  I started back slowly at the end of 2011 and have now built back to where I was prior to the injury.  My main focus is to keep consistent and stay healthy.  I have been enjoying a 5k each month since last November.  I finish and I'm not last place! 

My main challenge now will be finding ways to keep running during the Florida summer heat.  I am not a morning person, but I think I'll be limited to 6am runs or treadmill.  I've not tried the treadmill for long periods, so I guess that may be my summer challenge.

I am keeping myself limited to 5ks for the first year before I try to go longer.  My end of 2012 goal is to get the 5k below 40 minutes.  I am definitely a penguin.  I am mostly doing this for fitness as I get older, I am seeing so many of my older friends struggle with enjoying activities, because they haven't stayed active.   I want to be one of the inspiring 80 year olds I see at the 5ks.

This morning's long jog was 4.5 miles....ok so it took me and hour and 15 minutes... but I kept going!

Waddle on.......

MaryKay - WooHoo on the medal!  Bling is bling and you've earned it.  I hope this means the knee is better.

FLkayakgirl - welcome back.  I'm glad you are back to 100%.  Penguin or not makes no difference - forward momentum is all that matters.

Alicia and Sederleaf - how did you races go this weekend? 

Miles - I hope the long run was uneventful - no scary critters leaping out at you. 

Croz 69 - eewww spiders.  I shivered when I got to the part about him crawling down the back of your head.  <shudder>.  I had trouble with  a mockingbird attacking the back of my head last  summer every time I ran past the nest - obviously I changed my route!  I can't wait to see if they nest in the same place this year.

No running for me this weekend.  I chaperoned another Boy Scout trip.  But we did do a 7 mile hike (and I was carrying a backpack, even if it was just a daypack).   We were up at 5:00, on the shuttle bus by 6:00, and at the trailhead by 6:20.  Here in Mass. it is Patriot's Day weekend commemorating the "shot heard round the world."  We hiked the Isaac Davis Trail which retraces the route along which Isaac Davis led the Acton minutemen to the Old North Bridge on April 19, 1775.  Much of the trail runs along paved roads, but there are parts on wooded trails too.  Two stops for brief ceremonies with speeches, musket shots, and wreath laying.  (for those who might have forgotten  their colonial history - Capt. Davis was the first minuteman killed at the Old North Bridge).  It was quite a group - the Camporee had to have had over 1,000 Scouts and adult leaders/chaperones - one Troop from as far away as Michigan! This is a wonderful time to come to Massachusetts - and not just because of the Boston Marathon.

(apologies for the duplication to anyone on the thread "My Last Run was . . . How was Yours" as this is a total cut and paste from my post there LOL)

Happy running!

MaryKay - You had me laughing, you make it sound like the snakes and spiders are running right alongside with me! LOVE the medal. Am glad you decided to go out and do the run anyways, sounds like it was worth it both for the awesome reward and for the confidence builder that you can get a new PR before the end of summer, I know you can do it!

Aliciacs - I do take it a little slower on rainy days but find longer pants and a good thin rain jacket are about all I need otherwise. Something to keep the rain off of me and keep the wind out when it is wet. I've gotten to where I really enjoy rainy days because they are something different and keep my runs interesting. Don't mean to complain about all the sunny days here, but they do get sort of repetetive

Croz - That sounds pretty freaky, I think I'd wake all the neighbors up if I really took a spider with me like that!

Flkayakgrl - You sound like you have a great attitude. I am not much faster than you and have found lately I really enjoy my longer, slower jogs especially when I don't worry about pace and just go for it. I'm really impressed that you have come back from injury and have been completing so many 5ks!

Deb - I think 7 miles is 7 miles, whether you ran it or hiked it, still completed an impressive distance. Sounds like a really fun trip with the boy scouts, a little bit of nature and a little bit of history.

7 miles on Friday went well. Was supposed to rain, but Mr. Sunshine hung around for most of my run. I feel like sometimes after mile 3 or 4 I sort of get into the groove of it and can just keep going without really thinking about it. Not exactly runner's high but sort of runner's indifference which is pretty nice since I don't have to spend the second half of the run trying to convince myself not to stop and walk all the time. No exciting animals unless you count all the ducks I see at the park. Nice springtime weather here, warming up but still cool most days. Like Flkayakgrl I am dreading the heat of summer that is soon approaching and I don't even have the humidity to deal with. When it's been in the upper 70s here recently I feel like I'm going to melt, it's funny that I can't remember how I was even able to run in the upper 90s last summer, going to be tough to get used to this summer I think! Hope you all had good runs and good races if you raced this past weekend!

-Miles

Great job Sally and Aliciacs!!! Sally, I love that you enjoyed your race and you're happy with your run. Traffic can be very annoying but you didn't let it rattle you much. Big win!! And, Aliciacs, nice to hear you found inspiration. Yes, attention from an attractive man will make a woman do things she might not normally do. I'm talking about running, of course.

Deb, what fun being in that huge group and surrounded by history! I hope you all enjoyed it!! A seven mile hike while watching boys and camping counts!!

Miles, I know just what you mean. I often completely remember nothing between miles five and six; I look at my phone and it's mile 5 and then it seems like minutes later I look again and it's mile 6. Don't you love it?

Thanks everyone!

Deb, a 7 mile hike is quite impressive, good for you!

_Miles, I loved the term 'runner's indifference', hahaha, I think I'm gonna start using it

Sederleaf, congrats on your race! Glad you had fun.

Alicia and Sally - great races!  Woohoo!

Miles - "runner's indifference"  LOL  I love new shoes.  What are you getting? Dont' worry too much - by the time it is really hot you will have acclimated a little more (fingers crossed).  I was wondering the same thing myself when I realized that last year I eased into  both running and heat.  I'll just keep setting my alarm nice and early to get out while it's still temperate.

7.5 miles this morning  - running if you can call it that.  lol  Actually, miles 1-3 were brutal ($#%! calves) but from 3-7.5 miles Iwas totally in the zone.  That makes up for a really rough last week.

Keep up the good work everyone!