I got 10 miles plus 0.5 mile on each end for warm up and cool down today.  Double digits - whooo-hoooo.  Did the first 6 without walking and then walked 1/2 mile and jogged 1/2 mile for the next 4 miles.  Did it on the treadmill because we got 5+ inches of new snow late last night and the temps were in the low teens.  Sun did come out though so I was almost wishing I'd braved the snow and cold.  If my husband and I are correct it was actually between 11-12 miles instead of 10 because our treadmill seems quite a ways off on distances and times.  Felt good.  I felt strong most of the way and recovered pretty quickly.  Only 2 more long runs until taper for the HM.  Can't believe how much has changed in the last 9 weeks.  Now I'm starting to think about what to do after the HM.  Looking at a marathon in Spokane, WA in May.

Emmaleigh47 - looking for your race report.  I was thinking of you this weekend.

Keep running and keep posting

Hi all

I am new to this group and too running really (started 1/2/11). My friend talked me into joining a running group she was a part of and so far I'm really enjoying it. I am training for my first 10k at the end of March and have a 5k planned for the middle/end of Feb. I am up to running 4 miles on my long runs and we are integrating "speed" into our workouts this week...we'll see how that goes :-) Right now I'm running about a 13.5 mm but started out about a min slower when I started. Looking forward to getting involved with this community.

Nikki

Scrufffy- Thanks for the warm welcome! I think I'll try to check in here every now and again.

Welcome Lizard28.  I also run (slow jog) in the 15-17 minute mile range (sometimes slower if it is long distance and I get tired).  I have run in the 12-14 minute mile range on a few very rare occasions, but I can't sustain it for very long.  I tried upping my speed as well, and it's not that I would not like it (because I would), it's that I have a very hard time doing it for any reasonable length of time.  I have also been told on many occasions that I am not really running, and that I am walking.  This is one of my pet peeves about running - if I feel I am running or jogging, then I am, and the people who say I am not can go fly a kite (I said it the nice way instead of using other words).  If you feel you are running at the pace you are doing, then you are running, and I want to encourage you to keep doing it.  Yes, there are others out there like you and at your pace (including me).  I am actually glad to have someone post on here that is running at your speed, instead of the 9-12 minute per mile people who feel they are slow.  Maybe those people feel they are slow in their minds, and I am not saying that is wrong, but I am just  glad to have someone on here who is closer to my speed.

Everyone - Update on my half marathon training - I am still in the walking phase of my training, and today I did 9 miles.  Although it was very cold, it was sunny and there was not much of a breeze, so it wasn't too bad.  I decided to do it today, because we are supposed to have a bad storm come in during the next few days, and I wanted to get it in while the weather was still decent.  Unlike a lot of you hardy souls, I wimp when it comes to bad snow and ice, and I don't like to walk or run in that kind of weather.  So if I do anything else this week, I guess it will have to be inside.  I can always work on my speed work inside on a treadmill.  I commend all of you who go out in very bad weather.  I used to do that as well, but as I get older, I am becoming more of a wimp.

I am bummed because today while I was outside, I lost my watch.  Granted, it was an old, cheap watch that didn't work very well, but I still liked it. I retraced my steps where I thought I might have lost it, both on foot, and then later in my car, but I still could not find it.  Guess that is telling me that I need to get a new watch.  I decided not to wear it on my wrist like I normally do, but to put it in the pocket of my jacket.  I checked it every once in a while to see how many minutes and hours I had been walking.  Guess I must have put in back in my pocket loosely one time, and it fell out.  Oh well.  After this upcoming storm we are supposed to have, then I know I will definitely not find it.

Everyone have a great day.

Lizard

Penguins are a great and varied group.    Speed, distance, walk, run, are all numbers and features that we use but  don't fret over. I am really impressed that you are signing up for a  50k. There are only two things I would like to do for 9 hours and one is  to sleep!

One thing I think all penguins have in common is  that at some time or other we all run into some couch potato that  doesn't think much of our decision to get off our butts, lace them up  and get out the door.  Its baffling and somewhat offensive when what we  are doing is making ourselves better. So be it.  A new pr to a penguin  is just as satisfying to us as it is to a gazelle.

Glad to have you join us. Keep us posted on your running and the prep for the 50k.  Hope you have good shoes!

Jack

This  is the seventh time I have tried to post this. I keep getting the "you  can't post a blank message" message. I guess there is not much content  to my post!

.

Mimi- I did reply to the original message a week ago, but I sent two replies via PM today.  If that still doesn’t work, let me know.  Are you on Facebook?

1st try

Love to see all of the Penguin love & support!  You guys motivate each other, and inspire each of us to keep pushing through those mile markers!

You guys Rock!