Introductions

likitisplit

Hi, I'm Varda. I live in Atlanta. I've been running about a year.

I'm slower than you but I finished a half marathon at the end of October 2013 (2:39:something).

I love running and runners and am happy to welcome you to our group.

Just_Ceci

Hi, I'm Ceci. I live in Northwest Arkansas, but am a Native Texan.

I have been running since April 2013. I have completed 2 official 5k's and will do a 10k this weekend.

I don't love running, but I don't hate it anymore either. I LOVE riding my bicycle.

My best run so far was when I visited my brother, the runner, in Washington, DC and we ran around the National Mall. (And then, there was that time that I ran 2 miles in 19:01!)

Welcome to the group, it's a great one!

PinkNinjaLaura

Hi, I'm Laura. I live in northern Minnesota.

I've been running since May 2013.

My longest race is 5K, but I plan to run a half next summer. My longest training run is 6.2 miles. My pace is slow but consistent.

I have developed a love for running, and the runners I have met on this site are amazing people.

Welcome to the group everyone!

timeasterday

Hi, I'm Tim. I live in Buford, GA (northeast metro Atlanta).

I started C25K in December of 2012 and restarted in March 2013 after getting tendonitis the first time through.

This year I have done a 5K, 10K, 10-mile, and a few odd-distance trail races. My first half marathon is coming up next week on Thanksgiving - the Atlanta Half Marathon. I am giving myself nearly a year to train for a marathon and will do the Savannah Rock & Roll Marathon in November 2014.

My wife motivated me to start running and she continues to keep me motivated. It's great running together! And we have a huge running community in the area which helps us a lot.

I love coming to this site every day to see what everyone is up to. Welcome to the group!!

btsinmd

Hi, I'm Donna. I live in Glen Burnie, Maryland, just south of Baltimore.

I started C25K in May 2013 and I'm even slower than Varda.

I am slowly progressing. I sometimes have a tricky knee. It's an imbalance in muscles problem. I have been told by a specialist that making it stronger is the way to go. So I'm trying to strengthen it without injuring it. BTW, The knee problem has been going on, off and on for about 9 years, it is not running related and it's worse because I've neglected it so long. To aid in the healing though I'm doing as much crosstraining as running.

I have done one local 5k. I'm considering a 10k in December, a sprint tri in the first half of 2014 and a half marathon in the second half. A marathon is not currently in my horizon, but I'm not saying never. Most of my runs I do with my youngest dog, Fells, a Border Terrier born in October 2010. I also have his father, Colin, born in December 2003.

I really like this group and the people I have met here. I'm inspired by how well you all have done in really quite short a time and with varying difficult and busy lives.

lawlorka

Hi, I'm Karen

I live in London, UK.

I just finished the C25K programme last week and decided to head straight onto a 10k programme.

Unfortunately I have to do my sessions on a treadmill as its too dark now for me to run outside and its just not safe but I'll be back out on the road in the spring.

Just in time for my first 5k at the end of March, and my first 10k at the end of May

I'm not very fast, but 9 weeks ago I couldn't jog for 60seconds without feeling like my chest was going to explode, so being able to go 30mins now is good enough for me

Rindy12

Hi, I'm Rindy and I live in Illinois about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee.

I wanted to start running for more than a year before I started. I would go on walks between 3-5 miles in our local forest preserve and the whole time wondered what it would feel like to be able to run through the woods. I really wanted to, but for me it takes more than a desire to do something. I'm the queen of excuses. I kept thinking I needed to shed some of the weight and be in better shape first. I got tired of wanting something and not doing anything about it, so I started my C25K on July 4th this year. I still have another 40-50 lbs to loose, but my fat *kitten* can run 6.2 miles without stopping :laugh: I'm so glad I stopped with the excuses and started running. Gotta love the way running makes me feel like I can conquer anything.

I recently finished my 10k training program and have started my 15k training program. I'm using Runner's World SmartCoach. I've run an official 5k 3 times and I'm slow, but very consistent. All three times were 39 minute range, 39:41, 39:16 and 39:18. My first 10k will be the Polar Dash in Chicago in January. When the 15k training is done I'll start training for a half marathon. I'm going to run the Rock 'n Roll Half in Chicago in July.

I have to say this group is really great and has been so helpful and inspiring. It's amazing how much I've learned here.

yamsteroo

Hi I'm Sharon and I now live in Little Sandhurst, Berkshire, England though I'm originally from Northern Ireland.

I started running for the first time ever with the C25K programme back at the end of May '13 and after a few interruptions, completed it mid August.

At this point in time my longest run has been 7miles and I think I've probably got a 10mile distance in me so I'm going to aim for that as an achievable distance in the time I have available..

I'm an antisocial runner in that I run by myself (I don't know anyone else who runs!) and I've yet to enter a proper 5 or 10k race though I plan to do some 10k's next year. So I come on here and babble on at everyone as my husband starts to glaze over when I mention splits and cadence or the need for special socks.

I can see myself running in years to come - I'll not be breaking any speed or distance records but it's something I enjoy which is rare when it comes to exercise!

TyFit08

My name is Ty. I am from New York City, but now living in Toronto. I started running consistently in April 2013 with the C25K program. I followed that with the Five to 10K program and then started the Hal Higdon Half Marathon program, but an injury cut that one short. I am now doing Run Double's 5K Improver program in hopes of getting faster. My longest run to date is just over 7 miles. As for races, I ran 2 5K's this year, with one more coming up this Saturday and a 10K back in September. I have really fallen in love with running. I find myself mapping new routes and looking for running gear in my free time. I like that I can clear my mind and challenge myself at the same time. I am also an anti-social runner, going at it by myself, but I am paying for that now that is cold, dreary and dark out most of the time. So I am going to give a few running groups in my area a shot and possibly register for a half marathon training program at a local running store in January.

k_les

Hello all,
I've been running for a little over 2 years. I started out on my own, with the internet for help and through time and injuries, learning lots, I ran a 10k last summer and completed a HM in November.
I love running, so glad I started doing it. I had always joked about only running if I were being chased, but now I go out on my own free will, often, and through all kinds of weather.
I'm so glad for this site, and all the support, inspiration and advice I've found here.

bttrthanevr

I realize now that I never properly introduced myself!

I'm Beth. I am 39 with 3 (nearly) teenage kids, a lovely husband and a little black and tan dog. I work full time designing apparel for a direct mail company in Northwest PA at the top of the Allegheny National Forest. The job puts a serious imposition on my running schedule, but it does buy the shoes! I have been running a little over a year. I started with C25K at 224 pounds. I had never been athletic in the least! I was overweight/obese my whole life. I thought attempting to run 5K might be a good way to lose weight...BUT, then I fell in love! The weight did (and is) still coming off, but that's not why I run. I run because amazingly enough, I can. I am challenging myself each time I lace up my shoes. I'm still surprised at what I can do when I set my mind to it. Running has strengthened my body, spirit and mind. I am looking forward sharing my love and lending support to new runners when I coach for Running Revolution this spring. I am so blessed!

Hello everyone!

PaytraB

Neither have I, Beth.

Hi! I'm Petra and I live just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. I'm married to a wonderful man and work full-time at a local hospital repairing & calibrating equipment used on patients. I mainly look after the kidney dialysis and physiotherapy machines.

I graduated C25K early in 2013 (February, I think) and have maintained a regular schedule of running since then. I'm fairly slow and run mainly 5K distances and am working at improving slowly.
So far, I am an antisocial runner, too. It's best for me to go running right when I get home from work and not wait for anyone or else I run the risk of not going.

I reached my weight goal in mid-March and have been maintaining since.

My other physical activity is tai-chi and I go on a yearly week-long hiking trip with my step-dad (he's 83 and amazing). I also garden, read and like working on crosswords & Sudoku puzzles.

two_octopodes

Hi! I'm Kristen. I'm 29 and I live in Pennsylvania. I'm a college student in my FINAL year of physician assistant school, meaning I'm working my way through my clinical rotations.

I am still a super newbie runner, having just completed C25k on January 19th. I haven't done a race yet, and all of my running so far has been on treadmills although I'm very much looking forward to changing that.

Today I committed to giving this 10k thing a try, and am following the ClearSky 10k runner app. Today was W9D1 (since it's a 0-10k app and I've already completed the 0-5k part). I'm excited to see where this whole running project takes me!

likitisplit

Welcome in! What I love is that running can take you anywhere you want to go...literally

velocityc6

Hello all,

I'm 58 and live in NC. Ran across the C25K app round 10 weeks ago and completed it a week or so ago. I have now started the 10k program form Zen Labs an completed W9D2 yesterday. My first 5 K is this Saturday and I'm plenty nervous.

likitisplit

You will do awesome. Race Day Magic will take over and you won't believe the experience. I still cry a little at each race

romyhorse

Welcome Kirsten and velocity!

arrseegee

I'm Rosie and I'm 28. I'm from New Zealand but have been living in Germany with my boyfriend for the last 18 months. I am learning German with an aim to get back into my career(s) as nutritionist/project manager before summer.

I finished C25K at the end of 2013 and have just completed Week 9, Day 2 of my C210K trainer by Zen Labs. For my last two runs I've done 4x round a 10 minute circuit, which I find much better for pacing myself than on a big 40 min loop.

Anyway that's a bit about me, nice to be here and I look forward to seeing how we all progress!

romyhorse

Hi Rosie, welcome to the b210k board!

RunFarLiveHappy

I've been meaning to do this since Varda invited me and I've worked on it a few times and then got dragged away for one reason or another. Here goes...

Introduction

Hiiiiii! ???????????? I'm brand new to the group, thanks for the invite Varda! I know some of you and the rest are welcome to request me if you like what I have to say during this introduction or on my profile page. (Please include a courtesy message, thank you!)

I'm Nicholette, I have been trying to run since June 2012, and successfully running since March 2013 lol. In June of 2012 I was 300 pounds and completely sedentary. It just hit me like a ton of bricks on June 13th that I needed to drastically change my life. At the time I had been a full time SAHM for 10 months, I quit working my 60 hour/week job after much consideration between my hubby and I. At the time (June '12) our son was 19 months old and we started taking our regular old stroller out for wogs 1-3 times per day to get some exercise. We worked up to a mile at a time, then started working towards a 5k at a time. The first time we finished 3.1 miles it took 52:00 with me pushing the stroller. Eventually I let LilB run part of the time also and we both got more exercise. ????

I never used C25k, I just basically ran more each time until I could run the entire 5k distance with the stroller or alone. I registered for my first 5k as an adult in Nov 2012 and finished in 39:??. I was still taking one short walking break at this point, about halfway through the run. I continued running and joined a running club in March of 2013. I started taking running, especially running competitively seriously. I ran 30 events from March to December 2013. I ran my first 10k in May 2013 and finished in 69:??. I ran my first half marathon September 2013 and finished in 02:33:06. I PR'd my 5k in October 2013 at 28:44. I PR'd my 10k in November 2013 at 61:00. I PR'd my half marathon in October 2013 at 02:25:41. In December I was selected as an Ambassador and sponsored runner of 3WRaces (a local race company I had been running with).

So far 2014 has been a fun year of running! Being part of a race company is exciting! I have been able to run five events so far, scoring a new half marathon PR last month 02:25:14 beating my previous time by 27 whole seconds lol. I also set a goal to run #2014milesin2014 and have run 187 miles so far as of 02/09. I ran 130 miles in January (missing nine days being sick and having a sick 3 year old), as well as my longest run 20 miles on Jan 11th. I set my goal for 160 miles for February. Basically running keeps me SANE, less stressed, at peace, gives me time alone or with my real life or MFP running buddies, it's also kept me on maintenance for a year. Now I'm ready to lose the last 30 pounds. Thank God I found running...

Nice to meet you all, some I have been fortunate enough to be friends with for awhile now. ❤️

ETA: for those who are nervous about their first event, I still get TOTALLY nervous, no matter how well I've trained and how prepared i am. Just smile and enjoy it! It'll be over all too soon. Even the half marathons believe it or not lol.

likitisplit

You are so inspirational! Thanks for giving us the complete picture. That is amazing!