Hi! I'm Krissy and joining my first group here! I am a 30 year old wife and mom living in North Georgia. Been on this site since January with my sister as we encourage each other in our seperate goals! I am running my first 26.2 this weekend!!!! I have been an on and off runner for over 15 years (started with high school cross country). I have completed well over 50 5k and 10ks, 2 half marathons, and 2 sprint triathlons. Would like to find some more runner "friends". I am just here to keep myself in a healthy lifestyle.

Good luck!!!!! I am so happy and excited for you! If happen to be running the Publix GA Marathon wave hello to me around Virginia Ave. I will be course marshal this weekend.


Enjoy your journey!

So happy to find this group of amazing people! I'm a future marathoner, and only started running nearly two years ago. I was 38 at the time and decided enough was enough and I was going to get in shape! The way I chose was to train for a 5k. Well, that really unleashed the beast inside of me. Since then, I've ran several races, 5k's, 10k, and 2 half marathons and have my training well underway for a 25k and my sights are set on the Grand Rapids Marathon this coming October! Best thing I ever did was decide to run. Not only has it helped me lose 50ish pounds (I fluctuate a lot!) but it's given me an entire community of the most awesome friends! This week I also started P90X because strength training has been half-hearted and I want to get RIPPED!!!! LOL... I'm a 40 (this Sunday) year old mom of two teenage boys... like it really matters if I have muscles! But somehow, it matters to me!!!!!

G'day from the Ottawa Valley.

After a long and highly successful career as a couch potato I took up running in my early 50s and, surprisingly, got hooked.

In retrospect I'd say 5K races are the gateway (the proverbial "first taste is free") and I just ran my 3rd half-marathon last Sunday. I've got 3 more events lined up up for this year - a sprint tri in August, metric century ride (not a race - a fundraiser) in early September & the Army Run half-marathon.

My wife is convinced I've lost my marbles as I've set my sights on running the full 26.2 at the Ottawa Marathon next year. No delusions of running with the lead pack (I actually saw them on Sunday when I was heading downtown - they were fast!) I just seem to enjoy the longer distances.....

I'm Wendy. I started to really run on a regular basis about 7 months ago. It has quickly become my new love! I started to lose a few vanity pounds and tone my body for a February beach vacation. The more I ran, the more I enjoyed it. Once the weather warmed up and i started running outside, I felt like I was unstoppable! I am running my first half marathon in 3 weeks and I am completely prepared! This week I did my second 12 mile run (the first was last week) and I nailed it. I felt so good! I wanted to keep going for the 13, but I decided to save something for race day. After that my plan is to give myself 1 light week then start training for a full marathon. My heart is set on running the Columbus Marathon in October! It is a big feat, but I get so excited just thinking about it. I get tears in my eyes when I picture myself crossing the finish line.

I'm really a 5k runner and have done a few half marathons and been pretty happy with my results. But I've done 4 marathons and all of them have been a disappointment so far.

I did my first marathon 3 years ago with my best friend (she lives in L.A., so it was the L.A. Marathon) because she asked me to come for a visit and join her in the race. We weren't prepared at all for the distance and she hurt her knee about 5 miles (8 km) in and we pretty much had to walk the rest of the way. I couldn't leave her behind, she's my best friend! We finished in over 7 hours!

Then the second one I did with her the following year, we just took it easy and did a mix of running and walking. It's in L.A. and it's a fairly hilly race so we walked the hills and slow jogged the rest. Finished in 6:20, but we didn't push ourselves. We could've gone faster and physically we felt great afterwards, I wasn't sore or anything, just a blister. That one was only disappointing because I felt like we could have tried harder and finished in under 6 hours, but at least no one got hurt.

The third one we did together was a nightmare. It was cold and raining the ENTIRE race - yes in L.A.!!! And the rain and wind steadily increased all day so that by the time we were in the last half, mile markers were blowing over, streets were filled with water and I couldn't feel my hands or feet I was so cold. We were soaked to the bone. It was a nightmare. They were treating finishers for hypothermia, it was just crazy. And I had trained well for that one too. I had run a half marathon four weeks earlier in 2:20 and felt like I could surely finish in under 5:30 if the weather hadn't thrown us for a loop. We just weren't expecting it to be like that. We finished in 6:40. Grrrrrr! :grumble:

Because I was so frustrated at how badly that had gone, when I got back to Dallas I signed up for another marathon just three weeks later. That's right - I did 2 marathons in three weeks! I just thought that since my training had been going so well and we ended up walking so much of the one with the crappy weather, that I'd be ok to do this one. Well, it was a nightmare! My legs hadn't recovered and the race was in Dallas in April and it was unseasonably hot and so I went from one extreme to the other - I finished and it was 90 degrees outside! In three weeks I went from doing a marathon in the pouring rain in 45-50 degree weather to doing one in the full sun in 75-85 degree weather (90 degrees when I finished). I was calling my husband and crying during the last mile. My legs were hating me, it was hot as hell and I just didn't want to go on but I finished the stupid thing in, you guessed it, about 6:40 again! Ugh. :sad:

So...that was last year and after enjoying just going back to my easy 5k's, I've finally decided I'm ready for marathon redemption! I just want to run the race that I know I'm capable of running. No more running with friends, no more slacking on my training, no more spur of the moment changes, I'm just going to do everything I'm supposed to do to be as ready as I can be. I signed up for the Dallas marathon in December of this year. Even though *kitten* happens - the weather could be awful, I could get sick the week of the race, my kids could have the flu, etc., etc. - I am determined to make this my best marathon yet. Based on my 5k finish times (usually right at 28:00), the Runner's World finish time calculator says I should plan on finishing a marathon in about 4:35 so that's what I'm training for. I started my training officially June 1 to give myself plenty of time to build up that weekly long run so I can get my pace to where it needs to be. I've made so many mistakes, some from ignorance and some from laziness, and had some bad luck as well but I feel like this time, luck is on my side and I'm going to do everything I need to do so I'm as prepared as I can be when I hit the starting line.

Good luck to everyone else in reaching your goals - wish you all the best in your next race!

Hey everyone! My name is Jacquelynn and I'm from Sacramento, Ca. I fell in love with running about a year ago. I after I finished school, I realized I needed something to keep me busy. So I bought my first pair of actual running shoes with graduation money. Best investment I ever made (apart from the education, I guess. )

I completed my first 1/2 marathon on June 3rd. I ran the San Diego Rock 'N' Roll and finished in 2:47. I wasn't as disciplined with my training as I ought to have been and really think I could have done better. Now I'm training for the San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon in October where I will be doing the full 26.2. I'm a little intimidated and need to stick to the plan!

I thought this group would be helpful for me to learn tricks and secrets for training as none of my friends are runners and have no wisdom to impart to me. I'd love the support of a running community to gather inspiration and goals from (I already read that someone finished their first 1/2 in 2:03. I have some work to do before Nike!) and hopefully motivate someone myself. If nothing else, we can share war stories of long, hard runs in 102 degree weather.

I look forward to read everyone's progress and get to know some of you!

Happy running!

I'm Stacey, I am a marathon runner just like ya'll! I ran Galveston Marathon last year and it was my worst one yet. I was under trained, gained weight, and was not prepared for the ice cold rain and wind. I had hypothermia and if not for my hubby at mile 22 with a warm car and clothes I would not have finished! It was 5:39 and HOUR slower than planned. I was quite proud I did not give up! But I am here to shed about 10-12 pounds and kick Galvestons *kitten*!

I would love to chat with others running this race or plans to run a race near the same time so we can encourage each other. My race is Jan 27th, 2012!

NICE TO MEET EVERYONE!
oh and anyone live near kyle, tx???

Hello,

I'm Sheena and will be running my 4th marathon in less than 4 weeks! My goal time for this year was 3:30, however, due to my lack of motivation (thus training), it doesn't look so good.

Started MFP to track my food intake so I can stay at good weight and run faster without getting injuries!

Dreaming of running Boston and NYC someday...

Happy training!

Hi All,
I'm a newbie here
I have done a couple of half marathons in my life when I was skinny, but also just recently at nearly 200lbs.
Sometimes I feel no matter how much I run, it doesn't have any influence on my weight. This will change now. Healthy and clean eating and the marathon training starts.

I will run my first marathon in April next year and I'm very exited about it.

awesome!

Hi,

I'm Paul (friends call me Pabs). Like Jon I'm an adult onset runner. I had always hated running when I was younger especially laps of the pitches during training. 40 years old, three young kids.

I've only been running 3 to 4 years with a lot of different races and I completed my first marathon just over a month ago. Finished a little disappointed at myself by going out too fast and giving myself a tough last 8 miles even when I knew not to.

I'm now determined to go again and improve my 4:38 time. I'd welcome advice on how to improve. I used the run walk method during early training and progressed to constant running. I love running long and getting away from it all, not thinking about anything.

I'm currently trying to improve my pace over longer distances using tempo runs and Fartlek but for some reason I seem to be getting slower. I'd welcome any suggestions of training plans to follow or general tips of how to keep the love when trying to improve?

P.

Thanks @schmenge55, I appreciate any insights. I've been running for a while but in reality I don't know that much about it.

My typical week is as follows (keep in mind I use running as transport to work quite a lot). This is a week when I'm not training for anything in particular.

Monday (cycling, 14 miles) - slow cycle 10-12mph
Tuesday (14 miles running - 7 miles to and from work)
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - (7 miles run - Fartlek or tempo, 7 mile cycle)
Friday (7 miles - run, 7 mile cycle)
Saturday - Off
Sunday - Long slow run (any where from 10 to 16 miles) I drop down distances every 2nd week.

When I'm training for a race I reduce the miles to and from work and stick to the plan I'm using. this is not everyweek but it's typical.

To break up the 7 mile runs I change what I do in each journey to work or home. Sometimes I might just do a tempo run for 5 miles and walk the other two. Some weeks I will cycle in on Wednesdays and do hills at lunch instead of running the 7 miles in. I go with however I feel.

Just to give you an idea of the pace. Before the marathon I'd run the 7 miles easily in 9.5 min miles that's without trying. One of my 7 mile runs recently was 11 min miles. I'm overweight but that hasn't changed and I'm not injured in any way.

P.

Hello!

I am a marathoner! I ran my first full marathon this fall. I trained for the NYC marathon but ran the Harrisburg PA marathon instead after NYC was cancelled post-Sandy. I have been running for about 3 years and run lots of races from 5K to half marathons throughout the year.

Next year I will be running 2 marathons and am starting training at the begining of the year to improve my half marathon time to keep me warmed up before I start full marathon training again. :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

I grew up a heavier guy, 250 + through most of high school. I lost enough weight a few years ago to enjoy running again. Finished my first half in May 2011at Fargo (3:43) and am training for my 2nd in March of this year in Wilmington NC. Initially my goal was to beat my first time, but I had to take 3 weeks off of training in December due to a medical issue. Now struggling to reset expectations.

I really enjoy the meditation that running provides, as well as the personal push that it gives me. I am hoping to keep running as I love it and will use it as my main source of calorie burn to keep a healthy weight.

Looking for friends to support and share wisdom

Hello All,

I'm Rob, from SoCal, about 15-20 miles southwest of Los Angeles. I did the Los Angeles marathon 4 times, in the four hour, nine minutes to the four hour, twenty-three minute range for them. I gained A LOT of weight and took off 55 pounds in the last 6 months. I started back into running and plan to hit the Long Beach marathon. Only running 3-6 miles at a time right now, about the nine minute mile mark.

I joine d this group today and am interested to see what it's all about.