Your Running History

I ran track and cross country for a couple of years in High School. After a car wreck before my Junior year I didn't run again until last spring at the age of 45. I got serious about running around July and have now completed a 5K and two 5 mile races. My first 20K race is coming up on June 1. Throughout the fall I was seeing consistent improvements in my times but a stress fracture in February set me back a bit. My goal for the 20K is 2:00 but after my run this morning (12.2 miles in 2:23) I'm unsure if that is realistic but I'm still gonna go for it.

A real key to improving is to vary your workouts. Change paces, change paths, and change distances. I've noticed I run better at certain times of the day as well. Unfortunately my best times happen late at night and all the races I found run relatively early in the morning.My goal for the next week is to get out and run early each day to acclimate me to racing early on the 1st.

Good luck with your running blow Oprah's doors off!

It took me about 2 and a half months to complete my first 5K (on a treadmill). I did it in around 33 minutes, but I weighted 110Kgs then (242 pounds). I'm 1.88cm or around 6' 2" tall. So not "obese", but certainly overweight. Prior to that I had exercised on and off, and had player football (soccer) from time to time.

My longest run has been an 8K, but I've done a dozen 5Ks, a few dozen 3Ks, etc. I started running to lose weight, but now I'm training for a half marathon and then, hopefully, for a full marathon next year around this time. I used to think it was "boring" and perhaps even "stupid", but now look forward to running and just forgetting about the world and all of its problems for that short period of time I run.

I've been running for about 18 month now (I'm 53). I started by walking for several weeks, but then got bored. I did the C25K thing, and have been running a 5K run at least 3 times/week ever since. I've NEVER run before, even in grade/high school - I couldn't even finish the 600yd run without walking part of it.

Even though I run 5K several times/week, with an occasional 10K when I feel motivated (1-2 times/month), I've only entered 1 5K race, and I competed in my very first 10K just 2 weeks ago.

I ran from the police once while a group of us were TPing houses. That was in the 80's

Ah yes! I too had a brief running spurt in the 80s. Except it wasn't while TPing houses ... it was escaping after a kegger got busted. I also climbed a chain link fence, so it was more of an obstacle course.

I ran track in high school, but got burnt out and took all of college off, except for a few runs here and there.

After college I started jogging on the treadmill again for 10 minutes before and after workouts. I signed up for a 10k with a friend. It was associated with a half marathon, and we saw people getting medals when they finished. Well, we wanted medals, damn it! We signed up for the Chicago Distance Classic Half Marathon in 2005. Over the course of training for that, we kicked around the idea of a full marathon. One night, we were drinking, and got emails about the full Chicago Marathon. We both drunkenly signed up for it.

That was 8 years and 14 marathons ago. I've gotten into trail running recently, and might try my hand at my first ultra soon. We'll see.

As a beginner (C25K w5d1) I find your stories very inspirational, thank you.
I'm 38 and have never been a runner. I too am amazed at what the body can do. A few weeks ago I couldn't run for three minutes, now I can rule a mile (yes, I realize how pathetic that sounds).
I hope in a years time to have a motivational story to share.

I would say my running history is about 3 years.

During my weight loss journey (almost 20 years long), my exercises of choice tended to be classes (step and kickbox) and the elliptical. Then I bought my first place, which was a condo. The building had a gym. The elliptical machines sucked, so I started using the treadmill. Despite my supposed fitness, I couldn't run more than 15 minutes. I run 30 minutes on the treadmill 4 days per week, which started at 11 min per mile and now at best at 9 min per mile. I hope to get to 8 min per mile over the next few months.

I did 2 10Ks and a Terry Fox run, but I didn't really enjoy any of them. Not in good enough shape.

I generally avoid exercising outdoors. I like the gym. Then I entered a half marathon last September, so I had to start getting in some "long runs". I have to run in what I consider scenic routes, as I will use any excuse to stop the run. I cannot just get out of my home and start running. I did the half (1 hour, 52 min) and loved it. Did a 10K last month to honour Boston. Just finished my second half last week in Portland, a minute slower but I think the course was hillier because I felt I ran it better than my first race. My third half is coming in September. Before that, I have a 10K on the 4th of July during a trip to NYC.

I have no real desire to do a full. Doing a half hasn't really altered my eating habits. I'm kinda hesitant about the extra "fueling" I have to do if I do the full. Ultimately, my weight loss and maintenance comes before any other health-related issues. I view the half as a great opportunity to explore neighbourhoods of new cities without the run wrecking the rest of the day for me.

I was always a decent athlete when I was a kiddo. When I was about 19, I got great advice from someone who was a bit older and in better shape than me. He said, SLOW DOWN! He basically insisted that I slow to a jog that could allow me to carry on a casual conversation as I ran. That advice changed everything. I went from being a non-runner to a runner with that advice.

I then went out and bought an slew of books on running. The book that rose to the top was Richard Benyo's Making the Marathon Your Event. I read every page - didn't skip a word. I picked up tons of knowledge from that book - from runners lube to fartleks to track workouts - importance of negative split training - mindsets etc. I then identified the 16 week training program as the one to get me ready for my first marathon and signed up for Honolulu in 1994. I finished top 5% in my age group with a time of 4:09. For years I continued with that program and have enjoyed running ever since.

As a more grown-up runner, I have enjoyed the perks of aging as a runner. My weight has been under control for the most part - I have only ever gained 15 pounds over the course of my adult life and that was when I had to take a running break due to a non-running injury. My pulse is always low and I feel that running manages feelings of well-being.

My favorite aspect to my running story regards how running has gifted me with a supportive community. I lost my brother to leukemia and have found a happy outlet doing the Team in Training program offered by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It's open to anyone who wants to help cure cancer! I have raised money as I trained for the San Diego Marathon (Full), Disney (half), Madrid (Full), and DC (half). To date I have raisied about $30K and have enjoyed the many perks of participation including that someone is always watching out for for me during events. (I also do non-tnt events, like Miami half, jacksonville Donna Race (half), and other events.) My favorite experiences are the TNT ones!

Now that I am in my 40s, my full marathon times aren't as fast as when I was 23 but in my 1/2 marathon times are faster! I hover around or under 2 hours for the half. I love Benyo's book and always recommend it for runners who want to embrace the marathon. It's kinda spiritual for me to run marathons - there's an aspect of connecting with something larger than yourself when you run in a huge field of runners. It feels remarkable to finish a marathon. I always feel kinda teary in the finish area. Benyo has some quote that i like...the gist is that no other event allows you to discover parts of yourself that you never knew existed...

Anyhow, I run about 6 miles each day M-F and go long on the weekend. I enjoy listening to NPR when I run and get swept away listening. Today I ran about 14...nice and slow. Gearing up for a big marathon this year -- either NYC or Dublin, Ireland or PGH. Thanks for the thread...kinda fun to think back (and forward)...

Happy running!