I love all the "running in the dark" stories. Makes me feel like I'm not the only weird one.

Varda, I think you are right about us at the end of our newbie gains. I wish it weren't so. I haven't gotten fast enough yet...I don't want to take seconds off my mile pace, I want to take minutes off!!

Beth - I love the parking garage idea for hill repeats!

Anyway, it's good to read how everyone is doing. I'm in a bit of a funk (I think due to sugar and my work schedule), so I need to hang out here to get inspired so that I get back on track this next week.

I think we can still take minutes off, it's just going to take more than giving our bodies time to physiologically adapt.

I seem to be about to take big chunks of time off in competition situations, but on my day to day runs I'm useless - maybe I need to chase a bunny like a greyhound at a track or something - someone in front of me with tequilla or something;) or more like with a water bottle and a banana since nothing really sounds good to me food or drink wise except a giant steak!!! I bought some sugar free power are today, will be trying it out on tomorrow's run!!!

I love all the "running in the dark" stories. Makes me feel like I'm not the only weird one.

Varda, I think you are right about us at the end of our newbie gains. I wish it weren't so. I haven't gotten fast enough yet...I don't want to take seconds off my mile pace, I want to take minutes off!!

Beth - I love the parking garage idea for hill repeats!

Anyway, it's good to read how everyone is doing. I'm in a bit of a funk (I think due to sugar and my work schedule), so I need to hang out here to get inspired so that I get back on track this next week.

I think we can still take minutes off, it's just going to take more than giving our bodies time to physiologically adapt.

I seem to be about to take big chunks of time off in competition situations, but on my day to day runs I'm useless - maybe I need to chase a bunny like a greyhound at a track or something - someone in front of me with tequilla or something;) or more like with a water bottle and a banana since nothing really sounds good to me food or drink wise except a giant steak!!! I bought some sugar free power are today, will be trying it out on tomorrow's run!!!

You're supposed to be slow in your normal runs. Vmclach who runs like 7 mins/mile during marathons says that she's done easy runs that were a strenuous 13 minute mile.

I had a great run this morning. I ran 7K in 57:54. The sun was shining and I ran along the riverfront. It was gorgeous.

I had a great run this morning. I ran 7K in 57:54. The sun was shining and I ran along the riverfront. It was gorgeous.

Sounds awesome!! Nice run!

Yay 10k!

Because I overshot the run way last week and did 5.5 miles I thought why not try for 6.22 this week? Just to see ... nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that.

So off I went when the sun came up (day off today) at a chilly 3 centigrade. Started off slowish (1st mile 11.3) and just kept going, getting a bit faster in subsequent miles as I got more confident I could do this.

Final time was 1hr 8mins 19secs which was good enough for me today as I did part of it on trails and had to stop to cross traffic a lot and a train at one point. Fastest mile was 10.17 which wasn't bad for a long run.

Even though it was chilly heading out I'd done my warm up by walking the dog just before I went for my run so I made do with a long sleeved top and capris as I was able to start running from the end of my street. My blast furnace internal heating served me well and I didn't feel cold even on the mile cool down walk (wasn't meant to be a mile but the college next door had closed one of the paths - doh!)

All in all I'm very happy with that and as I've kind of spoiled my 10k training plan by hitting 10k ahead of schedule I'll use the next couple of weeks to improve my time - I'd like to be doing 10k sub 60mins before spring which now doesn't seem such a silly idea :bigsmile:

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k yesterday in Chicago. They were also running a 15k at the same time. There were a little over 34,000 runners. I was in a corral about half way back in the second wave of runners. The first wave started at 7am, the second wave at 7:45, I didn't start until 8:05. It was 36 degrees at the start of the race, I was dressed for it, but started to get really cold the last 15 minutes or so before I started running. It was beyond crowded, to the point of being elbowed, pushed and my feet stepped on quite a bit. The crowd didn't start to thin out at all until the last 1/4 mile where we hit a hill and the 15k course took a different path. I had my music on with one earbud in as usual and most of the time I couldn't hear the music above the crowd noise, and no I'm not complaining about that. The energy in the crowd was amazing. The post race party where we got our hot chocolate and finisher's mugs was in the park. It had rained off and on for the past 3 days so the ground was rather muddy. I seriously need to clean my shoes. It took forever to make our way through the crowd. Even with wall to wall people and the crowd hardly moving everyone was so nice and polite. Overall for me it was an awesome experience even though my time was 2 seconds slower than the last one, 39:18.

I got a good run in yesterday. The weather was great other than being a little windy!

My knee is better. I guess I just needed to let it rest for a few days. Three weeks until my 10k. I have some work to do!

Yay 10k!

Because I overshot the run way last week and did 5.5 miles I thought why not try for 6.22 this week? Just to see ... nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that.

So off I went when the sun came up (day off today) at a chilly 3 centigrade. Started off slowish (1st mile 11.3) and just kept going, getting a bit faster in subsequent miles as I got more confident I could do this.

Final time was 1hr 8mins 19secs which was good enough for me today as I did part of it on trails and had to stop to cross traffic a lot and a train at one point. Fastest mile was 10.17 which wasn't bad for a long run.

Even though it was chilly heading out I'd done my warm up by walking the dog just before I went for my run so I made do with a long sleeved top and capris as I was able to start running from the end of my street. My blast furnace internal heating served me well and I didn't feel cold even on the mile cool down walk (wasn't meant to be a mile but the college next door had closed one of the paths - doh!)

All in all I'm very happy with that and as I've kind of spoiled my 10k training plan by hitting 10k ahead of schedule I'll use the next couple of weeks to improve my time - I'd like to be doing 10k sub 60mins before spring which now doesn't seem such a silly idea :bigsmile:

Congratulations on running 10K!!! I think your time is awesome. What a great run.

I hope to be running 10K by spring, too. I'm sure I'll be able to manage that but it won't be in 60 minutes. You rock!!

I am determined not to let winter rain on my parade. HM training must proceed in earnest. Snow is in our forecast for tonight and tomorrow, but I just had a comforting thought...The parking garage in town. Perfect! It's covered, lit, and is made for hill repeats! :-) I know what I'll be doing when the snow and ice come. Did I mention how much I detest the treadmill, I will avoid it any way I can. I have yak-trax (ice cleat thingys). I also have been thinking about cross-country skis...Anyone experienced training through the snowy winter? I'm not a year old yet, each running season brings new challenges (and rewards)!

That's a great idea! There are no parkades anywhere near my place otherwise I'd steal this idea.
I'm barely a year old now :laugh: . Last winter, I trained on the treadmill and will do the same this winter but I'll be getting outdoors as much as I can. I plan on an incline of 3-4 on the treadmill when I use it. Hopefully that will help me in the spring when I go back outdoors; at least, I hope it helps with hills.
I've been half-heartedly training for 10K on the weekends. On the treadmill I am more inclined to follow a schedule/plan so aim on being able to run 10K by spring or sooner.

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k yesterday in Chicago. They were also running a 15k at the same time. There were a little over 34,000 runners. I was in a corral about half way back in the second wave of runners. The first wave started at 7am, the second wave at 7:45, I didn't start until 8:05. It was 36 degrees at the start of the race, I was dressed for it, but started to get really cold the last 15 minutes or so before I started running. It was beyond crowded, to the point of being elbowed, pushed and my feet stepped on quite a bit. The crowd didn't start to thin out at all until the last 1/4 mile where we hit a hill and the 15k course took a different path. I had my music on with one earbud in as usual and most of the time I couldn't hear the music above the crowd noise, and no I'm not complaining about that. The energy in the crowd was amazing. The post race party where we got our hot chocolate and finisher's mugs was in the park. It had rained off and on for the past 3 days so the ground was rather muddy. I seriously need to clean my shoes. It took forever to make our way through the crowd. Even with wall to wall people and the crowd hardly moving everyone was so nice and polite. Overall for me it was an awesome experience even though my time was 2 seconds slower than the last one, 39:18.

Sounds like you had a great time - and a great 'time' too!

I've yet to run a proper race so thanks for the great description of the event :bigsmile: