Hi

I'm Cath. I'm 35, live in the UK, work full time and have two young children (one at nursery the eldest in reception class), which leaves me with lots of spare time!. I took up running in Jan 2013 as I wanted to get fitter and for my kids to grow up seeing that exercising is the norm. My first race was a half marathon as my 10k was postponed until the week after the half.

I did the Great North Run in September 2013 2 hours 27. Slow by most runners standards but I was really pleased! I'm doing another half marathon on 11 May 2014 and hope my persistent cough that wrote off my last long run makes a disappearance by then. I'm aiming to simply get round as this half (it is defined as undulating and there are no hills where I live) :sick: .

I'm running the half in memory of someone who inspired my mum into running which in turn inspired me. He passed away this year aged just 43 from cancer. It was a huge shock as it happened relatively quickly and he was very healthy (he had done a full ironman).

I'm also toying with the idea of doing a full marathon at the end of September this year. Well, actually I've entered it but haven't convinced myself that I will be able to do it yet. I will get in some longer runs, follow a training plan and just see how it goes!

Hey everyone!

Thanks for the invite!!

I am Maggie and I'm 46. I started running last year and completed C25K. I walked my first ever 5K and LOVED it. Then I got sidelined with a nasty heel spur and had to give up exercise altogether in November. Finally got my heel spur under control and I am back to walking and running! I have started walking every other day and back to C25K (started back on week 3) on the other days!

My goal is 50 miles this month and to RUN the same 5K I did last year (it's in July)!

Hey everyone,
I'm Melanie and I'm 22. I'm super excited about the May challenge. I think it will be great to keep us all on track and motivated. I have run in the past, and recently started again-I love how running makes me feel. I run on the treadmill with running intervals. I plan on tracking all of my miles, including walking. I hope to get to 150 miles in May-Maybe that's a stretch, but we'll see.

My name is Michelle and I've been running about 4-5 years or so. I had a baby 7 months ago and took my entire pregnancy off from running and started back up when he was about 3 months old. I have a half marathon next month and I can't wait! I've done a handful of races from 5ks up to marathons (I've done 3 - Seattle, Eugene, and Vancouver) and hope to add another marathon to the list this coming fall.

Feel free to add me Would love some runner friends!

Hi Stan,

Thanks for organizing this group and doing the monthly run challenges.

My name is Sharon and I live in NJ. I run, swim, and bike and I lift weights once a week. I love to do all these activities because it keeps me in shape and I don't get bored just doing one type of exercise. I am doing a Sprint triathlon in September in AC so I continue to "train" all year long. I started doing sprint triathlons last year and I am hooked.

Thanks again!

Hi there everyone,
I'm new in the group and I thank you all for being part of such a good community.

I've been in love with running for quite some time now, especially since i started running in groups and with my family!

I'm 41 years old, a mother of two teenagers and struggling with my weight. Running started as a means to an end and ended up being a love that just won't stop!

I run a minimum of 4-5 miles 5 days a week. completed a 1/2 and preparing for my 2nd 1/2 in December! I love running, I did it when I was in school. stop for some 40 years and started back about a year ago.

Hi, my name is Susan and I live in Oklahoma City, OK. I am 53 years old and started running two years ago. I originally started because I wanted to lose some weight and gain a healthier lifestyle. I began with the C25K program, ran some 5Ks, 8Ks, and 10Ks, then ran the OKC Memorial Half Marathon in April 2013 and 2014. Just recovered from a stress fracture in my third metasarsal and was unable to run for 6 weeks. I am back up to 3 miles at a 10 - 10:30 min/mile pace. Hope to improve on my pace in the next few months.

I love to run and bike, but this summer will be trying to learn to swim freestyle so that I can enter my first sprint tri by the end of this season or first of next season. Am hoping to get in 50 miles running this month. So far I've only completed 10 miles this month, so I better get busy!

Hi everyone! My name is Leigh, I'm 5 days away from being 26 (!!) and I'm from Murfreesboro, TN (30 miles south east of Nashville...). I used to be an avid runner up until a few years ago when I injured my shoulder. I packed on a bunch of weight, lost most of it, ran again, then gained again. I'm at the beginning of my new journey, and I'm really looking forward to getting back into running. I'm going to start a C25K program and move up to 10K then 1/2 marathon. That's as far as I go. No marathon for me!

I'm really looking forward to participating in this challenge. Thanks for organizing it Stan!!

Hello. I'm Kathy. I live in Boston. I'm a lawyer and mom of 3, ages 5.5, 4, and almost 4 months. Growing up, I hated running. I was a swimmer and very, very fit, but running anything longer than a 50 yard dash made me feel like I was dying. I thought something was wrong with me. It turned out there was - I found out in my early 30s that I had exercise-induced asthma. Add an inhaler, running isn't so bad And, amazingly, I've been able to ditch the inhaler, even in my present unfit state.

I ran before getting pregnant with #1, then became a runner between #2 and #3 (my last run was a 4 mile race at 6 months pregnant on Thanksgiving; I also did a 10k at 18 weeks). I've gotten in a few post-baby runs but really want to get myself back into a running habit. Right now, running is a bit ugly, full of huffing and puffing and a massively red face, but I know how much I love running when fitter. So I'm looking forward to this challenge to start rebuilding the habit and get back in shape.