Hello all. I'm Laura, down here outside of Houston, TX. Been on and off running for the past couple of years while doing a bootcamp as well. Just had to quit the class due to expense so now I'm giving running another go. I run first thing in the mornings aroun 530am as it's my only free time with a 4 year old kiddo and full time job. Also it's really dang hot anytime after 8:00 Currently I do between 3.5 to 4 miles about 3 or 4 times a week.

Thinking about doing a 5k in the fall, but I really enjoy running as my alone time, so not sure the wholer ace mentality is for me. We'll see!

Hello! I'm Kadi from Australia. I'm a mum to 2 kiddies 6 and 4. I used to run at school which changed to netball/gym after finishing and then home based exercise after the kids came along. I'm basically starting from the beginning again. I ran/walked our 12km event here with no training last year in 82 mins. I couldn't walk properly for a week! But now I have time to go out running I'm getting back into it. I've been doing 8km on a Sunday and just started shorter runs during the week. Our 12km event is in sept so I should be prepared before then

Hi all. My name is Diane. I have been running off and on for the last 5 years. If I am not injured than I am running. I just completed week 1 of a 12 week training program for a half marathon. It's been two years since I ran my last 1/2 marathon. Hopefully, I will keep myself in check and follow the training plan and modify if needed. For me running is a challenge and a stress reliever. Good luck to everyone who is new to running or have been running a long time!

I'm Christina. I'm training for a half marathon in the first half of next year.

Running was never something I wanted to do (unless it was after the ice cream truck, lol), until I realized it was the best way to burn calories, and once I started, I actually found I enjoy it a lot.

My goal is to run 4 times a week, that's what my training plan says. I'm excited to participate in this group fresh next month! Feel free to add me on endomondo if you use it, my name on there is also CupcakeCrusoe.

Sorry I've not been posting so much, but if anyone's interested in my story I've been featured in the Runkeeper blog

http://blog.runkeeper.com/2177/daniel-a-marathon-journey/

Hello. My name is Alyssa. I'm in my late 30s and have been overweight pretty much my entire life. After making it through a pretty extreme life altering event, I decided I wanted to live healthy. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. Last October I began walking 5 mins at a time. By May I was walking 5K and had lost almost 50 lbs. But I had hit a plateau and didn't really lose anything in April or May. A friend of mine is a runner and with her help I slowly began running in June of this year. I've been using MFP for a little over two months but haven't participated in the forums. I'm an extremely shy person so just posting and joining the group is way out of my comfort zone. If I'm quiet, I'm not trying to be rude, just shy. Looking forward to meeting everyone here.

Hi, I'm Karen, age 38, from the UK. I manage a wholesale plant nursery, which is lovely at this time of year and hellish in the winter! I like hiking, scuba diving, horseback riding, cats and, as it turns out, running. Aside from a couple of years around my wedding date, I have been overweight or obese for my entire adult life.

Despite having a fairly active job, I was slap bang in the middle of the 'obese' range nine months ago. I had good strength, and a relatively decent level of fitness all things considered, but was obese nonetheless, and I was very, very unhappy with how I looked.

I started on MFP for weight loss, which has been going pretty well! I started exercising a couple of months later, using the Leslie Sansone walking videos on YouTube. Once I lost some weight and got more confident about my appearance and ability to exercise without doing myself a mischief I joined a few classes - Zumba, Yoga, Bokwa (try it!) etc. I also started strength training (New Rules - about to start Stage 3).

One day on the way home from Zumba, I decided to see if I could run, and it turned out I could. I guess the classes had brought my fitness level up a fair bit without me realising. I probably ran and walked (but mostly ran) 5K that day.

I signed up for a Race for Life 5K and really knuckled down and trained. I ran a PB on the race day, despite the heat and the hills. I did not run a sensible race :ohwell: I've signed up for quite a lot of other events now, including some 10Ks, and I'm really enjoying running.

I have a few niggling issues with knees, heels etc. so I have to be careful not to overdo it. And in terms of racing I really need to think a bit more, set myself some rules, and abide by them, rather than shoot off like there's a bear chasing me, and run the whole race at a stupid-high heart rate. Anyhow, I'm learning, and I'm researching, and I'm just trying to do my best and enjoy it!

I'm just coming to the end of a challenge here on MFP (Hunger Games), and I wanted to make sure I had something in place to keep me focussed. So, here I am. Good luck for August everyone!

ETA: and by the way, this bloke is my new hero http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/28418596

Thanks for starting this group, Stan!!

I'm Lisa. I'm currently on my third attempt of c25k. First attempt was 2012 . . . I had a lot of knee pain and got bogged down in week 3. I ran/walked my first 5 k on September 30, 2012. Did another 5k that December, one in April 2013 and Color Me Rad in June 2013. I ran/walked all of them. In July 2013 I decided to try c25k again. Still had quite a bit of knee pain, but didn't get bogged down until week 4 this time. I ran 1 day a week with a group and in September, I ran an entire mile. (I know it sounds lame, but I was so proud!!). One of the guys I was running with really knew how to push me and really encouraged me. Ran another 5k in September 2013 and didn't run again until June of this year. In June I started c25k again. Yesterday I ran 2 miles without walking and tomorrow will be on week 6; day 1. Oh, I forgot to mention that I've had NO knee pain this time. I'm determined to finish and will be running a 5 k on September 28 and then a 6.6k on October 5. I also joined a gym so I won't be able to use winter/cold/icy weather as an excuse not to run.

Hi all! I'm Debbie, fulltime working mom of two kids ages 6 and 8.I took up running after I had my second child and ran for about a year. Since then, I've done other forms of exercise (sometimes consistently and other times not so consistently!) but miss the way running made me feel and look! It's been hard to find balance working full time and having kids, but I'd like to get back into running. I'd love to join in on the challenge to help keep me motivated and would be nice to have a group to check in with.

Happy to have found this group. I'm Anna from Illinois. I'd say I'm an on and off again runner. I used to run track and cross country in HS then stopped in college. Picked up running a few years ago doing C25K and have several 5Ks under my belt. This is my first time trying a longer distance and have just started training for a half marathon. I'm hoping to do a 10K in November.

Hi, Im Haylie, I'm 27 and I live in Cambridgeshire, England.
I've been running on/off for years, but go really serious about 3 months ago. I'm traing for a half marathon in October, but really working on speed rather than distance, as I run an average of 30 miles a week, and I run 12 miles already.
I've always been a slow runner, but have started to get quicker recently. I run a 5k yesterday and finished it in 26mins, so not bad! I used to be happy if I got under 10min/mile
I still consider myself a novice when it comes to running, so I'd appreciate any tips. Especially on avoiding injuries, as I get sore knees a lot.
My target time for hm is under 2 hours, but 1:50 would be amazing.
My target for August is 100 miles, I did 115 in July so hopefully achievable!

Hi! I'm Sandra; I'm originally from the midwest and live in NC now. I've never been very athletic, and only started running about six years ago. Stopped running almost completely before my first daughter was born 4 years ago and am only now getting back into it. I'm pretty slow and don't run very far, but I do enjoy it. I'm looking forward to participating in the August challenge!

Thanks!

Hi, I'm Rebecca. I'm 35, married 13 years, and have a 4 year old. I have never really been a runner, but have played soccer my whole life. I was playing indoor when I tore my ACL 1.5 years ago. It took me 3 months just to get my knee to a place where they could perform the reconstruction, and then another year to even be able to go up and down stairs without significant pain/assistance (the muscle atrophied fairly quickly after surgery). Now I do HIIT training a few times a week, and started the c25k recently. I've repeated a few weeks, so I just completed week 5 day 2. I try to run a few times a week, but I work a lot, so I definitely need motivation to get my butt out of bed early enough to run first thing in the morning. I'm hoping to log 35 miles this month. I'm so glad there is a group for support!

Howdy All, I'm Kym I have been a walker and a causal bike rider for a few years, but this summer has been rough to get myself back out there. I have stared back up again this week and I am hoping that this group will help motivate me. I have 2 GSD that love to go with me and keep me company. Normally once a routine has been started with them they dont like to take no for an answer. LOL They are a good motivation. LOL But not so much this summer I have been a slacker.

I am new this this part of the site if I miss something I dont mean to.

I am starting to get excited again.

Have a Most Excellent Day Everone

Just starting running after a shoulder injury prevented me from doing my normal work-outs. I started in April, quit for a bit, then have in the last month been trying to be consistently running 4 days a week about 30 minutes or 2 miles or so -- I am still pretty slow. I am going to do a No Boundaries run group starting next week so I am excited about that and hope to pick up my pace and consistency. I am sort of old to be starting this (51) but I do enjoy it. I love the feeling after you finish and you are just so sweaty and feel good! That and I'd like to lose a few pounds keep me running. :flowerforyou: