leadoff Member

I second this advice. I will also suggest registering and running in some 5 and 10 Ks leading up to the half. (If you haven't already.) A race setting is obviously MUCH different than a training run, and you will find that your pace will be a little faster due to the adrenaline and your tendency to follow the pack. This is…

I passed gas in a crowded room today, blamed the dog, and secretly enjoyed the look of displeasure on the faces of the people in my vicinity.....please forgive me.

I also love the Lunaryfly...I have three pair now and am itching to get the Lunarfly 3 that Nike just released. I believe that the Lunarfly 2 comes in a "trail" version. Should be able to get some good deals since the 3 just released!

Try doing your cardio outside. I love running....but I HATE a treadmill. Also, instead of viewing your cardio as a necessary evil, view it as a way to supplement what you love--strength training.

Mama always said to wait 30 minutes after eating before getting in the pool. :)

Degree in English Literature and Masters in Education. I have spent fourteen years teaching America's finest in the classroom...wouldn't trade it for anything. :)

blueberries, strawberries, honey and a quick whir in the blender. yummy!

LOL! This put a big smile on my face. :)

Obviously eases the pain for the moment, but it aids in the healing process, as well, by helping with the swelling and inflammation. So......ultimately, icing eases the pain for the moment AND contributes to the long term solution. :)

I had shin splints my sophomore year playing baseball in college. Trainer's recommendation was better arch supports and full dose of anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen) before practice/exercise. I also had my arches taped up before each practice or game. He also suggested that I use the bathroom Dixie cups (the little paper…

I, too, live in a rural area and most of my runs are on back country farm roads. When I go on long runs, I usually run with a PT-2 holster like this <http://www.pistolwear.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=ia1321496070781> and my Kel-Tec P32. There are many feral dogs along my favorite route, and if you have ever been in the…

wow....thanks for sharing!

Just remember how you feel when you are doing right. Don't focus on the negative but on the positive. Yes, you had a "relapse" of sorts....but in the long run, you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle. :) Let that be your motivation!

Haven't maxed out in a couple of years. My max back then was 250, and I weighed in at 180.

I like to reward myself from time to time for practicing healthy habits. A binge every now and then is nothing to feel guilty about, IMO. It is what it is, but remember to view it as that....an occasional reward for a job well done! Then jump back on the healthy wagon and keep pluggin away! :)

Running becomes a lifestyle, and any exercise that becomes a part of your lifestyle is a great benefit to your overall health. If you love doing it, then you will begin looking for ways to get better at it (i.e. healthy eating, strength training for injury-prevention, etc.). When I first started running, I did it to…

congrats on your accomplishment!!! Now.....when is the next? :)

"Race for the Prize" by The Flaming Lips is always on my raceday list. "Cry Tough" by Poison may be glam cheese, but it pumps me up whenever it comes on during a long run!

Good luck and let us know how you do! BTW...having a 10+ mile run under your belt should give you plenty of confidence going into the half. 10.46 was my longest run leading up to my first half, and I completed the 13.1 with a better pace than that long run and with enough gas left in the tank to push myself on the last…

Loving all the posts so far! Keep 'em coming!

I do this on my long runs. I think you will find that using your HR will help you dial in your pace for longer runs, which you can in turn use to measure where you need to be for different degrees of pace training. Plus, you can use the McMillan Running Calculator to help dial in your optimal training paces:…

Same here. I have the "around the neck" headphones, so it is much easier to have one earphone in and the other out. I train and race this way. One....for safety. Two....I want to hear my feet pounding the pavement and my watch beeping for intervals/lap info. :)

My wife and I were at a friend's birthday party this weekend. Our little girl (soon to be 3) was having the time of her life running around and playing with all the other kids. At one point, I noticed her in the middle of the room taking her pants off. I ran over to get her as all the partygoers laughed at her antics. I…

My wife uses the BOB. We purchased it from Craigslist a few years back. She loves it!

Good advice here. I always go 1/2 size up on my running shoes. Personally, I prefer the concrete to the treadmill. The treadmill really seems to give me a good jar, and my back pays the price the following day. I had a similar pain in my right knee and upper buttocks while playing ball in college. The team trainer told me…

Forgot to add my eyewear.....Costa Tripletail 580s. Can't forget to protect the eyes! :)

I am not a fan of the BMI chart, as it does not take bone mass, body fat %, muscle mass or even gender into consideration. It is a generalization at best. At 6' 0" 178 lbs, I come in at the high end of NORMAL on the BMI scale....only .8 points away from OVERWEIGHT. However, my last body fat rating was 10.8%, which is at…

When I ran my first half, I focused strictly on my HR and not pace. I knew that I could maintain the distance as long as I stayed around 160-170 on my HRM. My longest run prior to doing the half was 10.5 miles a week prior to race-day. I was average 10:40 pace on that training run with average 175 HR. Race day I did an…

Good deal! Will probably go ahead and go for the Camelbak. It gets mighty hot here in the South during the summer! :)

Wow! Those are some impressive results! I have been doing p90x for a couple of weeks. I'm not following the workout exactly, as I am setting aside 4 days out of the week for my running. I have been doing the upper body workouts (Chest/Back and Arms/Shoulders) along with the Plyo.