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[_touchedbyanoodle_]

There must be other runners here, yes? I checked the first five pages of "Balancing," but didn't find a dedicated thread, so this is my attempt to build a place to commiserate and cheer one another on. I ran my first half marathon last April and am looking forward to my next half marathon in October. (I'm traveling to that one, so don't mind disclosing that the race is the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco.)

I'm a waddler yet, I suppose, given that my first half marathon pace was 12:40, but I'm not feeling terribly motivated to improve my time. I'm just happy to finish. Speaking of finishing, I joined a local trail runners group and I did not manage to finish the 4 mile 2000' elevation climb they do every other Thursday. Yes, I did the turn-around of shame. *hangs head* I have 8 days to psych myself up for the next attempt.

*waits eagerly for other runners to materialize*

[jonesey]

I ran all the time up until about a year ago, now I'm getting back into it again.  I've been doing CrossFit in the meantime, which includes plenty of sprinting and weights, but no long distance.  I investing in a new pair of Mizuno's next week ($125...ouch) and then I'll start working on increasing (gradually) my mileage.  I used to run about 30+ miles a week, and have done several half marathons.  I'm shooting for February for my first full marathon. 

[erzuliefreda]

I used to run in 2004/2005, but stopped after a stupid knee injury. Back then I did about 25 miles per week and ran a bunch of HMs.

I have started again this summer. It will be a long time until I am back where I used to be, but I feel better already. I am running 2-3 miles every other day right now and eating better.

My goal right now is to work slowly up to about 35 miles per week over the next couple of years, and set some PRs at the 5K & 10K distances. No mean feat, given that I am now older, but it's a goal.

[jon_margerumleys]

Am just now getting back into running after about a six year hiatus.  Training for the Las Vegas marathon in December.

[prof_smartypants]

I'm trying to get back into it.

I'm starting the coolrunning.com couch to 5K program. I'm really not interested in racing, but I would like to eventually enjoy just going out for a run for 30-45 minutes, perhaps with my dog.

Right now, I'm waddling through as well.

[scampster]

I'm signed up for the Berlin Marathon in September. This will be my second marathon, if I arrive uninjured. I immensely prefer the half-marathon distance though. I'm slow too (I have unsuccessfully trying to break the ten minute barrier at the HM distance for a few years - my closest is 10:09). Recently I started doing long distance relays (200 miles divided between 12 people) which are a load of fun. I have one this weekend.

Smarty, are you going to run with the basset? ;-)

[prof_smartypants]

Smarty, are you going to run with the basset? ;-)

God, no.

I'm trying to get the coonhound puppy to be good enough on the leash to take out running. She's not there yet.
The basset would make it about a block before she'd just stop and refuse to move. I've tried. It's hilarious.

[scampster]

Smarty, are you going to run with the basset? ;-)

God, no.

I'm trying to get the coonhound puppy to be good enough on the leash to take out running. She's not there yet.
The basset would make it about a block before she'd just stop and refuse to move. I've tried. It's hilarious.

Bassets amuse me to no end, so I loved the vision of you trying to run with her. Now, the coonhound seems more reasonable... Although won't she want to stop and smell and track things all the time? Maybe you should join a Hash House Harriers group in your town - then she can work on tracking the "hare"!

[crumpet]

What a great idea! I really enjoy endurance running and try to do at least one marathon a year. Its a bit crazy, I know, but I think it helps me deal with academic stress...which there must be a lot of as I must resort to endurance running to deal with it!

Scampster -> I did the Berlin marathon last summer. It was gloriously flat but they were not prepared for the heat. I would recommend porting your own water if it is terribly hot as they ran out last year. Thankfully (it being Berlin) beer was on hand so I consumed that instead...

[janewales]

I run 2 or 3 marathons a year; 20+ now, with a few ultras. But here I am today shirking the run and reading the fora instead...

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

I'm trying to get back into it.

I'm starting the coolrunning.com couch to 5K program. I'm really not interested in racing, but I would like to eventually enjoy just going out for a run for 30-45 minutes, perhaps with my dog.

Right now, I'm waddling through as well.

Couch to 5k is how I got back into it! It totally worked to help me go from sucking wind to feeling like a 30 minute jog is nothing.

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

The Berlin marathon is on my future races dream list, even though I don't really aspire to run a full marathon. I think the Paris marathon might have a half, but I have to check. Anyway, I'd like yo do one or both eventually. Races are such a great excuse to travel. 

[scampster]

Scampster -> I did the Berlin marathon last summer. It was gloriously flat but they were not prepared for the heat. I would recommend porting your own water if it is terribly hot as they ran out last year. Thankfully (it being Berlin) beer was on hand so I consumed that instead...

Aw don't tell me that! I knew about the flat part, which is good since I have a knee thing that gets irritated running up steep hills. But I saw that the average high was 62 for Berlin on that day! I swear the universe conspires to make marathon day in major cities be the hottest one on record for that time of year (e.g. Chicago 2007 where they shut the course down because of heat. In October.)

And I hate running with my own water :-( But running out is really bad and I'm aiming for five hours and it is us slow people who bear the brunt of the water shortages...

[prof_smartypants]

Scampster, it's expensive, but something like this might work?

[scampster]

Scampster, it's expensive, but something like this might work?

Woah! That's crazy! That would spare me the annoyance of a hydration belt that rides all the way up to my armpits because the narrowest part of my waist is so high and they never stay on my hips...