Just seeing if anyone is interested in joining a running club now that summer's here.
Just a way to share stories/motivation to fellow runners, both indoor treadmill runners as well as outdoor runners.
I prefer trail running, but when its too hot and humid I move indoors to the treadmill. I'd really like to keep my motivation going and train hard enough to run the Boston Marathon next year, thats my long term goal.
So if you're a long-time runner or would just like to get started, this is the place for you!

That sounds awesome- I'm a recent college graduate and found it difficult to run during the school year. Now that summer is here I'm trying to get back into running- I started last week, and I'm trying to go 5x a week. Right now I'm running 25 minutes on a treadmill at around a 10 minute mile. My long term goal is also to run a marathon...but first I need to get up to 60 minutes!

Excellent, welcome to the club.
I'm also a recent college grad and always found it hard to juggle school, jobs, and working out! I also try to run at least 5x a week, been at it since March. Last night I did 40 mins on the treadmill at a 10 minute mile. I have gotten up to 60 a few times, but only when super motivated. I also do strength training, usually mix it up, legs one day, arms the next, yesterday was legs and I can definitely feel it in my hamstrings today, so I have a feeling I wont hit the 60 min mark tonight when I get to the gym. This week's goal: 8 minute mile.

Hey, guys!

I'd love to join your club as a kick-ass motivation stunt, since I enjoy running a lot and yet need someone to kick me in the named body part to actually get up and run. Dawn hours work for me best, as I am one of those weirdos who hate lots of people around and prefer working out either alone or with some old Chinese ladies always present in the park. Being confined to living in the city for a while, I get to run in the nearest park or around it.

This week's goal: get back to the park and pick up where I left. Nothing fancy, perhaps it would be even wiser to walk the first couple of sessions.

Julie

Hey Julie

I always find its better to just start jogging. Just getting into the rhythm of picking up your legs can make all the difference. Maybe you would want to try jogging for 10 minutes as slow as you want, and then walking for 20? Also running/jogging with someone who has never run before- it boosts your self confidence to help them and reminds you that you actually know what your doing.

I also hate running when people are around...Yesterday I was at the gym and an old T.A. (teaching assistant) of mine walked in- I literally got off the treadmill 2 minutes later because I was so self conscious.

When I first started, I could barely walk a few miles, without being out of breath (and chaffing )

Now my jogging route is 3 miles. It is a quite sport and burns tons of calories. However, I only limit myself to running at the most, 2 times a week. Running is very taxing on the body, especially the knees, ankles and lower back.

Of course I'll join the club. I can learn a thing or two. First thing first if you haven't already, get a GOOD pair of sneakers and an MP3 player, trust me, these make a world of difference.

I too get extremly self consious when running. That's why I like running either early morning, or night time, when there is hardly one outside.

I hope to get over this soon...heh

HI,
Can I please join too?
I would not call myself a Runner just yet but I came a long way since I started.
My current goal is to do 8 miles/ week alternating between a park near my house and the treadmill in my gym. ( I came really close to my goal last week. 7.9 miles .) On the treadmill i can do 3 miles but I have to slow to a walk in between miles. The best i have done is 35 min/3 miles, although I am not worried about my speed yet, i am working on distance. In the park (2.2 miles, measured it with my car) takes me about 30 minutes, but it has extremely steep hills that requires a great effort to even just walk up on.
I currently try to run every other day and do strenght-training every other day. So average I run/jog about 2-3 times a week.
I have to say I never got the "runner's high" I am just totally exhausted after a run/jog session although I am happy with myself every time that I did it.

I totally agree with the mp3 player, it keeps my mind occupied instead of looking at my watch every minute!!

My ultimate goal is to run a 10K without stopping. I know I have a lot to go to get there but I am pretty patient with myself and know it is doable seeing how far i have come since last September.

Keep up the good work everybody, I know we can do it!!
Hajni

Hi, guys;

Well, I got out to the park alright. Instead of running though I got to play hopscotch, run after bikes and yell 'get your heinie off that tree right now!' Had me an urgent babysitting call from a friend of mine (today is actually my 'half day off') and spent about an hour and a half with her very happy and active seven year old in the park. It doesn't qualify as a full-blown running session but I had lots of fun.

Julie

Hello, my name is Valerie and I have always been a runner (whether I could or not)

I come from a family of runners--everyone on my mom's side, and even my dad's dad ran.

Juvenile asthma plauged me, although I never had attacks per se, but at night in Spring I couldn't sleep--had to sleep with a humidifier, sitting up My asthma disappeared by puberty, I'd say.

"Satisfactory" marks for P.E.--walked, never ran.

High school I was more interested in drugs and booze, BUT.......at age 12 with puberty, I felt "fat" (I was actually a bit tubby--5'4" and 135-145 lbs about--but noww I'm 5'7" so that is OK!) so I tried jogging around the block. I could barely do it. All through high school I tried to stay lean, and I would try really hard to run at P.E., even if I was stoned. By sophomore year, I did the best mile I ever did--7:55.

College I joined a running class, but I wasn't great. I won my first race (for women) at my college--caled the Turkey Trot (it was Thanksgiving time) and I did 2 miles in 16 min. There was only one other girl and she was slower than me.

After I graduated from the UC, I started to run to lose weight--I got better and better, running in this meadow on dirt, until I could do 3 miles straight. That took months!!

I did my first 5K in May 2006--I came in 2nd for women 18-24! 23:07. It was a triumph! (3,000 people)

My first 10K was May 2007--I came in 2nd for women 18-24 42:52! (4,000 people)

I came in 1st for women on my first trail run (6.1 MILES) a few weeks ago, 48:58, 7th overall (140 people, 800 ft elevation gain)

My next race is in San Ramon July 4th--5K I plan on sprinting it. Wish me luck!!!

Hi,

I am going for a run tonight, either in the park or the gym, depends on the wheater.
I broke down today and bought a heart rate monitor ( a kind for beginners). I just have this feeling that I am not exercising in my "fat-burning" heart-rate as i have hardly lost any weight for a month now. I eat very sensibly (vegetarian also), only drink water (about 100 oz/day) , exercising 6 times a week and only lost like 3 lbs in a month. I would like to loose the optimal 2lb/week, I just don't know what I am doing wrong.
So when I get my heart -rate monitor I'll see if that is the problem.
Does any of you have experience with heart-rate monitors? Am I just wasting my money and energy?
Thanks,
WOW Valerie, 2nd in the 10 K in May!! My goal is to be able to run a 10k, even if I finish last!!

I don't, actually--try asking "Steve", he is the answer man and could help you figure out what can speed your weight loss.

Thank you!! 10Ks SUCK, it was really awful. Painful, my mind was like, "I can't do this!" But I did. And when it was over, I was proud and felt the prestige. It was worth it, but very hard. My pace was 6:52-minute miles. I did not know I could break 7 minutes. My goal is to do 6-minute miles by the time I'm 30

Where're all the runners at?!

Today I'm running 6.1 miles in the woods with my trainer. I am going to kick his ass. Hee hee!

BUT I'm exhausted. Wish me luck!

Also, I have a race July 4th in San Ramon--5K. With hope, I'll get 2nd place for women 18-24 or better...........maybe.................

I wanna join in as well- I have always wanted to run but never did until I decieded to join the army. I started running 2 miles from one day to the next without a problem-After a few years in the army I started to hate running it was just a combinations of alot of things.My fastest 2 mile was 15:40 but I was alot thinner than I am now.
Today was my first run since 2003 and I ran for 40 minutes I really do not know how far I ran today it was a slow pace but not really that slow as I thought it would be.I am working on building up my indurance and speed.I would love to run a 5k!!!
I am from Boston -i would LOVE to be able to run the boston marathon one day!

40 minutes! Wow great job! Well stick around, doesn't look like a whole lot of the members log on here much BUT that's OK, they'll be back!