Posts by bobev

736/1500 - another month I'll miss goal. Oh well...

652/1750

410/1500 Trying Maffetone low heart rate running. Maintained hr=97 (my max aerobic hr-10) and ran for 66 min.

313/1500 - didn't add right yesterday...

105/1500

26/1500 finally got a run in after daughters wedding. Will try for 1500 again this month. Have to avoid over doing it with two half marathons scheduled

1211/1500 got some walking in yesterday

1013/1500 - going to be tough to make goal. One long run on Sunday then out of twon all week with wedding prep then wedding on Sat...

953/1500 first ever run in  the rain this morning and longest continuous run, 55 min, 4+mi

Thanks moodymomma! I guess I forgot how to add. Think I have it right now.

866/1500 - light run day, 5k race, 36:06, 11:38 pace for a pb

744/1500

Another training plan to consider is Jeff Galloway's, www.jeffgalloway.com and his "run injury free" run/walk approach. I switched to Galloway from Hal Higdon's after picking the wrong Higdon plan and injuring IT band. Galloway's approach allowed me to heal while I continued to run. Galloway also recommends base building as being the foundation to establish before beginning to include hill training and speed work. I've found it to be good advice - for me at least. Being an older, newer runner (july 08), I find that in oreder to not injure myself I have to avoid to many "challenge" days.

Some other rules of thumb that I have seen, and agree with are not to increase total distance by more than 10%/week, and to make every 4th week an easy week with a cut back in mileage.

As to running in the dark. I run in the early morning (4:30 am) and the only time I run in daylight is on Sunday long runs and races. I see very few people or cars out at that time of morning. I might suggest trying the early morning, but if you can't, consider carrying or wearing a light of some kind, as well as a pepper or mace spray to slow someone down so you can out run them. Also avoid deep shadows unless you shine a light in them. I run in the center of two lanes inside subdivisions, or on the sidewalk of better lit main roads. Although I am more on the lookout for animals than people. We have cayotes and such to watch out for.

418/1500 - got a short afternoon run in yesterday - first time I've run in the afternoon

moodymomma: I want to second augette's comment. I have been so busy at work that it has been difficult to do updates. Am hoping for a breather in a week or so.

Great job! You should be proud of your accomplishment. Don't think you were slow, I took 2hrs 8 min to finish a labor day 15k (9.3 mi) and am planning to finish a half marathon in less than 3hrs 15 min! now that is slow!

Original Post by seekay108:

Thanks everyone, I was feeling baffled by the problem but there are obviously several good solutions. I have just recently gotten more serious about running, so I have yet to acquire much running-specific gear, except shoes of course. I'll probably have to get some though if I'm going to be running outside in the cold -- and come to think of it, if anyone has any advice on what sort of (moderately priced) stuff to get for cold weather running, that'd be appreciated too.

I live in North Texas, which, while not as cold as when I lived in NH, does get into the teens on occasion. And being an early morning 4-4:30 am out on the streets, I do get the coldest, no solar heating part of the day. Last year was also my first running winter.

The best advice I've seen says dress for 20 deg above the temp because you will heat up to feel like that, and dress in layers. So even tho its s cold start I don't really make any changes until the temp drops into the mid 40's, then I'll switch to a long sleeve shirt. For sub freezing and windy weather I wore tights, long sleeve compression shirt covered by another long sleeve shirt. Also have wind breaking vest and wind/waterproof jacket. Being on the warm side I prefer an ear covering headband and occasionally will use a cap and neck warmer.

Runnersworld.com had a cold weather running wizard you might try that allowed you to enter comfort preference, and temperatures. Most running sites like about.com, active.com, galloway.com etc have cold weather running suggestions as well.

btw: getting used to running on cold mornings allowed me to have a blast running a 2/28/09 10k with 25 deg temp and 30mph winds! I was one of the few not freezing and complaining. I was in my element! Whoo Hoo, ran it at my 5k pb pace!

As to keys - well I run in my neighborhood most often and use my garage door opener keypad. I also run with a bottle belt to hold my cell phone, driver's license, and a $20 bill. On long runs, I only use shorts with pockets to hold gu. I also use a Sansa Clip MP3 player, that I can clip almost anywhere. When racing I remove my car key from the key chain and put it in the inside pocket of my shorts if they don't have full pockets. Being post blessed heart attack I always carry ID and cell phone, even during races. So I try to have a good number of running shorts with pockets. I recently got a zippered biking vest on super sale at Perl Izumi with pockets in the back that I'll use this fall and winter.