Hi everyone ~ It is REALLY quiet around here now, but I still recognize a few names! I just popped in to say that I finished OHR over the weekend! I am now starting training for the Cleveland 1/2 marathon in May. For anyone new around here, I started running at the end of July - a few (30) pounds overweight, over 40, and had never run in my life! Now here I am, 17 pounds lighter, feeling years younger, and can run for an hour straight! Believe me, if I can do this anyone can! The fact that I am now training for a 1/2 marathon still surprises me every day! So for all the new folks, don't quit, don't give up - even on the 'hard' days, trust me when I tell you the good runs far outnumber the hard! My other advice is, take it slow - don't worry about speed (I'm still slow ha ha) and be patient. The whole first year of running really is about developing endurance, steady base building. Even though I'm planning for a 1/2 marathon, I am not running it for time, I am just running to finish this one because I am still developing my foundation. Keep runnin' on everyone!

wow Cyndi! that is awesome a big congrats to you!

Cyndi, you are doing awesome! All the best to you in your HM training!

Hi JB ~ I pulled up the SmartCoach training calculator at Runnersworld.com It has been great ~ I entered my last (only) 5K time, how hard I wanted to train, and the distance training for. In seconds I had a 16 or 18 week plan! It has me running at a very slow pace (14:38 to be exact) which is difficult to do, but I am getting the hang of it and I can feel it is the right approach. I always finish my runs feeling like I could go a little more (but I dont). Trying to do this as practically and 'smartly' as possible so I don't hurt myself!