Welcome Kristin! These winter months are tough for training! You aren't alone in your whining and difficulties! You sound like you run a lot - seeing that you ran the Denver marathon last year - in that awful weather!! I am still warming up from that run! I am out in Littleton - so I am no help to you on suggestions where to run in Aurora. I am sure there are some good bike paths out there. We all go through the ups and downs of training and motivation....now that the weather is starting to get better - you'll probably get more ethusiastic about getting out! I end up on my treadmill more than I care to admit. Any other runs coming up sooner that will help to motivate you? Platte River half is on April 6.....

Welcome, Kristen! I'm glad you joined up with us. Naturally, we'll be expecting doughnuts from you at the next meeting. (Just kidding) If you're anywhere near Cherry Creek Res., I believe dacook can point you in the right direction. There's always the Highline Canal, but I think the closest that gets in your area is around Havana and Alameda. If you're willing to drive a little, the best place to hit that trail is probably at the Goodson Rec Center off of University and Arapahoe. Try these links: http://www.denverwater.org/recreation/hilcnlmap.html http://www.ssprd.org/southsubnew/map.asp?tl=5&m=2 Sorry I'm not much help, I'm a west side boy, myself. You've probaby noticed by now, but the weather will at least give you a chance to run in the outdoors here. It could be worse. You could be in southern Colorado right now, contending with the feet of snow thats been on the ground for month now. We look forward to meeting you whenever one of us can run with you!

I do run in cherry creek resevoir as there is an entrance not far from my house. And I did a long run on Highline yesterday (sunday) but that was miserable since the dirt was frozen and almost worse than running on the sidewalk. I came away from yesterday with severly sore shins and a sore ankle - this never happened last summer when I trained on highline so I'm chalking it up to the ruts in the very hard ground. My issues are more motivation related. I did the Denver full last october - this was my first marathon. And when we decided to go for another one, I said I wanted to better my time by 24mins to at least be right under the 4hr mark. At least 3 people have told me that I'm crazy and that it will take me more than just one more marathon to better my time by that much so that got me really discouraged - it's never fun for someone to tell you can't do something. And I really don't think I will want to train for another one....at least not until my kids are much older and I have more time and patience on my hands (did I also mention I am a full-time on-line degree student). So my dilemna is really do I just switch to the half and not worry about bettering my time or continue on for the full and hope that I do better and try not to be dissappointed if I don't. Thanks everyone for your replys! and the training links! I really am thankful we (in the metro area) aren't having the same winter we had last year! Kristin

Hi Kristin, welcome to the group! A couple of things. I have found huge motivation from others telling me I can't do something. I ran my first marathon on a bar bet! Non- running smoker to 3:43 marathon in 10 months. That was crazy. A year later, I ran a 3:22. 21 minute PR. Hard work, lots of miles. Right now, I'm training for an April 5th marathon where I hope to run about 3:15. Harder work, lots of miles, speed work, more miles. I guess my point is this, I think you CAN shave 24 minutes off your marathon time, but, unless you have a huge mileage base right now, I don't think a May marathon is realistic. I would look towards Denver in October or some other fall marathon to try to break 4:00. But, please, please, don't get discouraged. And if you decide to prove me wrong, well, that's OK too! Then again, that marathon is decidedly downhill....... Keep us posted, hope motivation falls your way! Dave