Hi everyone! I'm Tanya, 46, a writer, and living in Nashville. I will have been running 30 years this next September (yikes). I'll be celebrating the 30-year mark several months early by running Boston for the first time, and I can't wait! Years ago, my favorite distances were 5ks and 10ks, though the older I get, the more I prefer longer races...I honestly feel that a 5k is harder than a marathon these days--it's over faster, but I hate every living second of it. That being said, I love running and can't imagine (or want to imagine) ever stopping. Though my times are no longer as fast as the old days, it's a whole new world and challenge growing older and competing. I clearly remember being in my twenties and watching the Masters runners get their awards at races and thinking, "They must be bummed that they're no longer as fast as they used to be." It's great to discover that I don't feel that way at all!

Hi everyone! I'm Joni, 41, a wife to a man I adore, and a mom to 8 & 5 yr old boys. I'm from the east side of Michigan, but currently living on the west side, close to Lake Michigan (Muskegon County)! After about 18 yrs, I got back into running slogging this past January. Unfortunately, I've battled some peroneal tendon issues which have had me benched on and off. I've discovered, however, if I keep it (even) slow(er) and on a level surface, I can continue to run; it took a long time to figure that one out! After being benched at one time by my PT for 7 weeks, I have an even greater appreciation for the ability to just get out there, and my perspective's completely changed. It's not "Oh gee, it's too cold to run today", or "I didn't get enough sleep last night"- if I can get out there I go! What's that saying?...you don't appreciate what you've got until it's gone? So, still battling peroneal issues, but it's also given me a gift! This summer I got my kids into a 1/2 mile fun run. My little 4 yr old won this big 2nd place trophy. Both he and his brother really enjoyed it (especially since my little one *finally* had a trophy to put next to his older brother's trophies, of which he pointed out was taller than any of brother's!). They enjoy getting out there and "running", so I hope that they grow to love it as much as I do. It'd be realllly great if I had my kids for running buddies as they get older. If I can get a handle on this ankle thing, my goal is to run the Crim 10 mile in Flint MI, August 2008. I'm not shooting for any specific time, so I'm just going to see where I'm at when the race nears. Slow and steady!!

Ilene, Perhaps you misunderstood. This thread is to describe a bit about yourself, not display a bit of yourself. Dark Horse

Did I introduce myself here already? It's so confusing, starting up in three different forums in only 8 weeks.... First I found myself at CR, just at the beginning of November, determined to get back to running, and outdoors at that, because I've always been a cold-weather wimp and wanted to get some support on that. Then followed the crowd (which I've barely gotten to know) to KR, and now I am here as well. Like I said, it's a bit overwhelming to post in more than one place, but I'll give it shot. There are a number of names I recognize from all my recent "travels", so that's kinda nice. So, about me.... My name's Esther, I'm 45, and unlike Soundrunner, I've been running INconsistently for at least 14 years now. Started out as a gym rat 25 years ago, and morphed into a certified personal trainer 6 years ago. Started yoga 3 years ago too. Not exactly sure when I first set foot on the treadmill at the gym, but I do know it was somewhere in between having my two children, DS 16 and DD 13. That first time, I set the machine for 4.0 mph, with the intent to run one mile. I did it, piece of cake! Eventually my speed and distance increased, and currently I'm averaging 23 mpw, 9:37 pace. I've never run in any races. Maybe in 2008... Do we list our injuries here too? Chronic right shoulder sprain that alternates with a chronic spasmed left psoas. It's a push-me-pull-you kind of thing, diagonally across my body, and all I try to do is be balanced in between the two. Hence my inconsistent running history. Though lately I've found that my running tends to balance me, so I've decided to stick with it regardless (as long as I am outdoors and not on a treadmill, that is). Though speaking of balance, I started teaching yoga this past year, and as the students in my classes can attest, I get most of my inspiration for my class themes from my running. So it's all good. Oh and yeah, my username is OrangeMat simply because my yoga mat is orange, and it's just a coincidence that it shortens to OM. Glad to meet everyone!

Welcome, Sockoni! You must live near our own hopeful4ever, who is in the Fruitport area.

Thanks Doug! Yes, Mary's just south of me maybe 20 minutes! I'm up in the Whitehall area.

Mary and I both ran the Grand Rapids Half Marathon last October (I'm from over in Rochester). How about you?

Well you ran it with some of our members then! Kirsten (Zoom Zoom), who lives 5 minutes north of me in Montague, is trying to get a group together for the GR Marathon and half! She's run the half and plans on doing the full next year. She's made a group for it incase you haven't seen it yet: Click I'm from Davison in Genesee County, moved to Lapeer for awhile, worked in Lake Orion and went to OU, so I was in your neighborhood! It's a beautiful area!

We've got at least a half dozen or more Michiganders who have come over here from CoolRunning, so we should have something in common for our daily posts. We will definitely see you at the Crim, where we always attempt to meet somewhere (bring hopeful Mary with you!).

I'm looking forward to the Crim. I'm *hoping* that all body parts cooperate with me. I only did a few races back when I was running, but the Crim was the first. My friend who got me into running and whom I ran the Crim with in '89, died in a car accident a few years later. I also worked at the Water Street Pavillion near the start of the race, so the Crim brings a lot of memories back. I think Kennyrun who's in Oxford and PowerofQ in Brighton ran it this year. There are others from MI too...Shyrunner, Backroadrunner, Seacow, Corland, Marathonmanleto. I know I'm forgetting some. And yes! I'll bring Mary too!

Welcome Sockoni ! I'm from St Clair Shores - about 9 miles from the Detroit city limits. Hopefully I can meet you at the Crim in 08. I have notorious bad luck when it comes to meeting any of my cyber friends, so they probably assume I really don't exist.

Howdy Boomers/Masters 57 yr old guy from Massachusetts. Married with 4 grown children and 2 grandsons. Been running again for 7 years after a long spell of inactivity chasing my growing family around. Have run 5k's to a marathon but prefer the 5k/10k distance. Been married for 35yrs and couldn't be happier. DW surprised me this year by taking up running and has completed 3 5k's Had been posting at CR but mostly a lurker as time permited. Own my own business so 90hr. work weeks are not uncommon. Any extra time is as a volunteer firefighter in my home time (30yrs) Fran