Chimera we live in Virginia.... about 20 minutes from VA Beach. We are going to drive down there with hubbys in tow.... kind of a weekend without kids etc etc and do the Princess 1/2. Yes we are thinking that $120 is steep too, but we really really want to do a Disney run and the regular half was sold out already. That would be great to have other girls to run with that we know... let me know if you decide to do it. hey goddess... thanks for the cheer and for running ahead for us. We had a banana before we ran and we also ran in the am instead of late pm so I wonder if that had anything to do with it or maybe it was just a crap run... i've heard sometimes you just have junk days. but i am glad we pushed through ( i told her about HTFU and she laughed) We'll go again Sunday and I'll let y'all know how it went. Hope everyone had a great 4th and got to see some great fireworks. we went to friend's house and got three shot off and the fire marshall just happened to be driving by when that happened.... so i saw three fireworks.... GAH!! oh hey meg.... i noticed on your log that you did some back to back running days... was that helpful? do you still do it? talk to y'all later

I could use some reassurance and encouragement - Our power went off on Wednesday evening. Out here in the boonies, when we lose power, we lose water. I planned to run Thursday, but I get SO dirty when I run - bug spray, sweat, dirt from the trail all over my legs - that I thought I'd put it off until the power came back on or until I found a place I knew I could shower afterwards. I thought I was putting it off for a few hours or maybe a day. Now it's Saturday, and our power just came back on, so I haven't run for 3 days. I'm trying to get motivated to go for a run this afternoon. (the thought of a second shower today sounds kind of nice) I was thinking that if I could run Saturday, Sunday (both "short" runs for the OHR week 4), then the "long" run on Tuesday (whopping 3 minutes longer than today), then Thursday, Friday short runs just this week, that would get me to having my long runs on Sundays, which works a lot better than a weekday for me. Does that seem overly ambitious? Two back-to-back run days in a week? I would just stick with the every other day except for trying to get my long days onto a weekend day. I've been doing 30 minute runs every other day for 4 weeks, so...? Obiebyke, let me know how your after-OHR plan works for you. I was hoping to get to 3 OHRs a week eventually. No big rush - I just want to keep going. Which is why this 3 day off (and low motivational level today) is bugging me.

OHR w8d3 is in the books. I have found that anything over 40 minutes is really tough.

I finished OHR Week 4 and my first longer run went fine with the exception of two mistakes. First, I did my strength training before my run since I was still waiting for it to cool down. I also upped my weight today so I sweat was sheeting off me before I even started. Second mistake, I use my old "failed" running shoes as workout shoes so I don't wear out my running shoes with lateral motion... well, I forgot to switch shoes. My knee and feet hurt for most of the 2nd half. After a soak in the pool and massage I'm all better. Learned that lesson, the accidental switch wasn't even noticed till the end of the run and I just couldn't figure out what was wrong. Guess my new shoes are "the ones" Keep up the great work everyone. BTW: this week something switched in me. I am a runner now. Not sure when the change happened but it was like a lightbulb.

Charts updated. MoonStar, what worked for R for starting tri training was that he joined a tri club at the local YMCA. They sponsor runs, bike rides, and swim workouts, and the swim workouts are coached. You may want to look into a club like that. It'd get you in closer contact with people who make triathlon training part of their lives. Hanging out with people interested in fitness tends to have a positive effect on YOUR fitness habits. I've learned this first hand with R. And a good coach will encourage you to do what you can now and to continue improving. Maybe you can't swim a hard 750 now. But I'll bet that with enough rest and an easy pace you could do 5 x 50's without too much trouble. Start with what you CAN do, and that'll improve. Kind of like when you started running you couldn't go for more than like a minute... and now you're cranking out 28+ minute runs.

hey goddess... we run again tonight so i'll let you know.... i was thinking that 3 weeks ago running for 60 seconds was a huge obstacle to overcome and you've licked 3 minutes right? You'll do fine!! Congrats on another week down!!!

turtlechick, you've got a point! I nearly tripled the time I am able to jog so I guess I should just HTFU and do it come Tuesday! Thanks for the encouragement! Moonstar, I was almost your weight when I first started working out (about March 2007, at 245 lbs.) and I'm about 210 right now after a 9 month hiatus. I'm glad I'm not the only big girl that's doing this!

Goddess9 - No, you're not the only big girl. I was 210 when I started (currently 160-ish), and like so many others here couldn't run a minute without gasping and thinking I was going to die!!! When my coworkers have asked, I usually credit my weight loss to running. But I think that's only part of the picture. Running... but more-so it's the fact that in running I have been able to successfully make and meet a series of goals. I have been able to see myself accomplish what I'd never thought possible. And that gave me a LOT of self-confidence. I started feeling better about myself and somehow that made it easier to want to take care of myself. I hear you loud and clear when you're looking ahead and freaking out wondering how on earth you're going to do it. But believe me, YOU ARE! You are going to be able to do this. Just make up your mind that you're going to try and try and no matter what you're not going to let ANYTHING get in between you and that goal, and you'll do it! Then, come Tuesday, go out there and give it a try! You already know you can run for 3 minutes. So... if for some reason you can only run for 4 minutes, is that a failure? Heck no! It means that you're making progress towards your goal but you're still working towards it. What's wrong with that? What's wrong with making progress but not being at your goal yet? Tell yourself that the time-table for reaching your goal can be flexible but whether or not you reach it is NOT open for negotiation. Then go do your best! I'll bet you surprise yourself.