<--------- never cramps

I finally got some calf sleeves and I wish I would have done it sooner. I've had tight calves and dealt with a lot of cramping since my high school football days. I ran a rather hilly 15k on St. Patricks day and put the sleeves on immediatly aftward for the rest of the day and they weren't the least bit tight or sore the next day. I couldn't say the same for my quads and hamstrings though. Compression tights may be next.

Stick your fingers in your ears, turn a circle three times and spit!! Are you just trying to jinx yourself!!

One compression suit to go please...

disclaimer: this is just me being cheap, or rather, frugal

What is the difference between the running compression socks/sleeves which run around $40-$50, and the medical compression socks which run around $10-$15? Aren't both graduated compression?

I'm sure there is much more to them than that, but just wondering...

I love my compression socks! I bought a pair for my first marathon last year and they worked great. I have a tendency to kick my inner calf/shin area when running and the socks helped provide some protection. Now that I am pregnant, I wear the sleeves some days when my legs start cramping up and they seem to help.

I have both the CEP compression socks and sleeves. I bought them off amazon.

I am ready for a changeup. I need some new strength training exercises for the kettlebells.

First 10k in the books! Officially ran a 56:22 which put me at a 9:05 pace. I'm very happy with that, my goal was under an hour.

Now I know I can do it, so my new goal is to better my pace, get under a 9-minute mile, that and no walking. I took a handful of 15-second walks to grab a sip of water and catch my breath, but those walks might stop me from breaking 9-minute pace, so they gotta go!

Baby steps...

That pace, with a few walks in there especially, is definitely something to be proud of! Well done!

I train at more of a 10k distance, but aside from my plethora of 5k's, I've only done one 8k and nothing longer. I've been thinking about what to do this summer/fall, but not hard enough that I've actually started looking at what's scheduled in the area.

Way to go Quatro!!

Great job! I still walk through aid stations in anything over a 5K. Getting a drink and not choking to death is worth it, my average pace per mile holds steady even with them.

I have to walk if I'm drinking. I snort the damn stuff up my nose if I dont!

I dont do water stops on 5K's but 10K's and up, I think it is advisable to do so. Not just for safety reasons (most of our races are hot), but you will be faster if you dont run out of energy. I love runnning in the heat, but you have to prepare your body for it. Even in the cold, you dehydrate.
If you are challenging for the lead in the race, that is one thing. But other than that, is heat stroke really worth it?

Win or die trying!!!

I stopped for water in a race once...it was mostly a waste as I just ended up with more water on me than in me. I haven't bothered since. But, I don't do long distances for races so it's never really been an issue!

Awesome Quatro! I wish I had the motivation to make myself run a 5K. I get really amped to do train for one, then psyche myself out.....probably has to do with residual coach potato tendencies.

Well, my blasted scale has not moved in a month! Still need to lose 5 pounds to meet my under 200 goal. My trainer quit working at the gym I go to, so now I have a new one. I like the new one, but our schedules don't line up as well so I don't feel like I'm getting consistency on my workouts. I am still seeing changes in how my clothes fit and how I look, which is a plus, just wish my number would start to move again.

BTW, my knees no longer hurt when crouching or doing squats (YAY!) and I can do a real push up and almost go all the way to the floor! 6 months ago I could barely do a girly push-up.

Congrats, Quatro. I'm hoping to do a 10k this year, and I'd be thrilled with that time.

I tried to get water in my 5K two weekends ago, and somehow we missed the handoff. I got the cup, but the water in it went straight up and I got a nice cold shower.

@ MBH

Just stick with it Dani!!!
It is consistancy that ultimately wins this race.
If you want to run a 5K, I think that is great! But do what you like and will do over the long haul. Some people do multiple disciplines (run, bike, lift, racquetball, climbing, swimming, etc). Others stick with one thing like yoga or spinning or TRX. I suggest sticking with the trainer but trying different things. Sometimes it just takes one small change in diet or exercise to get over that hump. But you will do it!!

Dani, recently signed up the wife for a personal trainer b/c she stopped seeing results too. She would alternate daily between spin and bodypump classes, but then hit a plateau and stayed there for a couple months. She's lost 5 pounds simply by changing it up, doing something different, and having somebody kick her butt two days a week!

Thanks everybody! It felt good to do it, to prove it to myself, and even better when you hear congrats from friends who are triathletes and/or marathoners! Still trying to figure out the whole "water in the mouth not your whole face while running" thing, but like you said...a brief walk to make sure I don't choke or have heat stroke is well worth it.

MBH, sorry, but that's just funny. I was witness to quite a few missed handoffs on Saturday. Had to dodge a few as well.

Like any hand-off, practice is key. Lots of people pinch the cup to make the lip more narrow and focused, that seems to help.

Sometimes you might not want a drink but just to pour it on your head anyway! That's been my own experience at least. Just watch out for the headphones if you're wearing any

I walked my first 5K this weekend! My daughter and I finished in 50 minutes which I thought was good for our first try. I felt such a sense of accomplishment.

The sad part was that it was a benefit to raise money for Holly Bobo. Holly was abducted from her home in Parsons TN two years ago, she was 19 years old. They don't have any leads in her disappearance and we hope that the extra media coverage will generate some new tips.

COngratulations Heather! Every journey begins with a single step.

Way to go Heather!

Good job, Heather. It's nice that you and your daughter do this together.

Congrats, Heather! Getting that first one behind you is such a great feeling!

And to do it for such a worthy cause is even better

My daughter is my motivator to try new things. In the last two years she has started eating healthy, drinking water(no soft drinks) and exercising daily. I am so proud of her because she is choosing a healthy lifestyle and that isn't easy at any age but for a 12 year old it is awesome! She also cheerleads and takes tap & jazz. I already feel so much better just knowing I completed my first 5K with her. I hope we can continue to do these together and maybe improve our times!