Buttsweat Towel© season has begun

Nice run Joe! As long as you maintain a good weekly mileage, you will start to keep those paces longer. You are doing great so far.

Thanks Vinh, my biggest problem is patience right now, but I figure the people who made up the 10% increase rule are smarter than me so I obey!

Are you saying you could not run a half with a 7:55 average?? I think you could. I am confused, but that is nOrMaL for me!!!

That is one heck of a pace heading up hill, I am very impressed. Glad the ankle is better, keep it that way!!!

Say NO to anything but Charmin!!!!

Kelli, yeah, my longest run ever was 10 miles a few days ago. I was dying after 8:20s! Don't think I coulda gone much faster if it was a race. But thank you for the encouragement; I'm pretty excited that maybe, just maybe there is some potential...eventually. FYI, you are being brainwashed by the Charmin bear. He looks inviting and accomodating but he's only out to get your extra 3 cents per roll!!

Tell my poor raw nose that!!!!!

I have to say that for 3 years I just ran a nice consistent 9:30-10 minute mile no matter how far I went. then I ran a half marathon (my first race) and I learned that I can push it. You already know you can push it, so once you get the longer miles in a few times, you will be GREAT! You have the speed part down, something i still can not master. In fact, whenever I think that I ran 13.1 miles at a 7:18 pace I laugh. I can not even do that for a mile on a good day, I just do not like pain unless I am racing!

That's really good to know, actually, that you get an extra race gear. I definitely know I'm not in shape to do anything crazy like that (I'm pretty sure I could not even do 7:18 for a 10k) but it makes me want to race more to see what's possible. I still haven't done a true 10k or 5k. I've read your race reports, it looks like you almost have the opposite problem that I do. You can go forever at a fast pace and I hit the wall at a mile..haha. Sub 3:20 if you had Depends!

Seriously, I would have been 2-3 minutes faster. That was a bummer!!

I am a long distance runner, those short distances kill me. My 5k, 10k, and half marathon paces are all the same. I am not cut out for speed! But, you are! So the distance will come. You can train for distance, the speed thing is a little harder(at least in my sorry mind!!)

I was bummed when I saw the race report! As a recent Garmin owner, I could feel the pain of watching the average pace tick up as you waited!! Sometimes the only reason I go faster is to see that pace number get lower. Anyway, my ultimate goal is 3:30 at Houston a year from now. Maybe a 3:10 for Boston qualifying a few years later. Are you running there this year?

YEP. my husband and I are running Boston this year and we are looking forward to the vacation from our children, even if we have to run 26.2 miles!

I think your goals are MORE than doable.

LOL, time away from children is a must! That's a cool story. Have a good time, and I'll be looking forward to the race report. Maybe see ya there in a couple years.

Hmm I have to agree with Kelli--I bet that on fresh tapered legs and some race day magic you could do 7:55/mile for a half. You are nice and speedy so it won't be long!

Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll re-assess after my 10k in April but I definitely die out right now around 10 miles if last week was any indication. I'm gonna start some long tempo runs @ 8:00 pace pretty soon so if the stars align maybe 1:45 will be possible in October.

My first was a 1:48 (did I already say that?) so I think it is very possible for you. Did I also mention that when I did that first half I had never run more than 8 miles at a time? See, I KNOW you can do it.

Thanks, I'd be ecstatic to get 1:48! Those last 5 miles must have been tough.