My name is Jeff, and I'm addicted to running

[camper4lyfe]

Good thing you're not a gun enthusiast, that gets really expensive!

There's a reason I'm not...I can't afford to be.

[WARFAB]

I can't wait for it to warm up so I can run outside. I caught a profile view of myself in the mirror tonight and apparently I've packed on a decent amount of winter insulation. I need warm weather asap or I fear they'll be using a forklift to get me out of my house by this time next year. Not pretty.

[camper4lyfe]

I'm finding it harder and harder to run inside. It's physically harder to run on a treadmill, for me, compared to outside. And I'm able to run faster and longer outside. For now, I'm outside once a week for my long runs. I ran 10k this past weekend. This coming weekend is scheduled to be 8.

[alistair]

http://www.runnersworldonline.com.au...ed-to-running/

[LibertyOrDeath]

Good for you Camper. Not really a runner but I used to run cross country in High School. I would LOVE to be able to run!!!! Right now I'm just working on walking without a limp. My walking is improving though.

[camper4lyfe]

I'm certainly not addicted to that level, but I do get twitchy if I can't run on the day that I'm scheduled to run (I run about 3 days a week)

[WARFAB]

I'm hoping to run more once the weather actually warms up. Based on the way my calves have been dealing with the treadmill I think I'm going to have to make a point of using my foam roller more consistently. You have any calf issues camper?

[camper4lyfe]

I'm hoping to run more once the weather actually warms up. Based on the way my calves have been dealing with the treadmill I think I'm going to have to make a point of using my foam roller more consistently. You have any calf issues camper?

My calves are a little sore to the touch, but I haven't been running inside much. I actually had more pain in my quads until this week when I backed off my mileage. But I was pushing myself pretty hard to up the distance of my long runs to get as ready for the half on Sunday as I could. I maxed out at 10 on the 11th, and have backed off since then, and my body's had a chance to recover and repair itself a bit.

After Sunday, I plan to focus more on heart rate training, with a planned baseline run on Wednesday on the high school track (flat, consistent surface). That will most likely force me to slow WAY down, and even walk at points, just to keep my heart rate in the necessary zone.

[swilliams]

I ran for the first time in a while yesterday. Then I thought, "I'm almost half a century old. WTF am I thinking!" Seriously, though, calves are fine, quads are a little sore, right knee is reminding me why I stopped running in the first place.

Do you do sprints?

[alistair]

I'm certainly not addicted to that level, but I do get twitchy if I can't run on the day that I'm scheduled to run (I run about 3 days a week)

I run 5 or 6 days per week - at the moment averaging 35miles per week.

[camper4lyfe]

I ran for the first time in a while yesterday. Then I thought, "I'm almost half a century old. WTF am I thinking!" Seriously, though, calves are fine, quads are a little sore, right knee is reminding me why I stopped running in the first place.

Do you do sprints?

I don't do sprints currently, but I do want to start doing more in the way of different runs. Right now I just run.

I want to mix it up a bit to try to get my times for races down a bit. Some of that will come with just running, but some speed work is definitely needed as well.

Point to ponder: There were at least a dozen people over the age of 80 that ran in the Boston Marathon on Monday.

[camper4lyfe]

I run 5 or 6 days per week - at the moment averaging 35miles per week.

I'd love to run more, but believe it or not I'm afraid to run consecutive days. The last time I did that I was hit hard with some pretty good IT band pain that sidelined me until October (the injury happened July 4 weekend).

That, and 3 days a week keeps the wife happy so that I can get things done around the house. Once we move and get settled, things may change a bit.

[alistair]

I want to qualify for Boston next year. So for my age group means that I have to run a 3hr 30min marathon by mid-September.
When I start training the 35mpw will be getting bumped up to 50+mpw.

Be careful with speed training - I would recommend that you have 3 speeds (fast, slow, average). Most of your runs are at an average speed, with one long slow run and one fast shorter run per week.

[camper4lyfe]

I want to qualify for Boston next year. So for my age group means that I have to run a 3hr 30min marathon by mid-September.
When I start training the 35mpw will be getting bumped up to 50+mpw.

Be careful with speed training - I would recommend that you have 3 speeds (fast, slow, average). Most of your runs are at an average speed, with one long slow run and one fast shorter run per week.

Yeah, I want to qualify for Boston too. You can get in with a charity too, but it doesn't have the same feeling for me going that route. I want to earn it. My age puts me at 3:10:00 I believe. Based on this year's qualifying, you had to best that by 1:30 in order to get in because they cap the number of qualifiers.

I don't plan to do more than one speed run a week, or more than one LSD a week. Once I get a solid base, it'll give me a little more wiggle room. Last year I was up to 5 miles per run, but I was only looking at total weekly mileage, so it was all at the same pace (I was around a 10:00 mile at that point), and I was just increasing the distance of one run a week, so that I was only increasing by roughly 10% a week.

[alistair]

Yeah, I want to qualify for Boston too. You can get in with a charity too, but it doesn't have the same feeling for me going that route. I want to earn it. My age puts me at 3:10:00 I believe. Based on this year's qualifying, you had to best that by 1:30 in order to get in because they cap the number of qualifiers.

I don't plan to do more than one speed run a week, or more than one LSD a week. Once I get a solid base, it'll give me a little more wiggle room. Last year I was up to 5 miles per run, but I was only looking at total weekly mileage, so it was all at the same pace (I was around a 10:00 mile at that point), and I was just increasing the distance of one run a week, so that I was only increasing by roughly 10% a week.

You seem to have the correct idea.
Build the base gradually, and as you get fitter your times will get faster.