Azatol

True story!! Crossing the finish line at the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon was one of if not the high point of my life so far!

It depends what below means. Below as in lower on the leg, I am not so sure. Below as in beneath the kneecap is most likely the beginnings of Patellofemorol Pain Syndrome (AKA Runners Knee). It really depends what your fitness level is and how much you presently run per week. If you are a sub 5K runner, it might not be a bad idea to get some rest for the knee. If you are a seasoned runner, backing down your intensity, and staying on flat ground while continuing to run can work (This is what I've done). In both cases, you will want to regularly do calf, quad and piriformis stretches during recovery (and forever. I do them all daily). I am not a medical professional so take it for what it's worth

You shouldn't know how long you have run to begin with. Check out this thread I posted earlier this year. It works. PROMISE!! http://forums.zenlabsfitness.com/topic/1446-get-your-hands-off-that-phone/

That's a bummer inded but any specific running store should know how to fit you and do a gaitr analysis. Just ask them what kind of pronator you are so in the future you'll know immediately what type of shoes you will want.

Great job. Congrats!!!

Yep yep. It was 32 this morning and and I had on a base layer and a long sleeve shirt with a windbreaker. Had to peel off the windbreaker after a mile and a half. They say to always dress as itf it's 20 degrees warmer than it is. I prefer to go with a 10 degree margin. I'll take too warm over too cold any day.

I'm a huge fan of Fleet Feet. I'm sure the are on LI. I know they are national and have been to one in upstate NY (I'm from Rochester)

ROFL

.I think you will be pleasantly surprised as well. Just remember. The science works. Your body is ready. Don't let your brain tell you differently. You CAN do this!

If you want to check your GPS, use this site to map out your run and compare. The lines follow the road curves and make for very accurate routes(and will do an out and back). I use it to plan my runs. No promises it works outside of US roads. never tried. http://onthegomap.com/#/create

When buying shoes int he future, it's a good idea to have your pronation checked by a running store. Using the wrong type of shoe can make running uncomfortable(And cause trhe afformentioned uneven wear). I'm a neutral pronator and tried a pair of Stability Shoes (For overpronators) and it hurt my knees. There are 3 kinds of shoe (Stability, Neutral, Suprinator). You want to have the right type

No worries. We all have crappy days running. Do it again, OWN IT. WIN!!

If on a budget, check out your local Walmart. They have a ton of synthetic clothing by Russel Athletic. It's not going to top an 80 dollar pair of Nike running pants but for a 14 dollar pair of track pants, it's pretty darn good stuff. The wicking properties are not half bad.

Congrats and good luck. Just be mindful to dial up your weekly mileage gradually to let your body acclimate. Running is a contact sport

You are experiencing DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). If you have taken a full day off there is no reason you shouldn't be able to run. Any soreness will actually go away after a couple minutes and you'll feel just fine. The one thing to keep in mind though is if the discomfort is bad enough that it effects your form. Poor form can cause you to hurt yourself so if you start running and it doesn't feel right, best to take another day off. I run on sore and tired legs a lot. In fact, Marathon training programs will work you really hard one day and then run you long the next workout day with the intention of you running on fatigued legs. You need to learn that to run long distances because they do indeed get fatigued and sore.

I've played the same album at every single 5K I've race run LOL Toxicity - System Of A Down

Absolutely If your runs are at all taxing, you're tearing muscle fiber. If you don't give your muscles a day to rebuild stronger you are robbing yourself of muscle growth. It wont injure you but simply nullify some of the benefit of the previous days run.

I don't mean any disrespect to you Sean or to ASICS but I avoid telling people to run in a specific brand like the plague. Everyone's feet and running style and physical condition is different and every shoe is made on a different last and performs differently. For you ASICS are awesome. For me, Gel Nimbus 17s make me heel strike and hurt my knees. Doesn't mean I recommend against them(They may be just fine for someone else). Just that my legs are different than yours. Everyone should try on every available pair and buy the ones their legs tell them to buy All the major brands make great shoes. Nike, Saucony, Brooks, ASICS, Mizuno, Altra, Pearl Izumi, New Balance(and I'm sure a bunch I've missed). Just gotta find the one that's right for you.

I did the same thing but you should finish the program. Not because you need it but because completion will provide you an added sense of accomplishment. Running is 90% mental so personal accomplishments are wins!!

Not silly at all. I always say that I don't like running. I love the feeling of having just run. Running is just how I chase that feeling( I do actually enjoy the run more often than not).

I say try the cold before you make any judgement. It's actually rather comfortable after you warm up in 5-10 minutes. What I used to do was do the 5 minute warmup walk on the treadmill and at 4:30 I walk outside and boom as soon as I get out it's time to run. It's less humid so running physicalkly feels easier than in the summer and you run faster. Are there days I just don't feel like dealing with outside? Sure. Then I go to use the hamster wheels at Planet Fitness but it's a boring way to run every time.

AWSOME JOB!!

Hey, I wrote a blog post about juset that!!!There is a naughty word or two butit's masked so probably work safe but reader beware. It's PG http://missionstuffs.blogspot.com/2015/08/your-brain-aka-that-lying-sack-of-sh.html

As someone who just ran a half marathon when his long run was only up to 8 miles, I've got no business telling you not to do it LOL. Here are the things I considered in running my race..... Am I willing to risk having to walk part of it or stop? Will that ruin the experience of my first half marathon? Am I willing to risk the fact that I'm pushing myself beyond my trained limits and willing to accept the possibility of getting an overuse injury that curtails my running for several weeks? Am I willing to listen to my body and know when to stop if I feel I'm pushing myself to unsafe limits. Willing to accept all the risks? Is the payoff worth the risks? I know for me, without another opportunity to try a half marathon until spring, I felt it was worth the risk. If you are willing to accept those and feel it's worth the risk, DO IT! I wont say do or do not

My pleasure Wendell. Glad I can help. For what it's worth, I now run up to 20 miles a week and have upped my running to 4 days. I run Wednesday and Thursdays but my Wednesday runs are always shorter easy runs and I'm to the point where those short runs(3-4 miles for me now) don't do much for muscle growth anymore. I still want to run every day and I have to force myself to take those 3 days off. It's a passionate addictive hobby/sport