Hi Kim,

I run generally six days a week, which I've done generally by myself
most of my adult life so I do have some advice. I think you're
running the Grouper 5k the day before the marathon so you'll not be
doing real long runs so here's some of my tips:

Vary your route, nothing gets you in a rut quicker than running the
same old route everyday. I did have a friend who ran the same 10 mile
route everyday for twenty years but he was touched in the head (I can
say that because we were great friends and running rivals!)

Be aware of things around you. I've always marveled at the plants,
animals, and happenings around me as I run. I'm from Wisconsin and
had a fox run into me up there - we were both startled! I had a
armadillo run into me here. I think I've seen a panther here a couple
of times on my runs around Rotonda. I always find money running.
Generally, its change that I stop and put into my pockets but last
summer, I found $26 in bills scattered around in Rotonda Heights on a
Saturday morning run. I was able to take the family to Angelo's for
pizza that night.

Make sure you know where your going. As I said, I'm from Rotonda and
when I first started getting acquainted with this area, I would take
unexpected "long" runs because streets are not on a grid system here!
I first ran in Rotonda before the building boom so all the streets
looked the same - no houses and whatever was growing on the lots.

Wave to everybody that you encounter including drivers in cars.
Generally, I run into little kids and retired people on their walks
and we know each other now. It's fun to have someone walk up to me in
a store and say they saw me running. Between running and my little
dog, Belle, I've made a ton of friends in the neighborhood. Of
course, you should be a little wary of sketchy looking people.

Before you know it, the run is over if you entertain yourself. An
entertaining run can be fun and not monotonous.

I hope that this helps,
Chuck Johnson





--- In Zoomers@yahoogroups.com, "Kim" <kimacu1966@...> wrote:
>
> My name is Kim, and I'm training for the Grouper Run in March. I am a
> member of the North Port YMCA and belong to the runner's group there on
> Fridays. I'm doing cross training and run on the street twice a week.
> I'm enjoying the workouts but I'll admit the actual running by
myself is
> so boring. On Fridays with the other runners I feel like I could run
> forever, but I'm on my own on Tuesdays. The running coach at the Y is
> great at keeping me motivated and he's so positive (which I need. If
> anyone has any advice for a beginner, please feel free to pass it on to
> me!!!
>
> Kim
>