Hi, my name is Alexandra and I'm so happy to find this group! I ran my first half marathon back in May 2023. I enjoy running and pushing the limits. I am not yet training for a marathon, but I plan on looking into training regimens soon. Not sure which race I'll be looking into yet. I have had trouble with my hips and knees in the past which has been the hardest thing to overcome with my running, especially after doctors told me that "I just wasn't made to run" (haha). I went to physical therapy and learned how to stretch and work with my body properly and I'm one half marathon down, and looking forward to pursuing more races (half and full marathons) in the near future! Looking forward to connecting with this great community for advice and inspiration!

Hello. I just started back running and live in a hilly area. I am getting calf and foot achiness when running. Any suggestions? It’s not overuse as I just started back running.

I talk to runners all the time who say they want to finish their marathon strong. They say they want to feel good crossing the finish line and be able to recover quickly after. And who wouldn’t? But unfortunately this isn’t the reality for most runners. Most runners are hurting… Their legs are in so much pain it hurts to take another step. They try to persevere and push through, but with several miles until the finish line their run turns into a jog… Which then turns into a shuffle… And then to a walk… Only to cross the finish line like a Zombie from the Walking Dead and with a time they aren’t proud of. Their goals of running another marathon quickly disappears. And I was one of these runners… When I ran my first marathon years ago I was hurting so bad I never thought I would run again. But over the years I have fine-tuned my strategy so now I can finish a marathon strong and feel good after. And the one thing that will help you finish your marathon strong is strength training. If you want to finish strong, you have to be strong. So what I recommend is strength training 3x a week and having it be the foundation piece to your marathon training. And if that means replacing a couple of your runs with lifting, then do it! But here’s the thing… You have to lift weights correctly… With the right amount weight, volume, and intensity. Because if not, it becomes a waste of time. And then you won’t have the endurance or the strength to run your marathon. So make sure you give it your all when you lift weights. I always say I want my strength training workouts to be harder than running a half marathon. You should be sore for a couple of days after you lift weights. But you’ll thank yourself later when you crush it on your marathon.

What's up, Team? I am an avid runner in my early 60s. My favorite distance is 10K. While training for a run in February, I had a bad fall and damaged my hamstring. After lots of PT, stretching, and 3 months off, I am ready to get back on the road! I am currently getting ready to run in The "16.19" half-marathon in September.

Hi. I’m Stacey and new to this group. I have run 26 marathons but I am slower than many. I took an 8 year break from running and trying to get back to it. I started training for an October Marathon this year. This will be my first race in the 60+ age group.