Hey guys!

I've taken up a new hobby. I've been running 5Ks. I did my third 5K last weekend and I ran it in 26 minutes and 30 seconds! I'm very proud of myself!! I hope I can run another 5K and run my first 10K before it gets too cold outdoors.

I want to do a marathon, but I haven't reached that level yet.

How about you guys?

I did a couple 5Ks in the spring and plan to run one next weekend, as well as a 10K later in the fall. Golf is my other main sport, and by comparison it's amazing how easy it is to run a race. Tournaments are expensive, you have to drive out to a course or driving range to practice, you have to play a practice round, it takes up the entire day, it's 4-5 hours of nonstop stress, etc. Training for a race is free (and you would do it anyway for exercise), on race day you just show up and you're part of the competition, and it's over quickly. The cost goes to a worthy charity and they take care of all the organization. Pretty cool.

Marathons are a whole other ballgame. I know quite a few people who have done them or are training, but I'm not particularly interested.

Congratulations! I never thought I would be a runner, but started a few years ago and now enter a handful of mostly 5K and 10K races a year. I don't see a full marathon in my future but have run 3 half-marathons with another one coming up this Fall. I can't really say I ENJOY the half marathons but I must be getting something out of them. Good luck in your races.

I used to run 5Ks in the early 90s, but shin splints run in my family, so I've stuck with swimming because it's easier on my middle-aged joints. You ran your first 5K faster than I ever ran one at my best time (about 28 minutes), which tells you how good I was. Which is not particularly. Bravo to you, Allen!

Congratulations Allen - 26 minutes is quite an accomplishment. I have been training for my first "real" 5K, on November 1st. I did a "walk-run" a few years ago. I mostly run for weight loss/maintenance and can't say that it's a passion yet - it's still a struggle for me. My goal is 32 minutes, which is reasonable for my first time.

Seems like there are fewer and fewer 10Ks these days. 5-milers seem to be replacing the 6.2. My favorite distance was always the half-marathon - a huge sense of accomplishment without having to give up your entire life like a full-marathon.

5Ks too short a distance for me now. Can't believe I am actually saying that!

Funnily enough I was just thinking the same thing about this weekend's 5K. 20-some minutes and it will be over!