Hi All!
Im new around here, but started the gym 2 weeks ago and just joined the local netball team so really getting into my fitness at the moment.. but i had such a blonde experience today I just had to share my excitement...

2 and a half years ago i moved to england from Australia, and still getting used to the miles thing (instead of Km's). Anyways, i was on the treadmill at the gym, and i said to myself all i want to do is run one and a half miles as i havent run for so long and i'll start small (the past 2 weeks ive been pushing to run half a mile - yes i am very unfit!) so I worked out in my head that one and a half miles is 3.3km's (the gym's treadmill only works in km's and my DP works in miles so i tend to go by that now!) So i got to 3.3km;s and thought push yourself emma... you can do it... well i only pushed myself to 3.5km's andi got home and was so happy that i'd managed just over 1 1/2 miles....then my DP pointed out the proper conversion and turns out i'd actually run over 2 miles OMG!!! I havent run that far ever!
So stoked! I want to start running half marathons next year so see this as a great start! Any pointers greatly appreciated, but just wanted to share my blonde moment!
Emma xoxoxo

lol, way to go Emma!

I'm not a runner but I know Ceri and Han both go jogging so they might have some hints for you. Also we do have a running board here on iVillage with the very cool cl-smuffie they might have some advice for you too.

http://messageboards.ivillage.co.uk/iv-ukdfrunning

Welcome to the board btw, look forward to following your progress, what a great goal to run half marathons, more power to you :-)

Hi Emma

Well done! Dont worry the km vs miles always confuses me too lol. Most races are down as km's though so I just think of 5k as 3.1miles and 10k as 6.2miles. But I do prefer to think in miles.

Do you run outside at all? I only ask seeing as you want to do half marathons  (I am hoping to do a few next year myself and hopefully a full one health depending) and its much better to train outside - I have a treadmill and whatever I can do on the treadmill, I can do much less outside. If you can only use the treadmill though, its best to put the incline up so its more like running outside rather than just constantly running flat which you dont get outside. I do still use the treadmil though when I cant get out or if I am getting back from an injury and it is good for keeping the fitness up (and quite nice to run inside and watch pouring rain outside sometimes lol!!)

Keep up the good work - sounds like you are doing great!

xx Han