Today, here in Michigan, I ran in teens degree weather.  After slant board warm ups I ran miles on drifting, icy back roads.  I ran through unplowed cemetery roads and sidewalks.  All this wearing my minimalist shoes.  I remember Zig Ziglar telling the story how he went through the ritual of getting all his running gear on, and on day one, huffing and puffing his way past bushes and trees - all the way to the neighbor's mail box!  Years later he was running through a college campus on a sunny day with students sitting about.  It was then, with sweat pouring off him, that he realized that he loved running, and there was nothing else he would rather be doing at the moment.  After today's run, I can relate.  You cannot tell me this is not the life!

New member here.  Two years ago I started running.  I was one of those who thought it was a waste of time and body use.  I am almost 50 and for years I was a league volleyball and softball player.  For the past 15years my job (evening/night shift) pretty much canceled those two activities out so I have not been all that physically active.  As a result I weighed more than ever.  I felt lethargic.  I began to have the urgency that I need to do something to get myself in shape so I started doing things like P90X and Body Pump.  These things helped but then I decided I wanted to do a 5K run through our local zoo, as a challenge for something I had never done.  I discovered that running was awesome!  I have since done more 5Ks and one sprint triathlon.  My desire is to do things the right way and am glad someone introduced me Eric Orton and the Cool Impossible.  I'm actually just finishing the book and am excited to begin training and running the right way.

One quick question.  My average mile time is 10 minutes.  Is it reasonable I can get to 7.5-8 minute times?