Good for you! You can definitely do it. (Also, FYI: I enjoyed the post even when I didn't see that picture coming).

I KNOW you can do it!!!! Go, go, go schmoooo!!!
What a cute post! ;-)

wow!! GO YOU!

I am so impressed... You can do it!

I'm trying to convince Ryan that we need to run the 5k at Riverboat Days (an over-rated summer arts festival here) next August. He doesn't think we should. I'm going to whether he does or not. I'll be cheering you on!

I get winded running to the mailbox (and it's on my front porch!).

Good luck!

Making this kind of commitment to yourself is an awesome first step. It's great that you also have a great sis and friends who will keep you motivaated. I'll look forward to seeing you do it!

You go girl!! So great to have your sis na_, Umm, inspire you to do this. I've been toying with the idea of taking up "running" - actually downloaded some info for a real beginner - maybe I'll let you inspire me - I'd be happy to be able to do a 5K by October. Both of my labbie girls could do with some exercise too AND I could really love "several" pounds (who am I fooling - more like 50!)

Yeah - you gotta' quit that nasty habit - it's hard enough to breath in this hot air in the south without adding all those nasties to it!! AND it really can't be good for your carrioke voice. A post from Carrie without pictures is still darn colorful!!

You can do it! You can do it! Mind of Winter Julia (she who just ran her first half-marathon in VA this spring) has been encouraging me to run a 5K. Now, that's no half-marathon, but then again... I don't run! I do, however, cheer on the runners in my life, and I will cheer you on, even if I am 3000 miles away. You can do it!

I almost never blog without photos.. its like an unspoken rule or something. Good luck with the half-marathon! I am training for a full marathon, and the half is my *favorite* distance. A fall half marathon on a crisp day when the leaves are changing is like perfection. Enjoy it!

Woohoo for you!! You can totally do this. I signed up for the SF half-marathon with Rachael and Mariko, having never run more than 3 miles before, and I loved it. I felt so good after that I want to do another one (thanks for reminding me to find something to sign up for this fall).

You're going to rock that finish line!

Go team schmoo indeed! You can do it!!

Wow, that's amazing! I ran in my first 5 mile race this summer and I thought that was a long run. Good luck and keep us posted on your training!

Go Team Schmoo!!!!!! You will have SUCH a freaking blast.

GO CARRIE GO GO GO!

You're going to be soooo proud of youself!

Go Carrie! Go Carrie! Go Carrie!!

YAY for you!!! I'm so inspired by you taking this on for yourself - and having the guts to let us all in on it! Pretty darn smart of you too - setting up a whole big support team. YAY YOU!

Yee-haw for half marathons! That is superfantastical that you're going to do it. You'll be soooo proud of yourself when you finish - heck, you'll be sooo proud of yourself in the training! It always stays with you and when you're having a bad day, or when someone's being an ass, you can just think to yourself, "oh yeah? but I ran a half marathon!"

You can do it. I've been running for longer than I've been knitting (which is a loooong time), and I completed my first half-marathon this spring. If I did it, you can, too.

And it will help you quit that "social smoking" - yick, what an oxymoron - there's nothing social about smoking in my mind - you certainly can't do it around yarn!

Plus you've got HEJ leading the way. How can you lose?

Wow! What exciting news. Good for you.

Good for you! I'm running my first marathon this October too. Just stick with it and remember, it does get easier! Just give your body time to adapt!

I am debating about signing up for the Seattle half in . . . November, maybe? October? I did my first tri last month, and immediately signed up for the next (in just over a week!). I might be crazy.

You'll do awesome!

How exciting and wonderful Carrie! Geez, I am so TOTALLY admiring you right now! I really wish I could run, but I have feet problems. I should try to find a 5K or 10K walk to train for though, huh? Instead of being a lazy ass...

Oops! I tried to link to the pedometer in my comment, but no can do. It's at http://www.sueandpaul.com/gmapPedometer/

Rock on! (I was almost going to say that it's too cool to find another runner who knits, but maybe you're a knitter who runs.)

I found this excellent Google Maps pedometer hack you have to check out -- it's a little addictive.

you have my support. and my empathy, as i have very recently become a social smoker (to my surprise).

Are you running the Atlanta Half Marathon? My parents live in Buckhead off the route and we volunteer for it most years. It's a great race - a lot of people run the half so you'll have plenty of company. And the t-shirts are very cool. Good luck - I won't be in Hotlanta this year to cheer you on but you will do great. I read your blog from Chicago. I'm running the Chicago Marathon in October. It's my fifth. The training is the hardest part so stick with it and the race will be easy!

I would comment, but since there aren't any pictures, I didn't read your post.

Har.
I'm proud of you for this running. You're gonna love it! Augusta Lisa said she will train too!

A half-marathon! You can do it! What a wonderful endeavor! Good luck!

Go Carrie! I'm sure it will be easier to train for this with your sis and HEJ. I'm rooting for you!

Perhaps take Bella running with you? Odile used to like to run with me but recently she has decided that she would rather walk and take her time. I'm guessing because it's the only time she gets to be out of the house and she wants to experience the outdoors fully. But anyway, it was really fun and cool when Odile and I used to be exercise pals together.

P.S. after a few days of running (well, jogging at first) you will start to tell a difference in your stamina. Used to be I was huffin and puffin the whole time - now I can run and be done with it without even realizing. Start small, and increase your distance. If you have too long of a distance at first it will make running a painful, annoying thing, and that's not a good motivator.

You WILL do it! And you all will ROCK!

Good luck with the training! I ran my first half marathon in January and it felt great to finish it. I know you will feel the same way come Thanksgiving!

I highly recommend Brooks Adrenaline GTS running shoes for anyone who's starting to run. They're a little pricey ($90 or so) and they aren't the most glamorous things in the world, but they will save your feet and joints a lot of misery. Everyone I know who uses them loves them. Just thought I'd put in a plug for them since I love them, too, and they definitely made my own half marathon possible. Hope the advice is useful if you decide to use it!

Good for you and good luck! I have always wanted to run! Not really in a marathon, but just run for excercise. Adam ran in school for years and messed up his knees so he always frowns at me when I entertain the idea of running around the block. :-)

Yay! good for you carrie!

Good for you! I just decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to start training to run the half marathon in Seattle at the end of November. It helps so much to have a goal! And to have told everyone I know that I'm going to do it ...

Good luck with your training.

Well, good for you! That's more than I'd be willing to do but then I've always hated running, ever since it stopped being fun . . . marathons just don't sound like fun to me! But they are incredibly impressive--good for you. And good for your sister for guilting you into it!

I just started training to run, having never run before. I'm already learning the necessity of good shoes. Now I need to figure out what's "good"!

Best of luck to you and your girls, Carrie! That is a great goal to work towards! ;)

Ummmmm....that picture? So. Funny.

I am so proud of you! You CAN stop the social smoking...if I quit smoking after smoking almost a pack a day for the past, well, lets just say "many" years, you can stop the occasional social smoke. It's not as hard as it seems.

Wow....I'm very inspired. I, too, wish I lived closer so I caould join the training/racing fun. Yay for being a good dog mommy and setting a positive example for Bella.

You go girl-wish I lived closer to train with you guys..I need motivation and help- Good luck!

You can do it!!! I can't wait to hear about your progress...no photos needed, the text about that is exciting enough.

While I think you are all totally nuts for running those marathon thingies, I am also pretty impressed. Go Team Schmooooooooo!

I'm running a half in October, too, but just a small local race. I bet you guys are going somewhere glamorous, with exciting yarn shops to boot! Check out halhigdon.com for good training plans.

I so have been saying I'm gonna run a 5K forever, but I have that little social smoking problem too! Good luck with it! I hope you do well on your training! :)