Well, after modifying my running, I cut down the running to just one time per day, then I would cycle afterwards. First, I started with just 5 days a week for 30 minutes of running (after a 5 minute warm up), followed by a 5 minute cooldown. I ended up doing this at 4.3 miles per hour max (starting at 4.0 miles per hour on a 1% incline and working up gradually to 4.3 miles per hour by the last 10 minutes). After a few weeks, I felt ok with it, so I bumped up the time to 40 minutes of running after the 5 minute warm up, and I found I could go to 4.3 miles per hour right away. I've been slowly bumping up the speed, and until I got the flu last week, I'd gotten myself up to 4.9 miles per hour max. This week I got back, and after my first day today, I was still able to get up to 4.6 miles per hour in the first 10 minutes, then bumped it up to 4.7 miles per hour for the rest of the run. Afterwards, I began to think that it's time for new running shoes. I didn't want to invest in any shoes until I knew I'd be doing it for at least a month and keeping up with it, so today I got online and ordered some new shoes (I think New Balance or something like that). I also found my instructor networks that gave discounts to aerobics instructors are no longer in existence either, so I couldn't get my running shoes cheap anymore. But anyway, I ordered the shoes, and they should be here by the end of next week (hopefully).

I am hoping to keep up with the running for the long haul. With a new pair of running shoes, I probably will be feeling better after my run. I found that good, aggressive stretching after my muscles are warmed up, as well as equally aggressive stretching after my run really does make a difference for me.

I guess I'm in it for the long haul. Thanks to everyone for their tips and suggestions!

Koffee