Betty, Executive Editor

Yippee! I finished my first half-marathon yesterday in 2 hours, 17 minutes. What an exhilarating, inspiring experience. It was an all-women's race, so lots of mother-daughter teams, friends, and family on the course. (Meg Ragland, our health editor, ran with her mom, Dianne!) Everyone looked like they were having a great time. And after two months of training, I was so pleased to find that my body held out well for the 13.1 miles, even through the hilly paths of NYC's Central Park. My husband, 6-year-old daughter, and 9-month-old son came out to meet me at the finish. Seeing them at the last stretch made me smile and gave my tired legs a burst of energy so I could sprint to the finish line.

My knees were pretty sore by the time I got home—ice and rest!! Listen to your body. If you're increasing the intensity of your workouts at all, make sure to do it gradually and give your joints a day or so to recover after a strenuous session. Once I'm feeling good as new, I'm going to start planning my next race. Whether you run a race or join a charity walk, it's nice to have a big date on your calendar so you have something to work toward and to keep you motivated.