Hi Ron,
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
It's great to hear that you're enjoying running. I really hoped Get Running would help people who don't think of themselves as runner to start running.
Somehow, running has an elite atmosphere around it. I'm not sure this is much to do with the running community themselves – I think they're warm and welcoming. I think it's more because people try to run (as I have and you have in the past) and find that if they run and run like a runner does, then they feel really terrible, so they figure that runners must be different and they say "well, I'm not a runner then. Oh well".
Also, many companies that are in the sports market do nothing to dispel this idea by focussing on power, speed, bright orange and yellow, energy drinks, reaching your maximum, being the best, not being a looser, and lots of other fantastically macho nonsense.
I think that's all rubbish.
Anyone who can comfortably walk can almost certainly also run quite happily for at least a few kilometres, but they need to build up gently.
I have to keep reminding myself of this: just enjoying something is great, particularly if it's healthy. You can certainly really go for it with running, but I know I'm very unlikely to ever be a great runner, or frankly, even an average runner! I'm happy about that – I'm happy that I can get myself out on a park path and run about through the trees
Regarding GPS – take a look at
http://getsatisfaction.com/splendid_thi ... ng_of_runs – after a suggestion there, I've got an idea for adding GPS to Get Running. However, it's unlikely to happen for a while as I have a few other projects that also need attention.