That does help a lot. I have been thinking about getting a heart rate monitor. I have always been the minimalist type of runner so I run with barefoot shoes and no iPod or anything but maybe I should make an exception when I start up. I decided that even though I feel good enough to run today I will go for a few more long walks before I start running again next weekend. I am glad to see that you were able to gear up that quickly. That is very encouraging.
I want to be able to do a marathon. I trained three times for one. The first year I pulled my hammy a few weeks before the race so I couldn't do it. The second year I got a weird knot in my quad the week before the race and the third year I got cancer. That was all 8 year + ago and I still have never run an official marathon. Now I figure it is about time I do one. This boosts me up to know I should be able to try one in the fall maybe and definitely next spring! Thanks!