Kathybad

Kristen... thanks for the suggestion, I'll look around the area for a dirt road. We live on the edge of the city, so there's probably a few roads close by. Luferly... I agree with Kristen. When you go back to running, get fitted for the right shoes. This is really essential to your running health. I tore several ligaments in my left knee a few months before I got banded 2 years ago. It took quite awhile for me to get back to being active, and the Ortho doc told me I would likely have limited ability in that knee. Of course I was 100+ lbs heavier at the time. When I started running I was really scared I would re-activate this injury plus I have arthritis in both knees and hips, so I probably shouldn't have started running by any conventional Dr's opinion. I made sure I had good shoes to start with. I wore walking shoes, but they had been fitted to my foot type, so I knew they would be good. Plus, my speed wasn't much more than a walk anyway. LOL! Another suggestion... go for physiotherapy. They will really get your knee back in shape. It certainly helped me.

No I haven't thought of the soft vs. hard surface thing! I always run on ashphalt or concreat and sometimes on my treadmill. I do like the treadmill cause we have a shock absorbing one, and it is much better on me, but I hate the boardom!!! What would you suggest for a soft surface? Trails, grass??? I'm going to run on the treadmill tonight as its too humid!

Osangriared - Welcome, and congrats on the 5k! Malissa - you're doing great! Krtork - good luck on your Tri next week! The trail run sounds great. I started running with my friend. She's on week 1 of C25k, and will move up on the next run. The route we run is about 3.6k and goes by both of our houses. So on Thur I ran the route to her house, we then did the C25k run, then I finished the route again, so I did a total of 7.2k. It was hot and buggy, so I felt all iky afterwards, but happy with the accomplishment. I am achy now though. In my joints and bones. I don't think my body can take too much distance, probably my arthritis. 5 - 6k is fine, but when I go farther, I really pay for it. I do want to run a 10k at least once, but I think I'll be happy with 5k distance.

Kristen... the cake is beautiful! My girlfriend has been such a great cheerleader for me throughout my weight loss and running journey. Well the other day we got together for lunch (we used to work together at another company) and she mentioned she wanted to learn to run! So last night we met and I ran with her through the C25k week 1 run! It was a definite challenge for her, but she did it. Now we're going to try to run together at least 1x/week. It felt really good to be the inpiration for positive change!

Lufferly... you are driven! That's for sure! This is very important advice... in learning to run and building up endourance, your body needs to rest. Without the rest it won't build the muscles and cardio endourance to keep going. So general rule for now is run every 2nd day. If you are insistant about being active on your non-run days, then I suggest strength training. Read up on it and build a good schedule. I do the following: upper body/ run/ lower body/ run/ upper body/ run/ rest/ for the week.

Carol... I don't care if you take 60 min or 30 min to complete your first 5k. If you run the whole thing, that is a huge success and worthy of cheers and praise! You've done a couple of 5k's in the past... but this is your first fully run 5k. Time doesn't matter... the experience does! Your a winner in my record book and good luck to you!

Carol... good job on the 5k run again. You're going to do great. Good plan for the running before hand. Also, on the day of the run, eat healthy but eat enough and drink plenty before hand. Stop eating at least an hour (or more) before your run. Ok, finished the cake... not bad for my first try!

Malissa... Congratulations! You did your first 5k race! Great job! Lynn... YEAH!!! You're all healed! Glad to have you back online and back to the world of running! WTG on the 2 miles. Trust me, you'll bounce back very fast. We just finished a 5k walk with the dog and kids. My 5 year old DD is pooched! and so is the dog! I'm going to run tonight. My DS b-day was really great yesterday. Went to see the movie Ice Age... too cute. Tomorrow we have his friends over for a party. We were surfing online for some cake ideas and he picked this one. So I've learned how to make fondant icing and I've made the square cake layers... so tonight I'm going to decorate. Cool thing is... I'm not at all worried about eating too much cake.

MacMadam... what's the new picture? Is that you on the finish line of your recent Tri??? I have an NSV to share... I put on my skin tight jeans this morning straight from the dryer, and didn't have to suck it in. In fact, they could almost be considered loose! Yeah! The strength training and running combo is working!

I remember struggling through weeks 1-5 and then got stuck for about 4 weeks at week 5 cause I couldn't do 20 min straight. Once I started running outside and not on the treadmill I got over my block and started to progress quickly. I honestly don't remember when it got easier, but it wasn't for quite awhile... maybe once I was running about 25-30 min straight. Then it was a real joy. Don't get me wrong, I really loved how the running made me feel, but afterwards, not during. Now I love how I feel during and after (most days!) Hang in there and keep going. You'll get there, and when you do... enjoy it! Today is my DS birthday! He turns 11. Hard to believe it! So we've celebrated all day... and yes, I'm enjoying his cake tonight without any guilt! I'll just run a bit longer!

Breanne... Welcome and congrats on your banding. Best choice I ever made! Just make sure you are all healed up before starting. I'd suggest clearing it with your surgeon first. Running is such a great activity, and if you're like me, it becomes addicting. Funny, I hated running when I was younger, but by following the C25k program, I now love it. I'm on vacation this week with my DS. School just ended for him last week, but I don't like to start him in day camps right away, kind of needs a break from routine. It's also his birthday tomorrow and it was our holiday yesterday, so camp didn't make sense this week. So its been fun hanging out with him. I think today we'll go see a movie and tomorrow the whole family is off to the Toronto Zoo... great zoo! I just wish the weather would cooperate... raining!

Minzx... for shin splits you should make sure you stretch really really well. I looked up the proper stretches that you should do. There are 3, see them below. Also, make sure you have good running shoes that fit your running style. This could be causing the strain. Calf Stretch Because the calf muscle has a direct role with the shin area, you'll need to focus on making sure this muscle is not tight or tense. To start this exercise, simply find a staircase or step that you can stand on. Once there, place feet so heels are hanging off the edge of it and slowly allow the body weight to bring the heels down below step level. Hold this position for at least twenty seconds, then come up and repeat again after a short break. Standing Anterior Tibialis Shin Splints Stretch For this exercise, you'll want to stand somewhere nearby a handrail for balance. Once you've found your balance, then you should place the foot you're looking to stretch behind the other foot, keeping the toe of the stretching foot rested on the ground. Once you're comfortable with this position, then you are to slowly bring the stretching leg forwards until you feel a good pull on the lower leg muscle. Note that while doing this you may want to bend both of your knees slightly to make it easier to execute the movement. After you're finished with that leg, switch legs and repeat. Sitting Shin Splints Stretch Finally, the last stretch exercise you should perform is one where you are sitting and place both legs directly behind your chair as far as they can go. Try and place the feet so that the front of the foot is touching the floor, toes pointed. This should have you feeling a good, deep stretch right in the front of the shin bone, effectively targeting the muscles that are involved with shin splints.

Lufferly... good for you.. keep pushing yourself and progressing. Jane... you're such a dedicated fitness person! I love your posts. Suzanne... hang in there, you'll be back at it soon enough. I'm glad you continue to post all the time... keeps me thinking you're going to bounce back right away! Sorry, I can't share the essay yet. If I don't win, I'll share it when I find out. But if I win, I'll have to wait until I'm allowed. It cannot be published in any form... thread, blog or anything. I wrote about always being morbidly obese, and how I finally chose to be healthy. How I started with healthy eating and portion control. Then added running. That I ran my first 5k last Sept and now am training for a 10k (October). I also mentioned how I joined an online support group and how I hope to inspire and motivate people, and finally how much weight I've lost and how it will help me be a better parent for my 2 special needs kids. All of that in 220 words! It was fun... and I hope it will sway the judges to choose me! I ran again today, outside. I went 5.34k and beat my DH!!! We create these challenges for each other on Nike+, so the July Challenge started today and I beat him on our first run! Yeah... I'm competitive. The run was great... oh and Jane... it said I did 5k in 35:44.... Yeah baby! BTW, its Canada Day today, our nations birthday. We had a really nice family day today and if the rain holds off we get fireworks tonight.

Carol... LOL... hot tamale! Thanks everyone for the encouragement! I ran today on my treadmill. I pushed myself to run at a higher speed. Just about killed me, but it was great.

Jane... WTG!!! Great time, and I love your competition! BTW, my personal best was 1 time, and it wasn't a race, so I'm not 100% sure I actually did a full 5k in that time, but it feels good to say it. The last time I ran the race route (so I'm sure of the distance) I did it in 40:10, and felt like I was running faster than usual, so I'm guessing the other PB time wasn't accurate. But I'm so glad my posted time served as an inspiration to you to challenge yourself!!! You will be faster than your friends in no time! I'm so glad this thread is inspiring so many people. It's been my source of motivation and place of belonging for so long. Unfortunately, some of my early day friends have dropped off, but I'm glad more people are here to keep this alive! Here's some news from me... The 2010 Winter Olympics are being held in Vancouver, Canada. So there are a few opportunities available for Canadians to carry the Olympic Torch in the Torch Run. I enterred a contest with Coke to carry the torch as it passes through my city. The contest is first a random draw and then those drawn have to write an essay on how they live an active lifestyle. So I got lucky and won the random draw and have now submitted my essay. I wrote about my weight loss journey and how I have become a runner. From the essays submitted, they will choose the winners to carry the torch. I find out between July 30-Aug 5 if I am selected. I am so hopeful. How amazing would that be... what an awesome way to crown off my journey!

Here's some good before and after comparisons... The first photo is of me and my DD in Sept 2007, just a few days after my first fill. I weighed about 285 at the time. The second photo is of me and my kids last weekend. I weight about 185 now!

Here's some good before and after comparisons... The first photo is of me and my DD in Sept 2007, just a few days after my first fill. I weighed about 285 at the time. The second photo is of me and my kids last weekend. I weight about 185 now!

Wow... it's been a year since I blogged last! Well I graduated from Couch to 5k and am now a "Runner"! I run 4-5 x a week, and have recently started to strength train. Through running I lost another 40 lbs, so I'm down almost 110 lbs total. I haven't lost any weight in about 3 months, but that doesn't upset me at all. I love my new body. I'm wearing a size 14 now, which is so great! My health is excellent and my diabetes is pretty much in remission. No drugs and my blood sugar is perfect. I'm hoping the strength training will get me that last step to goal, but if I don't lose any more, I'm ok with that.

Wow... it's been a year since I blogged last! Well I graduated from Couch to 5k and am now a "Runner"! I run 4-5 x a week, and have recently started to strength train. Through running I lost another 40 lbs, so I'm down almost 110 lbs total. I haven't lost any weight in about 3 months, but that doesn't upset me at all. I love my new body. I'm wearing a size 14 now, which is so great! My health is excellent and my diabetes is pretty much in remission. No drugs and my blood sugar is perfect. I'm hoping the strength training will get me that last step to goal, but if I don't lose any more, I'm ok with that.

Carol... CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :party:WTG!!! I'm so proud of your hard work and accomplishment! You've been so diligent and motivated, it makes me so happy for you. Jane... YEAH... CONGRATULATIONS TOO!!! I'm envious of your time. I've been at this awhile now and am hoping to run it sub 40min! Great job! Malissa... good job on week 2! Ok, I've been off now for 2 weeks. I had minor surgery last week, and am now all healed so I can start running again. I've really missed it and the feeling it gives me.

Mac...LOL!!! I love that! I'm a Kenyan, I'm faster than the Wind... and lighter!!! Minxz... I now use the Nike+ system to track my distance, but before I had that I would go online to a site called "Running Ahead". That has a global mapping system that can map your route (by streets only) and tell you how far you went. Here's the link... RunningAHEAD - Tools: Route Mapper

Carol... WTG!!!! Size 12 is my ultimate goal!!

Malissa... progress at your own speed. When you feel ready, move to the next week. I repeated a lot of weeks. It took me probably 15 weeks to get through the program, so don't worry about it. This is not really a race, its a journey and should be lifelong! As for being as heavy as you are... not a problem. As long as you are medically able to exercise, you CAN do this. I started running a year ago and weight about 240 at the time... so almost 250. I'm now 184... so running worked big time for me. The only real thing I changed during that year was adding running to my routine. I still eat relatively the same, but my body was just plateauing and wasn't moving any further. Once I started running the weight came off. It came off slowly and it was a bit frustrating, cause I would replace the fat with mucle, so my size was shrinking but the scale moved slowly. You can do this, just take it one run at a time. For me, I would move up if by the 3rd run I accomplished the full run program. If not, I stayed at that week. So my advice, if you can do all the intervals the way it is layed out... move up and try that. If you can't, keep going on week 1. Good luck!

Malissa... hope your calf didn't spasm during your sleep. Its probably happening because of strain from running. I would suggest you stretch A LOT before and after your runs. Stand on a step and drop your heal to the ground with just your toes on the step and all your weight on the foot that is dropping below the step... repeat on the other foot. This is a great calf stretch. If that still doesn't work, try soaking in a tub with Epson salts, or go see a registered massage therapist!

Congrats Jane! Love the attitude. I think we women are our own worst enemies... so glad you are breaking the mold! And yeah... he was checking you out! Carol... WTG!!! You're going to hit 5k soon enough! Welcome to all the new runners! You're doing great! This is definately a great way to push yourself to that next level of fitness! I had minor surgery today (iky women's thing). It went really well, with only a bit of cramping pain. Should heal up really quickly, but I'm not able to run or strength train for probably 1-2 weeks. :tongue: