Kathybad

Thanks everyone! You guys are such a great support! I'm posting my finish line photo... I'm in blue. When I went to work today, I had so many people come by to congratulate me... I didn't tell them, but a colleague of mine also ran and she told them all. Everyone was so supportive, it felt really good. Suzanne... WTG! You're an official graduate! I love the certificate idea... who's creative that can do that? Any takers? Tkl... welcome and congrats on your progress so far! I started at a tight size 26 and am now down to a loose 16. I hope to get down to size 12, but I've only got about 20 lbs or so left, so I'm not sure if I will. Big bones and lots of muscle (thanks to running!), but anything now is just icing on the cake. I've accomplished all the health benefits that I set out to do. JWood... thanks! Carol... LOL, you're overheating and I'm in the snow! Is there a happy middle ground? It feels like winter again today. I'm so looking forward to running outside for awhile, until the real heat of July & Aug. Whosya... congrats on winning our 2week Nike+ again!

Well I did it! I didn't break 40min, but was close. I see my official time tomorrow when they post the chip times, but it was around 41:20 or something like that. My Nike+ didn't work for some reason, so I don't have it on that one. It was very hilly, and the last hill was huge!!! It almost killed me, but I did it. DH took a photo of me at the finish line, so I'll post it later.

Ok, I'm a bit nervouse and a bit excited... tomorrow is my 2nd 5k race!!! I picked up the race kit today, and the shirt is really nice! It's a dri-fit long sleeve, female fitted (DH's is for a man!), and in a nice light blue which matches my running jacket. Now if the weather will just cooperate. Its supposed to be sunny but cool, which I like. I'm hoping to break 40 min on the race time, but it is hilly, and I haven't run a huge amount lately since having strep, so I won't beat myself up if I don't. As Whosya says, any race is great just for the experience!

Suzanne... Have you tried running until you can't go any further (not to collapsing distance, just pushing distance)? If not, give it a go. At this point, you might be surprised at how long you can run. If its not too much farther, then I suggest just keep adding a few minutes each week until you can do the full 5k. MacMadam's advice on interval training is excellent, and what I'm doing now to increase my speed. But I would also suggest you push yourself on the length of time first to get to that full 5k distance. My first 5k run took me a total of 44 min to complete, and I did run the full distance. I have now built up to be able to run a full hour without walking, and my speed is improving a lot. I'm running my 2nd 5k on Sunday and hope to break 40min or better (it's a lot hillyer than I'm used too!!). Good luck and congrats on your C25k graduation!!

I think its a great idea. I would definately be in on the run. Not sure how it would be organized geographically, but don't imagin there would be enough to hold one in my area. Maybe conduct it via Nike+ or something like that.

I did my first 5k when I was around week 10 or so. I completed it in 44min, ran the whole way... but I was slow. I finished about 2/3 back, as there were lots of run/walkers and walkers. Chances are there will be lots slower than you. BTW, I've been at this for awhile now and I still run my 5k in about 38 to 40 min, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Slow and steady, happy and proud!

Thanks everyone! You're all so amazing! I have my 2nd 5k race on Sunday this week and am getting a bit nervouse since I haven't really regained much stamina yet. But, if I have to walk... I'll walk some of it. I ran on Sat. outside and it felt wonderful. I love this new spring weather... it is really energizing. I didn't have much time for a run, so only planned for about 3km. I pushed myself and according to my Nike+ I ran at a pace of 7:04 per km... which is much faster than I have run so far. I was whipped at the end... but it felt great. I went on Sun and did some "window shopping". Can't really afford to buy clothes right now, so just wanted to see how they fit. I am able to "pour" & "stuff" myself into a 14 pants, but not go in public! LOL. But that is still way smaller than ever before! I did find a blouse that was too good to pass up. Its very slimming in the waist and just the right cut for my chest. So I had to buy it!

OMG... I took my body composition measurements today. I know my scale is not perfect, its only to be considered "directional", but the results said that I am at 28.5% body fat (down 7.0% since Feb 9). This puts me in the "acceptable" category!!! I'm no longer considered "obese"!!!!!! OMG I can't believe it!

Carol... no need to kick my butt :crying: I was out of town the last 2 days so I ran at the hotel. Unfortunately, I left my iPod at home so no logging the run! I now have just over a week before my next 5k. Mama... welcome back! I've thought of you often and am glad you're back. I hope your DH is healing up well. Don't beat yourself up about the setback. That's the beauty of the band... it can always catch you! Georgia... how are you feeling? Wow, everyone is doing so well on the C25k group. I've lacked a bit of motivation since I was sick. But I know it will leave soon. I've plateaued again on the scale, but know I'm dropping fat as my clothes are getting loose again. I'm now completely in a size 16 (not tight) and hoping to see a size 14 by my birthday in May. That would be sooooo amazing. I have never worn a size 14 as an adult. I was 12 years old when I hit size 16++++. Now I'll be in that size, but with all the right curves!

Oh boy have I been slacking off. I got a bit of a head cold from my DS, and I've been so busy with work, that the excuses seemed just so convienent!!! In reality, I just didn't do it! I plan to get my butt onto the treadmill tonight to get back in the game. Especially since I'm doing my 2nd 5k race in just under 2 weeks! If I don't run tonight... Please send me a kick!

Kristen... did you get your Nike+ invite to the challenge?? I just went for a run with my son... short but fun.

Renewed... thanks for the update on Georgia. I was getting concerned! WTG on the PX thingy!!! I don't know what it is, but sounds challenging. I hope the weather is as nice everywhere else as its been here! Sunny, dry and warming up. I went for a nice run yesterday in the park. So many people out doing the same... it was excellent. We took the kids with us and DH started off running and then took over the kids and I went for my run.

Ok, I've got Kristen's email, but no one else yet. I'm going to set it up as an individual challenge for 2 weeks starting today. Send me your email if you want in!

Ok... let's start another challenge... any suggestions? Teams or individual. I personally like the shorter challenges, like maybe two weeks, especially since the other one is a longer term challenge. Let me know your thoughts and then PM me your email address and I'll set one up to start tomorrow!! DH and I ran yesterday together. We did the race route for our April 5th 5k that we're running. OMG... it's hilly!!! I usually run in my neighbourhood or at another park and neither have many hills. This route seemed to be up and down constently! I'm going to have to train a bit on this one, more than just running distances. Plus, the race usually has about 2000 people (not all doing 5k, some do 10k and some do 1/2), but the path is rather narrow, so I can imagine its going to get a bit bunched up, and its an out and back, so being slower than most, I'm going to see all the fast people go by me and its probably going to get a bit tight! Ohhh I'm nervous on this one.

We haven't been talking much about the Nike+ challenge lately, kind of fizzelled I think for some of us... but the team challenge ended yesterday. Here's the results! Sorry for this Whosya... but the Hotties won!!!! Small victory, as it took about 5 of us to just 1 Whosya!!! Seriously, congrats to everyone!

Carol... I had lost track on what interval I was on and just went by the tones. When I had been running for so long -- and just about dying in the process, good 'ol Steveboy came on to say it was done... so I had run through the cool down! So the next run I made sure I knew how many intervals I had and I counted them down so when that last interval came on I just kept walking. Good luck! Mac... I noticed on your ticker that you are so close to your goal weight! Congrats!

Carol... LOL, I remember making the same mistake on that week!!! By the sounds of your post, you are on a runners high!! Congrats. It is such an amazing feeling when you finish your run and are so proud of your accomplishment! We are also proud for you too!!! Suzanne... way to go! Pull ups and a long run! I'm impressed! I have absolutely no upper body strength, so the thought of a pull up scares me! It's our kids spring break this week, so yesterday we all went off to the Toronto Zoo. It was beautiful out, sunny and fairly warm all day. The zoo was packed with people, but didn't matter, we still had a great day. I actually wore my Nike+ the whole day to see how far I walked... about 5m total. Not bad, but what's better is the kids did that as well! They were totally whacked out on the drive home!

Kristen & Mac... Congrats on your 5k's!! Great time both of you! Whosya... Happy race anniversary! Well, I'm finally feeling better! YEAHHHHH! I did a few walks on the weekend just to get going again, and tonight I'm going for a run. Glad that's over! Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Lacey, glad you're feeling good.

Whosya... careful... if you relax at all, your heart might stop completely! OMG how fit are you! Congrats! Georgia... great NSV! Lacey... how'd your surgery go? Congrats on all the great progress everyone's making, especially those on the C25k... you guys are doing so great. Ok, I've now taken the full week off. Even though my strep is gone, the medication really did a number on my stomach. I've pretty much been on full fluids for the last few days as nothing stays down. I took my last dose this morning, so hopefully the irritation will stop and I can get back to myself... be able to eat and actually have some energy!

Carol & Suzanne... yes, cinnamon does work to help regulate your blood sugar. I used to work at a spice company in Canada and our US head office has done a lot of research (medical research) and it seems pretty clear that cinnamon is really good in helping to regulate it. You don't need to take capsules, you get the same benefit from the actual ground cinnamon. I put a sprinkle in my coffee, on my cereal or yogurt. I use about 1/8 tsp a day and it certainly helps me. I'm diabetic, but have controlled my BS now for awhile... running & diet mostly, the the cinnamon helps! Ok... I haven't run since the weekend due to really poor nutrition. Even though I've switched to a liquid pennicillin, it is upsetting my stomach a lot. I'm not able to eat much without feeling sick, so have no energy to run at all. I have to take it until Sat morning, but hope to be able to run a bit before then. On the challenge front... KMF (not sure who that is in Nike+ world) has joined his/her runs in with Whosya, so now Whosya/KMF have overtaken us Hotties!!! Comeon ladies... we've got until Tuesday to kick his butt!!!

Suzanne... congrats on the 20min run! You did it on the first try! You should notice pretty fast progress now! Good luck on week 6. I know Day 1 week 6 for me was really hard. After running 20min straight I thought I could do the intervals no problem... NOT! LOL!

Whosya...:confused: Congratulations!!! What a major milestone! And since you're talking accomplishments, I noticed another one today... the gap was huge last night, but almost disappeared now. "Hotties" if we are going to win... we have to pour it on, otherwise Whosya is going to take the lead anytime now... and I've noticed you tend to hold back a bit and then sprint to a win in the end!!

scalingdown... that's exactly what I just did! I couldn't handle 7 more days of this, so called the pharmacy and they have a kids liquid. Way better than the pills, but it did cause me to "slim" a lot after taking it. But at least it passed.

I ran last night and it did feel good! Not too far, but enough to remind me what running feels like! LOL. Ok, advice time... does anyone have difficulty swallowing pills? If so... any advice on how I'm supposed to get my medication down? I always have difficulty... its that gag reflex of mine. I typically avoid it as much as possible and only take meds if I have a bad migraine or the like. Now I'm supposed to take 2 horse pills 3x a day for 10 days... still have 7 days left. To make things worse, as the medication hits my pouch and then into my stomach it makes me feel nausiouse. Lasts for about an hour! Anyone else experience this and what did you do?

Suzanne... probably too late to answer, but I would encourage you to run outside. I love it. I find it much easier to run outside due to the lack of boredom, and you can control your own speed easier. BTW... how'd it go??? MacMadam is back in the challenges!!! Welcome back to Nike+ Whosya... Yeah for you!!!! That's going to be an amazing challenge. Good for you! Ok, I still haven't run since getting sick, but am feeling back to normal now! Yeah. I just got home from my trip to Ottawa today... flights were good! So I think I'll go for a short run just to get back in the swing of things. Longer run for tomorrow.