Ok W1D3 sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I freaking tripped and fell just shy of finishing mile #1. My elbow is a wreck, my left knee is shredded, but somehow, my sadomasochistic brain is taking that as a badge of honor. I'm going to take two days off and then get back to it. I couldn't get into the same stride I was in on Wednesday that felt so good and I ran earlier in the day, it just felt wrong all over. Anyone else have that sensation? Or was I looking for a reason to quit? I don't think I was, because I feel amazing after I'm done and I feel like crying happy tears when I'm doing it. I get that euphoria...So I'm really disappointed in my results from today. It sucked to fall, in front of four people, one who pulled off the road to see if I was ok. I didn't break my iPhone which was great, it was sammiched in between my two sports bras.  Ugh, so disappointing!!!!

It was very embarrassing but I'm going to walk tonight and see how my wrist does with that. I'm just thankful I didn't really hurt myself

Hey, I'm not a big strech person myself. I do however do yoga to build up my hamstrings. I haven't had any injuries or grab my calves after finishing a race. I"m 34 years old, ran my first race at 300 pounds. If you go the yoga route, I would suggest to doing vinyasa yoga, youtube it or take a class and tell your instructor about your injuries.

Ok, I'm not an experienced runner nor am I a doctor. But I'll be glad to share my last 4 months as a new runner well over 200lbs. I started running in hopes to improve my hiking stamina and for some reason fell in love with the idea of becoming a runner.

August i weighted In at 260lb. Threw on some old sneakers and took off. Feet hurt, hips hurt, knees hurt. So I went to a running store and got a professional analysis. Now I have my very own pair of Brooks Ghost. Fast forward a few weeks and my chins are killing me.  I began to look at every YouTube video on running, chin splints, form, etc.  That's when i began to study barefoot running. I went out and bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I ran 1 mile and felt like I was floating on a cloud. NO pain in my hips, knees or chins. Wow, that was the answer. By this time I was at week 6 in my C25K. I also learned from this site to slow way down to let everything heal. So I started back on week one to give my chins a chance to heal. Made it all the way to week 8 and ran my first 5k race and turned a 29:31 chip time. And by the way I'm down to 242lb. I am still doctoring my chin splints with compression during and ice after I run. They are getting better, not worse. No other pain but sore muscles when I push my self.  The barefoot shoes do work out your calves in the beginning.  I gave away my Brooks, I'm a believer. If my work would permit, I would go barefooted to work.

If I'm off work I'm totally barefoot or wearing my VFFs. I mostly road run. I also have trail run as well. My first 5k I had to move off the shoulder a few times and it was packed gravel. It's amazing how its not as uncomfortable as you would think. It's actually more comfortable.

No there is no cushion. It's like wearing a foot glove with a thin piece of rubber under your sole.

Again, I'm no expert. I just spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I hurt and how to fix it. Lets face it we (on this thread) are 200 pounders and I do mean pounders. Running barefoot style keeps the stress off of the parts that should not have stress. As I have studied I have learned that our bodies came from the factory built to run as is. When we added cushioning we changed the biomechanics of how we are designed to run. That's where the problems start.

I know it seems foreign, but spend some time researching the subject with an open mind. It will be a revelation.

Hi All,

I'm new to the web site and this group.  I thought I would share my success story with those that might be struggling or questioning if it's worth it.  A little bit about myself first.  I've always been on the heavy / stocky side.  I'm 48, when I got out of the Air Force 29 years ago I weighed 190 pounds on my 5'10" frame, smoked 2 packs a day and was never a guy that liked to work out and definately never wanted to run.  Over the next 20+ years my weight bloomed to 270 pounds but at least I stopped smoking.  I knew I wasn't the picture of health but didn't consider myself lazy and thought I ate pretty good but I ate for all the wrong reasons and ate too much because of it.  Reality set in about 6 years ago when I had two stents put into my heart.  The good news was I didn't have a heart attack but it was scary for sure.  I have two beutiful daughters and the thought of not seeing them grow up was sobering.  You would have thought that would have woken me up to getting healthy but it didn't.  I ate better but still didn't move.  Three years ago I went through a pretty nasty divorce after 22 years of marriage.  My ex decided things were greener on the other side and decided to go find out for herself.  My girls chose to live with me and we set up a new home and started living again.  About the time the divorce was finalized I actually started dating a woman that was the picture of health.  She ate right, exercised regularly and most importantly ran...like marathon ran.  I had started going to the gym and using the eliptical trainier convincing myself that I was on the road to perfect health...that was wrong though because I still wasn't eating properly and the weight just wouldn't come off.  One day I saw a picture of myself and my girlfriend...I have to admit I was emabarrased by what I saw.  She was in such good shape and I was just a fat slug of a man, it wasn't pretty.  I decided that it was time to change things up.  I started paying attention to what I ate and exercised with a renewed interest.  Most importantly I started running.  I thought there would be two benefits to that.  1. It was something I could share with my girlfriend and 2. It would be good for me.  Well about 6 months later we broke up but I kept running.  I'm proud to say that two years later I'm still running (and loving it) and have lost over 70 pounds getting down to 200 pounds even while at the same time loosing 6 inches around my waist and generally feeling much better...I have more energy, more confidence and feeling good about myself for the first time in a long time.  I set a goal this year of running 600 miles which I did.  I ran numerous 5K races, a couple of 10Ks, two 10 mile races and most recently my first 1/2 marathon (2 hours 2 minutes 21 seconds).  I never thought I would run a half and now can't wait to run another one to get under 2 hours.  Added benefits to this is my cardiologist considers me an ideal cardiac patient.  My coloesterol is down to healthy levels, my weight is good, blood pressure is great and most importantly my resting heart rate is a cool 44...not bad considering where I came from three years ago.

So keep it up...it takes a change in your mindset to do it but you can.  I'm not a goal setter but it does help to have one.  Embrace those days when you run and appreciate the fact that you can.  You will be amazed at what the success can do for your self confidence, appearance and overall health and well being.  Many people ask me what I did to shed the weight and I give them a real simple answer...Eat less and do more.

Good luck!

Doug

I will add that while I don't use the VFF  --  I cannot get them to fit right in one size; I do use a minimal shoe as well.  Little more padding than the VFF but more traditional in toe box.  I made switch going on two years ago and love it.  I'll wear my old running shoes now and they feel like my old flight boots  (not that bad but noticeable).  I cross train Karate and am pretty much bear foot (or sock) when at home.  I have not had any running related issues since I switched  --  I did jack up my knee in karate this spring and have greater empathy now when I hear that someone has sprained a knee.  been 6+ month long road back to pain free walking let alone running etc.  I've just started to push pace past fast walk  (for me that is 12 min/miles)  and hope to finish the year on a upward swing.

the right shoes make a difference especially for those of us on the upper end of the scale.

Keep at it. I spent 2weeks on week one. Couldn't run 1:30 without stopping at 1st. Last Saturday I ran25 min. Nonstop and it was a huge rush. I have been doing c25k since late Sept. and I am just now on week 7, but I have not missed running my 3 days a week yet. Just repeat weeks you need to and advance when you feel ready. Down 23lbs, and feeling the best I have in years. Wish I had done this sooner.