Hello, All.  I am a newbie to all of this, and am planning to walk a 5k this weekend (Sacramento Biggest Loser Run/Walk) as the first in my motivation to get started.  I am 52 and weigh in at 232 - recently became an empty-nester with my daughter now in college, and have decided it is time to focus on me.

I want to set myself a goal of working towards the Big Sur half marathon in November.  Is this doable?

Joan-

I weigh 223 on a good day and I completely ruptured my right ACL, tore the meniscus and strained the MCL and it's totally doable to run on it. Just stretch really well afterwards, especially those negative stretches to get the back of the knee down to floor. And rest when necessary.  I can tell when I run too much and cause too much swelling, my knee won't bend right and the kneecap pops a lot. When this happens, I work on strengthening my quad even more.

Stacy- Welcome! And you'll definitely be ready for that 5K in June. My next is 4/6 and I can't wait. I actually ran before going to a hockey game last night. I don't know who this new me is, but I think I like her.

Nice work Glori.

Our statistics sound identical. Down to the "can't run 20 seconds horrible"   Actually, I can run about a minute. But don't ask me to do it too many times.  My friend just convinced me to register for a 5k on April 28. I did, and planned for today to be my first training day. Now I fear that 6 weeks isn't long enough! There are 6-week training schedules out there, but they start with the assumption that I can already run 2 miles easily. Riiiiiight. So, I guess my plan is to start the C25K program, and if 6 weeks from today I have to walk half of the race, I will. I think it's better to just start at the beginning.

Congratulations on your weight loss!

Here we go!

Hello everyone, I Started the C25k program a few months ago.  I had a foot injury and it stopped me for a about a month now I am back on it.  I just finished Week 5.  I am going to be repeating it for a few weeks.  I quit smoking 25 days ago after 24yrs of a pack a day.  In May 2012 I weighed 263lbs and today I was 230.  I am still watching my diet closely and I have introduced Weight training on my non run days.  I have my firsk 5k in 5 days.  Although I can only run about a half mile at a time with walking in the middle I am doing 3.25 miles in 40mins.  It just stinks that I am at my limit for lung capacity.  Lately I have started getting burning in the lungs and that did not happen when I was smoking.  I am just hoping this is my body trying to heal itself and will pass in a few months.  I could not have stopped smoing with out the running, I traded one habit for another.

-Steve

Just completed week 1 this afternoon!  Distance will come with time, I know, but I did 2.5k in 30 minutes.  I'm pretty proud of that for week 1!

Good day all - I've been negligent in keeping up.  mostly not logging on to computer when at home.  its very liberating when you stay disconnected at times.

Biggest update:  Cleared the 220 line couple weeks ago.  managed to go on business travel and vacation and still stay below the line.  flirted with 215 for a bit but settled back between 215 and 220.  goal of sub 200 in in sight - it had been while to get below this milestone.

Other good news:  no actual knee pain for 8+ weeks and I've managed to actually run/waddle/job 5k straight 6 of 8 last runs  (5 in a row, then I was in boulder on business - managed 4k straight but failed at 5) then 5+k on last sundays 10K run.  I saw some new folks keep at it and don't give up when it seems tough  - folks here are very supportive.  Running 5k this weekend (scopeitout5K in Wash D.C) planning this to be possible PR run.  we'll see but I plan to run/jog/waddle the entire pace.  one thing I did to help my self was to change my lap time from 1k to 500m.  little more feedback and keeps me from wondering so much how far I've gone.

hope everyone has been keeping well

Skoal/OGR44

Hi Julie!
I was there at the Biggest Loser run/walk in Sacramento cheering on my Sister in Law! Awesome!! I sooo wanted to do that one, but I had my first half marathon the next day.  Next year!
Good job!!
I started in January 2012 with doing a 5k training program and I just finished the half marathon training program....really hard, but so well worth it! Keep going!