I get to start the weekly thread! Nobody ran yesterday? Or maybe no one had anything interesting to report. Actually neither do I. I ran 2.5 miles today. I am following some kind of novice 10k program. It was freezing out. At least it seemed that way to me. I am going to have a hard time getting myself outside when winter really hits.

hey all just letting you know im still alive here. had a two week setback but im getting back to it. did two miles today trying to get back to week 9. to 40 secs off my pace.

Hi All, I've been a little 'MIA' lately but wanted to check in. I'm down and out with a bad cold since Friday that turned into an asthma attack (yesterday), so needless to say, I'm sidelined for a few days! My last run was Sunday, which finished off Week 2 of OHR for me, but today's scheduled run is off I am better now that I have drugs, but my first 5K is on the 25th and I don't want to do anything to jeapordize that. So, it may be this weekend before I run again, and I hope I don't get set back too much! I did do a test 5K last week and finished it in 35 or 36 minutes, so at least I know I can do the distance! So if I can at LEAST do that on the 25th, I'd be happy, but I think adrenaline may give me a slightly better time. Hope everyone else is doing great! Seems 'quiet' around here these days!

Hi All, I've been a little 'MIA' lately but wanted to check in. I'm down and out with a bad cold since Friday that turned into an asthma attack (yesterday), so needless to say, I'm sidelined for a few days! My last run was Sunday, which finished off Week 2 of OHR for me, but today's scheduled run is off I am better now that I have drugs, but my first 5K is on the 25th and I don't want to do anything to jeapordize that. So, it may be this weekend before I run again, and I hope I don't get set back too much! I did do a test 5K last week and finished it in 35 or 36 minutes, so at least I know I can do the distance! So if I can at LEAST do that on the 25th, I'd be happy, but I think adrenaline may give me a slightly better time. Hope everyone else is doing great! Seems 'quiet' around here these days!

Hi CyndiKo and all. I let someone else start the thread for a change this week Sorry to learn of the medical probs CyndiKo and having a cold as well must be tough. Well I've done week 4 not too bad I found and just today started W5D1 with the series of 5 min runs. So far so good. I have an incentive in the fact that on some days I run round a local lake in a park and I used to do that no problem3 years back (in fact there are TWO lakes I used to go round). So I have the history of doing it in the past and I can do it again. Looking back to last weeks thread and the problems of getting out, I have found that having a schedule with the plan is a help because it decides you routine for you. Another thing from my past experience of being a 'real runner' is that after a while you do form a habit (albeit a good one) of feeling bad when you miss a run even when there is a good reason for missing it. It takes a while for that effect to form but it definitely will happen after a while. Good luck to all for the coming winter months.

Hey Mimi...how cool we have our 'First Race' on the same day! Can't wait to read your report! I am not so worried about going the distance, I'm more nervous about the whole 'race environment' - you know, as a newbie & such, I don't want to do anything 'wrong' or fail miserably at race etiquette! I've learned much though through reading other race reports, so I feel prepared but nervous at the same time! KateRose - I plan on running as much as possible outside and then keeping on the treadmill when the weather is too rough. I don't want to lose my momentum, and, I want to train to run the 10K in the Cleveland Marathon in May. Iang - I get you with the habit thing. I have to take a few days off and it's KILLING.ME not to be able to do my scheduled run tonight.

Hey all! I don't post a lot in here, but I just had to share - I am so excited that I am finally seeing some improvement in my fitness level. It took until the last couple of weeks, but I am definitely getting stronger and I am able to jog at a "conversational" effort level now (conversation would have been a little hard before even at my slow, shuffling jog). I am still not too fast, but I am better than before and my heart rate is lower now when I jog. Thank goodness - it took some patience (after 12 years of being very sedentary), but I think my heart is starting to get the let's-get-in-shape idea...

Hi everyone! Well it's been a solid month and a half since my 5K and I haven't run at all. Mainly because I had terrible shin splints during C25K and my 5K and I decided not to try to go further until I had that under control. Got a referral from my doc to see a podiatrist and had a really bad experience there--I just felt like he looked at me and realized I wasn't going to require surgery (and thus, wasn't going to be a good source of income for him) and blew me off. He suggested OTC orthotics, which I didn't agree with, and he even was kind of jerky about the shin splints in general, gave me the impression he thought I was being whiney. So on my sister's advice I asked for a PT referral, which took a few weeks to set up, but I had my appt on Monday and OMG! Night and Day difference. I was with the PT for a solid hour, she really took a lot of time to thoroughly check out not only my feet but my calf muscles, knees, and hips as well. Ended up casting my feet for some custom orthotics but said that I also have a problem with very tight calves and hips so I'll be going back for three more appts for her to show me stretching exercises to loosen them up (because the tight calves and hips are exacerbating the problem causing the shin splints), and she is going to help me set up a good gym routine to make sure I'm exercising all my muscles effectively. I was just floored but what a difference it was to see her vs a "real doctor." So for all the newbies out there that may be having pains from starting running, I highly recommend a PT consult. So my orthotics will be in in ~2 weeks and I plan to resume running then, although I am expecting to sort of repeat C25K say from W4 on before progressing to longer distances.

I've had a good experience with a PT too. I'm sure it depends on the individual PT, but it seems to me that they're more interested in the function of your running, the mechanics, HOW you put down left-right-left-right ... and it's their job to help you do so in the most injury-free way possible. If you're not satisfied with the answer or treatment a doc provides, ask for a referral to a running-friendly PT. Better yet, get a recommendation from another runner or two in your area for runner-friendly PT's and then check with your insurance agent to find out what they need in order to cover you. Good luck getting healed up, Jenner!