BillOh

Mels, I think Confused is on the right track. You mentioned sprints, that might be a matter of what you call sprints, but let me ask what speed you set the treadmill to for fast walk, and at what speed to you perceive that you are beginning to run? I would do a fast walk and switch to the speed at which you barely feel like you are running and then work on extending the time that you are running. Once you get to the point you are running the 3 miles of a 5k without walking then think about speeding up. Confused is dead on about the breathing. I've found on long runs if I take some very slow deep breathes it can boost my energy level. Also by running at that slower speed you can think about trying to run relaxed, your legs are doing all the work, think about relaxing your arms and shoulders and keep breathing.

What a weekend I had. My 4th 10k was scheduled for Sunday, but due to weather and work, I wasn't able to run the miles I wanted to during the week. Normally I don't run the day before a race, but I thought if I ran a slow relaxing 10k on Saturday it would help me on Sunday. I know better! Well, a relaxing 10k run on Saturday didn't happen. I was running on a bike path that I like, 3.1 miles down, and 3.1 miles back. TMI ALERT! Part way down, I was feeling nature's call. Now, I'm a man, so we are not talking the quick dash behind a tree and keep going. I wouldn't even mention that. Ok, we are clear what I'm talking about right? At the 3 mile point is a soccer field and a port-a-john. When I hit it, I saw a lady going in so I continued to the turn around figuring to hit it on the way back. On the way back it was occupied by a bunch of brat kids who wouldn't come out so I went on my way with a new urgency knowing there were facilities at the part where I started. So I ran with more urgency than I intended, finishing 10k in 49:59, a personal best. I think that wore me out for Sunday where I ran a 50:09. Sunday's race was more of a trail run than a road race, but it was fun, I still managed to beat my friend and my wife's co workers.

12 miles this weekend!

Ran a 10k today, missed my PR by 1 second, but this wasn't a PR friendly course

My doctor made me wait 8 weeks to make sure the swelling went down, and I've done well with only 2.5cc in a 10cc band, but I have never heard of anyone not getting a fill.

Why did they give you a B12 shot instead of supplements? Is it because the level was so low? My mom has MS and gets B12 shots to ease symptoms. I have nerve pain and numbness issues and in my nuerological workup everything looked good except my B12 has in the slightly low category, so I was just told to take the supplement. How often do you have to get the shot. I go for my 1 year exam soon and will see how that is going.

I certainly understand emotional eating, I've handled much of that myself. Two thoughts, are you attacking the stress? Next, are you sure its stress and not depression? Depression does wacky things to your body. I'm also approaching my 1 year point.

I was pretty paranoid, but its been a year now and I'm doing alright with it. As you lose weight the port becomes even more pronounced, but everything is going ok. I've run hundreds of miles and played many rounds of golf. I avoid situps and crunches because of arthritis in my back. My cat Sidney likes to sit on my lap and she has tried to dig it out. I've bumped it hard several times with no problems, I think I'm finally used to it.

Welcome Mels. If you start the program now, you will be doing 5ks in no time. I've found it is helpful to have goals and objectives so I almost always am signed for at least one upcoming race. If you go to active.com you can find one in your area and have it as an objective. For me its next Saturday night, a 10k and kicking the behind of my younger skinnier friend along with several of my wife's co workers. After that a 10k on THanksgiving day.

Like every other food, eat/drink slowly. If you don't try to gulp one down like Mean Joe Greene, you are not going to create slippage. I don't drink more than one a week, but I enjoy a Pepsi max once in awhile, or Coke Zero.

You will be having surgery one year from my surgery date. Running has helped me a lot, I hope you get that tendon healed. We bought Boost Glucose Control as our Protein Drink, they taste very good, and if you watch CVS and Walgreen you can catch sales and stock up. Oh, regarding vitamins, the band doesn't require special vitamins like bypass surgery. I have just taken my regular One-a-Day for the past year. Several blood tests later,l all is well in that regard.

How far post surgery are you? I've read a lot of different things on here in this past year, but for the program I went through they explained ahead of time they would do your first fill while watching you in the fluoroscope so they could judge how much to put in. Did they do this with you or did they just decide on 1 cc and go with it? On my 2nd fill, they had me drink Water to make sure that went down ok.

Best of luck to you all, It can be so worth it.

My heartburn totally disappeared after surgery, I haven't taken a Tums in almost a year now.

What are you using to map out your running courses? I'm using a site walked walkjogrun.net and its pretty helpful.

I'm scaling back a little this month as the cold weather comes in, but I'll commit to 60.

Good luck, your signature would indicate your well prepared. I wish you the great experience I had.

Ended October with a new personal record for the 5k!

I just did the Columbus 1/2 marathon 3 weeks ago and had a wonderful time. The band presents no issues for long distance running, trust me, I've logged several hundred miles this summer. You don't have to consume all the calories you need for the run in one meal right before hand. Maybe I'll join you at Chicago next year. We have family in Chicago and with a wedding to pay for, will not be taking any elaborate vacations this year. My next 1/2 marathon will be May 1st here in Columbus and then the Air Force one in Dayton Ohio.

Sounds like, pure guess by the way, you are overfilled? I do know that if I do get stuck, getting up and walking around helps to a small extend, but if your not overfilled, maybe its slipped too low?

I'm signed up for a 5k run through a cemetery and golf course Halloween evening, that should put me very close to 100 miles for Oct.

That headband about the courage to start, is available at a site called One More Mile Running Apparel - OneMoreMileRunning.com They had a booth at the Columbus Marathon, they had a lot of interesting items, but their apparel seemed oriented to women.

Next challenge, Halloween night 5K Fright night, after dark, through a graveyard and golf course. Not sure if its just a race, or if they will have anything jumping out at us or not.

Yup, good description, that was a classic episode, and I think chicken is the biggest culprit. Consider it a learning experience, and as I approach the 1 year mark, its a lesson I get occasional reminders of.

Hard to believe those 3 are coming up again quickly. Last year I was still going through Nutrition classes and I felt it was easy passing on all the Halloween candy. Thanksgiving has never been a big holiday for me, so getting through that was relatively easy. My surgery was 12/17 last year and Christmas was the first obstacle. I didn't tell my family (outside of my wife and daughter) about the surgery. I actually ate a normal Christmas dinner 8 days after surgery to hide it. I mainly ate some ham, cut really small, and chewed forever and mashed potatoes. This year should be easier. Trick or treating is a dying thing in my neighborhood so we aren't even buying candy and we will actually be out running a nighttime 5k run through a grave yard and golf course. Thanksgiving won't be too bad, again, not one of my favorites, but I will be running a 10k run (Turkey trot) in Erie, PA that day. Christmas is the hardest one to get through. As far as I know, nobody has a Christmas day run