A while back I posted about 5-hour energy and Gels....well, I'm here to report that I am now up to 9 miles and using 2 gels during my long runs. The gel that works the best for me (since I dump) are the Cliffs brand...they are 90% organic and do not kill my stomach. So happy that these still work for me as I have a few half marathons planned and now I don't have to worry about losing fuel.

Im 5 weeks post op.. and I dont know where to start with the gym.. I was just cleared yesterday from my doc to do what I need to do in the gym.. but there is no list of what it is Im suppose to do.. maybe I need a trainer to get me started I dont know.. but with my surgery I got a 3 month free coupon to the gym at the hospital where I work and where I got my surgery.. so I want to take advantage of that.. any suggestions to start?

If you have the access and the means, a trainer is not a bad way to go at all. A good trainer can teach you how to get the most from your time spent at the gym, rather than wasting time and energy doing exercises that are of no value.

Just ran 6 miles. Felt great. I ate some little "energy squares" made of whole grains, nuts, seeds and Macao nibs (unsweetened chocolate) with some PB2. The last mile was like running down hill. I had visions of Olympic gold. It must have been a lack of oxygen or something.

Renea77, I definitely will.

For everybody...how do y'all balance you're eating for weight loss vs. eating for running? The 2 definitely seem to be in conflict at times. I mean all the high carb food for energy. I really don't want to eat it but any run over 3 miles I really need it. Believe it or not but I can eat a package of almonds (which is mostly fat) and that will get me through 3 miles just fine. But more than that it's not enough. I just had a bad sugar and carb addiction in my previous life and I don't want to go back to that. What do the rest of you do?

.....edit....I just realized that's how this thread got started.

I'm still giggling about the olympic gold, you crack me up.

As for diet, I have put carbs back into my food. I eat oatmeal fairly consistently and will often have half a sandwich on the days before a run. I use fruit in my smoothies. For me, it is a slippery slope- I would love to justify eating funyuns as carbing up for tomorrow's run! Lol. In all seriousness, it's tricky for me. I find that I feel the best when my carbs are at 150 or so. If they are not I have problems with coordination (I look like I barely have control of my arms and legs or I kick my ankle), or it feels like there's nothing left to push me, or I feel light headed. I find that carbs are a necessity for me.

I went back and re-read the thread. I still haven't tried the gels, but need to. I did try some energy chews that have caffeine in them and they made me sick! I am not a coffee/tea/soda drinker. Basically I'm almost caffeine free. I plan on trying some gels that are caffeine free.

Tried the thorlos socks. Boy, they were extra cushiony! I did get a blister though under the pad of my foot, so I'm sticking to my cheapy target socks.

And, last but not least...we talked about running back to back! I knew the topic was familiar and I did a search. Apparently, it was already discussed. Boy, we are an efficient group.

Keep running everyone!

Just ran 6 miles. Felt great. I ate some little "energy squares" made of whole grains' date=' nuts, seeds and Macao nibs (unsweetened chocolate) with some PB2. The last mile was like running down hill. I had visions of Olympic gold. It must have been a lack of oxygen or something. [/quote']

Way to go BTB...love the visions:) six miles is awesome! Was that the longest distance you have run so far? You rock!! Tomorrows 7miler will be on the treadmill as its snowing in PA and not expected to stop until tomorrow morning hoping to complete that with a good finishing time, will be my longest distance ever ran on a treadmill.

Danyelle and I talk a lot so I too eat a half sandwich before my runs usually(recommended by her). I also like Luna bars before a run. I too found I needed some carbs for energy when I increased my mileage. After finishing my first 5k race last June, I was extremely light headed and felt faint(happened at 2 races last summer back to back) that's when I started asking for advice on what to eat/drink and Pdxman was very helpful and also recommended carbs. I try to watch them though as I didn't get to 230 because I hated them lol. So I try to make healthier choices and find it does help my runs and gives me the energy necessary for a good run. Next thing is to start taking energy chews during my longer runs as I want to keep my energy up during these longer runs(10+ miles) leading up to the half in March. Just have to figure out a system that works, may steal Dany's lol:)

Well' date=' I've gone and done it now. Registered for a half marathon on April 13. Into the fray I go....[/quote']

Gratz BTB! You are truly an inspiration!

Way to go BTB...love the visions:) six miles is awesome! Was that the longest distance you have run so far?

Six miles. Today was my longest run. I usually do my weekly long run on Friday, although some weeks it will be Thursday because I work shift work. Saturday is my rest day.

BTW....signed up for a 10K for 2/23. I'm supposed to run 7 miles that day anyhow, so I'll run this instead....ConocoPhillips Houston Rodeo Run. My first organized run.

Ran a 5k this morning at 36:10. I Felt very good running in my vibram..

Six miles. Today was my longest run. I usually do my weekly long run on Friday' date=' although some weeks it will be Thursday because I work shift work. Saturday is my rest day.

BTW....signed up for a 10K for 2/23. I'm supposed to run 7 miles that day anyhow, so I'll run this instead....ConocoPhillips Houston Rodeo Run. My first organized run.

[/quote']

Go BTB!! Congrats on registering for your first organized run and finishing your longest run successfully!!! Can't wait to hear your finishing time for the Houston Rodeo Run. You will probably finish faster than you think, races get the adrenaline pumping and make you want to enter more:)

Ran a 5k this morning at 36:10. I Felt very good running in my vibram..

Way to go Ellie. Love those vibrams. Did you get some comments? See any other folks wearing them?

No comments just stares. And I was the only one there wearing them..

No comments just stares. And I was the only one there wearing them..

Dang it....well, I'm running a 10K next month and I'll be wearing mine in your honor.

Dang it....well' date=' I'm running a 10K next month and I'll be wearing mine in your honor.

[/quote']

Good luck and thank you..

Six miles. Today was my longest run. I usually do my weekly long run on Friday' date=' although some weeks it will be Thursday because I work shift work. Saturday is my rest day.

BTW....signed up for a 10K for 2/23. I'm supposed to run 7 miles that day anyhow, so I'll run this instead....ConocoPhillips Houston Rodeo Run. My first organized run.

[/quote']

BTB are you in Houston? I'd sign up with you but my 1/2 marathon is that weekend at Disney. Darn!!!

There is another race in Kemah in March I'm thinking about doing. However, it involves a team. A full marathon with 4 runners or a half marathon with 2 runners or single runners doing each by themselves.

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BTB are you in Houston? I'd sign up with you but my 1/2 marathon is that weekend at Disney. Darn!!!

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You are going to have a BLAST! Boy, Disney knows how to put on a half! I had so much fun doing the tinkerbell. It would be nice to be wealthy, so that I could do the awesome races at disneyworld, well that and a whole lot more. im pretty sure that I'll be doing the tinkerbell again. U gonna do coast to coast?

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BTB are you in Houston? I'd sign up with you but my 1/2 marathon is that weekend at Disney. Darn!!!

There is another race in Kemah in March I'm thinking about doing. However' date=' it involves a team. A full marathon with 4 runners or a half marathon with 2 runners or single runners doing each by themselves.

Sent from my iPhone using VST[/quote']

I am just North of Houston....near Cleveland TX if you know where that is. My 10K is gonna be in downtown Houston but my 1/2 is going to be in Groveton, TX....Davy Crockett National Forest.