I bought my first running outfit today

[sundial]

I just finished printing out my receipt for the purchase of a Jackie short and CW-X bra from TE. :) My new running shoes will be here early next week and soon I'll be all set.

It's been years since I've been able to run (20+ years) and I am really looking forward to getting back into it! I have a new fitness goal--to run a 5K. I figured if I can do a self supported 83 mile bike ride, I can run 3 miles. My ortho has encouraged me to embrace life and living and by golly I'm gonna do it.

I know I will have lots of questions for the runners here as I attempt to jog/shuffle/walk really fast. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

[jessmarimba]

Yaaayyy!!!!

I remember when I first started, I would run little chunks (3-4 minutes) and walk a minute or two between until I reached whatever time goal (9 minutes, 12, etc). I wasn't in bike shape then but I also found running to be really really boring, so it helped to break it up a bit.

[indysteel]

Way to go, Sundial. I started running again after a bit of a hiatus this past February. I more or less followed the Couch to 5k program. I still feel like a runner wannabe--especially compared to the accomplished runners of TE, but I'm trying to stick with it. The summer heat is hard for me to deal with. In fact, as I type this I'm hemming and hawing about going for a run.

[surgtech1956]

Good luck Sundial - please keep us posted on your progress. I too want to get back into running - since breaking my ankle in December - I have almost 6 months before I can take my first steps.

[sundial]

I more or less followed the Couch to 5k program.

Thanks Surgtech, Indie, and Jess!

My cycling partner mentioned this program on our ride and I will look it up. The only training I have is what my high school coach pushed us to do during track season and that was what 28 years ago? :p I am jogging really slow and can do so for 1 minute at a time then I have to walk some and try again. One of my concerns is catching my shoe (on the side of my recovering knee) on the pavement and down I go. I was also a little concerned that my implant would be jarred loose this early in my recovery but it should be ok. My ortho reassured me that it is strong and will take a lot of abuse. So I'm gonna give it a whirl.

A question about the foot strike: I am a heel striker normally but I feel like I'm slapping the whole foot down on the pavement on my affected side. Is this ok? Will it get better as I run more?

[redrhodie]

I don't run, but I know what a milestone is, and this is a big one! Congratulations! Glad you're knee is getting better!

[jessmarimba]

A question about the foot strike: I am a heel striker normally but I feel like I'm slapping the whole foot down on the pavement on my affected side. Is this ok? Will it get better as I run more?

I wonder if maybe you're keeping that knee more bent on impact so it hits more flat, and leaving your other side straight, so the heel hits first? I can't guess how it will go as you run more - it might be that your body is still figuring out what's best for you to do while running and will even itself out over the next few attempts. If it continues though, you may end up with pain on one side or the other because you will compensate for a mismatched stride. I would say to start with, concentrate on whether you're on the ground for the same amount of time on both feet to help eliminate any "limp" in your stride.