Well, after several weeks of very little running, I did a good steady 3-mile run/walk on Sunday. Out of nowhere, I had some seizures at the end of October and have been diagnosed with epilepsy. Long story short, I've had lots of tests done and have been on seizure-control meds for a month now. For the first week of meds, the whole world spun all over the place whenever I moved my head, but I've gotten used to them. I get really tired off and on, but exercise makes me feel a lot better - I'm so glad for that!

Now looking FORWARD - I've been reading about an epileptic who competes in IM's, an epileptic who continues to run 30 miles per week, and lots of other encouraging stories. Plus my doctor has said I can do pretty much whatever I'm comfortable doing (with some reasonable precautions --) except 1. No driving for 6 months (that one bites!) and 2. Recommend no baths, just showers, unless there is someone in the house close by who can hear me should I have a seizure and slip under water.

I've done a few 2-mile run/walks since then - to adjust and learn how this disease and med is going to affect me. I've discovered how nice it can be to just run laps around the park in the grass - much easier on the joints! And the run on Sunday was actually a .75 mile warm-up walk and .75 mi. cool-down (in the bitter, windy cold) to and from the gym with the 3-miler on the treadmill. I hadn't tried walking to the gym before. I don't know why - the walk to and from was really good for a warm-up and cool-down.

Feels kind of like I'm starting all over again.-- I can't tell you all how helpful it is to read your posts about just keeping at it. It could be easy to forget how much fun the running was and how good it felt to finish a long run. This forum has been a good source of support through some of my biggest training milestones, and it's good to read now, too. Keep up the great running, everyone!

Deb