I don't consider myself a runner by any stretch of the word but last year I started training daily and completed my first 5K race.

I have not been on the treadmill since November and today I couldn't make it to my cardio class so I decided to give'r a whirl. I am surprised at how great it felt and although I am clearly not in the running shape I was last fall, I didn't give up.

Yes! I just went for a short (~5K) run/walk this morning...I call it run/walk as it really was about half of each for me. I've just started phase 1 of IP and am not sure on how the exercise component fits in yet. Wow, you're an inspiration, doing so great!

Good for you for not giving up, running is hard. I am training for a mini-marathon thats in April.

I was running prior to starting IP, but had to stop because my body couldn't handle the impact. I want to start again, but would like to loose a little more before starting up again. I was able to run 30 minutes at a time before I had to stop and I find I miss it.

I too was training to do a 5K and never got past week 5. I have not run since November For some reason my left hips kills me after excercise. I know a lot of it has to do with being over weight. I like the feeling after jogging, but I don't like the pains..

I bought a pair of Vibrams about a year ago, and never tried them out until late last year (December!). Honestly it was so hard to get my feet into them at first, but now is easier. The one thing that I've noticed about Vibrams is that my knees do not hurt *at all* and I've had knee pains off and on for a lot of my running life. I alternate sessions between walking/running now in my Vibrams and "regular" Mizunos and have not had any injuries! I've been taking it slowly though, with the Vibrams.

I started running as soon as I hit maintenance. I was afraid I wasn't taking in enough calories on Phase 1 to do the high impact workout. Plus I was afraid I was just to heavy to run (especially at this age). I know others have been successful with running throughout the plan though.

It's been a great component of maintenance. I am able to recover faster from my "free" day if I get up the next morning and run 5 miles. You can get a great workout in, in a short amount of time with running. Important for the busy working Mom, that's for sure.

Interesting about the Vibrams Lila. I'm intrigued and really wanting to give them a try.

What timing - I was just about to post over in Maintenance that I started the Couch to 5k program today! I'm not a runner but I figured I'd try it since my cardio was sorely lacking in P1 and P2 - thought this might work well to get me at least moving off the couch the days I don't do strength training.

I cant wait for maitenence!! Im dying to start running! I used to be half decent till I put on the weight and had hip pain running :s anyway awesome for you guys!! Im jealous!

Even though I'm in P1, (and just started!) I've been trying to run/walk every morning just after I wake up (and before I can talk myself out of it, as I usually do if I wait for later in the day!). Yesterday I was really tired and feeling weak, so I just literally would jog for about a minute, then walk for a minute etc. I felt much better at the end though (3.12 miles total). Also I wore a heart rate monitor and was in the mostly lower fat burning range the entire time--this was definitely not "high intensity".

I started running again in P1 and screeched to a halt in my weight loss - too much intensity for the amount of calories. So now I am going to take a break until I get to P2, then go easy.

I hear ya, ams94. I was exercising like crazy at the beginning of the year (crossfit, bodypump etc.), and although I lost some inches and definitely toned up, I did not lose any weight. I've lost 10 pounds already for my first weigh-in on IP! That's just amazing! So I think my light exercise is ok, so far. We'll see how the second weigh-in goes...