So, What events are you currently in training for? My running goals: 1. tonight I run a 5k 2. I'm training for a 10 mile run in October 3. My dream is to run a marathon in June. So, lurkers and posters - come out of the crawl spaces and post your answer to this poll. (And posting "I just really want to learn how to run" is TOTALLY allowed!) Hugs, ~Lara

Wow! so you posted this about a month ago and no replys??? did you get any emails? Are you still there???? Ok...I'll take your challenge. I'm one year post op and have been training for a 1/2 marathon. Last week I ran 22 miles total (not to mention a 9mile bike ride). This week I've run 4 miles so far... The challenge will be to keep up the pace after my memorial day marathon. How have you been doing this month? Rachel

Ok Summer's coming and I wanna know "WHO'S READY FOR A CHALLENGE?" Call me but now MORE than ever, I need extra motivation when it comes to exercise... SO Whaddya say? I challenge EVERYBODY (and I'll post this to as many boards as possible) to WALK, RUN, JOG, CRAWL, RIDE (bikes or whatever you can) at LEAST 5 miles A WEEK! Come on YALL that's not a lot! So I KNOW I can do this, CAN YOU? WANNA PLAY? I will check in and out every Thursday (if I can) to motivate, and remind yall, but let's MOTIVATE each other!!! Are you GAME? Post your reply or you can email me I KNOW I NEED WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISING! Am I the only one who feels this way? ~*~*~Beth~*~*~ 329.4/266/140 http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=H1077226915

Hey Julia!!! Congrats on the weight loss and the marathon. It's always been my dream to run a marathon and January of 2006 I will make it happen. I'm planning on running in the Disney World marathon in January. I wish I could run this summer, but I'm not sure if my weight will make that possible. I feel blessed having had the surgery and living through it. My life is sure changing for the better and I intend on not letting it go back to what it was. PLEASE keep us posted on how you do in the Marathons!!! Tami~

I am so excited! I registered today to train and run a marathon. Don't know which one yet, Alaska or Honolulu or San Francisco - maybe all of them? The sky is the limit now. I was just sharing with a PO last night that I cried and i had such a hard time with this surgery, I had a fever, high blood pressure, I couldnt get up to walk after surgery because I was fainitng...it was awful! To top things off I had complications and spent another week in the hospital. When I first went home I was so depressed and regreted my decision. I said I would rather be fat than go through all of this. Well - 5 months later and 95 pounds gone - I am so thankful I made this change and that I am doing things like kayaking, horseback riding and now - training for a marathon - that is 26.2 miles people! I dont think this surgery is for everyone. And at the time of my complications - had i known all these things I may not have had this surgery - but just 5 months out I am living the life I have always wanted. I am still 205 lbs - I am still obese and I am still not in the best of shape. But I feel more normal now. I feel I can do anything a 120 lbs woman can do. And yes I have 85 lbs more to lose - but you know what - I am the happiest I have been in my life - and I really do owe it all to this surgery., For me - this was a life saver....my life was not quite in jeapordy - the only medical issue I had was I was 300 lbs and a bordeline blood pressure...but the quality of my life was not what i wanted it to be. And I am living my life now. 24 years late - but I'm not wasting a minute of it anymore. Thanks to you all for being supportive through my tough times. Julia Surgery 08/02/04 300/205/120