Finished my first 5k race today!

 Thanks! 

Wow, good for you!

 Thanks! 

Big kudos!!  I walk a 5K almost daily but I haven't started running yet.  You're inspiring me to get moving!

Thanks! I used the C25K program and I have to say, it really works! It takes you just slow enough that you can tweak your routine with minimal effort and because it eases you in you can watch for signs in your body of readiness to move on and possible problem areas that need to be addressed before injury. Like after my first few runs I found that my ankles where killing me, looked it up and found out about overpronation (outward turn of the ankles) so I hit a local running store and got evaluated so that I would have the right shoes and support and it changed everything for me. If I had not been going slow with the C25K I would have ended up with an injury that probably would have kept me from EVER running. 

 This is all great advice.  I have the C25k on my iPhone ready to get going when my body feels up to it.  I've been recovering from plastics and parts of me still are not up for the impact.  You're right about the correct shoes.  I only wear Brooks Ariel as per the surgeon that reconstructed my ankle in 2008. The right shoes mean everything, even for walking and hiking.

 Yay!!!! Good for you!

 Thanks!

Way to go and CONGRATS I know how you feel, I ran my first 5k last Saturday and crossing that finish line after running the entire race was an amazing feeling. Great time by the way.

Congrats on your big finish too! It's just an amazing, amazing feeling. Today I am a little sore and a lot sunburned, but it was so worth it. As for my time, I nearly screwed that up big time, I got caught up in the pack and pushed myself a little to hard at the start to keep up at a pace that is not comfortable for me and found myself struggling towards the middle. So I pulled back and fell into my normal, comfortable pace, did some breathing exercises and pulled it together, but it was a close call and I almost had to drop to a walk to pull myself back together. I ended up coming in almost a full minute under my best time, so overall I was happy with it! 

I am doing it again next weekend and the weekend after, I am a glutton for punishment LOL