Got a new puppy last week. She's a 10 week old boxer/lab mix. I've been walking her two to three times every day, usually at least 30 min at a time. She actually got me jogging for a bit! This could get ugly once she gets strong enough to really make it a race. Definitely more motivation to get off the couch though. I'm finding that the more I get out, the more energy I have. Plus, the weather has been wonderful.

Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I've been meaning to join the site since I started running/walking with the First Strides program, but time has been my enemy. Well, that and procrastination! :)
I'd like to thank Frank, Christine and all the others for taking the time to create a program for people to get started (or re-started) in athletics. It's so important these days to have some sort of exercise program and this group is definitely a very active one! The support has been phenomenal. For me, that's a very important part. Without motivation, I become the biggest couch potato. My goal is to actually run a race (possibly 5k) by the end of the year. Considering the fact that I haven't run in over 10 years, it's not going to be an easy goal!

I've struggled with plantar fasciitis for over 10 years. It all started with a broken foot and just never got better. Years of therapy, e-stim, varous ice and/or heat combinations, and even 2 surgeries didn't begin to touch it. I did get a night brace that helped, but it was cumbersome and made it difficult to sleep. Christine suggested a product called The Strassberg Sock.
WOW! What a difference! While I'm not exactly pain-free, I can at least get up in the morning with minimal discomfort. It's not cumbersome at all and wearing it actually feels very natural after a few days. Here is the link: http://www.thesock.com/ . I hope this helps some others with similar problems.