Started "Running for Mortals" 5-K walk training program

I've been struggling with running ever since I started exercising again in October 2007. I tried to NOT run for a long while, then added it in. I thought I was being gradual, but by late December I had injured my shin muscles pretty badly. I stopped exercising.

(Note: I started this process at 260lbs on 10/12/07, and was 234 on 1/25/08. I'm proud of myself, but I have a long way to go to my first goal, which is 200lbs.)

During that time I talked to some friends for advice and keyed into the word "intervals." I had a gift certificate to Amazon.com to burn so I searched there for books on the topic that included the idea of adding running in intervals. Pretty esoteric topic, but I succeeded in finding not one but two books that had consistently good reviews from Amazon shoppers.

I bought "Running for Mortals" by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield. It really is quite good. There is a lot of coaching, no patronizing or cheerleading and lots of specific examples of what to do, what not to do and the information to explain why. There is a questionairre that leads to the program you should choose.

I was either going to do the 5-K Walk program or the weight loss program. It came down to the equipment that I had on hand, since the weight loss regimen requires some kind of strength training and I did not have any weights, nor a health club membership, and yoga classes were going to cost me $80.00 a month.

The 5-K Walk program required walking and cross-training, and biking was an option there. I have a decent bike, and all the gear for day or night riding.

I started the 10-week 5-K Walk Program yesterday. It's really gradual, and is actually less walking per session than I was already doing in my own. But I was only getting out there 2-3 times per week, and this is 5 times per week of walking or cross-training.

At the same time, I have been watching my diet very closely. This started in October, with Phase I of The South Beach Diet. I've learned a lot about eating and gave up fried food and sweets. I've ALSO learned that if I eat sweets, the weight comes back on. I was down to 231 lbs. at one point but can't keep out of the candy jar during week periods!

I'm using http://tweetwhatyoueat.com/ to track my eating. Food is tracked either online at the website or with a direct Tweet on Twitter. It's tedious, and I don't think I am going to track food long term, but I think I can learn calorie values of foods in 3 weeks, so my goal is to track food there for that long.

So, goals:
1. 200lbs. reward: weekend getaway with wife, no kids
2. 10 week 5-K walk program: 100% adherence to the schedule, barring injury. reward: new clothes at current size at the 10-week mark.

Still pushing outdoors,

Ivan