Couch to 5k (c25k) Week 1 Day 1

Today was the day I found out whether I could run or not. I started the Couch to 5k program. The first week involves alternating running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds. It starts with a 5 minute walk to warm up before the first run.
I stretched, started the walking portion, and psyched myself up to run. I can't really remember, but it feels like years since I've done any kind of a run - even for a short distance. So I wondered - can I run? Well, I found out I can - sort of. My left leg was doing a great job, but my right leg was doing a very poor job of making any kind of a soft landing. It would pretty much "slam" down. I thought; "I'm going to break something". So, bottom line - I ran 60 seconds. Most of the other "runs" were a brisk walk with a long stride, and some were breaks. By the time the recording of Christian music I had downloaded was done, I had gone 2.5km. I switched to my regular programming and walked home. My total walk was 4.7km. I'm not sure I've completely given up on running, but I'm just going to stick with the brisk walk in place of the run segments for now, and see where that takes me.

Daily Exercise Update

The 12's have moved on to 15 --> 15 pushups, 20 crunches, 20 leg lifts, 15 reverse leg lifts, and 15 more pushups. Then 5 miles on the exercise bike and .... here comes the commitment; I downloaded mp3 files with Christian music to guide me through the Couch to 5k program. Now it remains to be seen if the headphones will stay on my head while running.

Nine weeks from now I should be able to run 5k.

Exercise

This article emphasizes the importance of exercise. I'm working on a routine of 12 pushups (working up to 20 on all the twelves), 20 crunches, 12 forward leg lifts, 12 reverse leg lifts, and 12 more pushups. Then I do 3.5 miles on the exercise bike, and intend to go for a 5km walk.

I want to be positive about approaches that avoid drugs, but the cynic in me wonders what's really going on with Dr. David Heydrick. I got his name from a mailing from Robert Rodgers - which I read but am very skeptical of. David has an article here (pdf link); where he's happy about his DBS, but other articles only seem to be promoting exercise. Maybe he's like the rest of us; grasping at straws looking for relief from PD.

I'm going to stick with exercise, and try to keep an open mind. I've started reading this ebook (pdf link), and we'll see where it takes me.

I'm hoping to participate in a CoQ10 study, which would involve NOT being on meds for 18 months, so the rule from Dr. Janice Walton-Hadlock at pdrecovery.org won't be broken.

Internal Tremors

I wasn't exactly sure what people were referring to when they mentioned internal tremors, but I think I'm getting an idea. Last night my hand (along the meta-carpals area) was 'twitching' mostly internally; so the best way to describe it seems to be; 'internal tremor'.

It sure doesn't help trying to get to sleep. Unlike the leg and arm tremors I have, the internal tremors don't stop when I'm laying down.

Eating

I'm getting lazy with the use of my right hand, and I'm starting to eat left-handed more often. I need to focus on "getting through it". I wouldn't want my arm to fall off :-)

New links - from Monica

I got a few new links today. Thanks Monica!

See the "added 20090717" tab to see what's new.

She also sent this link, not specific to Parkinsons; www.emofree.com

Support groups

Until Wednesday, my primary source of support from other PD patients came from patientslikeme.com

It was good to meet other patients face-to-face and to hear their stories.

Some of the great points I got;

• we all have the same disease
• it affects each of us differently, progresses at a different pace, and is treated differently for each of us
• only really nice people get Parkinson's disease :-)

I was inspired to take part in the SuperWalk. I'm looking forward to participating.