I need...well I want to run but I need to learn how. Sounds stupid huh? But when I try to run I find myself spread eagle on the sidewalk. Clumsy, uncoordinated.

I'm finally just over one year post op from my gastric bypass surgery and my weight is hovering between 165 to 170 lbs. That's with no exercise for about 5 months (yeah I'm not toned now - call me flubber).

I should say that from the end of April 2007 to August 2007 I was unable to exercise because well I was gravely ill/dying. I felt it but the doctors could not find out why until they did exploratory surgery and found that my large intestines had tangled themselves up and were dying off in sections. The large intestine problem had absolutely nothing to do with my gastric bypass surgery (RNY is resectioning the stomach and the small intestines not the large intestine). This problem a preexisting condition that was probably hiding because I've had IBS, bowel obstructions and intestinal infections since my teens this was just a problem waiting for room to happen. Anyway, my gastric bypass surgery did not hurt (internally) at all BUT when surgeons remove chunks of your large intestines my body's pain receptors freaked and I was in severe pain for over 6 weeks. Worse for my vanity my gut was so swollen I looked like I was pregnant. All I could do was lie in bed take my vicodin and wait for the pain to go away and try to wak as lightly and as little as possible.

So, finally mid-August the pain went away the bloat went away and I had to start rebuilding my endurance. I had been walking over 7 miles or more day and going to the gym for the weight machines, now I could barely walk my block.

Now I'm back up to 5 to 7 miles (San Francisco's Hills and stairs) and losing weight again but I have this overwhelming desire to run. I dream about it. I always have. These are wonderful happy dreams. The few sprints I've tried I've felt elated and light as a feather until I crashed into the dirty San Francisco sidewalk. Yeah I have a gym membership at a shi-shi gym with great treadmills but it's nice outside right now (plus I'm angry at my gym so I haven't been there since April because they refused to put my membership on hold even though I was dying and on doctor's orders could not leave my bed).

Two of my brother's were natural runners and I remember watching them and being envious. I actually am angry at one of my brother's because he loved/loves running but now apparently he loves beer and smoking pot with his wife a little more. He still talks fondly of running and how his daughters are gonna run in high school and I say "yeah sure, I think they might take after your current example - beer and pot if you don't get off your duff and teach them how to run." Anyway, he's got natural running ability. I do not.

I think I can burn more calories overall with running. I think I'll like running once I learn how. I think once I start I won't stop.

I need to find a beginning runner's club in San Francisco (and yes I've goggled they meet when I'm at work for the city or they're training for marathons and I just need to learn the basics.) Isn't there just a school in San Francisco for clumsy goofs who cannot run without falling?

I need to learn how to run without falling. Is that too much to ask?