New to running HELP!

momzeeee

Just started last week so we can do this together I've been walking 15 minute miles, in 2 mile increments since March, and decided to start running because my kid's school is doing a 5k fundraiser this fall. I've been incorporating the running into my walking routine-walkiing 1.5 miles and run the last .5 mile. I started needing 6 walking breaks for the .5 but this morning I only did one walking break, for three driveways Tommorow I'm going to try to do the whole .5 mile with no walking. I also got myself a pair of shoes, since that's supposed to be super important. Got some Fila skele-toes, wild lol. Love them though

CarleyJo89

In November last year I'd never ran before in my life so I decided to sign up for a 10k (intelligent thing to do I know!!). But it gave me something to aim for, I had 6months to be able to run 10k without stopping. The first 3 weeks were the hardest weeks of my life, I thought i'd never be able to do it.

I started running with people from work, it hurt like hell but I got this mentality of 'if they're not stopping neither am I'. It was hard, very hard but eventuality it got easier! And in May I ran 10k in 1hr 8mins. Not super fast but its a time I can work with. My next goal is to do 10k in 1hr. I did 5k today in 29 minutes so i'm on the way!

All i'd say is make sure you have good trainers, something to aim for and good people around you to keep you motivated!

pmcbrady

I echo the c25K program as a great place to start. I started 3 weeks ago, couldn't run the 60 seconds the first time (I'm 100lbs over weight) and decided I would keep redoing the week until I could do all the running portions for the full 60 seconds. It took me two weeks. I started week 2 that has 90 seconds runs. The first two days I still had to walk the final run, today I ran all of them! I will redo the week so that I run all of them for 3 days. I've read over and over that the key is to run slower than you think you should. I've started doing that and it is helping me to make the distance. I've talked to some seasoned runners and they all said the same thing, run at a pace so you can actually run all the parts andkeep building up distance. The time for speed is after you can run the entire thing. Good luck! Oh, yes I did invest in good shoes and that has really helped in two ways, number one my feet and legs feel much better and number two, it makes me use them otherwise I"d feel guilty having spent that much money to let them sit in the closet!

Alwayssohungry

In November last year I'd never ran before in my life so I decided to sign up for a 10k (intelligent thing to do I know!!). But it gave me something to aim for, I had 6months to be able to run 10k without stopping. The first 3 weeks were the hardest weeks of my life, I thought i'd never be able to do it.

I started running with people from work, it hurt like hell but I got this mentality of 'if they're not stopping neither am I'. It was hard, very hard but eventuality it got easier! And in May I ran 10k in 1hr 8mins. Not super fast but its a time I can work with. My next goal is to do 10k in 1hr. I did 5k today in 29 minutes so i'm on the way!

All i'd say is make sure you have good trainers, something to aim for and good people around you to keep you motivated!

That is awesome ! I need to look for a local race in the fall as my goal.

Sjenny5891

do a C25K.
It is Couch to 5k.... Designed to introduce running a little at a time until you can do 20 minutes at a time.
The program I'm doing is a 10 week.... I'm going with some of my friends who need a longer program. I saw a 4 week program too.
Week 1 was do a warm-up walk for 5 minutes then (run 1 minute/ walk 2 minutes)* seven times = 21 minutes - cool down walk
This week is warm up- (run 2 minutes/ walk 2 minutes) five times= 20 minutes- cool down walk
They were specific that the run wasn't supposed to be too hard. You were supposed to be able to talk complete scentences when running so it is more like a jog than a full out run.

molly_grue

When I started running a year and a half ago. I ran for 15 minutes, came home collapsed in a heap onto the floor near the door wheezing and feeling like I was about to die and I said "That was awesome!"
You have to build up slowly and yeah it will suck at first but it is worth it. Even at the beginning I would have a few minutes in all the torture where I felt serene and amazing.

Ant_the_old_keith_lemon

Some good stuff on this topic from people with all sorts of different experiences.. One thing is common on all posts determination, "if they aren't stopping neither am i"

fitnewlife

ETA: Drink about a litre of water an hour or so before going for your run so you ensure you're properly hydrated and won't get thirsty during your run. I made the mistake of not doing so in the beginning, therefore needing to drink water while running. This caused me to have cramps and I had to stop my run sooner than I'd wanted to.
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Proper hydration doesn't occur from a liter of water prior to a run. Proper hydration takes place by drinking enough fluids every day. You can't make up for a deficit prior to your run. Many people would also find a liter of water sloshing around in their stomach to be rather unpleasant.

Also, the link between dehydration and cramping appears to have been vastly overstated. Cramping has been shown to be caused by two things. Heredity and asking muscle tissues to perform beyond what they have been trained for.


I agree. Drinking too much water right before running can be uncomfortable. You have to drink water daily and all day instead of right before running. Besides who wants to have stop during a run to find a place to go potty. I was told to try to drink half my body weight daily.

I agree.







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