How to run?

bdahlia13
bdahlia13 Posts: 26
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello! I want to learn how to run...I just downloaded RunKeeper on my phone and my sister was telling me how people get trained to run for marathons by going by timed intervals of running/sprinting/jogging/walking. How in the heck do I start or how can I use RunKeeper to accomplish this? I've constantly tried to jog but I get so short of breath within about a minute or two lol.

Replies

  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    Have you considered starting with a C25k (couch to 5k) program? They are very good at breaking down run lengths and explaining what you should be doing to get your distance up. You want to start slow and work your way up. Intervals are a good way to decrease your times over a given distance, but you should work on building some stamina first. You can find a lot of free C25k programs online with a simple google search. Find one you like and give it a try. That's where I started, and I just ran a huge 10k in Atlanta (and finished ahead of 27,000 people, which is exciting). Good luck.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,409 Member
    C25K is good - but really - just run. When you get tired after that minute, slow down to a walk. When you've caught your breath, run again. Keep doing that for about a half hour.

    Do that three times a week.

    Bam. C25K for Dummies :smile: That's basically all they have you do. Run, walk, run walk. Increase running, decrease walking. It gets easier and you run longer.
  • GeraldMar
    GeraldMar Posts: 6
    C25K is a great starting place, but everyone is different, and some people will need to take longer or shorter walk breaks than what is indicated in the program. So my advice it just to use it as a rough guideline,
  • bdahlia13
    bdahlia13 Posts: 26
    Thanks guys! I never heard of C25K before lol! I found an app that's made just for that and I hope I can become a runner soon!!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,409 Member
    Thanks guys! I never heard of C25K before lol! I found an app that's made just for that and I hope I can become a runner soon!!

    As soon as you are moving faster than a walk, you are a runner! Be patient, it takes time to build stamina and physical ability.
  • Zaniejane
    Zaniejane Posts: 329 Member
    You've got it!! C25k and then just do some 5 km runs with run keeper after, or ten and ones or five and ones for 5 km with run keeper:)
  • asp415
    asp415 Posts: 1,492 Member
    I have been using the zombies run C25k app. It's entertaining. I have friends here on MFP that are now running distances they never thought they could using thie C25k program. I know you can do it, just keep going & don't give up, you will amaze yourself.
  • bdahlia13
    bdahlia13 Posts: 26
    Thanks for the encouragement!!

    asp415- I read about the zombies run app LOL! I love zombies...I should take a look at it hahaha.
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,658 Member
    Hello! I want to learn how to run...I just downloaded RunKeeper on my phone and my sister was telling me how people get trained to run for marathons by going by timed intervals of running/sprinting/jogging/walking. How in the heck do I start or how can I use RunKeeper to accomplish this? I've constantly tried to jog but I get so short of breath within about a minute or two lol.

    Although I haven't tried it, people swear by C25K and from what I have read, many, many people have had excellent results with it.

    It starts off with running for just a minute and then walking for two minutes (or something like that) to start getting running-fit, give it a try!

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