No laughing please!!

fattothinmum

For a beginner, that's pretty awesome. My first day, I was struggling at a minute and a half of running... I was so proud of myself for that minute and a half too, as otherwise, I'd have carried on doing nothing. I can run for an hour and a half now, around your pace or slower, and I've been at this 8 months.. Well done you:

VillageSmithy

Isn't it terrific that we have the benefit of others' experience here? -- people who've been around the block ahead of us? I hope you absorbed from comments above that what really matters is that you suit up, get your buns out there, and do *something* -- not so much how fast you do it. Remember that he most beneficial exercise is your next one. So, as DetroitDarin aptly said above, "You got this, brother".

I began running early last year -- okay, mostly walking. I did six or eight miles three times per week, gradually increasing the running part. These days it's five or six miles three to five days per week, and I still vary my gait and speed. The high school track is nearby, so I can sprint safely. I happen to be a data junkie, so I do track my performance, and I'm always competing with myself.

Injuries are very, very disruptive, and as we age, we recover more slowly. Do be careful out there!

jdawson002

So last night I decided to slow it down slightly. Instead of 1.5 miles I done 2.05 miles in just under 21 minutes.....I never thought I would have been able to run that far!!

JeepHair77

You're doing fantastic!

DoubleG2

Start here:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

You've done a great job taking the first step. C25K will help put a little structure around your workouts and give you a base of fitness to run longer and faster. My advice - take it slow. Happy running!

Philtex

You are doing great!

C25K is a really good suggestion.

girlinahat

Excellent start.

The best way to learn to run faster, is to run further. And to do that you may have to slow down. Endurance builds a better runner, and speed comes later. I wouldn't worry about adding sprints in at this point, work on going faster.

The suggestion of a structured programme such as c25k is a good one. It helps you build distance, and gets you running continuously. If the reason you only ran 2.05 miles in your last run is that you didn't feel you could run any more, then you are pushing too fast and ripe for injury. Injury will destroy all the good things you've achieved.

It's hard at first to stick to a programme, especially on the good days where you want to just run and run, but play the long game. Using a programme gives measurable progress - you won't need to be asking others if this is good, because you'll KNOW it was good - it felt good, it was better than last time, and it's repeatable.

Go for it.

Tedebearduff

jdawson002 wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I'm fairly new to exercise and yesterday I managed to jog 1.5 miles in 15 minutes.....no laughing please!!!

Anyway it got me thinking, as I'm solely trying to lose weight, should I be looking to jog faster or to jog further? or both?

Thanks

You should be looking to lift weights and quit jogging all together

lenalovestofish

1.5 in 15? I would be laying on the ground huffing and puffing

johnnylloyd0618

Brother, first off, that is a 10 minute mile (6mph) not too shabby! Now keep in mind when running you should be able to hold a conversation, except for speed work outs of course. Once you can comfortably run your distance for two weeks, then you can up your distance but only by 10%. I am a bit older and my coach says quality runs over quantity, so no runs for 2 days of a hard run. I use a "9 day" routine and it has worked great for me. Plenty of rest, and on my "non-run" days, I bike. My speeds have improved as well as my distance and NO injuries! I actually look forward to my run days instead of "just doing them".

BasicGreatGuy

If you are just looking to lose weight, you need to be consistent counting calories and not over-indulging. That is what brings weight loss.

jdawson002

thanks for your support everyone. I broke the number 1 rule last night and pushed myself too hard. I managed 2.6 miles in 27 minutes but today my right ankle and knee are killing me......you live and learn I guess!!

jdawson002

and before anyone says....yes I feel like an idiot for injuring myself!!

goldthistime

jdawson002 wrote: »

thanks for your support everyone. I broke the number 1 rule last night and pushed myself too hard. I managed 2.6 miles in 27 minutes but today my right ankle and knee are killing me......you live and learn I guess!!

I'm glad you came back and posted, perhaps you will help someone else. My joints and tendons can never keep up with my muscles and lung capacity, and enthusiasm. The trick is to channel that enthusiasm into a smart, slow ramp and to choose more than one exercise, especially once you are injured. Rowing, cycling, swimming etc. Good luck!

kendahlj

I want to run 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes for the Air Force fitness test I'm working towards and sometimes it feels like an impossible goal. So good job.

Timothyh27

That's a good time for someone that's just started. Just slowly build it up.

upoffthemat

jdawson002 wrote: »

thanks for your support everyone. I broke the number 1 rule last night and pushed myself too hard. I managed 2.6 miles in 27 minutes but today my right ankle and knee are killing me......you live and learn I guess!!

Ice your knee and ankle and stay off it for a day or two. Give it time to heal up and just walk a bit for a few days if it starts feeling better. Follow the C25K program getting back into it and build yourself up slowly but surely. If you do you will be running a good amount in just a few weeks and should greatly reduce your injury risk.

jdawson002

my endurance told me to keep going as I didn't find myself struggling but obviously my leg had other ideas!!

definitely taking it slow from now on....gutted I can't go to the gym for a few days or so.

MeanderingMammal

jdawson002 wrote: »

and before anyone says....yes I feel like an idiot for injuring myself!!

Most people have been there.

Sometimes it's the best thing. I had to withdraw from a marathon earlier in the year because of calf strain and the impact on my training. Many others have had similar experiences.

zamphir66

jdawson002 wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I'm fairly new to exercise and yesterday I managed to jog 1.5 miles in 15 minutes.....no laughing please!!!

Anyway it got me thinking, as I'm solely trying to lose weight, should I be looking to jog faster or to jog further? or both?

Thanks

I just finished C25K, and I run a mile in about 11 minutes at this point. So you're running faster than I am. So I'm pretty offended. If you think your rate might be "funny," what do you think of mine? Wanna fight?

fredericktambunan

Lift weights.

Motorsheen

Tedebearduff wrote: »

jdawson002 wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I'm fairly new to exercise and yesterday I managed to jog 1.5 miles in 15 minutes.....no laughing please!!!

Anyway it got me thinking, as I'm solely trying to lose weight, should I be looking to jog faster or to jog further? or both?

Thanks

You should be looking to lift weights and quit jogging all together

I'm glad somebody else thinks this too.

Wanna run? fine... make it HIIT training.

Losing weight? It's all ( okay, 90%) about diet. (imho)

Motorsheen

also.. for a beginner and a fairly large guy, your times are just fine; nobody would laugh at you.

re5pext

hlektra28

I just start, lets say jogging ( very very veryyyyyyyy slow) and I can hardly jog for 5 minutes
you re doing great, keep going...!

MoveitlikeManda

i think thats great, i started doing couch to 5k and could barely do th 90 seconds jog.

which is laughable seeing as my walking pace is my husbands jog lol so why i can walk so quickly yet cant run is beyond me