Runners: what was it like when you first started?

Eric_DeCastro

15 min of running? That's great! Excellent. When I first attempted to run, I set the treadmill on 6.0 made it maybe 1 min. I had to walk. I remember watching everyone else around me on the treadmills running for MILES at a time. MILES! I just wanted to be able to run 1 mile! It took me a very very long time to be able to run a mile. I was incredibly slow. I could never have my treadmill even CLOSE to the speeds of anyone around me. Eventually, within a year, I worked up to running 10-20 min without stopping... Another year went by, and I challenged myself to run 4.5 miles. I remember feeling so accomplished that I rAn 4.5 miles in an HOUR. I continued to try to run... 3 years later, I signed up for my first "race". Then it became a whole new obsession... Now I have ran ~5:30 mile... Sub 20 5k... 7:05 pace for a 1/2 marathon & 4 full marathons. It didn't happen overnight. Celebrate every little step. Only compete with yourself. It's amazing what you are capable of

sub 20 5K that is impressive. I hope to do that some day. for now I'll run my 5Ks in 34min. that's my goal anyway.

Eric_DeCastro

I have just not long started C25K and its taking its time but its working. I only do it at the Gym though on the treadmill and I am still struggling with my breathing and also how I put my feet down. I am in agony at the moment but I think thats more to do with the squats I tried to do the other night before the treadmill, but I am determined to complete a 5K at somepoint this year. I am to scared to go out jogging myself but once the weather pics up and the lighter nights get lighter I think I might have to bite the bullet and move my butt outside!!

running outside is such a great experience. I don't use my elliptical at all. I do all my running on the pavement. it's such a great feeling

fleetzz

Hello,
Last year I lost 30 pounds for my wedding. After the honeymoon I slipped up some and gained 10 back, but have kept the over 20 off. Now, I'm ready to keep going with my weight loss journey and would like to lose another 30 pounds. The first time, I lost the weight by changing my diet with minimal exercise. Now that my diet has changed, I'm ready to start exercising. I went jogging with my dog last night and jogged for 15 min and walked for 20 min before I was exhausted. I would like to build up stamina and lung capacity and run more without getting winded. What was it like for you when you first started running? How long did you last? Long how did it take you get not get as winded?

On your first day you made it 15 minutes!?!? Wow. I make it about a hundred yards. It sucked at first. I smelled blood when I breathed AND later my muscles were sore for about 5 days. Thankfully that didn't last!

SonicDeathMonkey80

Just to add a little - while the "first time" was really a blur, the first time doing longer distance really sticks out for me. First HM in Jun 2011. Hobbling down the stairs. Walking like peglegs. Didn't run again until October (foolishly signed up for another HM) and completely quit after that. When I picked up running again Jan 2013, I (properly) worked my way up to 13 in 4 months and felt like a champ. Fast forward a year and 1000mi later, run 16-18 and run again the next day.

Moral of the story: the more consistently you run, the more it takes to knock you down. Stick with it and you'll be unstoppable.

Tomtomtomfitz

nothing too new to add to what has already been said--lots of great advice already given!

but want to agree with--

-starting slow

-starting with walk / run combo

-try to run outside (so much more enjoyable than treadmill to me)

-music helps if you like music

-definitely get decent running shoes--talk to a knowledgable running store staffperson, you don't need to break the bank but need something that fits you well and "how" you will be running

-I liked setting goals based on time, not distance. Didn't care if I ran 1 mile, 2 miles, etc, just wanted to run "20 minutes", however far that got me. Makes you listen to your body more--some days you have it, some days you don't!

-consider a heart rate monitor; I found in the beginning what really makes running so darn miserable is most people run well into their stress level, and if you run at 80% or so instead, you'll find that while you'll be going slower than you though you should, you won't be miserable and you'll stick with it. Don't worry, the speed will come--in the beginning my "running" was actually about the same speed as my walking--didn't take much to get my heart rate up! Now if I don't get in at least a few runs a week I miss it...!

runfatmanrun

It was brutal. Looking back, I was so slow and it sucked so much I should have just walked...it would have been quicker lol. But I just kept at it. Wanted to run to lose weight, now it's just plain enjoyable. Not sure when it got easier...hell, it still isn't sometimes, but it does get easier. Stick with it and you'll get there.

eapragar

Thank you so much for all of the advise and inspiration! I have the C25K app and never used it. I think I will definitely start there. I ran again today, but didn't quite make it as far because my legs were still tired from yesterday. Haha. But I will keep at it and maybe slow down a bit and start at the beginning of the C25K app.

RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle

It was sooooo hard! I couldn't even last one minute:)

Leonidas_meets_Spartacus

I could barely run for a min, now I run couple half marathons a month. Don't run every day at the beginning, run every other day and build mileage slowly.

likitisplit

Thank you so much for all of the advise and inspiration! I have the C25K app and never used it. I think I will definitely start there. I ran again today, but didn't quite make it as far because my legs were still tired from yesterday. Haha. But I will keep at it and maybe slow down a bit and start at the beginning of the C25K app.

Perfect! That is a great idea. Starting at the beginning will keep it easy and fun as you build up your conditioning.

likitisplit

a lot of walking and sucking wind. but the more I did it I noticed it didn't get any easier, I just got stronger and now I can run 4 miles (maybe more) without stopping and sucking wind. 4miles is still hard to do, but I'm just stronger and more healthy since my first day.

This is totally true. For a long time, you ask yourself why running isn't getting any easier. Then you realize that you just spent a whole day at the amusement park and aren't tired at all. The running doesn't get easier. The rest of your life gets easier.

GBrady43068

I'll call "first started" sometime in about November. At that time, it was very hard to run 10 minutes on the treadmill, I would be out of breath and soaked in sweat. When I began, I needed to lose 114 pounds to get to my goal weight so I was heavily obese so this may not be what you're feeling depending on how out of shape you are. It was similar on the elliptical. Back then I was working hard to be in the 130-140 paces per minute range and I would have a big "Rocky" style sweat stain on the front of my
sweatshirt by the time I finished.

Now I'm training for a 5K in June, doing three run/walk combos a week, 30 minutes each, including brisk walking for warmup and cooldown. Approximately 1/3 of that is jogging.

On the elliptical, I have to go way over 10 minutes to break a sweat now and my typical pace is in the high 150-160 paces per minute range.

PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot

My first "real" run back in Feb 2010 was 1 mile on a treadmill in ~14 minutes and i vomited. Lugging around ~50 extra lbs didn't help. It gets better. In retrospect, I wish I had done C25K as many others have mentioned.

lizzyclatworthy

I was miserable as sin when I started (this time round) running on a deserted cycle track (so nobody would see me and injure themselves laughing), then I watched too much Law and Order SVU and almost quit (plus one really scary moment with a creepy guy in the middle of nowhere with a sore calf muscle) but was talked into joining a gym. I have been on a treadmill all winter and I cannot wait to get back outside on the coastal path.
My friend took me out for a run on new yeas eve and as horrific as it was (he turned into shouty army guy) I am really looking forward to doing it again.

it does get better, I get that crazy buzz thing now.

stick with it!

ROBOTFOOD

Man, 6 years ago my first run was pretty much around the block. I was 5' 11'' 118lbs and you think you would be able to run fast and far but no. I had no muscle at all because I skateboarded and drank cases of coke 24/7 all through grade school. The energy that I had lasted about 2 mins, Cut down on the soda and ate more food since it made me hungrier. Within 3 months I was running 5 - 15 mi a day. I had energy for days.
6 years later, I'm still doing it. Just a lot faster.
Stick with it. It gets easier.

sevsmom

I could manage just over a mile when I started. It's been almost 3 years since I started. This July will be my 3 year anniversary. I started with the simple goal of training up to a 5K. This weekend I'll run my 5th half marathon. I knocked a full marathon off my bucket list in October. I absolutely love running now. It does take time, but one day, you'll miss out on a run and find yourself super bummed about it. That's when you'll realize how much you've grown to love running!! Keep at it!