I AM NOT A RUNNER AT ALL

dixiejeep

but i feel like i should start? now i absolutley hate running, and i dont think i can even run a mile, so how far do you guys think i should start out? because i dont wanna try to run and kill myself hahaha...any suggestions?

casey12105

I've heard the couch to 5k program is an amazing way to start running. If you google it, it should pop right up. It's all about intervals, walking for so many minutes, jogging for some, and increasing that as you go on. You can even find podcasts you can download that have music set up to go with the intervals so you know when to walk and when to run without having to time it.

elliecolorado

Agreed! Look at the Couch to 5K program http://www.c25k.com/ I used to run, but haven't in years and I just started doing that program last week to get back into running shape.

anzura

I used to say that too! I wouldn't run unless I was being chased. Now I love it. You just have to get beyond that really hard beginning stage and then it's really enjoyable.

I've had to restart 2 or 3x due to illness or injury or recovery. It's just like starting all over again, but doesn't take as long.

I never did the C25K program. I just started running here and there during my walks and before I knew it, I was running more than walking. Good luck!

jjhenry5

I was in the same boat 4 years ago when some friends convinced me to sign up for a half marathon. I hadn't run at all since high school gym class. I didn't think that I liked running, but buckling to peer pressure and needing to get in shape, I relented. When I started I could only run 15 seconds, then walk 45, and so on. And I only went a half mile. However, I did complete the half marathon six months later, and then I got hooked and have run 4 more halfs and 2 full marathons and am still running. You CAN do it.

Oh, and I was the only one who did that first half marathon out of the friends who convinced me to do it. I still give them grief over that.

dlynn08

I am (almost) a graduate of the Couch to 5k program. I have one more run on Friday and I did it! It's great...though you might be tempted to give up when that 20 minute run in week 5 sneaks out of nowhere. Push yourself (listen to your body though---if you're going to die, slow down or stop) and you'll be AMAZED at what your body is capable of. Good luck!

jessdulin

i also started out never have ran and im half way through the couch to 5k recomendations. i didnt follow it very strictly i just kept pushing myself little by little i used to only be able to do 30 seconds now im up to 5 min running. just start with interval training in replace of whatever you used to do for cardio its great and you learn to push your body little by little. 30 seconds more of an intense spirt each time is alot and i find myself doing it with more and more of my work outs.

missy1970eb

start with walking, then add in jogging/walking combined

Mandi1968

I resorted to swimming, but I think I will look up this couch to 5K program, sounds intersting!

Homer3D

I will have to look for it, but I did something similar but it was more of a “couch to half marathon” training guide I found. I too hated running, but not because I didn’t like it but because I have flat feet. Makes running a little more painful than compared to people with normal feet. I don’t want to sound like a Nike ad, but just do it. On 1/1/2009 I made a news years resolution that I would complete a half marathon. When I started I barely going do half a mile without feeling like my heart was going to explode. As time went on, so did the miles. Eventually I was doing 5k’s (3 miles) as a “warm up”. Then you get in this weird rhythm where you are just jogging. One time I was out and I did 8 miles and didn't even realize it. I just stopped running because it got dark. I jog outside. Treadmills are boring. The pain if my feet is still there, but I have learned to “ignore it”. I notice after about 2 or 3 miles into the jog, it goes away. Well on 10/2009 I completed my first ever half marathon. Success!

Me at the finish http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/6926_1243087473602_1121801784_30782076_453711_n.jpg

milehighcritic

When I started back in December I was not a runner. I never enjoyed running or treadmill. I started out slow on the treadmill to benefit from the calorie burn. I enjoy running and treadmill now. Looking forward to my first 5k in May and 10k over Memorial Day weekend.

JoAnnLeahMurphy

I did look at the couch to 5k and it does look amazing. I was going to start it this week but could not find a stop watch or any watch for that matter, so I still started to run. My first run I jogged to three light posts, and then walked one light post, then jogged three light posts and walked one, ect, and did this for 30 minutes. The next time I went out I jogged the four poles and walked one, and repeated that...so that is how I am starting... good luck!


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andyj1984

I did my first session of C25K today, after someone on the forum recommended it to me! Manged 8 minutes of jogging, with 12 minutes of walking. Was very out of breath by the end of it! I might have to repeat the odd week here and there, since my general fitness is pretty poor But I'm determined to succeed with it! Ultimately I want to get back into swimming, but I need a bit more general fitness behind me first, I think! (don't want to drown) LOL

Nich0le

I hated couch to 5k, I just started out using fitness music created for interval training, my favorites are the cardio coach series by Sean OMalley. I never thought I like running but now I can't get enough. If you go to runnersworld.com there are training programs for free on there too.

I just found C25K to be slow.

Nich0le

I hated couch to 5k, I just started out using fitness music created for interval training, my favorites are the cardio coach series by Sean OMalley. I never thought I like running but now I can't get enough. If you go to runnersworld.com there are training programs for free on there too.

I just found C25K to be slow.

lilRicki

I'm scared to start...I have the C25K app on my phone, and I want to download the itunes C25K that coaches you on how to run...I have never ran, and I feel that my fat butt needs a good work out, so if you want be my friend we can get through this together....

Marisela233

Bump
if your doing this on a treadmill i have a great walking excercise that might prepare you for some jogging its a great calorie burner and its only 45 mins long or C25K is great also i just started a few days ago and i love it!! i can post up the excercise later on in the day

stenochick0417

I LOATHE running, plus I get awful shin splints, no matter what I do. I know there are many many people out there that LOVE to run, but I am NOT one of them, so, I sympathize. :grumble: I've tried starting out gradually, the C25K program (for about 2 weeks -- hated it too) but I found what I do LOVE, and that's cycling. I LOVE it so much, I plan on riding in some races next year. (After I get a decent road bike, that is. My el cheapo mountain bike is just not cutting it!)

I say, find what you love to do -- THAT'S the best motivation ever. If I didn't love to ride, I sure would not feel like making myself slog through it, even if it's just to lose weight, get healthy, etc. . . I've found that no amount of guilting myself into exercising works with me. If I hate it, I'm just not going to do it. (Plus, the shin splints are a big killer, too.)

CricketKate

I read on another thread this morning that you can download music to accompany the couch to 5k program. I think it was called Podrunner.

Sadie98072

I used the podrunner intervals by dj beatsmith (c25k website - free to download) and it was great. Really easy to follow and the weeks and km's flew by.
I dont really understand why people would use such strong negative statements like "scared to start" and "I cant run"? Not picking on anyone in particular, I just dont get what there is to be scared of and how would you know if you cant run if you havnt given it a good shot?
Save being scared for the big things like heights or sharks and the "cant"s should be reserved for things like "I cant pull a train by myself" lol. Its just running :happy:

SabrinaJL

For some of us, it's not "just running". I was one of those people that was scared to start. I have general anxiety disorder and part of it is health anxiety. With my weight, I've been worried about my heart for a while. I was genuinely scared that if I did really strenuous physical activity like running, I'd have a heart attack. Yeah, I know that's pretty paranoid for someone my age, but I've been fat for a long time and have had high blood pressure for a long time. Another thing I get with my anxiety is panic attacks (shortness of breath, dizziness, etc...), so I was afraid I'd be running and pass out.

I actually went to my doctor for a heart stress test. Heart is fine and I'm on week 6 of c25k. I still have twinges of worry about it though. I KNOW that it's helping my heart (my blood pressure meds have been reduced by half after only 2 months), but anxiety isn't logical. I can't talk myself out of it no matter how hard I try.

Sadie98072

For some of us, it's not "just running". I was one of those people that was scared to start. I have general anxiety disorder and part of it is health anxiety. With my weight, I've been worried about my heart for a while. I was genuinely scared that if I did really strenuous physical activity like running, I'd have a heart attack. Yeah, I know that's pretty paranoid for someone my age, but I've been fat for a long time and have had high blood pressure for a long time. Another thing I get with my anxiety is panic attacks (shortness of breath, dizziness, etc...), so I was afraid I'd be running and pass out.

I actually went to my doctor for a heart stress test. Heart is fine and I'm on week 6 of c25k. I still have twinges of worry about it though. I KNOW that it's helping my heart (my blood pressure meds have been reduced by half after only 2 months), but anxiety isn't logical. I can't talk myself out of it no matter how hard I try.

Sorry, you are right - anxiety isnt logical and nor should it be treated as a flippant topic. I probably should have qualified what I said, I am sorry if I have upset you or anyone else.
The type of people that I was talking about, the type of person I used to be, is the able bodied (albeit not in good shape or condition) average Joe who is lacking confidence in their abilities.
Low self esteem used to make me make a whole lot of negative statements and often I would talk myself out of something before I even tried it.
Self talk is really important in the weight loss and fitness journey. Its easy to talk ourselves out of trying new experiences because they are "scary" and take us out of our comfort zone.
My brain still tries to talk me out of going to the gym every morning lol. So I tell my brain to shut up and get my *kitten* out of bed anyway.
Sorry for the trhread hi-jack, it wasnt my intention to ruffle any feathers.

SabrinaJL

Sorry, you are right - anxiety isnt logical and nor should it be treated as a flippant topic. I probably should have qualified what I said, I am sorry if I have upset you or anyone else.

Sorry for the trhread hi-jack, it wasnt my intention to ruffle any feathers.

Not at all. I didn't think you were being flippant or dismissive and I wasn't offended. I just wanted to point out there could be other issues going on :flowerforyou:

maddymama

I finished the Couch to 5 K program a week or two ago. It was awesome. I downloaded the Fat to Fit to Fierce podcasts and listened to those while I ran/jogged (with a jogging stroller, I might add). Now I'm running 4 miles a day 4 or 5 days a week. I liked C25K bc it started so slow that my body could adjust to running slowly and not get hurt. My lungs, shins, etc. didn't bother me at all with the process.....
I did have to repeat a couple of weeks due to family stuff (sick kids, etc.). This program was so worth it.

peteyTwang

Hey, good tips in this thread... and Stolly's point is a very good one too! It's very easy to PSYCHE yourself out of an activity that we almost ALL did and LOVED as kids until someone made us grow up and STOP! I'll admit I was pretty scared to get started for a few reasons.... mostly because I associated it with being punished at school (they made us run LAPS!) and once I got older and really fat and tried it again it was just too painful...the absolute LAST thing I can imagine ever enjoying.... but now I go out and do about 20 Miles or more a week!

After getting into Cycling, In-Line Skating, Ice Skating, Shinny Hockey, even Swimming (unless you are geographically LUCKY!)...just about anything else is more complicated and/or more expensive than running. It's very liberating and wonderfully exciting to discover running is basically ALWAYS available any time and all you need is SHOES.

It's also so much more fun when Running is something you want to do for yourself! Like others mention here my running started as an extension of Long Distance Walking... after walking all those miles I just wanted to do it FASTER ya know? I don't think I have the patience for The C25K or any interest in Running competitively in marathons etc. I just go for my own pleasure... start by walking to warm up then look at my watch or pick a landmark and decide time to run.. then I start walking BEFORE any pain and allow my heart rate to slow down a bit (from 140+ down to 108 or so) before I'll start running again... playing with speed intervals and FARTLEK (as much fun to say as it is to do!) I'm still building up my stamina, according to my HRM I ran 60%- 70% of my last ~two hour session yesterday... Usually I only go about an hour but I just felt like kicking it up a notch

lol. Its just running :happy: