Training for a charity run

fat2fitdancody

I want to do a charity run sometime this year but I've only just started getting fit and I'm not sure what level of fitness I need to be aiming for and I'm a bit worried about running at my weight.

I know I need the correct trainers and have found a running shop that does gait analysis.

I currently go to the gym Monday to Friday and do 10.4 km on the eliptical trainer at maximum resistance (20) for just under an hour (54-58 minutes until I hit 1200 calories), and then walk around 2 miles to work. I was wondering how much more difficult running is compared to the elipitcal trainer?

I am currently 130.4 kg down from 139 at the start of the year but I'm worried about stressing my joints by running, should I start now or wait until I've lost more weight?

TL;DR - Am I too fat to run?

wombat94

Hi Dan,

I would say if you are doing 50-60 minutes on an elliptical, that you are fit enough to start training for a charity run (I'm assuming you are talking about a 5K run).

You are probably not too heavy to start running. I am currently 295 lb and I started running about 4 weeks ago when I weighed about 305. I always thought I was too heavy to run, but so far I haven't had any problems.

The key is to start out slow and build up incrementally. There is a type of running training program for beginners called a Couch to 5K program which will take someone of nearly any fitness level from never having run to being able to run 30 minutes/5K at a stretch in just 9 weeks.

I'm in the middle of week 4 right now and I am amazed at how well the program works.

There are lots of places to get info on a Couch 2 5K program if you google the term and there is a group here on MFP that is for folks currently doing a Couch 2 5K program.

Good luck!

Ted