300 lbs and ran my 2nd 5K. I feel like a superhero! (w/pics)

you give me hope. I'm running a 5k in December currently 309 lbs started the negative talk (I'll never be able to do this)
but you have inspired me. I'm signing up! thanks for the inspiration

Oh my gosh, yes you can! December is plenty of time to train up! I know when I started running I had many days of "I'll never be able to do this." I think I mentioned in another comment that when I started I was doing barely more than a "shuffle run" and I couldn't sustain that for more than 10-20 seconds. It was so hard and it never felt like I could breathe! I started the C25K program but I was not in shape enough to complete week 1. I repeated week 1 four or five times before I was able to move on and it was hard to keep telling myself I was eventually going to be able to run straight for a minute. I was eventually going to run straight for three minutes. But when I stopped and really paid attention to what was happening, by the third week of "shuffle running" I had moved my speed up to a 4.1 and it no longer resembled a shuffle. I was picking my feet up and putting them down more quickly. I wasn't getting winded by the 20 second mark. Then I wasn't winded by the minute mark. Then the minute and a half flew by without me gasping for breath. I was diligent about getting to the gym 5-6 days a week. I lifted weights. I did knee strengthening exercises. I started doing squats.

Let's be honest, I'm still slow. I'm not going to win any races just yet, and I still have to walk sometimes. But I no longer have to walk for 5 minutes to get my breath back. 30 seconds to a minute and I'm ready to go again. I'm not running 12 minute miles - I'm pleased if I can run a 16 or 17 minute mile.

I still sometimes have to go home and ice my foot. It still hurts sometimes and I still get out of breath, especially when I am pushing my limits. It's not always fun, especially on days when I feel slower than I did the day before. Even though it might feel like it sometimes, running isn't going to kill you. You might look silly and graceless, I know I do, but eventually I'll look like I'm about to star in an action movie. My weight loss hasn't always stayed steady, but I've always improved my running. Every time I go to the gym I do a little better or it feels a little less hard.

I think as long as you listen to your body for real pain - not the OMG I CAN'T DO THIS fake pain - I mean the real pain that comes from pulling something or spraining something, you can run even if you are 300+ lbs. Even if you only run for 10 seconds. Even if your run doesn't look much like a run. You have to start somewhere. If your doctor thinks you can start slow, do it.

Good luck!! Please don't think you can't do it because you're not thin enough or in shape enough. That's like saying you're not smart enough to go to school. You have to start somewhere no matter what weight you're at.


And OH THANK YOU everyone for your comments. You've inspired me to keep pushing forward! I am going to come back and read this thread every time I feel down. Every time I need to feel like a superhero :-)