Help from runners/joggers

I guess it depends on how in shape you are. Rest days are ok...if you really need them. I started running last april, after not having run since high school (7 years). I ran 5 days a week, every week without fail until later in the summer when we started traveling and I had to miss a day here and there. My rest days were the weekend, but on Monday, without fail, it was back to the grind at 6am every morning. It was terrible at first and I hated every second for the first 5 weeks, but then after that it started to become fun. I think you do need rest days, but they need to be in such a way that they are planned, and they don't get you out of the habit. Don't wake up one morning and think "eh i think i'll take a rest day." Make a firm plan, accounting for rest days and stick to it for at least 5 weeks before any unplanned rest days come in due to traveling or something. Also, C25k is an awesome program. I didn't use it because I"d never heard of it (I started with just running 1 mile every day. Well, running as much as I could. Every week I tried to run a little more of the mile than the week before). My husband does C25k and loves it. It also accounts for rest days. I'd definitely recommend it.

Also if you're serious about getting into running, I cannot stress enough how important it is to make sure you get the right shoes. Expect to spend 70-$100 if you're serious. It is well worth it. I was running in my old gym shoes for the first 3 months until my first 5k and I cannot tell you what a difference buying a good pair of Brooks made after that. My time went down, my legs, feet and joints were less sore, my form improved, blisters went away; it was incredible. Save your money and buy a good pair. Don't skimp. I bought mine at a place calld Fleet Feet where they measure your feet, your arch, and watch your stride and fit you into a pair that is perfect for the way you walk and run. It is well worth the money. Also try to get at least 1 or 2 pairs of spandex socks. Less abrasive than cotton.

Also barefoot running might be worth a try. Haven't tried it myself, but a lot of people swear by it.

In the end, the best way to stick with it is to make a plan, stick with the plan, and make the running fun. Make it a game. I like to pretend I'm running from zombies or something. =P Smile and make it fun somehow. Running is an awesome sport to get into, and the best thing is that you don't have to be athletic. Anybody can do it. And no matter how slow you go, you're still lapping everybody on the couch!!! Good luck!

If you're going to get serious about running, it's important to incorporate some kind of strength building regime into your life. Even two days a week would suffice. People who spend a lot of time running are particularly susceptible to losing muscle mass over time. It may not be a concern right now but I would consider it.

I'm not sure how entirely true that is; running builds strength on it's own as well. BUT I would recommend at least a little strength training anyway, simply because it builds your core and improves your form which makes running easier and more effective. Bad form while running can give you all kinds of joint problems and make you more tired while you run. So regardless of how accurate this is (honestly I really don't know, it may be completely true, I've just never heard it before. I'm certainly not an expert in any of this), it is always good to have a balance of cardio and strength. Good core strength will make your cardio that much more effective anyway. I started out with cardio, and I'm beginning to integrate some strength into my exercise now. It certainly will not hurt anything.

There are some things you can do before February in shoes you likely already own...

If you can find a tall building near you, you can walk the steps. I (and like half my city) use a building at a university near me that has 38 floors of steps - a couple trips up that and you know you've done something (elevator back down will save the knees). Even if you just have steps in your house or at work, take them a few extra trips.

C25k is awesome, I'll add my voice to the chorus of votes for that. It's an excellent way to get into running.

For clothing, you really shouldn't be spending that much (I'm rusty on the conversion from dollars, but I know dollars are usually cheaper - you could likely spend $100 for clothes and $100 for shoes and not get the best deals). If you're in the northern hemisphere, winter clothes will be at a premium now, in a few months they'll be on sale. In the states we have some deep discount stores that sell similar stuff to department stores but for a fraction of the cost, places like tjmaxx and marshalls. I don't know if you guys have similar, but they'd be worth checking.

In the mean time, if it's not super cold, layer up some cotton-poly blend (the stuff in the back of your closet, we all have it!), put on a pair of shoes, and head out. If you're just starting out, as long as they're not pinching or too small, any shoes comfortable enough to walk in will be comfortable enough to get walking/running in. Once you start putting a couple miles at a time on your feet, you'll need those running store fit shoes. If going in public without a bra is anathema to you, the only thing you can't skimp on is a sports bra.

You don't need to break the bank or go all tech to start with. Sure, it will look awesome and likely be more comfortable, but you can start this with what's in your closet.