Any runners who were not good runners before?

Me!! I am like you. I ran my first mile about 10 months ago when I was 270 pounds. It was an awesome feat for me. I was always too winded to run distance. The key is to pace yourself. It is truly all in your head. Start out running a really slow pace. I started out running at 4.0 mph on the treadmill. Put on some good music. and do not whatever you do, give up until you reach that mile it's all about controling your breathing and just keeping going. You can do it. I recently am up to 3 miles without stopping. it's a big deal for me. You can do it, I promise you.

I'm with everyone else. I've always despised running. Up until June of this year, I was literally either working or on the couch. I hadn't worked out in like 5 years. One day, I just started doing C25K, assuming I would never finish it. Well, I did finish it, and now I run 3-5 miles 3-4 days a week! It's basically a miracle and each time I go out for a run, I wonder how it happened. I definitely recommend a C25K app!

I never liked to run, but I am determined to get back into shape again so I signed up to run a half marathon in March with a friend. I still hate it while I am doing it, but feel awesome once I am done. I run with someone in better shape, so I force myself to keep going each day. You can do it!

Yes, when I was 20 I started running to work off the freshman 15. I could only do a minute or so at a time at 5 miles per hour alternated with walk breaks, for maybe 20 minutes. Slowly I decreased the walk breaks and then slowly I increased the speed. Five years later I ran a marathon. Fifteen years later running is my favorite thing to do, and I'm still getting faster.

PS - NOT a natural runner either - I remember being one of the last to finish the mile run in grade school, every time, and getting made fun of for being so slow.

Yes, when I was 20 I started running to work off the freshman 15. I could only do a minute or so at a time at 5 miles per hour alternated with walk breaks, for maybe 20 minutes. Slowly I decreased the walk breaks and then slowly I increased the speed. Five years later I ran a marathon. Fifteen years later running is my favorite thing to do, and I'm still getting faster.

PS - NOT a natural runner either - I remember being one of the last to finish the mile run in grade school, every time, and getting made fun of for being so slow.

That's how I did it too...run till you can't, walk till you catch your breath, run again.

i recently started running. i can only do about 2 minutes before i have to start walking again but it's definitely an improvement from a week ago when i was only doing 30 seconds! keep it up! i find it's all in the breathing. i try to keep it steady while i'm running, breathe in through my nose hold for a count of 4 and then breathe out through my mouth. keeps you focused on the breathing opposed to the running.

Yes, I'm now into running and was never before. I'm in my 30's. It does improve over time, yes. As long as you stick with it. Get into a routine. Don't overdo it, just keep plugging away and your endurance will improve. My leg muscles were fine to handle the runs, my cardio needed improvement... so that's why it feels like you're going to die. Your body has to become more efficient at using the oxygen you breathe in. Just takes time.

happened for me too! I'm still not a fast runner, i'm slow and steady with 30 second stops here and there (average 11-13 mins a mile) but I get 'er done! I don't do anything longer than a 5k and don't aspire to, I'm just happy getting my exercise outside. In high school? I was always getting yelled at for not running (walking in the back of the crowd), would end up doing the stupid bi yearly fitness test mile thingie over a couple of times because I wouldn't run most of it. HATED RUNNNIIINNNG. Now? I still don't LOVE it to be honest. But after doing the couch to 5k program in March, i can actually DO IT! I really like getting outside and now having to do dvds all of the time. I run a couple to a few times a week now, 2 or 3 miles at a time- just enough to get a good 30-45 mins of exercise. Go for it! couch to 5k works. Gives your body time to adjust.

I just started Couch to 5K today. I was astounded at what I could do just on day 1. Sometimes we set mental limitations on what we think we can do. Although I at some points I didn't stay on pace for the intervals (took longer than 90 seconds to recover; closer to 2 min), I made sure I pushed to run (really jog) my entire 60 seconds each time. I was so tired and legs achy at the end but I wasn't dead! And that's what matters. I'm a heavy stout lady w/ a bum knee and I'm doing Couch to 5K. If I can do it, you can to. So let's do this! I wish you the best of luck!

I was never a runner...when I graduated from Air Force basic training the tall guys had to pick me up by my arms and carry me across the finish line. Use to also get shine splints really bad.

Thanksgiving day I ran 9.25 mile in 1 1/2 hours!!

I started this whole thing thinking it was never going to work so I was being lazy!! Stared out at 3.0 mph on the treadmill for one hour. After two months I increased it to 3.5 mph for an hour for 6 months then I increase it to two hour at 4.0 mph for about 4 months. After this I started an alternation program that ran between 6-8 months after this time I started outside running.

The current treadmill sequence is as follows:

Time MPH
0-5 4
5-8 5
8-9 6
9-14 4
14-17 5
17-18 6
18-23 4
23-26 5
26-27 7
27-32 4
32-35 5
35-36 7
36-41 4
41-44 5
44-45 7
45-50 4
50-53 5
53-54 6
54-59 5
59-62 4
62-63 6
63-68 5
68-71 4
71-72 6
72-77 5
77-80 4
80-81 6
81-86 5
86-89 4
89-90 6
90-95 5
95-100 4
100-115 5
115-120 4

This averages 5.0 mph for 120 minutes.

I also have a sequence in place that averages 6.0 mph that I plan on doing later down the road....my outside running averages 5.5 - 6.0 mph.

One phrase I keep telling myself through all of this..."pain is only temporary!!"