How did you get into running?

i've been into running off and on now for 14 years. i got into it because i was trying to drop weight for my wedding (14 years ago) then after the wedding i tore my acl that was the end of my "running". fast forward 12 years and a friend convinced me to enter an 8k with her like a dope and not knowing how far an 8k was i signed up. quit running after that race. last year i turned 40 and after deciding i need to change everything about my eating habits and health in general i started to jog on the treadmill. yet another friend convinced me to enter a 5k mud run with her and again like a dope i did. LOVED IT!!!!! loved everything about the mud run including the running. haven't looked back. i've done 2 5k mud runs, 1 5k color run, an 8k and a 10k. this year i'm running a half marathon plus lots of other little races. just got myself a garmin forerunner to help me train.

i also have bad knees and high arches - invest in good sneakers. it'll make a world of difference. go to a running store and get fitted spend the money (normally i don't advice this to anyone that's just starting out because i feel like you need to try it first to see if you like it and will be committed before spending lots of cash on sneakers (mine were $140) but since you have feet/knee issues it's probably smart for you to invest in a good pair. good luck and give it a try. maybe if you enter a race (they have all kinds of crazy fun races now - mud runs, foam runs, color runs, water runs) you'll start to enjoy it.

I always hated running too, but something clicked in my head about a year ago, and I decided to challenge myself and add running to my exercise routine. I saw a lot of people here at MFP talk about the c25k program (or Couch to 5k), so I looked it up online, read over the program, found myself a free phone app for it, and off I went. Nine weeks later I was running the 5k distance without stopping, and nearly a year later, I'm still going. :bigsmile:

I would definitely recommend finding a good running store and getting fitted for running shoes that are right for your feet. If you've got a smart phone or iPod, download an app (I used c25kFREE by Zen Labs), check out the overview of the program and see how it fits into your schedule for the next nine weeks. And then go for it! I followed the program exactly, going out just three days a week, and running as slowly as I needed to in order to be able to complete each segment - slow running is still running!

A great motivator is to find a 5k race in your area about 10 or 12 weeks out from when you start the program, and register for it! It helps keep you on track, and it's a great way to celebrate what you accomplished - and racing is fun!

I started because like you I wanted something I could do with my husband. We signed up for a turkey trot together 3 years ago. Got in a huge fight on the way down (he said my 10 minute mile pace was so slow I should just be walking). Stopped talking to him but kept running. I have found my love for longer distances. It doesn't get easy or comfortable for me until after the first 3 miles...then I hit a zone. Ironically my husband has stopped running.

I ran track and cross country from 7th grade through high school. That was.... 23 years ago. ugh.

I've run in all kinds of weather - sub zero through upper 90s. Really hot weather running is much worse than really cold! At least when it's cold, you can add layers. I'm in metro Boston now, last night went for a run when it was 42 and melting snow everywhere wearing a jacket and tights and hat and gloves. Ran monday night in the same outfit when it was 25 and still quite icy. I was a full minute slower per mile though!

I have a love/hate relationship with running. I hate it but love what it does for my cardio.

I got into running because I was out of shape and overweight. Then a friend suggested we do the C25K program and it took off from there. 8 years later, I love to run. I'm in much better shape. I can't image not running now.

I also didn't want to spend tons of time at the gym and all running required was stepping out my front door. Shoes were all I needed so it seemed convenient too.

Good luck!

You will hate it until you see yourself making progress, then I bet you will like it. As for your feet, they make specific running shoes for high arches...go get fitted and see if they have anything that will help. Best of Luck!

/\/\/\ I used to HATE it!! I sucked at it! But I stuck to interval running (2 min walking, 2 min running) until one day I thought Oh to hell with it and I started running on the treadmill. I set the time to 20 minutes and just wanted to see how long I would last (I had never run longer than 2 minutes at a time). I just ran. Once I looked down to see the elapsed time it said 7 minutes. I couldn't believe it!! I kept going and ran for the full 20 minutes, dripping in sweat!

It was the most awesome feeling ever. I felt on top of the world! I was always the couch potatoe, but now I ran 20 minutes!! From then on I started running more and longer. My first run outdoor was awful. I started crying while running and I can promiss you, you get out of breath quickly that way . I wanted to stop because I sucked big time at running. But I kept going.

I ran my first 5K two months later :happy: . I'm now training for a 10K!

You'll feel crap at first because you think you suck at running. Just keep going. Once you'll see progress you're going to love it!!

I started out just wanting to be able to walk a 5K without getting a migraine or feeling like I was going to die. Then I found out that Disney Parks had 5K events, but for some it required finishing in a 16 minute mile, so I decided I could do that with a combination of running and walking. From there it became a personal thing to run more, run longer, etc.

Before I knew it, I was signed up to do one the Disney Half Marathons in 2010. And I've been running ever since. I will be completing my 9th half marathon in a week and a half. The running thing becomes addicting.

My advice is to start slow, don't push yourself too hard but always try to do a just bit more (longer or farther). And set attainable goals... sign up for a 5k or other event so you have something to work for.

Good luck and have fun! :happy:

I'm working my way up to it. I adopted two 16 year old boys that are very athletic. They also are in JROTC and have to run almost everyday. I want to spend time with them so this is my goal. To run 5 miles with both my boys one day.

I started walking 2.0 mph for 15 minutes on the treadmill that my inlaws bought me as a present from a used sporting goods store. It is an awesome treadmill and has been very reliable. Under 200 bucks I believe.

So I started slow yes. I held onto the side bars like I was 100 years old terrified that I would fall. It has been since August. I am now at 3.0 to 3.7 for 45 minutes to an hour. My calves and feet were horrible at first. I have to keep my toe nails wicked short now. I had to get socks that are the old school kind that come up half your calf because my ankle socks rubbed 1/2 ince deep holes in the back of my heels that took forever to heal. I had to go to the doctor for tearing scar tissue from my tail bone removal from all the friction of my backside...I know TMI.... My back burns most of the time BUT it's getting easier. My hips hurt but it will go away. My doctor says I have had atrify and my muscles are going to hurt like nuts until I break through the next level each time.

My boys run at 5.0 mph on the treadmill. They see I'm coming for them now. My eager beaver child has been up on it the past two nights pushing 7.0 mph. He had to use menthol patches, heating pads, and tylenol. I don't feel so crippled now lol.

I too was very much like you. Hated running - would have never run a block, much less a mile. Then had a knee injury that made walking and stairs almost unbearable. I eased into it by walking - once I got where I was walking 4 miles at a crack I started reading about the couch to 5k. That program works really well to ease non-runners into it. The first several weeks, I had severe shin and heel problems. New shoes with inserts for additional support pretty much took care of that. Walking and then running strengthened my knees to the point where there is no pain now. Once and a while a twinge of something if there is sideways torque on the knee - but walking, running, stairs....problem solved. I don't think I would have gotten there without running. It would have been bearable, but not strong.

If you want it - you can do it.

building your cardio on the elliptical can't hurt. Why don't you download the c25k and do the hard/easy intervals on the elliptical until the weather improves - or on the days that it's just too slippery to be outside?

I'm in Wisconsin - and run outside as long as it is over 30-35 degrees. You CAN run and walk outside in Iowa in the winter. (it beats running in Florida in the summer hands down.

Good luck.

I started running last year - after 42 years of "hating" it. I hated it becuase I wasn't fast - I hated it becuase I didn't look pretty doing it compared to other runners - I hated it becuase I couldn't - I hated it for so many reasons, but I always wanted to like to run so I could/would run...anyway here's what happenend.

I decided to lose weight - which, by the way - was not going to include running. I was willing to walk. I had someone say to me - you should sign up for a 5k, then you have a goal to work toward. I said okay, cuz I didn't want to argue. So she said (this was in March) sign up for Dam-to-Dam (if you are in Iowa, near DSM, you might know it) and I said "Fine, whatever."

So I walked and I got the couch to 5k app and I looked at it for a couple weeks. All this on the treadmill at home, cuz what if someone saw me...And finally, one day I decided to try the first session of c25k. and if couldn't go that far I wouldn't, I could slow down I could whatever, but I would give it a full faith effort. So I did and I finished it. Was it easy? NOPE Was it fun? NOPE Was it a challenge? YEP so I decided I would do that program and I would prove that it would never work. So on my treadmill at home three days a week I did the program. Did I like it - not really - not until that week became easy and that was sometimes after the third time and sometimes after 4 or 5 times.

Then spring came and I thought - I can walk outside. So I would walk outside. BTW, it's important that you know I have two dogs that I walk with - one at a time - but one of them will be important to the story in a minute. I would run inside. Simple, no one could see me screw up when I couldn't go the full time or whatever. But Cooper didn't like walking. So I thought one day, when noone was around. What if I did c25k week one out here with him...I can do it - I did it at home. So I did. Was it easy? NOPE Was it fun? NOPE Was it a challenge? YEP (I didn't realize the difference treadmill and outside running had), but I liked being outside better than being inside. So I moved my runs to outside really early in the morning when noone would see me and Cooper and started week 1 of c25k with him. and I slowly started liking it.

I'm with you. I miss outside right now. I don't like running in 20 degree or colder weather and with the ice there is a safety issue. But I'm running on my treadmill now and trying to be ready for the thaw. Do I look pretty? Nope Do I run fast? NOPE Do people see me? YEP Do I care - not anymore. I'm not doing it for them.

Will this work for you? No clue. But I will also say this. Not everyone likes to run. Try it, give it a true try - if you like it - great if not, there are other exercises. and you don't have to do it cuz your love does it. If you do it for that reason, you'll never know if you like it.

I started running three years ago at age 52! I had insomnia and decided I need to just wear myself out. It was always something I wanted to do but, for some reason, always scared me. I did the Couch to 5K program and I was shocked at how fairly easy it was. Some of the music sucks, but I found the woman who did the program to be a really great motivator. After I got injured and had to basically start over and rehab my knee I found another program I like even better - it's the Runner's World 10-K program by Budd Coates. I think it's called Ease Into Running. MUCH easier than the C25K because there are less split intervals. I got a cheapie Ironman watch on Amazon.com and discovered Audible books that I load onto my MP3. I found when I ran to music it was harder to control my pace, e.g. I would run fast on fast songs, slower on slow songs. But with a book it's more engaging, the time flys by, and I can keep a constant pace. I'm still just a lowly 3 miler at a slow 6 mph pace but it's enough for me for now. I'm hoping that as I lose weight my speed with pick up and I'll be able to run longer.

I also have bad knees and high arches that give me terrible foor pain when working out.

An excuse

Uh bad knees are a reality for some. I have chondromalacia patella due to an old sports injury and if I overwork my knees, I'm sidelined for weeks.

So no, it's not an excuse.

I'm sure older people with arthritis in their knees are also using that as an excuse, right??

I always love telling my story to people who hate running but want to get into it. So here ya go!

I was never in shape in middle school/high school. Always overweight. I eventually dropped about 50-60 lbs at the end of my highschool career/beginning of college.
Then, the summer of 2011, I decided I wanted to run.

Mind you, I've tried to make this decision many times. It never panned out for me. Always started too fast, got frustrated and stopped.

This time, I did my research. I looked into the couch to 5k program. After reading reviews, I decided that I could make myself run 3 days a week for only 1 minute at a time. I mean, come on. 60 seconds? I should be able to do that.

It proved to be very difficult, but doable. I felt like a snail for one minute at a time, but the good thing was that I could check it off as day 1.

I kept at it-making sure to do it 3-4 times a week. Sometimes I'd skip some days, then just go back at it-doing other workouts in between cause I sucked at running.

Then, when I was about 3 weeks out from finishing the 5k program, a friend of mine suggested we run a half marathon together.

Me: Um yeah. Sure. Crazyy....

Needless to say, I looked up the Hal Higdon running plan. I finished the c25k program, and then I started the beginner program for training for a half marathon.

The biggest thing was that my friend biked next to me on my first long run of 5 miles. She made me do the entire 5. If I stopped, she made me turn off my GPS, rest, then go right back at it. I couldn't let the miles run out while I was stopping.

After that- I was completely hooked. I could do 5 miles, why not 6? why not 7? And then 12 weeks later, why not 13.1???

This all happened within the span of about 3-4 months. I had never run before in my life.

I recently am coming back from a foot injury/falling out of shape- and I'm going to start back up running today. The biggest thing for me is I have to almost start from square one again- which is annoying, but doable.

You CAN do it.

It IS possible.

Just start slow... and stay motivated. Stick to plans. That's the best way, cause then you don't have to think. You just follow a schedule.

Feel free to add me for any motivation/stories/questions/anything you need! I'm a big person on research, so I know how to do things right/what to do to run a half marathon after never running before in my life

GOOD LUCK

I started because like you I wanted something I could do with my husband. We signed up for a turkey trot together 3 years ago. Got in a huge fight on the way down (he said my 10 minute mile pace was so slow I should just be walking). Stopped talking to him but kept running. I have found my love for longer distances. It doesn't get easy or comfortable for me until after the first 3 miles...then I hit a zone. Ironically my husband has stopped running.

i hope you bet him to the finish line. my hubby loves to joke he can run faster than me (if i come home and say i ran x miles in 45 minutes he'll say oh i could have done that in 30) YET he has never run a day in his life! i keep telling him i'm up for the challenge but he never accepts. LOL!