How did you get into running?

I started walking and got bored with moving so slow. For whatever reason, I tried to jog the next block. Since then, it's been a blur.

If you already have bad knees, running may not be for you. Running does put stress on your joints- and it sounds like yours don't need the extra stress, so the risk of making your knees worse may outweigh the pros of running... you should ask your doc before starting.

With that said, I dabbled in running a little after high school, just to stay active, but it was never something I really loved. But after my second miscarriage which was very complicated and lead to lots of problems for a while, I was so sick and tired of being sick and tired. So when I felt better, I needed something that would give me a rush, something to push for, and make me just feel alive. So I started running more and more, and it became a release for me. I guess that's what got me hooked. I ran my first 5k last summer and got first place in my age group- what a feeling! I eventually got to the point where I could run 10k, but got pregnant shortly after and was told that I could not run any longer due to a medical condition. That's been pretty heart breaking, so I am looking at getting into bicycling again (which is what I did before I was a runner).

Anyway, running isn't the only exercise out there. You might be better off with something else.

I learned to love running when I became successful. I started thinking I had to be fast and go far. Then I trained with a group who placed me in a 5:2 group based on my running time and speed. We ran for 5 minutes (I am thinking it was close to a 10.5-11 minute pace) and then walked for 2 minutes. This really worked for me and I successfully did two half marathons. Now I want to try to work on time and I am personally focusing on 10:1, run 10 walk 1. My time has even increased to about a 10 minute mile. Breaking it up this way made me successful and not feel defeated!

I love this post. I just started the C25K and have had to do day 2 three times now. But, I'm completeing the walk/run and that is huge. I'm sure I look horrible because I feel horrible while doing it, but when I'm done I found myself crying and it was because I did it! It was victory. Thanks for sharing.

At 45, I started running (Couch to 5k) out of anger, really. Relationship dissolution... every step was on his face!

HILARIOUS!

I hate running...but I feel really great after doing it. If I don't have a MP3 player, I won't run, simple as that. As for your bad knees, see your doctor. I got injections in mine (not corthisone) of a lubricant (not allowed to mention brands on this site I think) and it helped quite a lot. I prefer to run in cold weather. So I don't run in the summer time. Way toooooooooooo hot for me. Good luck!

P.S. Running came by accident. I was walking with my music on and my pace was too slow to follow the music's rythm so I just started to run...

- Always start with a good pair of running shoes fitted by a running store.
- Start slow and work your way up. C25K is great.

The elliptical might help with your aerobic capacity, but it is nothing like running.

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 assume most people can differentiate a serious medical condition from the general excuse of shin splints and foot pain.

I am starting the C25K program (in about 10 minutes actually!). Quite nervous as I am very overweight, have always been afraid of running (bad experiences of asthma attacks when taking part in cross country in school) and haven't run in about 30-odd years.

I am prepared to do as often as possible or necessary in order to move past that first week. Wish me luck and I would love to enjoy this as much as others on the thread.

Friends and races! I've really developed great relationships with the people we run with, and it's always fun going to events together. The races pull out the competitiveness in me, and really helps motivate me. I like to try and beat my previous time, and always try to make a personal record. Unfortunately, I'm a baby when it comes to cold weather running (doesn't fare well for my asthma), so I mainly do it early spring to late fall. Outside makes all the difference for me. Treadmills bore me and I overthink it too much.

I got into running after I walked nearly 1,000 miles and needed a challenge. I also knew that runners aren't fat!
C25K worked for me, I jogged as slow as I could and it worked perfectly. Now I'm working on 5k to 10k, can jog 5 miles easily and have learned to love it. I use a treadmill in the winter since I'm in IL.
If you have foot and knee problems, I'd go to a podiatrist and get fitted for orthotics first, then get fitted for running shoes. If you don't know what has caused your knee problem, get that checked first because you don't want to make it worse and set you back even more.
Use the C25K app and jog as slowww as you can. If you can slow down, you're going too fast! You can add speed and distance later!
Good luck, you'll be running before you know it!

The Army made me do it.

Later on I read some books about long distance (marathon and beyond) running and it looked like a good challenge.

Reading all these posts has really inspired me to start up running again! I used to run a few years ago, but I was always too embarassed in case anybody saw me, so I would run round and round a field! I really enjoyed it and it became addictive. Theres nothing like running round a frosty field as the sun is coming up and the birds are singing, its almost like being at one with nature. My running time used to be my "me time", a little bit of headspace in a chaotic world! I have a busy life with 3 children and at home there is constant noise, so being out running in the lovely countryside was the best feeling ever!

The only thing that worries me about starting runnng again is I have ongoing arthritis in my neck, its sort of like a stiff neck and occasional knee pain, so if anybody has any tips or pointers that would be great!!

Im off to dust off my running shoes...thank you to everyone on here for the motivation!!

I also hate running, but it's great for my cardio, easy to do and a pretty cheap alternative to anything else out there. It's also a time saver, because you can do indoors/outdoors at crazy hours. As a working mom, I need that. I'm now running a 5K three times a week, planning to get to a half marathon by the Spring.

I have been working out for about 15 years but most of my cardio training consisted of classes (cardio kickbox!) and the elliptical and occasionally the bike. I do strength training but I HATE strength training. The treadmill never interested me because if I resorted to the cardio equipment, I wanted to read. Basically, I preferred my classes.

But as I got older, got full-time employment, assumed more responsibilities, arranging my entire schedule around a workout class was becoming too difficult. Now, I do classes solely on the weekends.

For whatever reason, I rarely ever get a decent enough workout from a bike. So, it looked like I'd be doing ellipticals.

But then I bought my first place about 3 years ago. It's a condo and the building has a gym. The ellipticals are cheap and you can't read while using them. Nixed. The bikes are fine but as I said, it takes me forever to feel I ever get a workout out of them. Nixed.

So, I used the treadmill. Started off running for 20 minutes. Now, I do it for 30 minutes and 30 seconds at a pace of around 6.5 miles per hour. It's been my go-to workout for a little over 2 years. I have not been able to master the ability to run and read, so I am one of those freaks that lipsyncs really noticeably while listening to my mp3 player. I also love watching the news. So, it can be weird when I lipsync but also mouth the words on the closed captioning.

I generally prefer to run on the treadmill. I don't like exercising outdoors (although I regularly walk/stroll in the spring and summertime, but I don't count that as my exercise and I am usually holding a cup of coffee). If you see me running outdoors, it's really an absolute last resort. I either find the weather too cold or too hot. The environment near my home was, well, boring. And the practical matters bugged me--I hate having my keys jangling in my pocket. And if I am running not near my home, what do you with your wallet, etc? Yeah, yeah, you can buy stuff for that. I hate buying stuff for exercise. I pay for my gym membership and some crosstrainers every 1-2 years and that's that.

But I did enjoy a few outdoor runs--during my trips to Phoenix (because the hotel gym was still closed) and San Fran (the hotel's gym was under renovation). At both places, I realized I enjoyed it because I liked the sense of adventure and exploration that running afforded me. I mean, that's what I normally like to do anyway, so why not make it more intense and sweaty?

But then I trained for my first half marathon. Again, I hate paying to exercise but my firm was involved in helping this run take place (it was its first year). The half took place this last September. I formally began my training a couple months prior.

I still did my treadmill runs during the week, but on the weekend, I would do one long run--about 10-11 miles. What I did was go to one of my gyms (it's a chain), put all my stuff in a locker, and did a run. I mapped the routes beforehand using mapmyrun (the idea that I would carry my cell during the run did not appeal to me at all). I live in a boring suburb, so I trekked it to the gym in the city, which borders the water. I did that every week (a new route each time). I began to look forward to that.

I really enjoyed my half. It was not only about my specific performance, but I liked the crowds (the spectators and volunteers are awesome) and I liked that for most people, it was about running your personal best.

My next half is in May. And I am buying more stuff-running shoes, shorts, running fees, etc. I still dislike that aspect of it.

Do you need to run to lose weight, to be healthy, etc? Nope. And you certainly don't need to run these long distances to lose weight--if anything, I find it may not be conducive to losing weight because you get hungrier and you eat more (and you eat more carbs). And I'm in pain all the time that I wasn't when I was just doing my classes. But I get enjoyment out of it. And fulfillment. There's a real sense of accomplishment when you complete a "long" run.