What was your motivation to start running?

My brother is a runner, and I guess that inspired me. I thought I hated running, but I heard about Couch to 5K, and running seemed like such a nice simple thing you can do anywhere, plus I like being outside! Started C25K one year ago, and training for my second half marathon now, running about 25 miles a week right now. Who ever though I could run over 10 miles?

I was told last february that I should do a half marathon. I literally laughed in that person's face. I had no desire to run. seriously. never had.

I ran my first half marathon on nov 10 2012. I ran my second half marathon on dec 9 2012.

Girl, you are my hero! XOXOXO

I started running short distances to get my endurance up for playing soccer. Then my friend asked if I wanted to run a 10K with her. I said yes, ended up hurting myself cause I pushed too hard in training so I did a 5K and she did 10K. We were both hooked on running/racing from that point on!

I was always a terrible runner, even though I've never been a horribly out-of-shape person. Sometimes I feel like my lungs and cardiovascular system just weren't set up for running. Then after a year of doing CrossFit, I learned a lot about myself, about the things I was good at (never thought I'd be good at ANY exercise!) and the things that needed improvement. And running still seemed like my worst skill, but also the thing that was easiest to improve on - just need some shoes and a surface. I thought that if I could get better at running, my overall fitness 'score' in my mind would get much higher than if I took the easier road and worked hard only at the things I was already better at - running had the most room for improvement, so to speak.

Finally, it also seemed like such a basic athletic and life skill that I felt I HAD to start working on it. So, that's basically it. I found C25K when I was looking up some training programs for a friend who was in even worse shape then me, and started a week later. I'm still not an awesome runner, and I still kind of hate it, but I'm proud of the progress I've made and I'm proud that I kind of overcame hating something so much.

I hated running my whole life. When I was a teenager and they made us run the mile in gym class I couldn't do it without walking. I would say things like "If you see me running, you better run too because something's chasing me."

But I got bored with my workout and I was reading about couch to 5K and thought I'd try it. I ran super slow, nearly a 16 minute mile at the beginning. But once I started it I got addicted to the feeling of accomplishment it gave me. The first time I ran a mile without stopping I felt like a superstar. There were still days though where I'd get going and think "what is wrong with me that I am putting myself through this?" I finished the program and felt happy with myself and said ok that's it I'm not going to run these long distances anymore. And I ran only a mile or two each time for a few weeks.... and then started to push myself again and see what I can do. Somewhere in all that practice I'd gone from hating it to thinking it was ok to sorta actually liking it.

I don't even know how it happened. My theory is that it was painful and difficult, and the fact that I was doing it created too much cognitive dissonance, so my brain decided I must be doing it because I like it, because why else would I be putting myself through that?

Now I run at least 3 times a week, 3-4 miles each time. I'm still slow but I'm getting faster. I run with some of my family, and I run alone. I run outside in the cold, and I run in the warm and dry gym on the treadmill where I can watch the newbies check me out in amazement that this fat lady is totally killing it. And every time I run I think about how crazy it is that I'm running. Me! Running! Still haven't gotten over that.

What’s the worst thing that can happen if you try doing the c25k?
You could decide you hate running or you might just find out you like it.
I have always hated running, but decided to give it a try.
I just finished week 4 day 2 today. I am not sure if I love it but I am enjoying seeing the progress I am making.
I struggled with 60 seconds of running the first week. Today I ran 5 minutes without stopping and felt great!

I ran tack since I was 6 years old until 18 years old. So I've been a runner my while life. When I went off to college I decided I didn't want to run track anymore. Ha so I altogether just stopped working out and was so naive to thing I would never gain weight! I went from 130 pounds to 194.5 pounds quickly! So now I lost half of that and working on the other half and since I'm a runner at heart, that what motivates me to start running again. Best workout I can ever do with weight lifting coming in second

Honestly, to see if I could. What I didn't expect was to come to love it.

Bathing suit shopping. A three way mirror.

I really NEVER thought I would want to run for any reason whatsoever! I couldn't even run a mile without having to stop! My sister decided to train for a half marathon and she convinced me to also. We started with one mile and took walk breaks and were eventually able to do that. We worked our way up a mile a week and were able to run a half last December! We did it with all of our siblings and it was so much fun to all do our first half together! I think that the goal of completing a half marathon is what kept me going, for I wouldn't have kept running without that goal in mind! So that is my advice! Train for a race (either a 5k, 10k, or a half)! And try to find someone who wants to work towards the same goal! good luck!

Team in Training for the leukemia and lymphoma society. I made a commitment and goal to run a half-marathon with them, and I did it. Just do it. No more excuses. You will love it!