My Fitness Dream: To become a RUNNER!

This is my dream as well to run again after many years. I just looked over the C25k program and Im going to give it a go. I do have one question though, can you strength train on the your relax days? Can anyone let me know about that?

Absolutely! But, for me, I prefer to get it all out of the way so I do a run as a warm up (30 mins on the C25k programme) then do weights straight after when I get home and I'm nicely warmed up.

Thanks ladies. Its seems so tough.. But deep down I now I can.. Im just hoping for some litlle helping details on how everyone else did it!

I started C25k last May and downloaded some podcasts on to my iPod (free ones on iPlayer include NHS and Chubby Jones - both really good as they tell you when to warm-up, walk and run, with music in the background).

I used some old gym shoes (bought proper running shoes after two weeks when I realised I actually was going to stick with it and enjoyed it!) and got a good sports bra (get them strapped down!). At first I just ran in my hiking gear (combat pants and T-shirt - anything you're comfortable in).

The podcasts are 30 mins long each, with running and walking. You will start off just running for 30 seconds at a time with walking in between until you eventually run 5k. The programme lasts for nine weeks but I would strongly advise you to go at your own pace. Only go up a week when you have mastered the one you are on. It's not a race and you will get there in your own time.

My top tips:

* Join our group for lots of friends and advice: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/30-couch-to-5k-running-program-c25k

* Go slooooooooooooooooow. You are not aiming to sprint like Usain Bolt (save that for when you have mastered running and want to do interval sprints, which you will be able to in a few months time!)

* Get your form right. You want to aim to lean forward slightly (use momentum to propel yourself forward) and keep your steps short with your feet under you rather than striding out in front (which is a big cause of shin splints). Also try to land on the middle of your foot rather than your heel - this is how our bodies are designed to work and reduces the impact of each step. Watch this great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx6x2cD6Y8Q

I am 39, had never run before, was overweight with osteoarthritis in my knees and asthma.

I'll never be the world's best runner and I still run/walk when I go out. But I really enjoy it, it has got my legs into the best shape they have ever been in and my lung capacity has improved massively and I've reduced my asthma medication. I'm seeing better results in 30 minutes three times a week than I ever saw spending hours at the gym.

Just remember to take your time and try to enjoy it!

You can do this I started running when my autistic son ran away from me I couldn't catch him and he was nearly hit by a car, I vowed I would get fit and lose weight at that very moment. At the time I weighed 180lbs and couldn't run for a minute without nearly collapsing but I started the very next day. Since then I have run a number of 5 and 10Ks and a half marathon my longest run to date is 18miles. I now love running and will be doing another half marathon in may and hope to do a marathon one day. I now weigh 143 lbs and have never been fitter. As well as running I now lift weights as well and will have a go at anything.
Start slowly couch to 5k is excellent and don't give up. I recommend shock absorber run bras nothing moves in those and get fitted for some running shoes at a running shop. Good luck I know you can do it cause I did and I was the least sporty person you could imagine even my mum said she never imagined she would be waiting at the finish line of a race for me but she did just that in the snow but her smiley face and that of my kids and dad got me to the finish line. I wish you ever success fellow runner.

You can do it!! I started couch to 5 K in February and can now run 30 minutes without stopping. I am so relaxed on the days I run. You've gotten a lot of advice and I'll add my 2 cents.

Follow the plan - take your rest days. I think that is so important to prevent injury and burn out.

Go slow - I had such a lovely image in my head of what I imagined myself to be as a runner. I was not that person. I went slow, I put one foot in front of the other and I did not look at the weeks in advance. I took it one step and one run at a time and it worked!

Hi. I also want to be a runner mainly to lose weight. Last year I was chatting with a couple of girls at work. One of them was doing Race for Life. My other friend and I could think of no reason not to join in even though I hadn't run much before. We started doing a bit of training and completed the 5k in an average time - 48 minutes for me! I was really pleased. This year we asked the gym manager at work to start a beginners running club for us. There are about 7 of us regularly who run on a Monday lunchtime and it is nice running with others. Plus the gym manager does not put us under pressure to keep up either. The better runners can do a bit extra if they want to. Anyway, I also run on wednesdays and Fridays to keep the momentum up with rest days in between and this is working for me. It is not a huge commitment to run every day and this is what works. I love logging it on MFP! I still can't run more than 15 minutes without a walking break but the walking breaks are getting shorter and I recover quicker these days. Oh yes, I am starting to really look forward to my run and actually enjoy the accomplishment feeling at the end!!! I am a 34GG but have a rock solid sports bra and decent trainers! Good luck and just go for it. Join Race for Life so that you have something to train for and you will raise a bit for charity and remember, there is no reason not to do this!

Just echoing all the other sentiments here. Couch Potato to 5K is a great program - I did it to start, and now I'll be running my first endurance sport in April - a half-marathon. Good running shoes make a WORLD of difference. Take it from me, blisters are bull. And yes yes yes to the double sports bra thing - I *still* use 2, and refuse to work out with less. Last but not least, SLOW DOWN BUT DON'T STOP. Seriously. It doesn't matter how slowly you're going. All those people who are looking at you? Whizzing by you at 10mph speeds? They started from somewhere. We all did. Slow down to the slowest of slow jogs you know if need be, but don't stop. You can do it.

Go to www.anothermotherrunner.com - the info in those books helped me get off the ground! I have lost almost 50 lbs. and can run about five miles at a go, now. I can't say enough about that website and their books.

There was a time when I couldn't run for longer than 2 minutes. Sadly I was in my early twenties. I'm now 33 years old and running my first half marathon in May. The C25K is a great program and although I didn't use it I know many people who have had great success with it. You can do this. Believing in yourself is the first step to success.

Hell yes! God help anyone who asks me how the "jogging" is going. I don't jog - I run (verrrrryyyy slowly!).

This is my dream as well to run again after many years. I just looked over the C25k program and Im going to give it a go. I do have one question though, can you strength train on the your relax days? Can anyone let me know about that?

Absolutely! But, for me, I prefer to get it all out of the way so I do a run as a warm up (30 mins on the C25k programme) then do weights straight after when I get home and I'm nicely warmed up.

Thank you that makes a lot of sense.