want to run - can't figure it out!

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Replies

  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    I wrote this a while back and it really seemed to have helped a bunch of my friends. It is what works for me...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MireyGal76/view/running-my-bs-and-cs-to-breaking-through-the-wall-357514
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    i didn't use to run. i rode my bike a lot, which helped build my cardiovascular endurance. it might help you out with your running if you start cycling.
  • kellijauch
    kellijauch Posts: 379 Member
    Honestly, running/jogging is brutal when you first start. EVERYONE who runs started feeling like they were going to die within a minute that first time. I have been jogging, and I mean super slow, like almost walking, but jogging instead, for a few weeks and it still gets me. I still feel like I'm going to die and can't breath by the time I'm done. The first time I jogged a mile, I threw up at 3/4 through (I run outside, so it wasn't really a problem, but it sure felt rough). It's super hard, but SO good for you. It gets easier with time. You just have to force yourself to do it for the first month or so.
  • serf3469
    serf3469 Posts: 7 Member
    Just go at your pace, what you feel is right, each person is different, anyways trying is more than 90% of the other people do, it will one day come to you and you can then go faster or further.

    Good luck
    Brian
  • micabrito2012
    micabrito2012 Posts: 103 Member
    You can do it! I am 210 lbs and can run 5K. So this is how, when you run try and focus on your breathing in the nose out the mouth a slow steady breathing routine. You will know you are jogging to fast if you can't keep up your breathing. Slow down at this point. Try not to focus so much on that you are jogging be close your eyes every so often and think about your breathing in the nose out the mouth and do this at a slower pace than what you are jogging. I didn't know this but apparently if you ride a stationary bike at high resistance for a while when you go to run it will be cake. True story. I hadn't jogged for a month because of my knees thus the stationary. When I went to run wow I could actually complete the whole 5k. Once step at a time. Make sure shoes are comfy, make sure you are not sprinting, but most of all make sure your breathing is in check. that will make the world of difference. Good Luck!
  • edack72
    edack72 Posts: 173 Member
    I struggle with this too and for me anyway a lot of it is in my head ....I am still not a runner but still trying !!!!!
  • gracielee1
    gracielee1 Posts: 71 Member
    yes, watch your breathing and dont launch at the start line, just start at a shuffle-like trot, and try to do that while paying attention to your breathing and get yourself to complete a half mile without stopping. it's all about small achievable goals and small victories and then you just build, and be patient with yourself. and make sure you're hydrating, little sips during and hydrate before and after. remember, small achievable goals lead to achievable victories and then you just build from there. half a mile, mile, mile and half. brisk walk. last year i couldnt run half a mile without sharp pains shooting at my left knee, and this was very discouraging. but I invested in properly stretching, strengthening my core and my quads and hamstrings and consulting with a chiropractor for a short while, and befor ei knew i was running 10K races every weekend three months later and running at least a 5K four times a week. With my bum knee and my scoliosis I was able to do it, I know you can as well :)
  • Sjenny5891
    Sjenny5891 Posts: 717 Member
    I don't like to run.

    It is like all the exercise challenges i've seen. They add 5 reps a day each day for a month. You try to walk faster every couple of days.... If you have 4mph down, try for 4.5 tomorrow. When you get that down, go up to 5 for a couple of days. etc...
  • iAMsmiling
    iAMsmiling Posts: 2,394 Member
    It's actually pretty encouraging to see all of these people who "aren't runners." Since I've always thought of myself as a non-runner too.

    I've just started c25k and it's been a mixed bag. But I'm going to keep going.
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    I think it sounds like you need to slow down. I used to be the same and would be exhausted after 2-3 minutes and not understand why. Now, I start out pretty slow and get myself to a steady pace and I can run for 20-25 minutes before I feel like I am going to die, haha.
    You should also make sure you keep your arms below your heart, it sounds strange but if you have your arms raised too high your heart is working harder as it's working on keeping them raised too, you want to keep them below your chest.
    Start out slow and remember it's more important to pace yourself and keep it steady than to be the fastest runner.
  • dizzzy33
    dizzzy33 Posts: 31 Member
    bump
  • sunnyhlw77
    sunnyhlw77 Posts: 204 Member
    bump ---- I'm also wondering the same question, been trying to get into running for over 5 months, but my problem is my legs.
  • actlc
    actlc Posts: 84
    My experience is never let myself go out-of-breath.
    When I start breathing hard, I slow down my pace or my stride (can be really short) until my breathing is ok.

    Eventually find a pace/stride that won't make me out-of-breath at all and run with that pace.
    Then the only thing that stops me from running is until my legs getting exhausted. (short stride reduces the load on legs too)

    speed should never be a concern when starting to run.
  • runfreddyrun
    runfreddyrun Posts: 137 Member
    not sure if this was already mentioned but use a HRM when you walk/run. this is how i figured out that i can actually do it. previously i was in week 5 of C25k (the one with three five minute run intervals) and was having trouble. one day walking with my dog i was annoyed my HR was only 100 and that i didn't seem to be able to walk much faster. so i just started jogging very slowly. at first i made sure to keep my HR at 150 or under. when it got over that i walked for 2 minutes and then jogged again. but now when i do this i stay around 160 (or under). as long as i don't let it exceed 160, i can run for 30 -35 minutes, which ends up being about 2.6 miles.

    it is a slow pace. when i started i think it was around 4-4.2 mph but now it's around 4.5-4.8 mph.

    the key for me was keeping my HR down under 160. that's what enabled me to go much longer. maybe it won't work that way for other people but it has for me.
  • TwinkiesNKetchup
    TwinkiesNKetchup Posts: 76
    Another gymboss fan here. I think for me what keeps me going is no wasted movement. I started out setting my gymboss to 30 seconds with a two minute "rest." I would warm up a mile by walking a 4 mph walk, than jog for 30 seconds, walk two minutes and rotate this until I have gone four miles. At first I ended up with about a 5 mph "walk." I gradually expended my jog time and shortened my walk time so that I was jogging an 8 mile an hour route.

    When you first begin you want to work diligently on no wasted movement. Form, form and form. I'm training for a half marathon, if I wasn't, I would stick with walking. I'm almost 50 and it is just too hard on my joints.
  • Lulzaroonie
    Lulzaroonie Posts: 222 Member
    It doesn't matter how slow you go, what matters is that you're going :)
  • Liz_Mfp
    Liz_Mfp Posts: 172 Member
    not sure if this was already mentioned but use a HRM when you walk/run.

    the key for me was keeping my HR down under 160. that's what enabled me to go much longer. maybe it won't work that way for other people

    It works for a lot of people
    Article here
    http://content.bandzoogle.com/users/cippianhotmail/files/Want_Speed_Slow_Down_2007.pdf
    and
    http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Burn-Faster-Exercising-Slower/dp/0062736744
  • strickland8052
    strickland8052 Posts: 105 Member
    Go really slow! Also, do a modified version of C25K. Start with 30 seconds jogging and 3 minutes walking. Then every week either decrease the walking by 30 seconds or increase the jogging by 15 seconds... whatever you can do!
  • craigjmorton
    craigjmorton Posts: 24 Member
    Don't let your weight or height put you off. I keep referring to beginnertriathlon.com because I get a lot of my inspiration from there. There are guys there who are +300lbs and are training and running triathlons and marathons. For the record I am 6'2 and weighed 285lbs when I started with my C25K. I am now in week 4 of C25K.

    There has been a lot of commen sense expressed here, C25K is the best option but remember, there are plenty of C25K programs out there which can help you. This one, for example, http://beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=27 has you walking for your first month.

    Also bear in mind, C25K is done at your pace. I ran my first week for at least 3 weeks before I started to progress to Week 2. If I have a bad run day, then I just repeat the run next work out.

    Also read up and watch youtube about how to run, people might laugh, but I was a stomper when I ran, I sounded like a herd of elephants and would end up with sore knees, shins and feet at the end. So after doing some research and watching some coaching video clips, I adjusted my running style and have not looked back.

    You have a lot of options and support from MFP, so don't sweat it, you will win!
  • lncoleman
    lncoleman Posts: 9 Member
    WOW thanks everyone so much for all of your answers and encouragement. I actually went back through and took notes!

    I think my biggest issues were going too fast and breathing. Last night I actually "jogged" 3 times during my walk without being out of breath or dying. I am not going to be able to do that every night yet, but when I feel like it I will!

    Thanks so much!!
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    In the beginning you should really be running not much faster than you are walking. Don't get hung up on speed. As long as both of your feet are off the ground at the same time you are running.[/img]

    Huh? Wouldn't that be jumping?

    Or...hovering?
  • wombat94
    wombat94 Posts: 352 Member
    In the beginning you should really be running not much faster than you are walking. Don't get hung up on speed. As long as both of your feet are off the ground at the same time you are running.[/img]

    Huh? Wouldn't that be jumping?

    Or...hovering?

    I like it... hovering... if only, huh?

    Actually the bolded part above is part of the definition of running that I've always used, but is incomplete.

    Walking is motion where both feet are on the ground some of the time, one foot is in the air some of the time, but there is never a time when both feet are in the air.

    Running is motion where one foot is on the ground some of the time, both feet are in the air some of the time, but there is never a time where both feet are on the ground.

    That's the basic difference between running and walking.

    Typically, walking is slower than running, but that doesn't have to be the case. There are race walkers who fit the mechanical definition above, who can move faster than many people could even sprint.

    I never thought of it, but the definition of hopping would be the following in the same sort of format:

    Hopping is motion where both feet are on the ground some of the time, both feet are in the air some of the time, but there is never a time when only one foot is on the ground and one foot is in the air.
  • tigerlily8045
    tigerlily8045 Posts: 402 Member
    Try to count when you breathe in and out. My husband had to call cadence (sp?) when we first started so that I could time my breathing because I was holding my breath. I still have to breathe in for 2 out for 2 when I first get going or I get all messed up. Then I find that I am just going. Make sure that you aren't hunched over/forward so that you can get a good breath. When I forget to do those things I find I can't go more than 60 seconds without a stich in my side.

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