I just cant run

Superchick123
Superchick123 Posts: 20 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all,
I have faced a very big challenge, which is to run or even jog without stopping every minute or sometimes 30 seconds. I was just not a runner ever since I was a kid. How were you guys when you started your weight loss journey? Would you please share? My knee hurts or I think my feet are just not accustomed to jogging or running.

Thanks:)
«1

Replies

  • Dunkirk
    Dunkirk Posts: 465 Member
    Have you considered you don't have to be a runner? Walking works, or an eliptical is good as it doesn't jar the knees. Make sure you have appropriate footwear for what you are doing.
  • TheBaileyHunter
    TheBaileyHunter Posts: 641 Member
    I don't run. I'm not a runner. I have no desire to be one either. I'll walk to the ends of the Earth. I'll dance there too...but running. Nope.
  • Superchick123
    Superchick123 Posts: 20 Member
    Yeah, but i feel like running will burn fat all around my body, and just doing ellipticals and bike are not enough for it, right
  • inbluedresses
    inbluedresses Posts: 8
    Knee and foot pain can sometimes be attributed to the shoes you're wearing. The right pair of shoes can make a WORLD of difference. If running is something you're serious about getting in to, I'd suggest finding a store that can assist you in finding the right shoes for your feet, and investing in a pair :)
  • jessicae1aine
    jessicae1aine Posts: 885
    I started off much the same way you are. I was having a problem with my toes going numb after the first 20 or 30 minutes, too, which was because of my shoes. I did a ton of research on various running shoes, committed to a pair (Patagonia Tsali), and loved every minute of them up until I'd destroyed them - and I recently did a 10 mile race in just over 2 hours. I finally replaced them with a pair of K-Swiss Cali Mari Tubes, which are amazing.
  • ElphieTMoLM
    ElphieTMoLM Posts: 19 Member
    If you can't run, speed walk. I have a hard time running, both because of asthma and lack of endurance/ focus. However, I really like the couch to 5k program. You run and walk in set intervals. Modify things to fit your needs.

    I just started doing Zumba fitness a few weeks ago, and it's the first thing that my body really responds to. There are so many great ways to get in your daily cardio. Play around. Try new things. In the end for what your body responds to.
  • janebshaw
    janebshaw Posts: 168
    Sometimes foot and knee pain is caused by not wearing the right kind of running shoes. But if you have persistent knee problems when you are not running, you might look into something like aqua aerobics of other low impact exercise groups.
  • bio01979
    bio01979 Posts: 313
    :)
    Have you considered you don't have to be a runner? Walking works, or an eliptical is good as it doesn't jar the knees. Make sure you have appropriate footwear for what you are doing.

    Lol so glad to see this :) I hate running, it was my least favorite part of the triathlon when I was a triathlete

    I have been wondering when running became the be all and end all of exercise :) it seems that everyone I know runs and a lot of aquaintences I have say things like "I need to be more active, I need tips on becoming a runner because I hate to run"

    If you don't like running, don't run :) There are many activities you can do in place of running. Walking, swimming, join a team soccer, baseball, basketball etc) grab a friend and play squash, do those DVDs, yoga. the list is endless :)
  • Joyride81
    Joyride81 Posts: 22 Member
    Just keep trying.
    My first attempts at running sucked too. I couldn't run for 200meters. I started with running a minute and then walking 2 tree times a week. Did some other kinds of cardio and some strenght training to.
    When you get stronger an leaner it will get beter. Today I'll run 16km. I couldn't even walk that far when I started.
    Just go for it!
  • TheBaileyHunter
    TheBaileyHunter Posts: 641 Member
    Yeah, but i feel like running will burn fat all around my body, and just doing ellipticals and bike are not enough for it, right

    I do Tae-Bo and it kicks every part of my body and a sweat like a MoFo. I'd rather do that than run. (plus it burns cals hard core)

    I used to belly dance and after a good solid class, again my whole body was worked.

    Maybe try Zumba. It's a good burn and full body.
  • bio01979
    bio01979 Posts: 313
    Yeah, but i feel like running will burn fat all around my body, and just doing ellipticals and bike are not enough for it, right

    they are enough for it :) just being active will do it

    but if you want to work on specific areas you might want to try adding strength training in :)

    Also swimming is one of the best whole body workouts you can get and it is very low impact :)
  • tsikkz
    tsikkz Posts: 404 Member
    When I started I couldn't run for a minute. I cried when I ran for 20 mins without stopping. Last weekend I ran a half marathon.
  • foxys_mum
    foxys_mum Posts: 67 Member
    It may also be you are trying to go to fast?
  • clarewalsh5477
    clarewalsh5477 Posts: 16 Member
    I'm not designed to run either. But there are other ways of exercising :)
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    I couldn't run for a minute either. I felt like there was no way I could be a runner. I was tired and out of breath in thirty seconds. Looking back I think I may have been going too fast for those thirty seconds, but I'm not sure. Now I can run ten km without feeling as winded as I used to in under a minute.
  • marathon64
    marathon64 Posts: 378 Member
    Just hold your horses. In all likelihood you can run. Just not as far or as fast as you want maybe. Start out walking for 90 seconds and running for 30. Alternate for 20 minutes. See how your knees and body feels. if you feet and knees hurt you might want to get a fitted for running shoes. Then look at the Couch to 5K program. Google it. It's a program for beginner runners to help you ease into running for longer distances and time periods. If you want to run I bet you can. It just takes some time to ease your mind and body into it!
  • Obscuring
    Obscuring Posts: 51 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/5855-walk-to-jog-plan
  • triskaidekaphile13
    triskaidekaphile13 Posts: 92 Member
    I couldn't run. Absolutely couldn't. Not even for a bus if it was leaving. Last July I started this journey with MFP and got a FitBit and started brisk walking. Then I heard about C25K (Couch to 5K). I wondered if I'd be able to run but was convinced I couldn't. My trainers were old and really only used for leisure and I didn't really have anything suitable to wear however, I looked at the stories on the C25K website and thought I'd give it a go. I downloaded the free NHS podcasts and started at Week 1 Day 1 as you should. I found the beginning tough. I used a local park and am nervous of dogs so some days the MapMyWalk GPS tracking showed a very odd pattern indeed as I kept switching directions to avoid dogs but by running really slowly and doing exactly the intervals on the podcast I slowly began to to be able to run for the longer periods. The podcast was great and Laura, the presenter, had done the programme herself and knew just when to say something encouraging.

    I'd agreed with my wife that if I got to halfway I would get some proper running trainers and we luckily found a store that was closing down and I got some lovely running shoes that have really made a difference. Near the end I switched to using Runkeeper to keep track of what I was doing and was astonished when I finished C25K and could run for 30 minutes straight. How on earth had that happened? However, I was nowhere near running 5K in the time which was a bit disappointing.

    I ran my first 5K last November with a slight injury after a cyclist almost collided with me and I stopped dead and pulled a calf muscle. When it had healed I went back to intervals and then gradually to running again. Last Saturday I ran parkrun, a free 5K that runs all over the world, and got a PB by 353 seconds. I ran parkrun again yesterday and beat my PB again by 77 seconds. My initial target was to run 5K under 35 minutes and I've now done that so my new target is a pace of under 11 minutes per mile (I'm currently at 11 minutes 11 seconds). When I get there I'll work towards running 5K in under 30 minutes. I run 5K three times a week on local pavements on a route incorporating hills and absolutely love it. It's a great way to clear my head and challenge myself. I do cardio and strength exercises on the other days. I've now got a really supportive sports bra to help with the bounce and wear running tights and a wicking top. I look like a runner!

    There are loads of local groups to do C25K or similar programmes with other people. Where I live there's a women only running group that runs a programme and I cheered one of their recent graduates yesterday as she finished 5K. There are also loads of apps available for smartphones to do the programme. RunDouble has been recommended to me for Android. However, I loved using the NHS podcasts from here: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/get-running-with-couch-to-5k.aspx

    Try C25K. It's made a runner out of me and that is something I'd never ever had thought would be possible at 44. Edited to add, as my ticker isn't working, I've lost over 53lbs since last July and running has certainly helped with that.
  • sunman00
    sunman00 Posts: 872 Member
    walking burns same calories, just takes longer to get there :-)

    put in some hills too, burns 60% more :-)
  • anitagirl8
    anitagirl8 Posts: 9 Member
    :)
    Have you considered you don't have to be a runner? Walking works, or an eliptical is good as it doesn't jar the knees. Make sure you have appropriate footwear for what you are doing.

    Lol so glad to see this :) I hate running, it was my least favorite part of the triathlon when I was a triathlete

    I have been wondering when running became the be all and end all of exercise :) it seems that everyone I know runs and a lot of aquaintences I have say things like "I need to be more active, I need tips on becoming a runner because I hate to run"

    If you don't like running, don't run :) There are many activities you can do in place of running. Walking, swimming, join a team soccer, baseball, basketball etc) grab a friend and play squash, do those DVDs, yoga. the list is endless :)

    Exactly!! I know the feeling. Bought running shoes that costs more than a year gym membership, joined a running club and three months later still can't run. The running club coach recommended I power walk instead. Guess he was feeling sorry for me. LOL
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
    This is how it worked for me...and I am in no way a natural runner.

    At first running would make me feel like dying...knee's,body,lack of breath etc so for the first couple of months bike riding for good cardio, practically no pressure on the knee's, the breeze from the ride kept my body temp down and once I dropped a bit of weight and increased my fitness levels running became much easier. Started slowly and worked my way up...now I can run 6k without stopping.

    Gel inserts for my shoes really helped, as well as knee braces (have bad knee's) also intermittent running to start with eg 5 mins 9.8km hr then 2 mins 5km hr.

    Start slowly and be patient...good luck!!
  • anemoneprose
    anemoneprose Posts: 1,805 Member
    PSA ahead

    I didn't listen when I was told by experts that I 'wasn't a runner', and now I'm effed because I tried anyway. I bought the good shoes, did a beginner program (C25K, actually - and I repeated the early weeks a couple of times), read up on footstrike. I'm going for my second MRI tomorrow morning to figure out why I can't walk properly and am in pain almost three years later. Pick something else that you have a knack for.

    (I was the same as you - just crap at running, all my life. Got bit by the bug. Got to be ok at it for a while, & enjoy it. I can't even run for the bus now.)
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
    I didn't listen when I was told by experts that I 'wasn't a runner', and now I'm effed because I tried anyway. I bought the good shoes, did a beginner program, read up on footstrike. I'm going for my second MRI tomorrow morning to figure out why I can't walk properly almost three years later. Pick something else that you have a knack for.
    Sadly this also can be true for some people...beware of injuries.

    Good luck with your MRI have been there I feel your pain.
  • lj8576
    lj8576 Posts: 156
    Have you tried the elliptcal or Arc trainer. Start slow and before long you will work your way up. I am not a runner but I can go pretty fast now on these two machines. They are great cardio and you will lose weight as much as you would on a treadmill.
  • anemoneprose
    anemoneprose Posts: 1,805 Member
    I didn't listen when I was told by experts that I 'wasn't a runner', and now I'm effed because I tried anyway. I bought the good shoes, did a beginner program, read up on footstrike. I'm going for my second MRI tomorrow morning to figure out why I can't walk properly almost three years later. Pick something else that you have a knack for.
    Sadly this also can be true for some people...beware of injuries.

    Good luck with your MRI have been there I feel your pain.

    Thank you :)
  • wheezeybouncer
    wheezeybouncer Posts: 122 Member
    I'm no runner. I jog barely faster than I walk and that's only cause I set myself a challenge!

    I prefer to swim. Or Walk. Or do some class or another. So far its been one about using the core muscles, one with light weights and a step circuit. Ive tried zumba which wasn't my thing. I use the rower, bike, elliptical and tread at the gym but the tread has helped me learn to jog. I used to trampoline when I was younger. I do archery. I've started kayaking.... no need to run!
  • Superchick123
    Superchick123 Posts: 20 Member
    Wow!!! How did you even manage to do that? Could you give me some tips?
  • triskaidekaphile13
    triskaidekaphile13 Posts: 92 Member
    Wow!!! How did you even manage to do that? Could you give me some tips?
    Who are you replying to?
  • JDBLY11
    JDBLY11 Posts: 577 Member
    I didn't listen when I was told by experts that I 'wasn't a runner', and now I'm effed because I tried anyway. I bought the good shoes, did a beginner program, read up on footstrike. I'm going for my second MRI tomorrow morning to figure out why I can't walk properly almost three years later. Pick something else that you have a knack for.
    Sadly this also can be true for some people...beware of injuries.

    Good luck with your MRI have been there I feel your pain.

    I found that when I was running as opposed to doing things like workout videos at home and doing free weights actually helped my back/hip issues. It seemed like it was easier on my body than a lot of other activities I had been doing. I have never had knee issues or foot issues other than a little pain in my arch from standing for a long time. I carry a lot of fat in my lower stomach and hips, so I get a lot of results in that area when I run that I don't get from other activities, though keeping it up seems to be my challenge. I think you get more aerobic results too from running. I hope to get into running again when I am much thinner.
  • Ant_the_old_keith_lemon
    Ant_the_old_keith_lemon Posts: 272 Member
    firstly i can not stress this enough but get a Gait assement and trainers prescribed to your feet, dont just go for Nike off the shelf things! the assesment may say that the Nike shoes are good enough for you, if thats the case carry on with your original shoe!

    research good running form, forget speed to start...

    work up to a reasonable distance 5% at at time, today 30 seconds, tomorrow 32, day after 34, and on and on...

    then when you hit 5 mins reserach good form again and apply it to your 5 min jog/run - you will notice that you can instantly go further again becasue good from mean less wasted energy, impacts etc ...

    at this time you will probably be getting shin splints, as soon as you get pain in your shins STOP and strech them out, discontinue running for three days and have another go - again until the pain starts... you will notice that your endurance to shin splints will increase every time you run/jog.

    so while you are having a rest from running research good form again ;)

    once you hit the ten min barrier you will start saying to yourself "what was i on about, i can run - this is chicken s%hit"

    history,

    until last year i had never run any kind of distance, to tell the truth id never ran over 100 yards!
    i always thought i couldnt do any form on running because i was a big fat sh&t

    failures
    i tried running going too hard and too fast instantly - injury
    i started running based on the fact all i had to do was move my legs, not knowing there was a things as good from - WRONG..... injury
    i started running using lovely looking trail shoes on roads and treadmills - WRONG - injury

    basically any failure there is relating to running ive had because i went into it like a bull in a china shop with the wrong kit and the wrong technique.

    yesterday i did a nice mild run three miles to the gym, twenty mins on an eliptical, twenty mins on a stationary cycle, a few chest and back resistance workouts and a 36KM bike ride...

    i dont like running much and wouldnt want to do a distance event but i can run!! if i can do this anyone can!

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