I just cant run

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Replies

  • Superchick123
    Superchick123 Posts: 20 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.

    Thats amazing, but what did u have to do to get there? I really wanna learn to run :)
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    My sister wanted to run, but the doc told her that she can't due to certain abnormalities with her knees. Her husband can't run either because his knees are already ruined due to combination of intensive sports and gout. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from running, don't run. You can bike and still get the same health benefit.

    Now, if you don't have a professionally diagnosed condition, then you just need to get a good pair of running shoes and follow a C25K program.
  • amandaj1966
    amandaj1966 Posts: 342 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 am totally with you on this, a few years ago I joined a running club and found that I like the idea of running much more that I liked running. I gave up, my asthma wouldn't let me run far, my knees hurt etc...
    But for some crazy reason I still want to run, I would love to be able to just put on my sports bra and trainers and run where ever I was in the world, ok, not just my bra and trainers but you understand what I mean. :laugh:

    So I started C25K, a nightmare, I gave up but a few months later I am back at it, well I did day one yesterday.

    A girl that joined the running club with me a few years ago found it hard to run for 60 seconds too, it used to be the 2 of us at the back, walking a bit, running a tiny bit and so on, however my friend now does marathons all over the world and has just completed 66 miles over 2 days.

    I want to run but I also know that some of us just aren't meant to run, I can walk for miles.

    I wish you all the best, but don't give yourself a hard time if you can't run, this is something I must tell myself too. xx
  • Ronda73
    Ronda73 Posts: 52 Member
    I recently started C25k and have found that I really enjoy it. But my lungs give out before my legs do. I can almost walk faster than I run (I walk just over 4 mph). I recently completed a 5 mile race and walked it all. I have set a goal for myself of being able to run a whole 5k. I'm not looking to set any records I just want to be able to do it.
    There are some days where the pressure of the app gets to me. I have anxiety and I think that plays a role in it. So I will just go out and do my own thing. I will start running and set of goal of running to the 3rd telephone pole and find that I can actually run to the 5th one. Then I go back to the app and see that it isn't as hard as I thought it was.
    But if it isn't working for you don't push it. You don't want to injure yourself.
  • joyincincy
    joyincincy Posts: 228 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

    Exercise only burns body fat "around the whole body," it is not targeted. Meaning, no matter what you do you cannot specifically target a part of the body, and therefore can only burn fat in general. You can target a body part through strength training, but that is to build up the area, not dwindle it per say. Where you lose fat first is genetics. You can't change that. What is the rush with running full steam, non stop? That was the impression that I got from your first post. Is it that you want to lose it all now? If so, let that idea go out of your head -NOW - as you will only be very disappointed. Baby steps - we have all had to do that and then go for extreme challenges, if you so choose. Just don't kill your body in the process or drive yourself crazy trying to be perfect right away. Good luck to you, I'm sure that you will be very successful as you made the right choice in reaching out about this topic.
  • ruthv64
    ruthv64 Posts: 1
    I too feel like I get a more substantial workout when I run, and I try but I'm just not a runner. I find that because I have never been much of a runner that I have more (foot, leg, back, etc) pain from it when I do, which makes it difficult to continue.

    Instead I do the elliptical since it's much easier on my body, and I get a really good workout as a result. You can adjust the resistance or do it backwards which is quite challenging in the beginning.
  • feebz36
    feebz36 Posts: 32 Member
    C25k is good, If it is to much you could try a scouts pace... walk 20 paces, run 20 paces. Do as little as you want, maybe even 5 or 10... then just ramp it up! Take it easy and remember to give yourself credit for the work you have done :)
  • kar328
    kar328 Posts: 4,159 Member
    I'm hauling around a lot of weight and definitely not athletic. I am on Week 3 of the C25K program and it's working. The most important part is correct shoes. I was getting a lot of shin pain that was going to be what stopped me, but I went to a running store, got fitted for shoes - they measure you, watch you walk and run and tell you what shoes would work. It's made a world of difference this past week, I'm actually liking this. The c25K program is great, it's made for us non athletes. You can repeat days or weeks if you need to. The app runs on my phone and I can listen to my music with it just chiming in when to walk and when to run. I'd be out there today if I didn't have an annoying cold.
  • Amy106Days
    Amy106Days Posts: 172 Member
    I am on week one of c25k for going on 3 months now. I am not a runner, clearly, but I enjoy throwing on my running shoes and headphones and challenging myself. I am going at my own pace. I try to complete each "day" comfortably before moving to the next step. For me, day one was a killer but I have had time to work on my form, attitude , map a great route and get my breathing under control so it was worth the wait. Remember to do a warm up walk for at least 5 minutes before pushing yourself to run and then the same length cool down followed by stretches. I sleep with icyhot on my sore joints and if I am prepping to run and still have any soreness or weakness I wear my knee brace or ankle wraps. Nothing is worth injuring yourself and starting all over. Don't run every day. Remember rest is important too.
  • tjl2329
    tjl2329 Posts: 169 Member
    Me either. I have tried but I just cant. I do the exercise bike and its great. I ride 12-14 mph for 45 minutes. It burns over 500 calories. I double checked on line. Also it has around same calories as running and same cardio. I get a good work out without the pain. I am flat foot and my ankles hurt and I have bad allergies so I cant breathe. Find an exercise that works for you.
  • JenRun1
    JenRun1 Posts: 212
    running is not for everyone. And it's ok there are so many other things you can do to help with weight loss. But if running is a goal for you then don't give up. You need to adjust to the demands that running puts on your body. I run 5 days a week and it is very common that I need to ice my hip and knee. I am a can of walk runs too. Set mini goals every week. For example try running 2 minutes walk for one minute the first week then up your run duration to 3 minutes the next week.

    Try kickboxing, it's a high calorie burning exercise, you can also walk at a fast pace with large strides.
  • ehargis09
    ehargis09 Posts: 12
    In terms of a good place to find shoes, do you know if you have a Roadrunner Sports in your area? That is where I go and they do an in-depth analysis of your feet and how your feet strike when you run. They put you on a treadmill that records how your feet hit the ground in slow motion, have you stand on a sensor to see where your body puts pressure on which parts of your feet, and they create custom insoles for you. I swear by this place as I truly feel like they fit you to the appropriate pair of shoes, unlike other places where I feel like they just play guessing games with you or don't really know what they're talking about. I will tell you though to expect to spend a pretty penny, but to me it's all worth it. And the socks you wear make a difference - you need socks that will wick the sweat away from your foot, or you might tear and shed skin badly around your toes and on the foot itself.
  • Superchick123
    Superchick123 Posts: 20 Member
    All good recommendations and advices, thank you all! :) What kind of shoes do you wear for a workout? I have a Reebok RunTone Toning Shoes that I have had for 2 years, and perhaps its my shoes that is not for fitness purposes. I dont really know.
    This is what I have:

    http://www.shelbystidham.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Reebok-Run-Tone-2.jpg
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    All good recommendations and advices, thank you all! :) What kind of shoes do you wear for a workout? I have a Reebok RunTone Toning Shoes that I have had for 2 years, and perhaps its my shoes that is not for fitness purposes. I dont really know.
    This is what I have:

    http://www.shelbystidham.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Reebok-Run-Tone-2.jpg

    Gawd, toning shoes? You need to ditch them and get to a serious athletic shoes store, to be professionally fitted with a pair of proper running shoes.
  • Superchick123
    Superchick123 Posts: 20 Member
    All good recommendations and advices, thank you all! :) What kind of shoes do you wear for a workout? I have a Reebok RunTone Toning Shoes that I have had for 2 years, and perhaps its my shoes that is not for fitness purposes. I dont really know.
    This is what I have:

    http://www.shelbystidham.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Reebok-Run-Tone-2.jpg

    Gawd, toning shoes? You need to ditch them and get to a serious athletic shoes store, to be professionally fitted with a pair of proper running shoes.

    So it's pretty bad, huh? I guess I should. I was debating whether I should buy a good heart rate monitor, or a good pair of shoes. :)
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    All good recommendations and advices, thank you all! :) What kind of shoes do you wear for a workout? I have a Reebok RunTone Toning Shoes that I have had for 2 years, and perhaps its my shoes that is not for fitness purposes. I dont really know.
    This is what I have:

    http://www.shelbystidham.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Reebok-Run-Tone-2.jpg

    Gawd, toning shoes? You need to ditch them and get to a serious athletic shoes store, to be professionally fitted with a pair of proper running shoes.

    So it's pretty bad, huh? I guess I should. I was debating whether I should buy a good heart rate monitor, or a good pair of shoes. :)

    A pair of good running shoes hurt my knee simply because they were the wrong kind. Toning shoes for running is worse than useless, it could actually hurt you. If you told us from the beginning that you're wearing this gimmicky pair, the answer would be quite obvious.

    Now, even a professionally fitted running shoes aren't going to keep you pain free. If this is the first time you run in a long time, your body will need time to adjust by reinforcing your leg muscles, ligaments, and bones. You will feel sore all over in the beginning, but as long as it's not pain then you just push through. Just keep it slow the first time around.
  • janetdungan
    janetdungan Posts: 14 Member
    dont stop, be consistent and you will have longer strides, ie longer than 30 seconds, 1 min, etc... and your pain will also go away. ice and take ibuprofin when needed but DONT GIVE UP. it gets better.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 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
    Exercise burns calories. In fact any physical activity burns calories. Calorie deficit is what helps to reduce fat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    All good recommendations and advices, thank you all! :) What kind of shoes do you wear for a workout? I have a Reebok RunTone Toning Shoes that I have had for 2 years, and perhaps its my shoes that is not for fitness purposes. I dont really know.
    This is what I have:

    http://www.shelbystidham.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Reebok-Run-Tone-2.jpg
    Well that's the first problem. There's NO SUCH THING as toning shoes. Get the right footwear.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • HisangelG
    HisangelG Posts: 96 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.)

    I used to run rather than eat. Seriously. Today, I sit in a wheelchair, barely able to walk. It is directly attributable to my running. Of course, I did something that was not too bright for the three years I ran. I ran barefoot. On concrete. Asphalt. Anywhere. Trust me when I say...BAD DAMN MOVE!

    I'd love to just be able to walk to the corner store again, even if I have to use a walker or cane to do it. Don't know if that will ever come to be again.

    If you don't like running. Don't run. Running is not the be all exercise. Just as Heavy lifting is not the be all. Find what YOU enjoy doing, learn all you can, and how to do it properly. Start slowly. Work your way up. Keep learning.

    Remember, not every one can do every exercise. I cannot run. I can barely walk. I cannot do heavy lifting. I can wheelchair walk. I can do Resistance bands. I can do dumbbells, and I'm working up to Stability/Medicine ball. I can do seated cardio.

    If I were to try to do what I cannot do, I'd injure myself more, and/or just frustrate myself to the point of giving it all up. DO what YOU can do. Only you know your body. If it hurts, I mean, REALLY hurts, then it's wrong. The point about proper equipment, including shoes, is priceless. Start there. Then figure it out.
  • Sharkington
    Sharkington Posts: 485
    I am a runner and I often hear people tell me (almost as though they feel bad about it) that they don't run because they don't like it, or because it's hard on their knees (or other body parts) and you know...that is completely fine. Do you even enjoy running? Because if you tried it multiple times and just don't like it, don't run anymore. There are plenty of other things to try. If you DO get enjoyment from it and want to get better/ run faster, or run longer distances, it takes time and you just have to start slow to build your endurance. When I first started, I was in decent shape from doing other activities, but I could not run very long without heaving and needing to stop. :laugh:

    As for your knees hurting...that could be caused by many things. Poor fitting shoes. not stretching enough, and even weak muscles in the legs. I obviously can't diagnose that problem, but you should probably start off with getting proper shoes made for your feet/arch to start off with if you want to continue running - as well as learning some beneficial stretches, of course. :flowerforyou:

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