So what's up with this whole "jogging" thing?

Everyone starts and finds it hard. After a month the difference will be huge. After several you'll be flying along. I started running at the beginning of the year and was doing a 5 k in 40 mins or more. My record for distance is now 10 miles and I've done a 5 k in 26 mins.

It really does get better fast. Oh yeah, i also had abdominal surgery in April and still managed above. So don't give up on it!

On the 21st of September i have a Super Spartan 8mile obstacle race and I want to smash it to pieces! Get some goals in mind and work towards them and don't over push yourself.

All of you who are new to this or are considering starting a C25K program, let me encourage you to join the "Couch to 5K Running Program (C25K)" group on MFP. It's a great group of people all in the same boat as you, either now or in the past, who provide lots of great encouragement and advice.

You'll quickly find you're not alone and I think you'll be encouraged to see what amazing things people have done that didn't think they would ever be able to run. I started the C25K program in April and have taken a couple breaks since then and repeated Weeks 5 and 6 a few times, but I don't stress. When I started I literally could not run 1 minute without feeling like I was going to hyperventilate. Now I have run as much as 20 minutes as a time. I'm not progressing as quickly as I'd hoped, but I AM PROGRESSING. Everyone has obstacles to overcome on the path to a better you, so use others' experiences as a reference, not the rulebook.

Good luck!

And since I can't see myself when I'm running, I figure it's really everyone else's problem what I look like.

I adore this. This is so absolutely true!!

It will get easier! Set reasonable goals and push yourself a little more each time. It does take a while though. Your body has to adjust and built up muscle and lung capacity. Once that happens, it should be more enjoyable!

It was very helpful reading all these replies. I started "running" three weeks ago in a last attempt of getting rid of the final 20 pounds (together with calorie counting of course) and I hate it. I hate every second of it - except for the last four minutes. I've been "running" 30 minutes in different speeds (walk 2 min, jog 2 min, run 2 min a super ultra gonna die run 1 min) and after minute 26 I'm suddenly like "oh my, you are not dead, this actually feels..ok". Must be a serotonin thing. So far I've been doing it 5 times a week and I can see that my endurance has changed, during the first week there was no way I could jog/run for mores than two minutes.

Good music is key for me! Focusing on listening to the songs and not thinking about how much I feel like I'm going to die works well.

It just gets easier by doing it more often. I started back on June 29th and couldn't even complete a 1/4 mile without being out of breath and now I've run a 7:29 mile and a 26:59 5K doing trail runs... really the best advice is go at your own pace and don't give up on it

I've been jogging/running on and off for many years, and I'm not good at it (i.e. fast, easy gait, hair flowing how you described, etc.), but for some crazy reason I like it.

I remember when I first started I couldn't even go a block or two without feeling like I was going to die. Then one day I went running with a friend (who was way more experienced than I was), and I was surprised to find how slowly she went. I had been trying to "race" around the neighborhood and was wearing myself out! At her pace, I was able to go an easy couple of miles and it felt great! So my advice to you is: slow down, maybe you're running too fast for starters!

THIS THIS THIS!!!!

Okay...

You aren't a jogger, you are a runner. Only noobs use the word jogger. Even if you are the slowest runner on the street, you are still a runner. Get rid of that foul word this instant!

Yep! Call yourself a runner.

And it gets easier, although it may never be enjoyable for you. I hate it but I still do it.

GIRL! Let me tell you. I was never fit my whole life, with the exception of when I was a child. At around the age of 12 I was a smoker for a solid 10 years, then off and on again for several years thereafter. What made me quit smoking was in fact the desire to be a jogger, although I never really believed I could do it.

I injured my back and have a compressed L5 so I started physical therapy, which was probably the best move I have ever made. When I started PT, I learned that I have mild scoliosis, and my legs are not aligned properly. When I first began to jog I think I ran a good 30 seconds without stopping then I was pooped lol. That was only 4-5 months ago. I also injured my achilles because of improper shoes, which put me off from most physical activity for 2-4 weeks. I was made aware that my feet supinate (when I run or jump I land on the sides of my feet rather than with the middle big toe, which is improper and made me injure my right ankle).

Today, 5 months later, I can run 35 minutes at 5 mph, without injury and without stopping! My goal is 6 MPH for 45 minutes non stop. IT IS POSSIBLE!

It is a learning curve, you want to make sure you do not injure yourself. You also want to make sure you are running properly; with your hamstrings and gluts to propel you forward. I suggest watching some professional runners (long distance not sprinting) to get an idea. You want to make sure you are activating the right muscles which takes some time to train your brain. Make sure you have good foot support. Take it slow so you have the right form over speed/duration. After you train your brain to run properly then you can work on duration, and then speed. It helps to strengthen core and leg muscles for this activity as well, so consider some other strength training activity which can actually be done with solely your body ( little to no other objects needed). Make sure you have an empty stomach, and make sure you are hydrated. It will get easier I promise! Please don't give up!!!!!!!!!