Can anyone over 200lbs run for over 5mins???

Yeah. Even when I was over 200 pounds, I ran upwards of seven miles a day.

Hey Hazel,
You certainly can train yourself to run for almost as long as you want. I am well over 200 and just completed my first triathlon. I was not fast but I did not stop even when some of my leaner counterparts had to walk. I was not fast but I finished. I am easily over 230 pounds down from 290. I just started very slow. I had not run my whole life. I started just like you walking, then running for a minute then walking again. It was truly unbelievable to me that in just a few months I could keep running a little longer each time....before I could blink I could run a mile. That was a day of rejoicing for me. A silent prayer went up because I never knew I could even last that long. Now I can easily go 3 miles. Still very slow. I am after all overweight but I get it done. You go Girl. You can do anything you put your heart and mind to. Running is really just mental. You have a strong body. Just challenge yourself to go a little longer each time...run from the house to the first mail box you see then keep adding mailboxes until you get to a mile....You will do it I know you can!!!!
Blessings,
Tanya

I weigh 213 lbs. and I built my endurance with high cardio workouts. I run about 19 minutes (1.5 miles) with a very short break in between that involves fast walking. Besides the shin splints I get afterwards I am usually good. Just have to keep breathing in an out and telling yourself YOU CAN DO THIS :bigsmile:

I'm about 210, just got done running a Fit test for my job. 300 meter sprint, followed by a 1.5 mile run, followed by push ups, then sit up. when your job is on the line, you're definitely motivated to keep going. lol. it torture, but when under pressure, you'd be suprised of what your actually capapable of. its alot of mind over matter mentality. when you feel like you cant go any farther, think of something that importatn to you, and push through. sometimes its a real challenge.

I'm 211 lbs and I ran 6 minutes covering a mile in the process just the other night.

So yeah, not only is it possible to be over 200 lbs and run for 5 mins, it is also possible to run quickly too!

Ok all you runners out there....

Are any of you Asthmatics? and how do you handle. I know with proper conditioning it can be overcome.. Was just curious what you do?

I am over 200lbs as well, 7lbs away from onederland and thinking about running!

C25K is amazing! I've lost 38 pounds since starting on it and I am still way over 200 pounds (about 247 right now). When I started I was at 285, so it definitely CAN be done if you really want to do it.

It's not pretty, but I'm running 30 minutes at a time now.

Yes ma'am!!! I started the Couch to 5k program over the summer weighing in at 230.8, sure it was a bit of a struggle at first, but I pushed through it and completed the program. When I finished, I weighed 213.8 Here's my inner thoughts about it for anyone who cares to read it: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BrunetteWife/view/could-you-graduate-in-9weeks-i-did-33877

i am short and round and could do anything my younger and thinner co-workers could do. i did a stress tess in the hospital,so it is possible. i would caution everyone to watch thier knees,thin or heavy. once they are gone, they are gone.:sad:

I do, 5 times a week ,just increased my mileage to 4 miles a day. I'm not the prettiest runner or the fastest but I run. I used interval training to build stamina, I used a series of CD's by Sean O'Malley called Cardio Coach, I love them. I did not like couch to 5k but many people have used it to help them you can find it at coolrunnings.com.

Posting on this thread to get it in the list of "my topics." This is making me want to start the c25k more than i did before! Awesome!

I have found that the elliptical is my friend when I run. I have been over 200 lbs for a number of years now, and I found that running was more painful than it was exhausting so the elliptical is really helpful there. Of course, my "running" is another person's "speed walking" so it's all relative. Good luck!

A big YUP to that. When I started, running for 1 minute was torture. Now I run for 10 minutes, then walk for 1 minute, and can run 10k that way and not feel like I want to die or have someone kill me when I am done.

You can do it - just build up slowly. I did the Couch to 5K program through week 5, then switched to my own program where I just added 1 minute of running to my intervals every week until I got to 10 minutes of straight running.

Someone mentioned the mental aspect and that's all it is for the most part. Your weight has nothing to do with your ability to run it's your mental fortitude and your stamina. I know that any time I've had problems running in the past it wasn't physical it was purely mental. Alright, well except when I messed up my leg for weeks, but even then I forced myself to run on that messed up leg. I don't recommend that unless you like not walking/running or doing anything else for a few days or weeks.

I only walked until I reached 440ish in weight then I have slowly mixed in running. I can currently do 1/3 of a mile before I get way too winded and back to walking. I am working on a mini goal of running 1 mile non-stop. I have good knees and very good shoes.