Advice on starting running

look into "couch to 5k"

Best bits of advice I ever got

- Download a Couch to 5k (C25k) or similar app
- Get fitted for proper running shoes
- Go slowly - the only person you are racing is yourself
- Keep going

couch to 5k is really good, and its free to download

Best bits of advice I ever got

- Download a Couch to 5k (C25k) or similar app
- Get fitted for proper running shoes
- Go slowly - the only person you are racing is yourself
- Keep going

yep that sums it up. I agree!

Best bits of advice I ever got

- Download a Couch to 5k (C25k) or similar app
- Get fitted for proper running shoes
- Go slowly - the only person you are racing is yourself
- Keep going

I second this. The C25K is an app has you alternate running and walking. Eventually you will walk less and run more. There are other similar 5K training programs all over the internet. It takes a commitment of running 3 days/week.

I'd like to add stretching & strength training to this list as well.

Could not agree more.

And as has already been suggested, getting fitted for running shoes (preferably at a store which specializes in running) is key to your success.

The free Nike running app is also something helpful.

I agree with all of the above. I'd add invest in a foam roller and roll out your legs after each run. The C25K app is great - you can listen to your own music and it tells you when to run/walk, etc.

Congrats on wanting to run! It's a lot of fun but hard at first. So don't give up because it will get easier.

My advice:

1. Don't wait, sign up for that 5K right now, or as soon as you are able to. Having it looming in front of you will give you a deadline and an inspiration to keep going.

2. Get fitted for running shoes at a specialty running store. They are costly, so do this as soon as you can. Having a specialist watch your gait and tell you what kind of shoe you need will prevent injury in the future and make running more pleasurable because you won't cause weird pains because your shoes aren't correct for your gait. This is the only special thing you need to buy, and it's absolutely worth it.

3. Check out youtube or google some examples of proper breathing while running. Learn to breathe correctly right from the beginning and you'll spend a lot less time gasping for breath and feeling like your chest is going to explode.

4. Download the C25K app and let it guide you. It's a wonderful program. I used it to start running when I was 320 lbs and if I can do it, anyone can do it.

5. Go slow. Slower. As slow as you can go while still feeling like you are not walking. Going slow lets you concentrate on your breath, on where your foot is landing with each stride, and how your form feels. You'll have time later to improve your speed, first get everything else right. Also, going too fast too soon will make the whole thing difficult to maintain when you can't keep that speed up for a 30-40 minute run.

6. Give yourself a break, don't be too hard on yourself, keep going. It WILL get easier. Of course, then you start going further or faster and it gets hard all over again, but it'll be worth it :-)

GOOD LUCK!!!!

I'm a beginner, too, and I've noticed that it helps when I treat running kind of like strength training: Only every other day and/or not when I'm still sore. The last thing I want is to injure myself! This is partly why I haven't tried C25K... I don't want to feel like I HAVE to run on certain days... I just want to run for the benefits of a healthier cardio system.

I've also appreciate people saying to start off quite slow. I like how running (or, jogging, really) gets my heart rate up quickly, and I'm finally to the point where I can sustain my jogging at certain (slow) speeds (heart-rate feels ok, and breathing feels ok). (Unlike before I lost any weight, when I couldn't sustain a jog at ANY speed!) So I like being told that it's ok to go slow. As I lose more weight, I imagine it'll become easier, so I'll probably naturally go a bit faster, if I still want my heart rate to get up to a good cardio-training spot. I'm looking forward to the slow creep-up in speed. For now, though, I typically go about 4.3 - 4.6mph.

I've noticed that my knees kind of hurt when I go down stairs, these days. Which is a complaint I often had when I was 80 lbs heavier. But now, I think it's from my jogging... My personal trainer (for strength training, not for running) tells me to ice my knees (which I keep forgetting to do) and to find other cardio to do from time to time (elliptical, rowing, water aerobics, etc.). He says it's ok to ramp up slowly in running, and then take a week to scale back again for a little recovery. Then ramp up again later, and so on.

Have fun!

I'm a beginner, too, and I've noticed that it helps when I treat running kind of like strength training: Only every other day and/or not when I'm still sore. The last thing I want is to injure myself! This is partly why I haven't tried C25K... I don't want to feel like I HAVE to run on certain days... I just want to run for the benefits of a healthier cardio system.

I've also appreciate people saying to start off quite slow. I like how running (or, jogging, really) gets my heart rate up quickly, and I'm finally to the point where I can sustain my jogging at certain (slow) speeds (heart-rate feels ok, and breathing feels ok). (Unlike before I lost any weight, when I couldn't sustain a jog at ANY speed!) So I like being told that it's ok to go slow. As I lose more weight, I imagine it'll become easier, so I'll probably naturally go a bit faster, if I still want my heart rate to get up to a good cardio-training spot. I'm looking forward to the slow creep-up in speed. For now, though, I typically go about 4.3 - 4.6mph.

I've noticed that my knees kind of hurt when I go down stairs, these days. Which is a complaint I often had when I was 80 lbs heavier. But now, I think it's from my jogging... My personal trainer (for strength training, not for running) tells me to ice my knees (which I keep forgetting to do) and to find other cardio to do from time to time (elliptical, rowing, water aerobics, etc.). He says it's ok to ramp up slowly in running, and then take a week to scale back again for a little recovery. Then ramp up again later, and so on.

Have fun!

C25K is just 3 days a week, doesn't matter which days, just the 3. Repeat weeks if you need to. If you want to become a runner, it's the best way to make the transformation from non-runner to runner.

If you feel like you have to run, then maybe consider another cardio activity. For me personally I run because I love it, and the extra calories for beer :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: