Want to start running but I'm embarrassed

Oh, I sympathize with you entirely! However, there are many things one must keep in mind: firstly, and probably most trite of all is, it doesn't matter what anyone sees or thinks. And if they think negatively toward you, will you know and, more importantly, will you care? Even if they think positively and admirably of you as you jiggle down the street huffing and puffing, you are running for your own health, not for their approval, entertainment, or recognition. Secondly, while totally understand feeling a bit embarrassed, I also, upon further examination of myself, have to wonder if I'm running for the right motives; if I'm out there for the purpose, even if it's a partial purpose, of showing off to people, then I'm running for the wrong reasons. Thirdly, and I think I mentioned it already, if people DO take notice of you (a less-than-perfect {is there any other sort of perfect?} body) running publicly, why I'd be inspired to get out there and run; I'd feel like I, another imperfect person can be free and empowered to get into shape and to pursue a healthy lifestyle, even if my body never looks like...well, I can't think of anything but a Barbie doll for some reason, which is the farthest thing from my ideal...a model's or an athlete's. I can be free to live healthfully without caring a toss about what anyone but myself thinks of my body. (This is coming from someone who has never run in public; I'm blessed to have a treadmill in the privacy of my basement!). So...if you can see fit to overlook my hypocrisy and just get out there and run, you've got me with you in spirit! (Or, you could always buy a treadmill and stick it in your basement).

Oh honey I feel you with that! I felt the same way (well still do to be honest). I am mostly embarassed but how crazy bright red my face gets. I honestly worry sometimes that people will stop to make sure I'm okay. I have just had to push through it and attempt to convince myself it does't matter. I even bought some real workout clothes (I used to avoid them for fear that wearing them would make people look at me even more). Geez I feel like a middle-schooler will all this "people are looking at me" stuff! The reality is, people really aren't looking. And if they are, who are they to us anyway?? Go for it! Couch to 5K is a super awesome program for the beginning runner!

I've lost 23 lbs in the past 5 weeks and I feel terrific. In the past year or so I've lost 45. But I still have a long way to go. I walk 2x a day which equals about 1 hr. I just started weight training last week and I can already tell such a difference. I really, really want to start running. I know it burns the fat faster than walking. I love interval training when I walk and I know running would make a difference. Here's the thing. I still have 100 lbs to lose. Even though I feel smaller I know I look big to others. I can't see myself running down the sidewalk huffing and puffing with parts of me still jiggling around for all to see. Any thoughts or just words of encouragement?

When I run and see a new runner or a heavier person running I smile to myself and remember when I started running (not to long ago)! I remember how hard it was in the beginning and how good it felt when I accomplished my mini goals! Most runners are good people and happy to see you out there too. Don't worry what everyone else thinks and do it for you!

You are not alone my friend! I read the best article a few years ago that quoted Joan Benoit Samuelson (gold medal winner, first Women's Olympic Marathon in 1984) as saying "when I first started running, I was so embarrassed I'd walk when cars passed me. I'd rpetend I was looking at the flowers."

Reading that made me feel like nothing could hold me back. If she could do it, why couldn't I? Screw what other people think - it's none of your business anyway. And if they make comments, that says more about them being classless idiots than it does about your appearrance.

I know it's easier said than done but stop doubting and do it!

I've lost 23 lbs in the past 5 weeks and I feel terrific. In the past year or so I've lost 45. But I still have a long way to go. I walk 2x a day which equals about 1 hr. I just started weight training last week and I can already tell such a difference. I really, really want to start running. I know it burns the fat faster than walking. I love interval training when I walk and I know running would make a difference. Here's the thing. I still have 100 lbs to lose. Even though I feel smaller I know I look big to others. I can't see myself running down the sidewalk huffing and puffing with parts of me still jiggling around for all to see. Any thoughts or just words of encouragement?

All I can say is go for it!! If your worried about what other think ...maybe try a treadmill or just say to hell with the others Im doing this for me. I have now dropped 21 pounds since Feb and its been due mostly to run/walk workouts. I had a heart attack a few years ago and worry about my heart rate getting to high but I get out there and do what I can. JUST GO FOR IT!! Your already out there walking an hour a day. Start off with the C25K app. Its a great program to get started with. Good luck to you.

I do it in the morning, so there isn't as many people to see! People usually only look at me worried because I turn bright red!! Their faces actually make me laugh a little because they are sooo concerned. What I finally told my self was, who cares I'm working out to look better and to maintain good health. I'm not in a beauty pageant, I'm working out and if you look amazing while doing it you either have really good genes (majority don't) or your not working hard enough.

i also get very red when i do any kind of aerobic exercise. i have always been this way, not sure why. i'm sure i am even more red when running because last summer i had several people stop me, concerned that i am suffering from heat stroke. it is nice that strangers are concerned but i started to feel self conscious about it & i do not like being interrupted. it's too hot during the day and i like to run in the park near me where there seem to be a lot of yellow jackets out during the daytime (I got stung by one last year and had a bad reaction so i am a bit scared of them now). I'm not a morning person so i took to running at night. problem solved.

(only you have to be more careful at night because visibility is bad, so reflective clothing is a must. even with a reflective streak on my pants and shoes AND the light from my ipod or cellphone shining i have still had close calls with cars.)

I was embarrassed to start running also. I'm a self-conscious person and I got anxious that people would stare at me or laugh. So I know where you're coming from.

But what I did was go running when less people were around, for example, in the morning or afternoon when people were at work or at school (I'm a student so my timetable was good for this).

I also thought about what scared me most about running in public and wrote a list of it. I wrote what I thought the worst thing could happen and then wrote a realistic outcome. Like I worried maybe people will laugh, then I thought they may be laughing but I am the one who is making a change in my life and not sitting around laughing, in other words, they can get lost.

And anyway, the people you run past you will never have to see again. For a second they are in your mind, when you run past them they are gone forever.

I recommend beginning with a run-walk program, and if you are really concerned about what people see, run early in the morning or as it's getting dark out. Run-walk programs help you build the endurance needed for running with the aim of preventing injury, and as you increase your running time you decrease your walk time. Pretty damn awesome, if you ask me.

I have a Women's Pace run-walk manual that will get you to 10km in 13 weeks if you are interested. I've used it several times (in fact, I'm using it again currently) and it's a very comfortable transition into becoming "a runner" (however you define it). Pretty cool.

blondie3_04 wrote: »

I started the C25K a few months ago. I still have over 60 lbs I would like to loose. I work at a Universtiy and staff can use the workout facilities. We have an indoor track that overlooks basketball courts students use. At first I was a bit self conscious because of having to run/walk in front of college students (I have actually only been out of college 5 years but still was nervous). There are several avid runners who go and sometimes I notice some track team students practicing. I finally told myself that I could care less if they even thought of me (which I doubt any even notice because when I run I do not pay attention to anyone else). I was there for me. I started struggling with only jogging a minute, huffing and puffing my way through but have since improved. I know how hard it is to not worry if others are thinking about what you look like but once you start it is easy to forget. Good luck on your new pursuit.

How do you make yourself not care?

kyanmel873 wrote: »

How do you make yourself not care?

There are a few things for me, and in some ways a realisation came when I was doing some work on 10K.

Anyone who sees you doesn't know where you are in your training , and in general they'll see you for a couple of minutes at most Other runners will recognise that you're out there, and the opinion of non runners doesn't matter.

If you see me breathless and red faced you don't know whether I'm in week one of C25K, part way through a sprint intervals session that'll cover 10K, or towards the end of a 15 mile long run. As a runner, if I pass you I don't know how your session compares to mine. You might be warming up, taking an easy interval, or going as hard as you can go. I'll have used you as a marker, but recognise that you're running your run, and I'm running mine.

I was racing a half marathon yesterday, and walking the last uphill section. Couldn't feel my quads at this point, and a woman who I'd used as a marker a few times ran past me, just. She made the observation that my walking pace was nearly as fast as her running pace. Her getting in front of me was the incentive to pick up my pace a little, but we'd both run our own races.