I AM NOT A RUNNER AT ALL

Agreed! Look at the Couch to 5K program http://www.c25k.com/ I used to run, but haven't in years and I just started doing that program last week to get back into running shape.

I was in the same boat 4 years ago when some friends convinced me to sign up for a half marathon. I hadn't run at all since high school gym class. I didn't think that I liked running, but buckling to peer pressure and needing to get in shape, I relented. When I started I could only run 15 seconds, then walk 45, and so on. And I only went a half mile. However, I did complete the half marathon six months later, and then I got hooked and have run 4 more halfs and 2 full marathons and am still running. You CAN do it.

Oh, and I was the only one who did that first half marathon out of the friends who convinced me to do it. I still give them grief over that.

i also started out never have ran and im half way through the couch to 5k recomendations. i didnt follow it very strictly i just kept pushing myself little by little i used to only be able to do 30 seconds now im up to 5 min running. just start with interval training in replace of whatever you used to do for cardio its great and you learn to push your body little by little. 30 seconds more of an intense spirt each time is alot and i find myself doing it with more and more of my work outs.

I resorted to swimming, but I think I will look up this couch to 5K program, sounds intersting!

When I started back in December I was not a runner. I never enjoyed running or treadmill. I started out slow on the treadmill to benefit from the calorie burn. I enjoy running and treadmill now. Looking forward to my first 5k in May and 10k over Memorial Day weekend.

I did my first session of C25K today, after someone on the forum recommended it to me! Manged 8 minutes of jogging, with 12 minutes of walking. Was very out of breath by the end of it! I might have to repeat the odd week here and there, since my general fitness is pretty poor But I'm determined to succeed with it! Ultimately I want to get back into swimming, but I need a bit more general fitness behind me first, I think! (don't want to drown) LOL

I hated couch to 5k, I just started out using fitness music created for interval training, my favorites are the cardio coach series by Sean OMalley. I never thought I like running but now I can't get enough. If you go to runnersworld.com there are training programs for free on there too.

I just found C25K to be slow.

Bump
if your doing this on a treadmill i have a great walking excercise that might prepare you for some jogging its a great calorie burner and its only 45 mins long or C25K is great also i just started a few days ago and i love it!! i can post up the excercise later on in the day

I read on another thread this morning that you can download music to accompany the couch to 5k program. I think it was called Podrunner.

For some of us, it's not "just running". I was one of those people that was scared to start. I have general anxiety disorder and part of it is health anxiety. With my weight, I've been worried about my heart for a while. I was genuinely scared that if I did really strenuous physical activity like running, I'd have a heart attack. Yeah, I know that's pretty paranoid for someone my age, but I've been fat for a long time and have had high blood pressure for a long time. Another thing I get with my anxiety is panic attacks (shortness of breath, dizziness, etc...), so I was afraid I'd be running and pass out.

I actually went to my doctor for a heart stress test. Heart is fine and I'm on week 6 of c25k. I still have twinges of worry about it though. I KNOW that it's helping my heart (my blood pressure meds have been reduced by half after only 2 months), but anxiety isn't logical. I can't talk myself out of it no matter how hard I try.

Sorry, you are right - anxiety isnt logical and nor should it be treated as a flippant topic. I probably should have qualified what I said, I am sorry if I have upset you or anyone else.

Sorry for the trhread hi-jack, it wasnt my intention to ruffle any feathers.

Not at all. I didn't think you were being flippant or dismissive and I wasn't offended. I just wanted to point out there could be other issues going on :flowerforyou:

Hey, good tips in this thread... and Stolly's point is a very good one too! It's very easy to PSYCHE yourself out of an activity that we almost ALL did and LOVED as kids until someone made us grow up and STOP! I'll admit I was pretty scared to get started for a few reasons.... mostly because I associated it with being punished at school (they made us run LAPS!) and once I got older and really fat and tried it again it was just too painful...the absolute LAST thing I can imagine ever enjoying.... but now I go out and do about 20 Miles or more a week!

After getting into Cycling, In-Line Skating, Ice Skating, Shinny Hockey, even Swimming (unless you are geographically LUCKY!)...just about anything else is more complicated and/or more expensive than running. It's very liberating and wonderfully exciting to discover running is basically ALWAYS available any time and all you need is SHOES.

It's also so much more fun when Running is something you want to do for yourself! Like others mention here my running started as an extension of Long Distance Walking... after walking all those miles I just wanted to do it FASTER ya know? I don't think I have the patience for The C25K or any interest in Running competitively in marathons etc. I just go for my own pleasure... start by walking to warm up then look at my watch or pick a landmark and decide time to run.. then I start walking BEFORE any pain and allow my heart rate to slow down a bit (from 140+ down to 108 or so) before I'll start running again... playing with speed intervals and FARTLEK (as much fun to say as it is to do!) I'm still building up my stamina, according to my HRM I ran 60%- 70% of my last ~two hour session yesterday... Usually I only go about an hour but I just felt like kicking it up a notch

lol. Its just running :happy: