I can't run.

try running slower in a confortable conversational pace

I agree with both of these comments. I'm far from a success story (I'm in progress), but I started C25k back in the Spring and now I can run for 50 minutes without stopping. I run slow, like, turtle in peanut butter slow, like 3.7mph slow, but I don't STOP. I'm getting faster every day.
Try C25k and don't give up. If a day is super-easy, finish the entire set anyway. If the day is super-hard and you can't complete it, REPEAT it the next time (I do Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday). There were a few times I had to repeat a day. There is no shame in that. When you conquer that day, you will feel twice as badass.

I'd just run/walk until you're recovered and try to push a little farther each time. Sooner or later you'll be doing less walking and more running!

I have to agree with the Couch to 5k apps. I used it in the beginning and just did my first 5k a couple of weeks ago...finished in 33:53!! I am now running a mile in around 10:40 on average. I hated running but now have started to enjoy my time on the road.

I thought I couldn't run, either, until I figured out it was a pacing issue. I would try to maintain a pace that was too fast for me at the time, and when I slowed down a bit I could hold it longer.

I use C25K now, there's a free app that's super helpful.

Do you want to run? You don't HAVE to run.

What kind of problems are you having when you try to run?

Maybe my story will help......I wasn't a runner, in fact I had grown up hating running (unless it involved chasing a ball or something else useful....) fast forward to a sedentary 50 year old who wants to start playing soccer again. Suffice it to say it was a humbling experience, a few moments on the pitch and I was ready to die.

I decided I needed to improve my fitness. I started with just walking, then I added a minute of running (more like a slow shuffle), then 2 minutes, then 3 minutes and so on. I built up very slowly and much to my surprise found the I actually liked running for the sake of running.

September 2009 I ran my first 5K race and since then I have moved along to 10 Ks, half-marathons and a handful of duathlons / triathlons.

When you're first starting out go slow and go short. Your only goal is to build endurance, you don't want to go too fast (you should never find yourself gasping for breath until you reach the point that you're racing and want to improve speed but that's still a long way away)

You want to be consistent. It's far more beneficial to go for 4 x 1/2 hour walks/runs than 2hr run per week.

Be patient. It's a marathon not a sprint, it takes time for your body to make the physiological adaptations that running demands>

Have fun!

JoRocka wrote: »

do you have a gait issue or an "I'm uncomfortable" or "I can't breath or do this for very long" issue.

Because "I can't run" is just way to generic to try to pin point- odds are you CAN run- but you can't run for very long-which is an extremely easy- albeit a somewhat time consuming process- i.e Couch to 5K type programs- but almost everyone with two functional legs can break a walk and physically run- just a matter of how long and how far usually- which training can easily fix with commitment.

BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »

Do you want to run? You don't HAVE to run.

+1

If you want to run and don't have any physical reason for not being able to, everybody gave great suggestions. If you don't want to run or if there's a physical reason, find a form of exercise that you enjoy (and can safely perform).