How do I run - without looking like I am being chased down t

I feel the same way! I've never been a runner but would love to without feeling like I am having to run for my life or that "where the heck am I running to?" feeling lol

Ha ha, I would recommend trying the couch to 5k program which you can google and find online or there's an iphone or android app. It's for interval training. You do intervals of walking and jogging/running and the length of running increases over time and the walking decreases. It's a 9 or 10 week program. Interval training will help you build endurance and initially the program will have you running in really short times, like 60 seconds so you should be able to keep up with that

You sound like me! : )
I was never a runner, but I started the Couch to 5K program on my treadmill. I learned to be a little more graceful all by myself, in the privacy of my own home. THEN I started taking my dog for a walk and every now and then I would run. Before I knew it, I didn't feel self-conscious. Do it at your own convenience, but make it fun for yourself. THE MOT IMPORTANT THINGS ARE GOOD SHOES AND GOOD MUSIC!

Good luck! :drinker:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/mrphil86/view/my-running-walking-tips-95469

Also:
start slow--just above a brisk walking pace
don't run every day at first--puts you at risk for injuries--try for 3 days a week with a rest day in between your running days
start small (increments/intervals)
don't worry about how you look (yes, I know this is difficult, but really, you're better off worrying about your form)
have fun!

You can take advantage of that flat-out sprint.
Sprint as hard and fast as you can for 1-2 minutes, then slow down to a jog for a recovery period (depending on how intense you want it to be, it could be anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes; you could even walk during this time). These are called high intensity intervals, and it gets you in better shape faster than slow-paced jogging.

I have one friend who's just gotten back into exercise. He flat-out RAN four miles after just a month of starting to run again. He doesn't just jog--he sprints with no rests. Crazy. He puts me to shame.

Try to find some music with the right pace and keep in step with it. There is a site called podrunner.com that has free music set to a certain tempo that is constant that I like. Other good things to listen to are military running cadences - they are not too fast and are made for running mid-to-long distances. Here are some good ones for free - http://www.marinedevildog.com/mclinks/cadence.htm.

As for your route, the best place is a designated jogging trail that has mile markers, but if there isn't one in your area, you can just run around your neighborhood. If you have an iphone or blackberry, there are several apps that can measure your speed and distance, but if you don't, just drive a route in your car and watch your odometer to see how far it is - shoot for 2 or 3 miles. Wear a watch and record your time. Start by running 1 minute, and walking one minute, and gradually increase it to 2 minutes running, etc. until you're running the whole distance. Even if you can only keep up the running for part of the route, go ahead and complete the route by walking. Keep it up, and you'll be running the whole distance eventually.

I like the idea of 'going for a run' only every time I try I end up feeling like I am being chased and sprinting off down the road. I cant seem to pace myself at all. I just get faster and faster and can barely reach the end of the road! I feel self concious and ridiculous running and yet I imagine if I got the hang of it I would benefit grately and would eventually learn to enjoy it.

So any advice on how to pace myself so that I am jogging rather then sprinting? Honestly I look like a clown with my non technique!

I am also pretty unfit so I am not going to be able to go far for long at first. I also dont really know where to go exactly. How do I chose a route to take?

Thanks

I just recently joined a running class. I can relate to the awkwardness of being a new runner. If you don't mind, I'll be reading the advice people will post to see if I can possibly learn a few things myself. Good luck to you (and me)...lol

I had this same problem my first month or two. I felt really slow when I tried to pace myself, and ended up just sprinting off, and exhausting myself. If you like to exercise with music, try something with a steady and consistent beat that you can almost time your heel strikes to.

Look up "good form running", or "chi running" to get an idea of what good running form is. That should help you to keep from worrying how you look.