Cant even run ONE mile???

I took me 3 months of running/walking 3-4 times a week to get to a mile so keep going!! I never ran a mile or even a half mile before I started. Try the phone app Couch25k, it will help you gradually build up your strength. You don't want to jump right in and start running longer distances than you are used to, that may cause an injury. As for the breathing, that does get much easier over time. Try walking on a high incline every once in awhile, that helped me build strength and being able to keep my breath.

It gets better....when I started I could only get through one of the biggest loser power walks (1 mile of walking in place in your home) and yesterday I did 3.5 of them

zorahgail wrote: »

@catwomansquats yep it does get better!

Like @MsJulesRenee it took me awhile, probably 4-5 months, before I could really run/walk a mile. One thing that helped me feel successful when improving my running fitness was to focus on time instead of mileage. In fact that's what I'm doing now as I get back to running.

My son runs on his college xc/track team and they train this way, by time rather than distance.

I agree with everyone here. It gets better with practice and persistence! I was completely out of shape and two bad knees to boot. I started just walking at a slow to moderate pace for fifteen minutes or so. Built up my speed and distance while walking. Then I started doing run/walk intervals - first longer walk intervals, then gradually increased the run intervals and shortened the walk intervals. Then one day I just ran a mile, slowly. Gradually increased speed and distance. Now I can run at least 5 miles without stopping (maybe more, but I haven't tried yet - working on my pace now). All this over the course of months, not days or weeks. Be patient and stick with it and you will see results! Don't give up.

It gets better for sure! Look at it this way, you made it around the track 4 times...that's a good start.

Here's a story to help you feel better:

When I was in college I played rugby. Since I was one of the bigger players, my coach didn't push me as hard on the cardio; we were doing a drill once where we were running on the track, and he let me drop out at .75 miles because "Hey, you're big like me, no need to run". Note to college rugby coaches-what you think sounds vaguely comforting in your head probably has the opposite effect on a 20 year old woman.

Several years later, I decided enough was enough, and headed out the door...and I have several 1/2 marathons and a slew of 5ks under my belt. And I wish I could go back and smack my 20 year old self upside the head.

So running a whole mile, even in 15 minutes, is a great start!

Everyone starts somewhere, consistency is key with your training and the hard work will pay off. Best of luck!

You'll be surprised how fast your body adapts to your new demands. Don't go more than every other day to give it time to respond and you'll surprise yourself. Log your progress (speed) and I am sure you will be pleased.

It definitely gets better! In April 2015 I started with a 22 min mile..over half it walking. In October 2015 I ran (well 12 min miles) a half marathon. I was able to do it at a steady pace the entire time with no walks. Keep it up.

catwomansquats wrote: »

Wow I am trying not to beat myself up but honestly...took me exactly 15 minutes to get around the track four times...running and walking...I was so out of breath...

please tell me this gets better? lol
also was debating doing this four times a week on top of strength training, sound good?

It gets better! But I would start with a couple times a week and build up. Running is high impact and can trash you shins and knees if you go all out right away. Took me 3 months to feel comfortable jogging 2 to 3 times per week without my body killing me. I have knee problems and sometimes still have to take time off when it acts up.

I started running when I was about 20 years old. I smoked. On the first day, I went out and ran around the periphery of my apartment complex -- maybe half a mile? Maybe less. That was all I could do. It was so pathetic i don't know why I kept doing it. But I did. A few weeks later, I was tooling down the road, going just a little bit further every week.
My advice to new runners is always the same: Baby steps! Go easy! If you push yourself too much early on, it is uncomfortable and you won't like it and you will stop. Go out and do whatever is fun and do not worry about it. Running will come to you, if you let it.

catwomansquats wrote: »

Wow I am trying not to beat myself up but honestly...took me exactly 15 minutes to get around the track four times...running and walking...I was so out of breath...

Good! Now you have a base line for your current fitness. In six months or a year you'll be amazed at how much progress you've made! In January I wasn't as fast as you, and now I'm starting training for a half marathon, with a goal of sub-13 minute miles the whole way, hopefully without walking.

also was debating doing this four times a week on top of strength training, sound good?

Yes, but not at the level where you're so out of breath. Once a week do interval training, where you get out of breath for short periods and recover. The other 3 cardio days, exercise at a pace where you could say a six-word sentence easily, but couldn't sing. Listen to your body, and if running 4 days is too much (my knees can't take that), swap out for some elliptical, biking, or rowing.

Well done!!

I dunno if this helps anybody, but I've found a nice system for myself.

I power walk for fifteen minutes, then fast jog for five. I do it for an hour, so three "sets" of each.

As it's my third day, I'm sure I should be doing more sets of them in the future, but it's working well so far. I look forward to doing this for two hours!