Is running for everyone?

6"1", 190#. I have 2 Morton's foot, had a Neuroma taken from my left foot from overuse on the job 15 years ago, gnarly varicose veins on both legs that make them feel heavy, and also multiple plantar fibromas on both feet. I work 12 hours a day on my feet sometimes up to 84 hours a week plus a second job also on the feet. I did run a bit in 2014, but for me probably better exercises to choose from. Not that it can't be done. If I lost another 20 pounds, then that could go a bit of a way in offsetnig the above mentioned stuff. But if I really wanted to run I of course could. Did I feel better in my overall body when I did run 1.5 years ago? Yes

No, not everyone can be a runner, but a lot of us who never thought of ourselves as runners can do it. I'm still a novice but I have been using the C25k program with good success so far (I "finished" it, but wasn't anywhere near to running 5k), on the treadmill. As the weather improves, I'm going to restart at week 1 outside and see if I can learn to run uphill (unavoidable without driving somewhere to run) without giving up and walking. Plus, I'm going to use the rundouble app, rather than the ZenLabs app, because it will go by distance, not just by time, so that by the time I get to the end of the program, I'll really be running 5K. I'm 59 years old, I've never been even a little bit athletic, still fall into the "obese" range, and have never run for even a few minutes at a time before, but I have been exercising in other ways (Zumba, walking) nearly every day for the last 3 years.

On the other hand, my sister has always been athletic, but has never been a runner. She had undiagnosed (and untreated, obviously) scoliosis as a kid, and then did things like play rugby and soccer for years until her back pain forced her to quit. She's also got bad knees (probably runs in the family - mine aren't so good either and our mom has had both replaced) and about a decade ago had a botched back surgery that gave her permanent nerve damage. Running is not in her future.

TavistockToad wrote: »

Have you been fitted for running shoes?

The first question the Tarahumara/Raramuri tribes ask themself before taking up running.

The trick is to start and progress as slowly and as comfortably as you can. I got the desire to start running when I was class III obese, so needless to say even C25K was too much for me. I used a different program to get me started. At the very end of an 8 week program I built up to running a continuous 15 seconds. (You can download it for free here).

After that I used the last week as a guide, and kept adding 5 seconds of running every week until I worked up to 30 seconds. I then switched to this program (the first part) then at week 7 decided to transition to this one for better variety and tweak it to my needs (used the same miles listed but in kilometers, for example if a run says 5 miles I would do 5 kilometers). I never ended up doing the C25K program, but I am now able to run continuously for 30-40 minutes even though I'm still obese. I had to repeat a few weeks before progressing to the next, and I had to slow down to the point where I could walk faster than I ran, but it was all worth it. If you have an Android, Impetus is an amazing free app that would help you set up any interval program you wish with a high level of sophistication and personalization.

Yes progression was slow, but not once did I have shin splints or any out of the ordinary knee pain. I did injure my achilles on a very hilly hike, but that's a story for a different thread and had nothing to do with running.

Basically, bar medical and structural conditions, everyone can run. Does everyone WANT to run or enjoys running? No. In this case you really don't have to. There are plenty of other ways to burn calories. But if you do want to run and feel like you would enjoy it, doesn't matter how long it takes you to get there, with slow and gradual progression you WILL get there if you set your mind to it.

Many people can learn to run, but it's not necessary if you either don't like to do it, or have physical issues that would make it difficult to do so.

There is no inherent reason to take up running if you don't want to, but there is no automatic disqualifying reason if you do.

tattoosandadventures wrote: »

I've always felt that my body just wasn't built for running. My knees instantly ache, along with my shins. I've heard people say this is just something you eventually work through, but I guess I've never been very willing to try.

Today I downloaded that couch to 5k app, and I am going to give it my best shot. Has anyone used this app? Did you used to be horrible at running and now it's become way easier? Let me know your thoughts!

You'll get used to it.

I started running 9 months ago. I couldn't run for 5 minutes without needing to catch my breath and the days after I went running my shins, knees and calves were yelling for me to stop.

Now I run 40-50 minutes at a moderate pace comfortably. My legs still ache the day after running but by evening this is mostly gone. I run every other day now, haven't had an injury yet, and it feels great to progress.

I hated running, now I love it.

I'm built for comfort, not for speed. But having said that, like so many other posters on this thread, I did a c25k two years ago, and found that I love, love, love long slow (slow!) runs. The freedom of spending a couple of hours just on me, and seeing some beautiful nature at the same time. And once my body got used to it, it wasn't too hard. So while running may not be for everbody, there are a lot of great experiences to be had in running.

amusedmonkey wrote: »

The trick is to start and progress as slowly and as comfortably as you can. I got the desire to start running when I was class III obese, so needless to say even C25K was too much for me. I used a different program to get me started. At the very end of an 8 week program I built up to running a continuous 15 seconds. (You can download it for free here).

After that I used the last week as a guide, and kept adding 5 seconds of running every week until I worked up to 30 seconds. I then switched to this program (the first part) then at week 7 decided to transition to this one for better variety and tweak it to my needs (used the same miles listed but in kilometers, for example if a run says 5 miles I would do 5 kilometers). I never ended up doing the C25K program, but I am now able to run continuously for 30-40 minutes even though I'm still obese. I had to repeat a few weeks before progressing to the next, and I had to slow down to the point where I could walk faster than I ran, but it was all worth it. If you have an Android, Impetus is an amazing free app that would help you set up any interval program you wish with a high level of sophistication and personalization.

Yes progression was slow, but not once did I have shin splints or any out of the ordinary knee pain. I did injure my achilles on a very hilly hike, but that's a story for a different thread and had nothing to do with running.

Basically, bar medical and structural conditions, everyone can run. Does everyone WANT to run or enjoys running? No. In this case you really don't have to. There are plenty of other ways to burn calories. But if you do want to run and feel like you would enjoy it, doesn't matter how long it takes you to get there, with slow and gradual progression you WILL get there if you set your mind to it.

Those look like some really awesome resources, thanks for sharing that!!! I started running while I was (and I still am) in the first class of obesity. But I did it badly, with no real concept of easing into things, and gave myself some sort of knee injury (it took 2 years and 2 different professionals to get it mostly better and I still don't really know what it was exactly). At 5'2" and about 190lbs, with a quite small frame I think my body just doesn't deal well with all of the extra weight on my joints, especially having very weak muscles from being so inactive. I wouldn't exercise for 2 or 3 weeks solid, then I would jog on hills without any stretching for 30-45minutes, pushing myself until I couldn't run any more, and walking until I caught my breath, then sprinting again. Then I'd sit around very inactive for another month or so until inspiration struck again. But I did like running. I'd like to get back to it, the right way, through some sort of progression like this, and hopefully not injure myself again

amusedmonkey wrote: »

@kae612 I'm glad you found these useful. The very first program is meant to be pure conditioning, to prepare the muscles and the nervous system for running, so skipping weeks or adding time/distance is strongly discouraged. For people who are even worse fitness-wise than I was, people who don't even walk, it's meant to be used for walking. On run/walk segments walkers would alternate between walking slow and walking fast. Consistency is very important though.

Tbh I've printed them out and I think once the weather is a bit less slushy I'll give that one a shot. I enjoy walking, so it seems like a good place to start.