RUNNING...........What's the deal?

As I sit here with shin splints I will tell you that running is one of my favorite exercises. When you have a good run it's feels so freeing, like your legs could take you anywhere! Try it - you just might love it!

Any exercise is GOOD!!!!! :-) and ANY exercise can take a tole on your body! Start out slow and listen to your body. GOOD LUCK!

I am 42 years old, and am doing Couch to 5K. It starts you out slow, so you don't hurt yourself. I think the injuries you hear about are die hard, long distance runners. I am overweight and it totally does not bother my knees. I really do not feel very good all day at this point unless I start my day off with a run! Good luck!

I think with proper shoes (I use Merrell Barefoots and Vibram Five-Fingers, but I'm not a total barefoot evangelist) it isn't bad for your knees. The problem is, it can be hard to figure out what is right for you. I suffered for years using traditional running shoes before I discovered the barefoot community, and now running feels great and doesn't hurt my knees or shins hardly at all.

All the sites are blocked at work so I can't give you links, but if you Google, "is running bad for knees" you get a ton of runner's world articles and articles from other sites about studies showing it's not. But you have to do what feels right for you of course!

If your interested in trying, start very slow and build up mileage. If you try to start doing too much, you'll hurt yourself quickly.

LOVE THAT APP!! I just started it!

I'm going to write up a separate thread about running for people who have doubts about their running..

But to answer YOUR question, yes running is for you. It takes time and consistency but you will eventually be able to "Go from Couch to 5K"

Start with the treadmills. My advice is this: set your treadmill to "Manual" for 20 minutes. Do a 10-minute warm-up walk followed by a 10-minute comfortable jog where at the end you're feeling winded but good. Do this a few times a week and eventually you can bump up time/speed. Give it a try and let me know!

All I can offer is to make sure you have a good pair of sneakers appropriate for running, and make sure to take the time to stretch before AND after. Before to help get you warmed up, and after will help with soreness.

Running is AWESOME! Not only a fantastic way to burn calories but a runner's high is amazing! It's something you can do anywhere and clear your mind. You don't have to be fast and you don't have to go far...and just like any other sport, skill or workout, yeah--you can get hurt. But the thing is...all runners recover and get back on their feet because WE LOVE IT!

On another note...I read somewhere that if your strides are smaller, they allow for a longer running lifetime. Invest in good shoes, watch the terrain you run and STOP when something hurts. Good luck and I hope you love it as much as everyone else does that's posted on this thread!

It's a very valid question as there are a lot of opinions out there on the subject. I can tell you from my experience as a coach, and with my own running, I do not believe there is any risk of injury inerently in running. In fact, there is a lot of science coming out in recent years proclaiming it's historically proven benefits and that our bodies are designed for it. There are some common injuries that afflict avid runners, but I those usually happen in conjuction with too narrow a focus on running and not enough 'crosstraining'.

Great suggestions above with C25K and it's related programs for easing into the sport. Also agree that is one of the forms of exercise you can always take with you. For a fun and ergonomic twist expreriment with Vibrams (the toe shoes). Great tool, just move into that type of footwear SLOWLY! Have fun!

I'm just getting back to running after losing enough weight that it wasn't too much impact on my back, but when I was lighter and running in races up to half marathon, my knees were the best they've been since I've been an adult.

I was not a runner and recently finished the C25K program. Like previous posters stated, I think that would be a great way to start out. It conditions your body at a good pace and you can repeat days/weeks if you feel you're still not ready for the next level. I wasn't sure about it, but I have come to really LOVE running! I say go for it!! Start slow and ease into it w/something like the C25K (I highly recommend it), and you should be fine. It's when you start out doing too much too soon that you get discouraged or injured. Good luck!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: this is funny

Running is terrible for you! It will make your uterus fall out and your knees explode into fiery balls of light. Avoid running at all costs. You've been warned...

I have never been a runner - always the fat girl finishing last in gym class. But, I love a challenge, so I started the couch to 5K program. I'm at week 6. At first, I looked at my last day of week 5 and laughed that it wanted me to run for 20 minutes. Uh, yeah, that's 20 minutes straight. Guess what? This fat girl who always finished last did 20 straight minutes of running.

Yes, I go super slow, and I'm sure that others can run laps around me, but I love turtles and consider myself a turtle in this race. C25K is great because you do it slowly and it becomes exciting.

Running is great because you can see a whole new world if you do it outside. And, yes, I was exactly like you. The kids used to get mad at me for being last, they'd laugh and everyone would be watching me in gym class - wouldn't people be watching and laughing at me when I ran in public at 30 years old? I thought yes, but the answer was no. Other people who are outdoors running or biking or whatever are just like you, they're out there to get some fresh air and be healthy. They're not there to watch you run. I sometimes see the people who are running with their toned legs and I become self conscious. That fades though. You'll never know until you try.

Studies are actually showing that running is actually good for your bones and joints. It strengthens them. The people that end up with knee and other joint troubles often reported having some troubles BEFORE they started running. Running can be harsh on the body, but it if done smartly, the body can recover. It can exascerbate existing problems though.

Other injuries and problems happen from overuse or improper footwear.

Running is actually known to help decrease the chance of osteoporosis.

And, I may be damning my sport by saying this, but NO ONE NEEDS to be running more than 3 miles 3 times a week. And if you have no other existing issues, that should not come close to hurting your joints or knees. There are just the crazy among us who like to train HARD and FAR! And even then, many of them are still fine.

Most importantly, you have to listen to your body's signals.

I agree with the posters who recommend c25k. I actually had to start slower than the program, but I stuck with it and it is totally worth it.

As for running causing joint/knee issues, etc., first, I agree with the others that easing into it slowly and letting the muscles/ligaments/tendons develop without over stressing the body is crucial. When properly done one can run without causing any damage. One reason I run is because it builds bone density. I personally enjoy trail running and find trails to be gentler on the body. I have been running four years and have never had an injury. And, as pure anecdotal evidence, I have three close friends who began road running 35 years ago and two of those friends are still running with no problems. The other one has recently quit running due to unrelated back problems. That is not a scientific study, but it says something to me.

Try out the c25k or c210k programs and see if it appeals to you. If you are even asking the question it is likely that you have the personality to enjoy running. As a PS, I love cycling too. They are great compliments to one another.