No laughing please!!

1.5 miles in 15 minutes is great!

I'm not an expert runner by any means, but I would always try to increase distance OR speed, not both at the same time, especially if you're just starting out. Trying to do too much can cause your body to start falling apart (speaking from bitter experience!)

if you increase your distance , eventually your speed will also increase. i don't know how much 1.5miles is , but try not to push yourself too hard since you're new to exercise. It's very easy to get an injury by being overzealous.

Your first day of running was awesome for a beginner but beware of doing too much too soon as you run the risk of injury. I have taught a few beginner running classes and the focus is not on speed but slowly increasing the distance. One should not increase by more than 10% a week.

Nothing to laugh at my friend!! I think you did awesome!! I would suggest to increase distance slowly. When you are happy with your distance than work on speed. The worst thing you can do is push yourself to go further and faster too soon. This will increase your risk of injury which will just hurt your progress. Listen to your body, if you are feeling pain in your feet, knees or shins please take it seriously. Also, include strengthening exercises to compliment your running and don't forget to stretch after your run!!!

I know nothing about running or jogging as that's just not my thing. I just want to applaud you for getting out there and getting started - no matter how far or how fast. Keep up the good work!

Weight loss is eating less.
Exercise for health/because you like it.

If you ran that whole mileage without stopping, there ain't nothing to laugh at. I can't run 100 feet without needing a break.

I've worked my way up to being able to run a 5k at around a 10 minute/mile pace in the last year so you are doing great. My one regret is not doing a programmed training routine like the Couch to 5K at this point. I feel I would have progressed much faster and would be a better runner if I had. Keep up the good work!

jdawson002 wrote: »

Anyway it got me thinking, as I'm solely trying to lose weight, should I be looking to jog faster or to jog further? or both?

So the main thing about weight loss is having a calorie deficit. What running gives you is a method of managing your deficit. I was in a similar situation, nearly 200lbs, when I started to lose weight. Easy to say that it's all about the calorie deficit, so what I found was that I was more psychologically satisfied if I ran, then ate to my goal, than if I didn't. So eating to 1600 cals was difficult, but running for three miles and eating 2000 calories was ok.

The main contributor to calorie expenditure in running is distance, rather than pace. So aim to run longer, rather than faster. One of the benefits of running longer is that you get faster.

For what it's worth a 10 minute mile is respectable, that's about the pace I do much of my training at. The secret is being able to sustain it for longer. What I found quite quickly was that running became more important to me than weight loss. It helps me to clear my head, as well as help my fitness.

Three and a half years ago I started using Couch to 5K, on Sunday I ran for 40 miles. The first 32 of those at a 10 minute mile.

I run an 11 1/2 minute mile so if yours is laughable, I'm scared to know what mine is, lol. Definitely agree with everyone hear, work on your distance and the speed will come, just don't over do it.

jdawson002 wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I'm fairly new to exercise and yesterday I managed to jog 1.5 miles in 15 minutes.....no laughing please!!!

Anyway it got me thinking, as I'm solely trying to lose weight, should I be looking to jog faster or to jog further? or both?

Thanks

I don't find that remotely funny and I consider laughing my very favorite hobby.

I suggest you take it easy and run slow even if you feel you can run faster. If you do too much too soon, you will find yourself sitting on the sideline with an injury.

Running produces a lot of stress on the body. And being a bigger guy makes each step on the pavement that much more stressful. It is best to ease your body into the stress of running.

In my opinion, it would be good to start with a 3 day week running schedule ( e.g. Monday, Wednesday, Friday) Do the 1.5 miles at a slow, controlled pace each day. Keep that same distance for about 3 weeks and then try increasing the running session by 1 mile. And after you have been running consistently for 5 - 6 months, add another day of running to your schedule, if time permits.

It is ok if you don't feel winded and tired after your run. Most of your runs should leave you feeling as if you could have done more.

In my opinion, speed sessions are not something that beginners need to be doing.

While running can assist with weight loss, weight loss happens in the kitchen.

jdawson002 wrote: »

should I be looking to jog faster or to jog further? or both?

Here is the laugh - you should run, not "jog".