Walk to run?

oh also, check out couch potato to 5k. c25k app for your phone. great gradual beginning running app.

Following as I am also trying to become a runner.

I started with walking.. then brisk walking, then walking and running, to running.. I did not follow any program. I am however a runner from the past.. Two years ago when I set out to get off my butt I did not set out to run again, but it happened. I too haven't looked back.

Take your time, if you need a step by step guide to follow find one like C2K, but make sure you enjoy it and have fun!

Having a good walking base really, really helps. It also helps if you walk hills too.

I used C25K, and repeated it as needed. It's a great program, and you can take your time with it.

The thing with running to remember is that it's not about going fast. Someone once said on here that running is a gait, not a speed. I've never forgotten that. Just take your time and remember that your pace when you start shouldn't have you so fast that you couldn't carry on a conversation or sing along to some music.

You could do intervals. I used to just walk and hike and hated running (it hurt, I got out of breath quickly, etc). But I learned that hiit cardio (high intensity interval training) is much more time efficient because you burn more calories in half the time of steady state cardio.

One form of hiit is doing sprints alternated with walking. At first I could only jog and walk. Then my body adapted and I would run and walk, now I do a combo of running & sprinting alternated with quick paced walking. It takes time to get your body used to it, also the lighter you become from losing weight the easier it becomes.

I like to use a running track for this. I found one at a nearby university that has a rubberized surface so it's easier on the joints. It's free to use too. I walk on the curved portions and run or sprint on the straight sections. You can also get an interval timer or timer app and do the intervals anywhere- set the timer to 1 minute of walking & 30 seconds of running for a starting point. You can adjust this to even intervals as you get better if you want.

For hiit cardio you only need to do 20 to 30 minutes, but I walk a few laps for my warm up & cool down so it ends up being around 40 minutes total.

There's other types of hiit cardio too- body weight exercises (alternating hard ones like burpees with easy ones like walking in place), plyometric exercises, stairs (your high intensity interval is going up the stairs, your low intensity interval is going down them).

Might want to try this since it's time efficient & very effective. I still do long walks once in a while, and hikes, but I feel like I get a better workout and it's less hard on my body to do hiit cardio.

I started out walking and then did c25k. I would recommend going to a running store to get properly fitted for running shoes...they will analyze your gait and provide you with several options for the proper shoe based on whether you pronate, you are neutral, or you supinate.

And a good sports bra- I actually have to wear 2!

Fun peppy music helps as well.