Wannabe Runner-Any advice?? :)

I tried the Couch 2 5k program a week before cross country. It didn't help that much because my lack of motivation, but it WILL work if you stick to it.
In cross country, we started at 5 miles. I walked most of it and got cramps. But I kept getting forced into these runs with the team. The team definitely motivated me to catch up. Everyone on the team lost belly fat and gained leg muscle within the first month. I was able to run 5 miles within a month and a half. It's about pushing yourself. I can now run 6.5 miles.

Tips:
1. Avoid cramping (Try not to eat within 1hr before running).
2. Start light. Maybe a 2.5 mile jog. Walk when you have to, but try to push through. When you can run 2.5 miles easily, up it to 3, then 3.5, then 4, then 4.5, then 5, then even 5.5 and 6.
3. Run 5 days a week.
4. STRETCH and eat a lot of protein after running. This will ease the soreness.
5. Having a dinner of complex carbs REALLY helps (pasta, rice, etc)
6. Have a pre-workout snack (less than 125 calories) an hour before running to fuel your run. (Or a light breakfast if you're doing this in the morning).
7. Wear the right sneakers for you. The wrong sneakers will cause injury. I hurt my right knee and shin for 1 week because I had the wrong shoes.
8. Try to get people to go through the journey with you. If it wasn't for the team, I wouldn't have the motivation to go on.
9. Warm-up before running with a slow jog and/or plyometrics (jumping jacks, high knees, butt-kicks, march, leaps) and then stretch.

Honestly, I just worked myself up to it. I started out doing 30 minutes on the elliptical, and one day went "sure, I'll try running" and I ran for like... eight minutes at a 15 minute mile pace. But I slowly started getting better. Each time I would challenge myself to run longer or faster, and I would stop and walk when needed. It's been about five months, and now I consider myself a runner. I've run four miles without stopped, and three miles in under half an hour. I'm doing my first 5k in April. It just takes time a patience, and a little perseverance.

I know some people love C25k, but that program never appealed to me. I just ran until I was tired.

See if I ran till I was tired, I wouldn't get half as far as I would if I was pushing till the lady said walk now. lol I NEED someone to tell me what to do. No matter if it is a friend or the C25K APP.

I was just like you. Hated running with a passion. My good friend at work and I decided just to do it. We were so pitiful. but now I can run for 3 minutes in a row. I did my 1st 5K in snow and mud in 47 minutes. My second race was 41 minutes a week later. Remember with a race it is not the place, just that you finish!

Get awesome running shoes. They're pricey but worth it. Shin splints are huge pain in the *kitten* and you can't really avoid them 100% but the right shoes help a lot. (they did for me anyway.) I also highly recommend the couch to 5k plan. I'm starting it and don't have a phone that gets the app so I download a free podcast:

http://www.kissmyblackass.org/podcasts/couch-to-5k/

There is also one on the c25k website but it's techno music which I hate. This music is way more me. It tells you when to run/walk so you don't have to try to keep track of the time yourself.
Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:

i was never a runner in my life. about 2 years ago i decided one day i wanted to be a runner. so i hopped on a treadmill and boom went. (well more like slowly went hahaa ) i started by just seeing how long a mile took me at the gym. nice jog comfortable pace. then from there increased the speed just a bit to make it more challenging. then i wanted to add millage so i said how about 1.25 1.5 1.75 etc. to increase speed times i did intervals. 2 min my jog pace, 1 min hard pace. every other day. the other days just regular jog. slowly times got faster! millage grew to 8 miles. now my 3 miles is about 17.5 min single mile once was 13 min now its a nice 5.50 - 6 min

I'm 1 week into the "Ease into 5k Program" myself...basically spreading out 6 minutes of jogging through a 26 minute walk at this point. I was never a runner either, but decided I wanted to try it! I go to a local trail and run there! its hard, but it's starting to get easier, and the time spend outside in this gorgeous weather is TOTALLY worth it!! :OD

Dowload the NHS c25k podcast from the itunes and download it to your ipod. It is ac25k program that will help you to learn or to run for 5k/3miles non stop. I'm a c25k graduate and i used this program. i was an ex-smoker. Before i started the program i couldn't run for 30 seconds. i tried once and i felt my heart and lungs are gonna explode. this programs helps me a lot. now i'm a runner and i love it. you will love the vouce of Laura and they play great songs too.

I can't even believe I can reply to this...I never thought I would be a runner. I started with the C25K program and built my way up. Today I ran 5 miles...without stopping (and loved it). Running has really helped with my weight loss...so I am very supportive of people doing it! I recommend researching good shoes (and getting some) and downloading the C25K app. You can be a runner!!!

Oh...one more thing...another cool app (free) and website is Mapmyrun. It helps you determine your speed/map a route to run by your house. I used it today for the first time...and I am hooked

I am really surprised no one has brought up runkeeper app for androids and iphones. It is free (you can upgrade, but i love the free version.) It has different workout runs you can do, keeps your milage, tells you your pace, how many calories you supposedly burn,maps out your run, gives you your distance and you can make your own playlist. I like it a lot. Oh, it also has coaching for those of you who needs someone to tell you what to do (sometimes I need that as well). For those who love social media, it also has a website where you can add friends and join classes to motivate you with your run.