I Am Scared To Run.....

I was scared to run for a long time, but recently finished C25K and am training for a 10k run in a months time. just remember- you can't look as ridiculous as my friend and I- we live in Thailand, and run in the main running track in the city. Everyone else running goes twice as fast as us, twice the distance, and compete in marathons and halfs all the time. they're also Thai, which means, super-skinny and don't really sweat. Then there's my friend and I- big (170lb and probably 190lb), white, sweaty, beetroot red, and, for heaven's sake, in my case, ginger! We stick out like a sore thumb, and we have had funny looks and comments. But probably only three or four times. This compares to the literally hundreds of times when those other runners have cheered us on, congratulated us on our progress, given us a friendly smile, or just ignored us, because people really don't care what you're doing! The running has made me so much fitter, so much happier and so much more confident, and that, really, is what's important. I say go for it!

Addressing your fear of how you look....for what it's worth I must look hilarious running with my trainer. First off, I'm a big guy and he is extremely fit lol also, it is warmer weather now so I run in basketball shorts and a t shirt and I might be the palest person ever and he is very tan lol lastly, he runs backwards so we can talk while we run!!! We must look so funny running together! But, its a good workout, and he makes it fun. I don't care what some random stranger thinks. I really don't, I'm getting better and better at it and I'm out doing something so why would they even say anything anyway? When I started running I was 286 lbs, smoked a pack a day and literally our first time out I could not run for a whole minute. Fast forward to Friday. I am 237 lbs, non smoker, ran for 35 mins straght. A little over 3 miles. We go at a decent pace and he never lets me stop short of what our last run was (for example our last one before that was 32 mins, he said it didn't matter to him if I ran 32 mins and 10 seconds, as long as I make progress) we will run a 5k together in June (my first one) and he is running it with me (backwards like he always does lol)

Absolutely get out there!! I started around the 170 mark. I had lost a little over 20 pounds at that point and decided I wanted to try running. I've never ever been a runner, and having that same fear of looking like that fat girl chugging along, I started with the Leslie Sansone videos, then progressed to marching/jogging in place in my living room along to my ipod, to eventually going to the park. I barely made it that first 1/4 mile. I didn't follow a plan until i wanted to go beyond a 5k, just tried to go a little further each time. Believe me it's just as much mental as it is physical. I never thought I'd consider myself a runner, but now I've done 3 half marathons, with my 4th coming up in 2 weeks.. Plus I just signed up for my first full marathon. Even if I'm crawling across that finish line, I'm finishing! Oh and of course the weight loss is great too! Start out slow and enjoy the ride!!

Biggest fear: animals.

Get a small canister of pepper spray. They come small enough to hold in your hand and aren't even that noticeable. Dogs will only run at you once and then they will remember you with fear. :laugh: