So many differing ideas of what a beginner is- how far you can run and what times you can do. Some of us (especially if you are very overweight like me) start from not even being able to jog for more than a few seconds. Don't worry! The important thing is that you have started to think about running and you are making the effort to go a little faster than walking.
I was dismayed when I first saw some of the beginner plans as I couldn't even jog for 2minutes!!. I started by jogging and counting each step- I managed ten. Next time I did 10 jogging steps then walked and a second ten jogging steps.
I went out a few times a week in my ordinary clothes (floral skirt and cardigan)with running shoes on that I had borrowed from my daughter. I didn't count the time or the distance at first. I just kept trying to do more jogging steps in between the walking each time, and repeating the sequence. I pretended I had to catch up with a friend or was trying to get to the postbox before it went etc.
Finally I felt ready to try to do 1 mile which I did- alternately jogging and brisk walking.
As the weeks went by I slowly improved. My stamina has improved.I can now jog for a mile and a half without stopping and have bought myself some running gear. I can also do 10k in 90mins (part jogging part brisk walking)
I am still a beginner and still a few stones overweight- but not as much as I first was.
You CAN do it!! Every step counts- it doesn't matter if it takes you longer to get to race fitness than someone else or even if you bother to enter a race at all. The point is if you stick at it, in a few weeks/months you will be fitter than you were at the start. And that will feel so good
-you just might want to continue.
Comments
So often those of us that have been running for a while tend to forget the pain and dedication it took to actually run, I know I do at times.
I can feel your passion for running and may it long continue, as I'm sure it will
your timing is immaculate! i'm overweight, and trying to do couch to 5k., and you're right, it IS hard.
I'm taking it a day at a time, and have managed the first day of week 3; never thought I'd be able to run for 3 minutes.
It's nice to know that you have made such an improvement, and I find that really encouraging. I look forward to the time when I can jog for 1 1/2 miles !
I'm glad there are others out there that are also staring from zero running. I always took a mobile phone with me and always listened to my body, never pushing it and always went routes where there were houses/car/people so I knew I could call on someone if I had any problems. I also let my husband know my route and when I would be back.
I wore ordinary clothes at first because I was too embarrassed to be in shorts and t-shirt. Now I wear leggings and a skort (running skirt with shorts attached underneath)and a running bra,under my top. It was difficult to find things in my large size but I can just about squeeze into it all and hopefully that will be better as I lose more weight.
I am not an expert and am not qualified to advise anyone on running but I hope my personal experience is encouragement for those of us who are starting right from zero running.
I'm going to go out this weekend and start again - it's always got me down too much before - but I hope to manage it this time!
Hi guys, good for you! . As Trailroad said, we've all been there and it is hard at first!
I was in exactly the same position 3 years ago.......could barely manage to run between 2 lamp posts without collapsing.......I've now completed 4 half marathons.
Keep at it and enjoy!!
The suggestion of counting steps is a great one so I'll start there!
well done and welcome to the newbies.. we all start somewhere. It's not the where that's important, it's the starting.
Enough cheese for one day.
Start with small goals.... the marathons and ironmans will follow.
The first week was 60 second jogs and I found them sort of ok and could do them without too much trouble. However the second week the jogs had increased to 90 seconds and I found them very tough. I kept at it though but to be honest, week 4 nearly broke my spirit. I had a few 5 minute jogs and by that stage I could barely barely make it to 5 minutes. It was so bad I was counting down the seconds and stopping the instant the counter hit 5 minutes. I was almost in tears of frustration at how hard I was finding it. I remember thinking "This is a waste of time, I don't know how anyone runs for longer than this, it's impossible".
I checked ahead and the following week the runs were 8 minutes long and I knew there was no way I could do those, it was too much. I finished off week 4 and decided to repeat it. When repeating it I decided to jog a bit slower to see if that helped and two days into the repeat of week 4, I broke through some sort of barrier. I don't know what it was but it became so much easier all of a sudden. I knew straight away at that point I was going to have no trouble with the rest of the programme and I'm now at the point where I can jog/run for 3 miles non-stop which is taking me about 40-42 minutes. I'm horrifically slow but I'm hoping my pace increases as I get my weight down. I'm currently carrying about 4-5 stone extra!
Great stuff - for what it's worth, I started running in November last year. I was officially 3 stone overweight, and my plan, from "The Beginning Runner's Handbook" started at run 30 seconds, walk 4:30 and repeat five times. I thought I might die. I hated PE, especially running, and have spent the first 39 years of my life working out a mutual arrangement with a variety of sofas which has always gone well. Snack food may have been involved.
Six months on, and I finished my first proper 10k race on Sunday gone,about 2/3rds of the way down the field, and I'm dead chuffed with myself. The moral of my story is "stick at it" - it can only get easier, thought you will have good and bad days. As sdf76 says, every step counts.
I'm now only one and a half stone overweight, officially.
I've entered the Kielder Marathon in October. I suspect I shall probably die on the route. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Go on Paul! Get to a running shop and get yourself checked for a decent pair of shoes and the world will be your oyster (or oyster mushroom if you don't like seafood).
Remember to start off easy, build up, and be sure to tell us all about it. We love a good tale.
This was me 1 year ago.........now I'm 3.5 stone lighter and entered into a half mara. I struggled with the first week of c25k, i couldn't manage the 60 secs 8 times.......infact the first time I think I managed 40 secs 5 times and then gave up. Keep at it and you will get there.
Not an area I know so well - but there's an Up & Runnig in Leeds if that's any good?
http://www.upandrunning.co.uk/leedscentral.html
I loved reading this thread too. It's reassuing to know that there are other people out there having similar problems - we all have our personal struggles which over time we'll overcome - besides we all have to start out somewhere. Iam three stones overwieght and decided to get my backside into gear once and for all and opt'd for the couch to 5k. I train on the treadmill as I have a few body insecurities but that's me - and at the moment, the treadmill works for me. I am on week three at the moment and looking at next weeks schedule (running for 9 mins) fills me with dread but I'll get there....
Oh, I live in Bradford and I got my shoes from sports unlimited. I had a gait test which is something that I would recommend and they werent that expensive either. I'd recommend them.
This is an awesome thread!
Right now, the thought of me running a mile is actually laughable, but I'm sure I'll get there eventually!
I'm upping my run/walk times today to 2 mins running, 1 min walking! Also going to cycle tomorrow and go swimming on Saturday
Yup. That was me, and not very many weeks ago. I ran for 20 minutes in a row on Monday, and have just about stopped grinning!! Seriously, if I can do it, anybody can. (Only 3 stone? I think I may top that, but only for now, LOL).
I love this thread. It's brilliant. I like you am very overweight but "try"to run. You've really inspired me. Keep up the excellent work.
Andrea, 2 things the
first of which are you sure it's set on km and not miles?
the second is if it is km why not try 4 mins at 6 or 7k an hour, then walk for 1 - 2 mins (4 - 5 k an hour) recovery and then go for another 4 mins at the 6 or 7k ?
Congratulations to all !
I have to say good gear does help, the more comfortable you are the easier it is not to find excuses to stop or not run,
bump