How do you start running? And don't say "start off walking then speed up".

[KBear]

I like the idea of running. I hate gyms and aerobics although I love swimming and aqua aerobics. How does a person get started without keeling over with a stitch and turned ankles?

[doormat]

take it slowly, start running for 5 mins at a time until you can easily handle it and then increase it by another 5 mins then so on and son.
I find early morning before brekkie is better.

[dot1]

hi KBear - I'm rubbish at doing links, but if you look at the runners thread (just below this one in health) you'll see I asked just the same question not so long ago and someone posted the link to 'runners world' website which is great. It gives you a timetable for starting to run - something like run for 90 seconds, walk for xxxx then run for 90 seconds again. It builds you up slowly - although I have to admit I've started running for 30 seconds, walking for 60 and then running again - couldn't make it to 90!!

[dot1]

Doormat - 5 minutes!!!! I suppose it depends where you're starting from - I'm starting from a point of complete un-fitness!

[KBear]

ta

[Monstersmum]

I found a good running site called "Cool Running" and if you go into "Training" (I think!) you will find a training programme called "Couch to 5K" - says it all really! Good luck!

[doormat]

oh sorry dot

[futurity]

I've recently started running...for the first 3 sessions a friend and me did running for 3 mins then walking for 2 then running again and so on for 30 mins. The next three were running for 4 mins and walking for 2 and tomorrow we up it to running for 5 mins! We made sure we had proper shoes (didn't first time and had awful blisters!) and now have luminous jackets on as we run about 7pm. I wore a heart rate morning yesterday for the first time for my run and found out that I am running too hard (above my "zone") so will aim to not kill myself tomorrow on my run!

[ghosty]

Oh, I think I may have a go at this. Like Kbear I have always like the thought of running but have no stamina.
I prefer gyms and classes but don't have the cash to join one and can never make the classes on time.
I am more of a sprinter (broke school records when I was a youngster [brag emoticon]) but always hated anything longer than 400 metres.
What do you do if you live in a very hilly area like I do?

[KBear]

I can't commit to classes - sometimes I have the car, sometimes I don't, sometimes I can afford it, sometimes skint, I have mornings free now DS is at pre-school when I could go for a run incorporating picking him up etc etc. (And I'd like to lose a stone in weight too). And it seems like a wonderful way to clear your head of all the stuff and nonsense that fills it, appointments, kids, what's for dinner, work stress.

I just thought running is free, you can go when you like, I live opposite a massive flat playing field and park so a nice place to go, but I feel a bit of a wally starting out.

[monkeychops]

kbear and ghosty - just plan a short route near your home, put on a baseball cap so you don't get too much attention from the neighbours and take it easy. if after a few mins yiu want to stop then just try to bring the pace right down instead for one min even if you just seem to be bobbing in my experience its better than stopping - psycologically and physically- because you run for x time so its a good pat on back feel good factor and two you will get your breath if you literally just slow jog, but still sweat and burn those kcals!
and if like me you look like a tomato when you are done then that apparently means you are a very healthy person!
Hill training ,Ghosty , is tough but produces fater paces and great results.

[monkeychops]

I meant a faster pace! I went running a few times in portugal this summer - although most of the time it was way too hot, and it was also a holiday(!) but it was vewry hilly so not too relaxing - -however i did notice that although i had 2 weeks off the next time i ran at home i did so much better - it just felt much more comfortable.

[Arabica]

Yesterday I went out for a run--15 minutes running, then 1 minute walking, then 15 more minutes running. That's 30 whole minutes running! OK, so it was super-slow, but who cares!This time last year I couldn't even manage 90 seconds running without wheezing/aching (even my teeth hurt when I first started, and I have a back problem and asthma) but, if you start a walk/run programme slowly enough, you WILL get fitter and you WILL soon be able to run for 5 minutes and you WILL feel fantabulous.

[ghosty]

I think if I ran for 15 minutes I might die!
I think it will have to be 30 seconds running, 2 minutes walking for me to start with .. then home.
Will 2 and a half minutes exercise do anything?

[monkeychops]

Cor Arabica - i get sore teeth from time to time(!)

[expatinscotland]

I used to run 10K's. I started off by alternating walking w/running. Two minute walk, one minute run, for 45 minutes. Then gradually cut back the walking till I was running nearly the entire time.

[monkeychops]

Ghosty- perhaps we should start a 'mums(net)run'...just a thought

[Caligula]

I'm trying to start running again (and failing). But the way I did it, was with landmarks. "I'm going to run to that post box and then walk. Then start running again at that lamppost and stop when I get to the 30mph stop. Then start again at the garage, etc." Eventually, you join up the dots and can start extending your route.

[monkeychops]

thats a fab way of doing it calligula - then there is less focus on boring clock watching ever 1.5secs!

[Arabica]

I think even one minute running can be very hard at first until you work out how slow you need to go to sustain the pace. Once you've done that you'll be amazed how quickly you improve. I used to check my watch after 30 seconds thinking 'how long does this torture have to go on for!' at first, until, after about my 3rd or 4th run, I found that slow-enough, but right for me, snail's pace. Keep it regular, keep it slow, keep going!

[Arabica]

Oh and try different surfaces to run on, I can't run on pavement or road very wellit's too jarringso I always go to the park unless it's too dark.

[dot1]

ghosty - I've just started walking/running - have been walking for 50 mins/1 hour for a few weeks and last week started running for 30 seconds, then walking for a bit - managed 4 lots of running in the 50 minute walk!! Am going out tonight and aiming to fit 6 lots of running in..!

[ghosty]

Wow dot1 ... that is fantastic! Well impressed
I already walk about 50 minutes at least 3 times a week but not all in one go IYSWIM (15 minute walk to school - mainly uphill and 10 minute walk back - mainly downhill in the morning and same again in the afternoon) pushing a heavy toddler in a heavy 3-wheeler buggy. I have to go pretty fast as DS runs all the way to school and runs all the way home. So I am fittish in that way.
At the moment, DH gets up at 5.45am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to go for a walk/run so maybe I might start doing Tuesdays and Thursdays at that time. I am usually awake then anyway so I may as well utilise the time rather than lying there wishing I was asleep