I have never run. I'm thinking of trying. I'm scared.

Oh I am starving after running, just make sure what you eat is good

So - when are you going again?

Lowlevel you have inspired me to give it a go! I keep seeing glimpses of this couch to 5k malarkey, and would love to be able to run - now is as good a time as any to try!

Have downloaded the podcast. First attempt at running scheduled for tonight after work...

Yay, you did it!

I know it feels hard at first, but it's only because you're not used to it. It will come. I've just started a new strength/circuit class and did the second one today, honestly I was aching all over and puffing and panting - but it WAS easier than last week.

Most people aren't actually looking at you at all when you're running, but you know what, even if they are, I bet you're doing a damn sight more exercise than they are.

Have you thought of doing a parkrun? It's a free, timed 5k - you just register on their website, print off a barcode, find your nearest, and turn up and run (they are usually at 9 am on a Saturday). They then put your finishing time on their website and the aim is to beat your personal best. No need to be shy, my local one includes kids/pushchairs and dogs and there is a huge range of finishing times.

Best of luck.

Well done.
Was it really awful? Or did you secretly enjoy it a little bit?

oh i have wanted to start running for so long now but keep finding excuses not to. i'm scared too. people will see me!!

here are my excuses if anyone fancies blowing them out of the water.

1. i can't afford running shoes or tracksuit stuff BUT i do have a pair of asics patriots that i bought last year from sports direct with the intention of running but have only managed to walk to the shop a couple of times in them.

2. ds2 is still in the buggy. i can't run with him in the buggy BUT he does go to nursery on thursdays and fridays so i have free time then. would it be ok to run just those 2 days/2 days in a row?

3. i walk everyday with my dog, if i were to run (i have started a jog a few times in the past) he would get very excited and just try and take off with me probably dragging on the ground behind him (he is big and strong) how can i run with him and not graze my chin? plus he is only 16 months. too young to be running right?

4)i dont like excercise (it hurts and my hair sticks to my face) or rain (it's wet and yucky and my hair sticks to my face).

Good Luck. Let us know how you got on.

I did it. I couldn't run for a bus and was always the wheezing kid at school who was always last to be picked for anything.

I downloaded a 6 week plan from the Nike website. The first week was hell and I honestly thought I was going to die. My face was purple, my knees were wobbly and i was more light headed that a teenager downing a pint on an empty stomach.

Fast forward 6 weeks and I was comfortably running 5k without stopping. 5 weeks later I finished a 10k run 15 minutes faster than DH.

What monkey said. I find it harder to run on treadmill because of the boredom. Also, it is generally cooler outside, making the run much more pleasant.

That is 13 km/hr average! [weeps]

take it slowly.
Three years ago I couldnt get to the chinese at the end of my street without wheezing but now can run 10k in 46 mins. If a doddery old, overweight fart like me can do it then so can you.

Just take it slow and do only what's on the program, ie, if it says run for 60 secs, then walk for 90s do exactly that. It's amazing how quickly you will build up.

Music (and tv if in a gym) helped me a lot.

I think the main factor against treadmill running is boredom. Running outside in the fresh air is definitely more fun, but I still do one speed session a week on the treadmill as it's easier to time and harder to cheat by dropping pace. I do find myself counting the minutes on the treadmill though, whereas outdoors you get to people watch, nose in houses, etc etc.

A treadmill is a completely flat, smooth, horizontal surface - running outside you have changes in surface, ups and downs, bigger hills, yapping dogs to avoid etc etc so you are working harder to adjust constantly to all this. If it's cold outside you use more energy just to maintain your body temperature. The general thinking is that if you set the treadmill incline to 0.5-1% you can allow for some of these factors.

However, either way it's still better than not running at all!

Good luck OP!

"it's easier to run on a treadmill"

Very popular myth. Just debated this with my trainer, actually.

Remember elementary physics at school? Running is basically a series of projectile motions (shoot yourself up & forward, fall down with gravity) which can be represented with horizontal (forward) and vertical (up) vectors.

On a treadmill, you still produce these two vectors. However, the horizontal vector is countered by an equal vector in the opposite direction by the treadmill, so you stay stationary and run in the same spot. If you were not making the same horizontal effort, you would not be able to stay stationary on the treadmill.

In fact, the only way running on a treadmill would be easier than running on solid ground would be if the treadmill were going forward, in the direction you are running.

Do it! I started two years ago and couldn't do the second 2 min run at first. Within 3 months, I was running 20 mins non-stop and was 10 kgs lighter These days, I can run 5 km non-stop in 35 mins [proud] and have my sights on a 10K race in 6 months

Download RunKeeper app for iPhone or iPod. It is fantastic. Shuffle your favorite dance tunes and you are flying!

Help - yes i read on here that you could, but should do on an incline so as to mimic the same conditions as the road - it's easier to run on a treadmill

Yay! Put on a hat with a visor to help you go incognito and get out there.

It will change your life! It will feel horrible at first but as your fitness improves every run gets easier, your legs will change shape, you will sleep better, your cheeks will be rosy, your appetite will regulate (and you get to indulge once in a while) and eventually you will start to love it (ok, you might not but you you will love how you feel afterwards).
Good Luck!

I am in the same position as you op. We could try motivating each other. One thing though does anyone know if you can do couch to 5k on a running machine because i am not up for running in the cold, dark and rain?

Do it lowlevel! I started off like you a few years back - I ran two marathons this year . That might seem impossible to you now, but we all started with walk/run. Just take it slow, and ENJOY it.

Running is a huge part of my life now. One thing I would add to the advice about shoes is a decent running bra. Decent shoes, decent bra, you can't go wrong.