I've never ran before, where do I start?

[PAToTheStars]

I think id like to start running but not sure how to start. I don't understand how people just go on running and running, why don't they get out of breathe?! I literally run down the street to catch my toddler and I can't breathe. How can I even start to train?! I would just be spending my time kneeling over struggling to even run. How did you do it?!

Couch to 5k is great. And the best thing is, if you get into running, then drop out it never hurts as much to get back into it as that first time. I remember wanting to vomit staggering around a 5k course but once you’ve got there your muscles do remember. For a bit of variety set yourself a number of km route and do the whole thing every few weeks. After a while you think bloody hell I might as well be running, get through this a bit faster.

And, I was just reading this today. That’s a teeny amount of running, and slow too- look at the benefits!
Running :Additionally, running boosts life expectancy. A 2014 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology surveyed more than 50,000 runners and non-runners. It found that running even five to 10 minutes a day at speeds under 6mph (9.6km/h) reduced the risk of death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease.
Runners had a 30 per cent to 45 per cent lower risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared with non-runners and lived three years longer on average. The benefits increased with running frequency and distance. However, there was a slight uptake in mortality rates among those who exceed 176 minutes of running a week.

@PAToTheStars

Oh so you just use some Bluetooth headphones.

Listening to some podcasts etc sound like a good idea but I think I won't be able to concentrate on listening at first - I will be too busy panting for air!

I just use normal headphones as I don't have any bluetooth ones.

The first few weeks I didn't listen to music but I was also repeating most runs - so instead of doing "Week 1" runs 3x I did them 5 or 6 times over a couple of weeks before moving on to "Week 2" and doing the same. Then week 5 or 6 when you move from 5 minute runs up to 20 minutes took me about a month

It’s such a great exercise , you won’t regret starting. I started with a group and their advice was simple and so effective.
When you start, run at the pace that you walk and pick a point where you run to and then walk for a bit and run again and stop. Then the next day you run between walking for longer etc. So you aren’t starting running 5k from the very start continuously which could put you off.
I’ve been running now for years and it’s so good for energy , mental health and half an hour of running is such a short time and easy to commit to.
Best of luck op

Couch to 5k is fab. Upload some music to listen to alongside it.

Pair of decent trainers.

Comfy gear- really bs and a T-shirt was all I had at first and it was fine.

Good luck- enjoy! (Ps couch to 5k has lots of walking factored in for breathers so it's def doable but you have e to do 3 runs a week, as recommended, to get your fitness up and feel results)

Tracky b's- not really bs!

Definitely come and join us on the C25K thread, but this HealthUnlocked forum is also good - lots of sticky posts from the Admins with info to help beginners & answer questions: healthunlocked.com/couchto5k/posts

Good starting point: healthunlocked.com/couchto5k/posts/136914770/faq-post........how-to-run-c25k

Try couch to 5k it is an app

I know everyone else has said it but definitely C25K. I couldn't run at all and can now run 10k. Top tip would be, repeat weeks as many times as you want.

Yup, C25k. I've gone back to it a few times over the years, most recently with DS13. I made him do it over the summer (and was particularly mean as I didn't give him days off, so for each week of 3 runs, he had to do it in 3 consecutive days, then a day off, then the next week's 3 consecutive days etc. I wasn't 100% strict on that, but it did mean we got through the programme quite quickly). DS runs with me and DH, and having completed the programme on 1st September, we're now trying to reduce his 5k time, from a rough starting point of approx 35 mins, last night was under 34 mins, so seeing great progress. We're now only running twice a week.

I'm not one of life's natural runners, and am do various other fitness things, it I do like being able to run wherever I am in the world, and even though I don't particularly like running by itself, I will never forget experiences like being alone in Barcelona for 24 hours and deciding to jog around the city to take in the sights. Also Manhattan . It's an amazing time with your own thoughts, and you can do whatever you want.

Make sure you've got decent trainers and bra. This is CRUCIAL!