To worry about looking ridiculous when I start running?

[Molehillmountain]

I have done no very little exercise since I had the dc-a few periods where I've swum once a week but generally not. I am not huge, but a size 16 and not exactly small breasted.

I've decided that I'm going to start the couch to 5k thing I saw on Nhs choices and I was all fired up and ready to get on with it until I started thinking of getting running shoes and sports bra. Then it hit me that I would look just ridiculous and awful running and that the folks in the sports shop would think I was too.
I'm still going to do it, i would look sillier staying big and more importantly unfit andI want to set an example to the dc, but Aibu to think I will look silly for a while, and how long that while will be?

If I see a larger person running, I can't think of a time when I've thought they look ridiculous. I think "Good on them and I hope they keep it up". If it was myself, I wouldn't just wear 3/4 pants and a sports bra though - would probably wear a t-shirt to hide my midsection rolls

Well done! Just be careful with front calf pain as it can lead to shin splints. Look it up, and I'm sure you'll get advice on here. I ran up hills, on soft grass as much as poss, and tried to keep off hard surfaces.

Have you a running club near you? It's not scary, they aren't all stick thin and run miles every weekend effortlessly:)

My second run should have been
Saturday but it was DS's birthday party and I over indulged/was knackered and yesterday we were at an engagement party. I have logged it today on MFP which means I'll have to do it - plus a couple of days off exercise is supposed to be good; I'd gone from nothing to Shred and C25k in a week with no days off!

Was wondering if I could join?

Finished work at the end of February, and decided this was the first challenge I wanted to tackle. My husband runs ( can run 10k quite easily ), I wanted to see if I could do it. Before I began, I couldn't run the length of myself!

I will be doing W4R2 either today or tomorrow. Was nervous to do a 5 minute run ( how would I be able to manage? ), but did it at the weekend. I find that because Laura tells you, for example, that you have run for 4 minutes and only have 1 minute left; I then tell myself that it's myself another 60 seconds then it's done. I have also told myself that I have to do all three runs without failing before I move to the next week and that's an added incentive.

My sister is also doing C25k, but she lives in Yorkshire. I do think the competitive edge is also spurring me on- can't be beaten by my little sister, although she is very supportive and it is something we are both enjoying, something that is just for us IYSWIM.

If I manage to get through this week, I am dreading next week. W5 ends with the 20 min run . Think I will need to get my husband to keep me company and spur me on. Can't see myself being able to do that, but I thought I wouldn't be able to run 60 seconds two months ago.

One step at a time......

Good work on getting out there Op.

I did not run until I was 40. Now 45 and not the best ever, but have a half marathon under my belt, a couple of 10 k and do parkrun most weeks.

I got into it as I found a beginners group organised by my local council. It was good to start off eifgt at the beginning, with a qualified instructor leading us, warm ups etc. Most of us are still I'm touch, and meet once or twice a week to run together.

Parkrun is fab too. Check out the website for a local run. It's good as you try and best your time each week. The one I go to is huge now, and there is a cafe serving cake and coffee for afterwards.

Don't bother what you look like. You are moving and looking after your health.

I like the comment prev. JFDI!!

Hi mogglemoo! Good work on getting so far-w4r2 seems a way off for me!
You have to have rest days, fliss. The key to anything I try to do regularly has always been what to do when life gets in the way and you can't do what you planned. My view is (wait for the astounding level of wisdom and insight!) that you just do it the next chance you can. Too many of my plans have fallen by the wayside of perfectionism ie if I can't follow the plan to the day and the letter I'd better give up. Not this time!
I feel surprisingly good today. The ache in my calves was the same as when I switch from heeled boots to sandals in the summer and it goes after a couple of days. Going to make sure I stretch afterwards and run on grass tomorrow. Friend is having dd2 for an hour so I can do the second run in daytime. Then I'm planning an evening run on thurs.

Mole,

You'd be surprised how quickly the weeks go!

I know what you mean about using any excuse to quit. I've found that even if the weather is crap, I'm busy or whatever it doesn't matter if I miss a day; I just go out the next day. Because of holidays etc I decided to repeat W3 as more than a week had passed since I had last run- the world didn't end, I just got back on the horse!

One thing I do remember though- on W2R1 was OK (in OK I mean I managed it without collapsing!). I assumed W2R2 would be easier but it wasn't, it was hell. I ended up really demoralised, having assumed that each subsequent run would be easier and that progress would be steady. My husband ( the runner ) says that sometimes, for whatever reason, some runs are harder; you may be tired, hungover, it may be windy/cold... WHATEVER!

So if you do have a crap run, don't sweat it- literally!!

There's always next time...

moggs x

PS- to answer your OP, who cares what you look like? I'm over six foot with ginger hair and a size 16. Not easy to hide behind a cap, but I do like using sunglasses. If people don't like it, they can look the other way.

PPS- LOVE JFDI!

I might get a t shirt printed with JFDI. Might give a smile to those in the know!

mole was thinking of getting a jfdi T-shirt myself
Did W1R3 tonight in the pouring rain and found it really hard going with a lot of pain in my shins. Bloody did it though !

Well done! Respect for running in the rain! It might not have JFDI on it but I'm going to treat myself to an item of running gear when I have done two weeks-probably something high vis. Guess I could scrawl on that!

Blowing a gale up here ( west Scotland ) today and weather not looking good for tomorrow, so may not get out in next couple of days. If that is the case, I'll start week 4 again. It may calm down here this evening, so I may go out then. Sister is now ahead of me, so must get on with it! You'll be catching up with me soon, Mole!!!

So, for today... No JFDI

Safety first mogglemoo! Did second run this morning. Bit braver as running in more public venue. Ducks and squirrels unimpressed and the podcast puts me in my own little world. Running with a friend on. Thursday then that's week one done!!!

It brightened up here so I decided to run. My eleven year old daughter came. She listened to the podcast. We did the first 3 minute run, the 90 second walk, and halfway through the 5 minute run she bloomin' well got a stitch!

So a disaster...

I did JFDI, but didn't.

Back on the horse tomorrow.

Oh-it's your run to describe as you like, but your dd wanting to come sounds like a big tick for one of my big motivators for starting-I want dc to see me as someone who does exercise. Dd wants to come with me too-I suspect she'd outrun me at seven! Ds has started seeing my running shoes and saying "you wear those when you go running. When I'm big I can have some"
Hope you get your full run but from where I am it does sound as if you JFDidIt

That's okay. You went out - and your daughter was inspired enough to join you.

It's all good. :)

Lord-I've got so much energy tonight! Will have to stop running if its the reason why! And in other news-I seem to inadvertently started a running club at the school gates! Two new converts and one old hand might join me for Thursday evenings run

Mole, that's great:) I like running with people as you can chat ( if not too breathless:) if your dc come its a good way to bond and leads to other sport. Plus more water drinking, healthy eating, and a good hobby to get into.

However, I miss running as I used to do all my thinking then. When dc are at school, I'm back into it, hopefully. I shall be a dm at the school gate looking all keen in my cap and running gear:)

Did w2 r1 tonight. We were supposed to be walking but decided to jfdi!
Right shin still a problem but not quite as agonising as yesterday.
Rest day tomorrow thank God. Finding this tough

that your shins hurting, Dementedma. Hope better tomorrow. Well done for JFDIHooray for rest days! Felt like (unjustifiably) but of a running expert today when someone was saying they'd tried and not managed running-turns out they'd tried to run mile to work straight off! I'm finding this challenging but motivating as I have managed the two runs so far. Did meet my Waterloo with a short stretch of uphill and decided flat it is for now.

I love all this converting people at the school gate

When I started running I got random sore bits -shins, hips, back.i just took it really slowly and if I found a particular week hard, I just repeated it instead of moving on to the next week. So the 8 week programme took me 12 weeks but who cares, I got there in the end.

I found that proper running trainers ( rather than an old pair from the back of the cupboard) really helped with the joint problems < old dear here>

Well done everyone, remmeber it doesn't matter how slow you are, you are still lapping all the people on the couch

at mole meeting her Waterloo on a hill.Hills are bastards. Avoid them at all costs. By hill, I mean anything with the teensiest upward incline!

Ma

Totally agree with the avoidance of hills. I, too, avoid at all costs! Or at least do the uphill (read slight incline) bit first so the downhill bit is towards the end when you're tired!

My sister, who I'm in gentle serious competition with, lives in Yorkshire and has no option but to do hills. I think it can build up stamina, but am concentrating on the running time, not distance, speed or anything like that.

Weather here calm just now- will be going out once the kids have left for school, as it's supposed to get windy later.

X

Mole- forgot so say very well done for the second run! I also couldn't stop talking about my achievement... W1, W2 etc. Even though my husband can run WAY farther than me, he still says he is proud of what I'm doing, and it gives us a common hobby which we have never had. Remember, tomorrow when you do the last run of W1, that once it's done W2 beckons... Bet you feel even more of a runner then

I was a size 20 when I starting changing my lifestyle. Running really helped me. I lost loads of weight ( size 12/14) and just feel POWERFUL when I run.

These days I run at night with my dog. I live in a good area that is busy and my dog is large - a Weimaraner. I like the cool ( in Brisbane) and the quiet and yes the dark too. I don't look at people and I think they tend to look at my dog ( very beautiful )

Good on you for taking control.

YABVU

Get your trainers on, nobody is looking I promise, when you are doing your 5k runs you will be fitter, healthier and stronger.

A little short term self consciousness is a tiny price to pay for good health and reducing waistlines.

Have fun

Ma-you'd have even more if you'd seem what I described as a "hill"! It was in a park that I thought was completely flat! Liked the "downhill" bit that followed, though!