To ask if you can run?

[mrshyde27]

Would love to go running, it's free and great for burning calories. Is it just me who sounds like a walrus with a cold after a couple of minutes? I gym three times a week and am reasonably fit and active. I just can't get the hang of it.

[SugarDiabetes]

I'm doing the Couch to 5K Running For Weightloss - it ups the intensity day by day rather than week by week.

On the first session we (friend and me) could barely manage a 1 min run in between 2 mins of walking, but already after 4 sessions we're at 1.5 mins running including sprint finishes.

We run at 6am 3 times a week and we strut around work with the Face of the Righteous.

[Biggles398]

I ran a marathon last year. Absolutely loved it, and a good training run was great... a bad run could be really awful though.
Couldn't run for a bus now though!

[Hrafnkel]

Post in exercise end you'll get even more advice and encouragement.

I did c25k 4 years ago and regularly run half marathons now. I was 35 and an overweight lifer when I started. If I can do it, anyone can...

[Anomaly]

Join a group or find a friend to run with you. Makes it much more fun and you'll progress more quickly. I joined a group and they get none runners doing 5k in just a few sessions. Before you know it you're running 4 or 5 miles. I now look forward to getting out and running although it can still be painful!

[lastqueenofscotland]

Yes. I adore it.
Run about 10-20km a day n a usual day, races or long runs (14 miles+) at weekends.
Hasn't quite filled the hole that horses left in my life but it's great.

[angelcake20]

I too thought that I couldn't run at all but started on a treadmill at the gym and, as other pps, discovered that I had been trying to go way too fast. Once I had had slowed down a lot (not much faster than my power walking pace), I found that I could keep on going. I'll never be good at it and I rarely enjoy it but I can get round a parkrun every few weeks without too much pain. It's better when I weigh a bit less.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

No.

But maybe I will get a c25k when my torn ankle is healed.

[CalleighDoodle]

I am another who did couch to 5k and was amazed! Couldnt run for two mins week one. Running 5k in 34 mins week 9.

[Sorka]

No. Hate it and have always been useless.

Sometimes I run for a train. I have to really want the train though.

[WorraLiberty]

I run like I'm being chased by a wasp

[TriJo]

Love to run, but at 32 weeks pregnant I'm too big and awkward to do it so I'm sticking to swimming! Started running 8 years ago, have done 3 marathons and 11 halfs and loads of shorter races.

[banff82]

I love running, it keeps me sane. I do one 10k road run, 2 5-8k trail runs with the dogs and a couple of sprint/hill training sessions every week at this time of year and more in the spring/summer. I've done 3 marathons and quite a few halfs; my cousin and I like to do the GNR together for charity (5 times now!).

[ChampaleSocialist]

I used to run for the school at county level and was shit hot at cross country. I remember vividly the day I realised I ran like a middle aged woman and never did it again.

[CalmYoBadSelf]

Nope, I can't even lumber

[clockbuscanada]

No. Used to love it pre-DC but my dodgy over-stretched ligaments make anything higher-impact than a brisk walk impossible

[StrawberryDelight]

I hate running. I just can't get into any kind of rhythm. I love being outdoors, love power-walking, climbing, hiking - but no, I just cannot run.

[EddieStobbart]

Get into a rhythm with your legs and most importantly your breathing - soon you'll be plodding along for hours!

[elliejjtiny]

No. I've been dieting recently and lost 21 pounds (only another 100 to go then!) I want to get a bit fitter too. My son has a lot of operations (about 4 a year) so my goal at the moment is to be able to keep up with the porters on the way back from theatre without going red in the face and gasping for air! I'm going to give c25k a try.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I love running, it's meditative for me. It keeps me sane. I do have down periods when I lose my mojo but I always come back to it.

I never used to run, got into it 6 years ago and have loved it ever since. Once a week I run 10 miles, the rest are a bit shorter.

[ftmsoon]

I hate running. I used to do training runs as part of the plan for another sport, but never enjoyed a step. Now I've given that sport up and had DD, I need something flexible and free but I just can't bring myself to do it!

[ftmsoon]

PP mentioned an app for C25K, but there are several. Which is any good please?

[TheDowagerCuntess]

I did C25K and ran for about a year, did a couple of 10K races.

But I didn't enjoy it, and didn't lose any weight on it. Or at least, I didn't really tone up with it, which was what I was hoping for. I just didn't see the point, and so ended up not doing it.

I love walking though, and tramping (hiking) especially. So I've just gone back to that.

There is no joy in busting a gut doing something you don't actually enjoy, and then not even seeing any results from it!

[PlummyBrummy]

Join a running group
Go with a friend
Get some brilliant tunes on your iPod/whatever for when you start to flag
Slow down but don't stop running
Learn to breath correctly - don't pant
Get some good trainers, they make such a difference
Start with C25k
good luck - it's really life changing once you get into it. And this is from a girl who did anything (ANYTHING) to get out of Games.

[theycallmemellojello]

I agree - try running really slow! It was a revelation for me. It is a bit embarrassing though.

[trixymalixy]

Theycalledme, I felt embarrassed going slow too at first. But then one day I was running round a lake. I was passed by two girls in their early twenties and felt a bit mortified, but then 10 mins later they couldn't keep the pace up and I passed them and then I lapped them, twice!!. Although I was going slowly I was keeping running and they had started off faster and couldn't keep it up. I decided at that moment to take zero notice of what anyone else was doing and just concentrate on me.