Today, after decades of being unfit, I started jogging

[Twiglett]

2 mins jog, 4 mins walk ... x 5

I am now all wibbly and wobbly

and have to say .. 'kin 'ell I'm really really really unfit

It's a killer when you first start, expect to be sore tomorrow, but if you stick with it, it's surprising how quickly fitness returns.

Ooh good luck Twiglett - I start tomorrow! Will watch this thread with interest.

I'm starting this weekend! tried in january, but only did it 5 times. I did 20 mins but walked most of it, but I need to lose a few pounds of lard before my holiday in late ma\y and I am fed up feeling flabby...need some inspiration to keep going, so keep posting and let me know how you are doing

good for you...
I'm doing the 3 mile race for life in June.. and I'm going to start jogging soon...

It was such a good idea when I booked it!!
I'm now thinking whatever posested me!

Snap! Followed the link on a thread yesterday and started the "run for life" beginners training plan: 10x 1min run, 1 min walk. Pushing a buggy! Trying to avoid anyone I know. Blooming heck!!

Good for you Twig - you'll be running for 30 minutes in no time.

When I first started I made it round the block with dh yelling at me to 'just keep putting one foot in front of the other' (foot up his bum more like!) I spent the next 20 minutes flat out on the living room floor convinced I was going to die.

Never looked back though - it's the best think I ever did.

Fantastic, well done. I keep meaning to jog/walk the school run (only round the corner!) And I was fingering the pedometers in Boots today.

bloody shin splints ... had to walk through the 2nd session on friday

doesn't seem fair .. dh says I can't have them as only real sportsmen get them .. but supposedly starting running when you're really unfit can give you shin splints (burning, agonising pain down front of shins)

still am going again in an hour and a half .. pray for me

snap - I'm going for a short run later this morning!
A couple of years ago I used to do about 3 or 4 runs a week and kept it up for over a year, but it petered out when I started a new job. Really annoyed about his as it did tone up my legs and made me feel generally more lively. But I got a spur heel (caused by running) which made me limp. I had a cortisone injection and the pain gradually went over a year. I've had no pain now for ages, but just haven't got back into the swing of it. I just felt so unfit and flabby though, that I started when I was on holiday at easter. Now I am promising myself I will run 3 times a week again.

When I ran before, all the women I ran with looked a bit slimmer (there was a group of 5 or 6 of us at work), even those (like me) who didn't diet.

Ouch! Twig - shin splints are horrible. Are you wearing decent shoes? And are you running just on the flat or doing some hills?

bought new shoes for 2nd time .. think bad shoes first time didn't help .. slight incline up and down

am heating up calf muscles and stretching beforehand today .. any other advice??

Not really Twig - they're one of things that come along for no good reason and then go away again. I used to have them when I first started running but was running on the flat pretty much all the time - a change of route seemed to help, otherwise it was just a coincidence that they went around the same time.

Up for the London Marathon then next year?

Twig, babe, be careful not to stretch cold muscles, that'll damage them. Warm up gently first (maybe jogging on the spot?) Its more important to stretch at the end of your exercise time to prevent lactic acid build up.

I must admit to not running on pavements (treadmill in gym only) and I'm always concerned about joint damage, knees can take a hammering if you're not careful.

Some info on \link{http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=234\shin splints} here.

And loads of stuff for \link{http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=24\beginners} here.

I don't think you need to worry too much about your knees just yet Twig - tarmac is better than concrete, grass is good if you can find it but then you risk your ankles on uneven surfaces. This running lark is supposed to be good for you though

Twig I was in your position in January. Followed the runners world beginners schedule and now I can comfortably do 30 mins. Feel better and fit my jeans better. RW website is good and the walk/run on there was almost painfree.