Wondering if I am not cut out to run 😕

[Woodflower]

Sorry this is going to be long because I am desperate.

I am trying to go back into healthy weight range, I am few points about it ( bmi) which puts me at over weight. I am 40yrs old; never ran because I was too over confident on my genes which kept me at healthy weight for this long; so just didnt excerise and was lazy because... well I could .

However my weight is growing at a faster rate. Previously it took 10yrs to put on 5kgs and now I have put on 10kgs in 5yrs. I have no stamina and I am a vegetarian treating my iron and b12 deficinecies.
I want to be healthy ( its a bonus to look well) and have some stamina on my side.

Now I have been running since 3 days and I start getting out of breath at 400m, yes you heard me right. Then I walk for 200m and then againrun for 400m. I am so ashamed and sad that I cant even do 0.5kms at a strech. I dont know how will I ever reach my goal to have some stamina and get healthy.
I did try running before but its the same thing; then I got my test results and started iron/b12. I thought it would be better after my levels are normal; but no. Even with treatment going on, I am still the same at running.

I see so many of them running for kms together. I feel good watching them but I feel so useless.

I have 2 of my friends that wanted to run and they have not done any excersise until now either but both can just go out casually and run 5k. While I ran with them I stopped and stopped more so I have told them to run without me.

So now I run alone.. stopping every 400m. Gasping for breath.Please help. Was anyone like me and have improved?. Am I judging myslef too quick?.

400m isn't a small distance when you are just starting out. have you tried the couch to 5k app? it starts off for the total beginner and should make it easier for you to progress from the very beginning

Have you tried running more slowly?

And stopping is fine! Two minutes running, two minutes waking, for example, would be fine!

C25K is your friend. Free NHS version on your phone and off you go. In 9 weeks you will be running for 30 mins non-stop. Maybe not easily or with a smile but you will be!

I walk everywhere and am fairly fit. But couldn't just run 400 metres from nothing.
You definitely need to build up. 3 days is nothing!

Do you actually HAVE to stop though? I'm a runner - I can run 10k no problem - but I still get out of breath after 400m. You have to push through it and keep going even though you want to stop!

Running wont solve your weight issues - it's fabulous for your health, self esteem, motivation, mental well-being and all sorts of other things. But it's not a weight loss technique - yes you will use a few more calories a day, but the key to weight loss is in what you eat. As the saying goes, 'you can't outrun a bad diet'

And yes, you are judging yourself two harshly and too quickly.

If your aim is to be able to run 5k by about May/June time, then try C25K (there are always support threads in the 'exercise' topic). It starts with a 30 minute walk with 6x 90sec of jogging as slowly as you like.

Does that sound more do-able?

I thought that sort of programme must be all bollocks and that people who recommended it must have really been the sporty girls at school. Until I did it, and it changed my life.

If younfancy a similar programme, but in a different, more narrative form, try the training version of the app Zombies! Run!

C25K is great. I'm onto week 4 now. It gradually builds up the amount of running you do and you can always repeat weeks until you feel ready to move on.

Don’t be disheartened! As a PP said, it takes more than three days to build stamina. C25k is a good strategy. Even when you become a regular longer distance runner - I run 8-10k 3 to 4 times a week - there are still days when getting to the end of my street 100 yds away is a struggle and my legs just don’t want to work. Listen to your body and don’t give up.
Set achievable goals and after a month, you’ll be cruising through a couple of kms.

I could have written your post this time last year! Try mixing in other exercises with your running. I skipped it completely at the start as it demotivated me how little I could do! HIIT workouts, weight lifting (if you have some if not body weight exercises), long walks. You need to get your base fitness up and the running will come. The first time I tried I gave up at the end of my road. The second time (about 2 months later) I did 2k. Only now do I run 5ks without completely dying.

If you stick with it you adapt very quickly to running for much longer. I did couch to 5k and definitely recommend it. I am not an athletic person at all, could barely even manage a minute running at first. I completed the course (I think 8 or 9 weeks long) and ran a 10k without stopping at the end of it. I lost a fair bit of weight alongside a healthy diet this way. Sadly I didn’t keep it up and then got pregnant and now have back issues so can’t run right now but would definitely do couch to 5k again if I could

Oh Thank you all!. It feels good to know that what I feel is normal esp when my other friends just can run 5k casually, I was almost certain that I was not meant to run.

You all made me much confident that there is a hope!

@Pancake4life, @PinkGinny @Lolichi @NoJetter@MrsMime: I have downloaded Couch to 5k nhs right away after you all suggested. Looking forward to start!

@ThePricklySheep @IdblowJonSnow @Laufeythejust: Reassuring words, I will keep going then slower or slowest .

@Muskox: I stop when I really cant hold any breath. Also I do admit that I am scared to push more at that point. I will surely try once I am a bit more into thr routine; may be around week 3/4

@AuntieStella. Yes, I did start with weight loss goal but looks like my stamina and my lazy heart needs more help than my weight now!.I am also making changes in my diet to reach a healthy goal

I could have written your post and now I’ve done two half marathons.

A) you need couch to 5km
B) you also need to slow down when you run. Go slower. Even if you could walk faster than you run, go slower.

Do both of these things and you’ll smash it! Good luck.

Check out jeffing - couchtorunner.co.uk/2018/11/how-jeffing-can-improve-your-race-times/

@Insertfunnyname .yay!.. Thankyou points noted 🙏🏼

@multivac.. its a well known brill technique then! never knew.

I am back!.
Started c25k and just ran week5 run 3 20min straight!. I thought I would die 3 times before I finish but I am still here . Now motivated enuf to finish until the end

Thankyou wonderful ladies!!

From panting and coughing for breath after 4min and thus stopping to 20min straight.

Who ever started this course idea is God sent 🙏🏼

Great job!!! Honestly!

It’s incredible isn’t it? I did it aged about 45. I’m 51 now and run regularly up to half marathon distance. I’m signed up for the virtual London marathon in October.

I run with friends. I adore parkrun. I belong to a very casual running club where our spiritual animals are teletubbies and we are motivated by cake and shiny medals.

Best thing I ever did was start running 😊

Yay @Woodflower!

I ran that run yesterday. It's amazing isn't it, to think that just a few weeks ago, running for a minute seemed impossible!

@SchrodingersImmigrant.. thankyou
@swampytiggaa.. oh wow your club looks fun!💃🏻
@BIWI...run buddies!...we feel the same!

Run slow to start off ( and I mean SLOW)! It’s okay to run , walk , run , walk etc ! That’s how how I started off . I use to run to one song , walk to one song and repeat a few times. Naturally you get faster and you don’t even notice when it happens . And little by little you’ll find your fitness improves and you are running more and walking less .

We have lots of fun 💕

Definitely use the Couch to 5k app, but it is ok to add your own "week zero" if week 1 of the app feels like too much, and to make each "week" last 10 days or more if you need to. I did Couch to 5k last September-November and I took it really slowly. The first sessions in the app just get you to go on a half hour walk during which you just run for 60 seconds, but even that was too much for me at first (would have been about 120 metres so way less than the 400m you have been trying). So at first I just did 30 seconds, then 45 seconds, and eventually I was able to do the full 60 seconds and so completed "week one" after a lot more than a week. The app then helps you to very gradually build up until you are running for half an hour at a time. I kept going using the same methods and 6 months after starting I can now run 10km or more but it was not very long ago that I, like you, couldn't believe that I could possibly manage even 1km. You can do it, just take it slowly and make sure you do lots of warm up and cool down stretches to ease your muscles into it.

Oops I didn't realise the OP was written in February! Well done OP you are doing brilliantly!

Hi, I haven’t read the full thread, I’m generally fit and healthy but put on half a stone in lockdown and wanted to shift it in time for Easter egg season 🤣

I’m a HIIT girl really as I like quick results but thought I’d give running a go as needed to improve stamina now I’ve got a toddler!

Anyway I started couch to 5k app and struggled with the 1 minute runs to start with. Literally lung hanging out. I’m 7 weeks in and now run for 20 mins non stop. I’m a little bit stuck so I’m going to repeat a week and just keep trying but this is a significant improvement on week 1 so I’m happy. Plus I’ve lost that half stone. I only run 3k and a slow pace but I’m fine with that currently.

I’d recommend giving it a go for sure. I still do HIIT on my running rest days (15 min) and have 1 rest day per week.

You can do it!!