I am so unbelievably bad at jogging it's not even funny :( Come tell me to jack it in now or persevere and it will improve.

[MummyPenguin]

I'm quite used to running on a treadmill although I haven't been to the gym in ages so my fitness must have decreased, but have recently taken up (or tried to) jogging outdoors. I know this is harder generally, but bloody hell it's hard. At the moment I'm only managing to jog for about 30 seconds and have to keep stopping to walk while I get my breath back. I am comforting myself with the idea that if I persevere I will get much better at it and will cover more distance and not have to stop so often. I hope I'm right?

Don't give up! You are so right in thinking that if you just persevere you will get much better.

Try to aim for jogging for 1 minute without stopping then walk for 1 minute, then jog again for 1 minute. Do this each time you go out for about a week then cut down your walking to 30 secs. That's how I started out and now I can jog for 40 minutes without stopping up hills and everything!

I found it useful to write down in a little notebook what I did each time I went for a jog. You soon start to see an improvement.

Sign up for the Tesco Cancer Research 5K runs as well - they are a great incentive to keep running/jogging.

Stay with it. you will improve I promise

stay with it! I started running 2 years ago, walking a minute, running a minute. Last October I ran a half marathon
I should add I need to lose 3 stone, never ran in school and am quite slow - but my fitness level is good now!

I was the same 4 years ago - could only run for 30 seconds. I signed up for the Race for Life, and used their training plan.

here is this year's

Go for it! I've never regretted it.

MP - maybe you're going too fast. Think about the point where you just about break into a trot from a walk and stick at that to begin with. Talk out load to yourself (or chant a nursery rhyme - the Grand Old Duke of York used to work for me) if you'r too out of breath to talk your pace is too fast.

Stick at it.

I agree with all the others - running for 1 min then alternting with walking. Make sure you have a good sports bra.

Hmmm - if you really are a penguin, maybe swimming would be better than jogging, you know, due to lack of legs etc

Maybe try something like this run/walk schedule that builds up gradually, over 8 weeks.

I used to run to a lamp post then walk to the next when i started. It does become easier. The very first time I went jogging i pushed myself too far and felt physically sick when I got home. Start slowly.

Yeah, I've had that sick feeling too. I've also had sore muscles from Davina DVD so that probably hasn't helped. You've all been really positive, thanks a lot. I'll definitely persevere.

comer and join us on the beginners running thread 'couch to 5k' ibn health.

i am aiming for running 5k by june. i actually have a 5k 'runcoughwalkcough' at the end of feb to go to as well for british heart foundation.

i have been doing 5 mins warm up walk, 1min jogging, 90secs walking, 1min walk etc etc then building up slowly. i am really really bad and unfit (am now 5stone overweight and not 6stone overweight like i was), so got a long way to go

Will have a look at that thread in Health. Thanks.

i could also only run between lamposts when i started and have gradually improved. I am now doing 5k about 3/4 times a week but and here is the key- very slowly! My friend is an experienced runner and she says it is best to run slowly and do it further, taking walking pauses when you need to to keep the overall length of time you exercise longer. It needs to be around 30 minutes before you start burning fat, but that can be a mixture. I got this book out of the library and found it really inspiring - 'Running made easy' by Susie Whalley adn Lisa Jackson. Get a good bra and some decent trainers and go out rain or shine, no excuses (rain is actually better as keeps you cool and fewer passers-by to see your efforts!)