need running advice please

[jenny60]

Have been doing the BUPA beginner 5km programme for about 8 weeks now, but all isn't going to plan. I have been going to the gym every second day, haven't missed anything and have been doing my best every time, but don't seem to be bulding up any momentum. Sometimes I can run 2 or 3 minutes and once I even managed 5 minutes. On a good day I can run 2 minutes with 3 to 4 minutes of walking in between in burst. And that kils me. I am simply nowhere near the 12 minutes, or even the 6 I am supposed to be on by now. I'm trying not to stress and to just keep trying, but wonder what's going on. Anyone else had this or did you progress through the programme on schedule? I was a regular gym goer before this by the way, 2 or 3 times a week, but uphill walking and rowing rather than running.

try using these podcasts

He makes it very easy! tells you when to start and stop and before you know it you can run for 30 minutes!

Keep going keep going keep going. . .thats all you can do . Sounds like you are doing really very well anyway and putting in lots of effort. Plus, the main thing is you are Calorie burning and keeping fit. Everyone is different and what they say you should be able to do now is not what everyone CAN do . .so dont worry just keep trying.
Are you eating right . . healthily etc ?????

Are you running on a treadmill? If you are then try switching to running outside instead, lots of people find it more enjoyable and there is more to look at around you and distract you! If you prefer to stay on the treadmill try dropping your speed a little bit. I read somwhere that you should aim to go at a pace where you can still talk but you can't sing!

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I suppose what I need to know is whether it's worth going on with this or whether I should accept that this isn't for me and try other stuff. Has anyone begun like this and then improved after a while, a long while...

Thanks for the podcats: will load those later.

I run on a treadmill, but this works for me because my dc is doing activities at the gym when I `run'. It would be hard to fit it in otherwise. I eat really well, no crap, but do drink so maybe that's it. I run at around 8-9 in terms of speed. is that about ok? It's so depressing.

It has taken me a very long time to be able to run 10k's on a treadmill as my body is more suited to sprints. My advice to you is;-

Make sure you have had something to eat a while before you run as you could be slightly dehydrated. Do you have an ipod as good upbeat music helps to get the momentum going. You may find it better running at a different time of the day ie I like to run in the morning. Finally I would take some running sessions outside for practice. Good luck you will get there.

I have gone from being unable to run to 5k + in 8 weeeks with The Guardian couch potato to 5k programme, which I finished just over a week ago, and I have now moved onto the 10 k one. I'm 53 and weighed over 11 stone when I started and it was very hard work. I found in the first fortnight when I was running 1 minute and walking one minute that it was very hard work, and even harder when it went up to 2 and 3 minutes running. After that the running increased to 5/8/10 minutes and that actually was far easier thatn the first 2 weeks, so don't give up. If you have a programme with a chart it helps because you can just say to yourself you will do exactly what it says each day - no more and no less - and if you keep to it you will eventually get there. I'm not sure treadmill is a good idea if you want to run outside, someone I know who is involved with a women's running group (I'll join them in the winter to keep going) says it doesn't really translate well into real life. So don't give up, the first few weeks are the hardest, it gets more fun after that and the sense of achievement from doing my 5k a fortnight ago really made the effort worthwhile.

The trick is to run for a minute, walk for a minute, run for 2, walk for 1, run for 3 walk for 1...

Try doing this for as long as you can and build up the times gradually over a few weeks. You will be able to do it, but you cannot go from no running to running for 6 minutes.

Also, start slow on the running machine, barely more than a fast walk, and again build this up gradually.

Take it slow, and stretch yourself a little further each time.

ps- I went from not being able to run for a bus to the Race for Life 5k in 32minutes...took me 6-8 weeks of training but I did it.

I second what Mary says, re run/walk, run/walk, I went from not being able to run at all in March 2 years ago, to running a half marathon in the October.
Also agree with OP about having music on ipod to listen to, anything fast and dance-y worked for me as I then got into a natural rhythm.