Exercise! - Any runners out there?

Hi Everyone.

I have been away for a while and have not been running in a month at least. The weather is getting cold and I can't find my motivation. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get back into exercise? btw - I hate treadmills and stay away if at all possible (don't own one and don't have a gym membership as of now). I'm afraid that I am losing all my running 'progress' (was running 4+ miles at a time) by being dormant.

I'm glad to see everyone has been keeping up with their running and doing so well.

well I ran 5 miles today. Although I am not that good yet. I did run 20 min nonstop and then took a little walk and kept decreasing that by 5 minutes until I was done. I also did other intervals to get it to 5 miles but I was pretty close before. I only run at 4.5 but it is better then what I was doing before. It felt good but tomorrow I will do my intervals. I just wanted to see how far I could go so did it different today.

Hi everyone. Great job on the running Gabrielle. You keep that up and you will be running non stop soon.
Ang have you talked to people in your area that run in the winter. I know of alot around here and they love to run in the winter. may be they can give yout the ideas that you need. I my self would rather run on the tread for the winter. I am so afraid of slipping. I knwo that there will be time that i am going to run outside but I need to ge the clothing.
Well did my 10 run yesterday and hope to get an interval in tomorrow. Just a short run today.
Well everyone keep your your great work.
Tanya

well I did my intervals today and when it was all done had 3.3 miles ran. Felt good and may do another interval tomorrow. I figure that if I keep up running that my lbs may drop off quicker (want to lose atleast 5 more lbs before going take xmas pics so need to to come off soon). It wasn't until the last interval until I felt myself get a little tired but that is alright since I am getting better and am increasing the run time next week!

HI everyone. Did an interval today boy was it a hard one but got it done.
Gabwill glad to hear that you like the interval but don't over do them. They say only 2 times a week if you are going hard. I try for only 2 times a week and one long run. The rest of the time I am now doing walks on a incline or a short jog for my warm up for weights.
Hope you all have a great day.
tanya

well I decided to take your advice Tanya and do my intervals twice a week and do a hard run one day a week. The other days I do taebo and some walking and work on my pushups since I can't do them worth anything as it is. That should get better with time though. Thanks for the advice.

HI everyone have not been around too much. Buisy with the kids anHalloween. I still have been doing my running. Was able to get one outside on Friday It was a hard one. I did get a nice long on in today.
Gabrielle I am sure that in no time you will be doing all That you what to. You are working hard and that will pay off in no time.
Well feeling very tired I will have to take a day off. Just some walking and wieghts tomorrow.
Everyone have a great day and Keep up the running
Tanya

well I did good today. I ran 30 minutes straight which is a new best for me. I wanted to do more but with the hubby about to go to work and the little one needing a nap, I had needed to get showered before he left. I have two intervals scheduled (wednesday and friday) and I plan on increasing both speed and time on the run. This will be interesting even though the increase won't be much but it will be enough for me to feel and sooner then normal. Otherdays I plan on walking though and that should keep me going. Plus taebo those days too.

Hello Gang :wave:

I've been doing good with my jogging, I can't really call it running per se because I take too dang long to do a 5K! I really don't mind because at least I'm doing the jogging, enjoying it, AND BONUS loosing some weight too... Someone mentionned last week that their thighs and hips are really leaning out.... ME TOO!! Doncha just love it?! :D... Last week I ran 4x/5k, the week before 3x/5k, so I'm averaging 15-20k/week, and that's really good... I just have to work on my time...

Well hope everyone is having a good week and that the dreaded Halloween candy hasn't done too much damage...

TTFN...:wave:

Hi All,

I did a steady 3K last night, went much slower than normal (heck I could talk normally too). I am building my base and it feels good when you're done and you feel you could easily run that distance again. Tomorrow night I am doing a 7K with 10 and 1 intervals should be good. I am slowly accepting even though I can do a sub-30 min 5K, I won't be able to maintain that pace for a 10K (at this juncture anyway), so I'll be looking at setting a goal of a 70 min 10K for now. Sounds slow, but the important thing is completing it right? Also decided to hold off on the Marathon until 2006 and do the Half-M in 2005. Why? I want to do a good solid marathon, I think I could do one in 2005, but it could be a huge struggle, so for now I am just building my base and distances. People are often in their 30, 40s or 50s when they run their first marathon, I am 27 so there's really no rush (well except I'd like to run one before I do the baby thing).

Gabrielle: Good for you! I know it feels good to go out solidly. We're working towards doing an 8K steady run right now, that should be fun.

Tanya: yah for doing well... I need to get consistent with the WT.

Ilene: yup, running especially on hills does tighten up different areas of the body and the weight loss is basically gravy. You are a runner! Time doesn't matter, it's completing what you've set out for yourself.

Cheers!

Ali

Hi all, Sounds like everyone's doing well. I've been running 3-4 times a week. Upped my weekday runs to 35ish minutes, with a 40-45 minute weekend run. I don't take a watch with me, so I'm not sure of exact times. I think I'm slowly getting faster. And a 35 minute run doesn't exhaust me like it used to. After a shower, I feel energized for the day. I've been wearing stretch gloves and an old long underwear top for running in recently, which is working ok, but I need something synthetic to wear on my legs. Temps are hovering around freezing, so shorts are out, and I can't run in the rain in my mostly cotton yoga pants. I might manage to finally get to the running room this friday to see what they have in terms of gloves and clothing. It's just not in a part of town I go to often. Ate too much pizza and candy on Hallowe'en. And was totally retaining water yesterday, but my fingers feel normal today and my weight's back down to what it was Friday morning, so no lasting damage and a reminder that overeating junk food makes me feel like crap the next day.

Ali: I've been thinking about running a half marathon next year too. Probably at the end of summer. I think the challenge will really motivate me to keep going over the winter here.

Ilene: speed doesn't matter. You are a runner.

Thank you Ali and Only Me for the encouraging words! I did have a great 5k today, but on the :tread: instread of outside :(... If I were prone to depression today would be the day I would feel depressed, it is soooo dull and blah out :p

HI everyone sounds like everyone is in the swing of things. It is gtreat to see so many people running. I did a interval this morning and a good time and mile. I hope that one of this days soon I will get out for a run. We are having good weather.
Tanya

well I did intervals today and increased both speed and time running. It felt real good and a bit easier then what I thought that it would be. Friday will be the same interval as today but monday is my all out run again. It will be interesting to see exactly what I can do for myself then.

What kind of interval do you do? I have a couple that I use but I like to hear new ones. The one if I don't have the time. Only take 20 mins. Is the one that Body For Life uses. Glad to hear that you like the interval. I hope that you will see the speed help in your all out run.
Didn't do a run this morning. I think that I too will do an interval tomorrow with a little walk after.
Well have to run. HAve a great day.
Tanya

I increase my run every once in a while by a minute and decrease my walk at that time by a minute. Right now I am runnig 6 minutes and walking 4 and increasing my speed on that. I do that for an hour and try to get better each week. I am pretty sure it is working but only time will tell.

That is great work.That will help and get you were you what to be in no time.
Well I have done my run and will be cutting back on my running. I now have a recub bike and rower(2in1). I have beenon it an loving it. I think that will help my knees.
Anyway I will still be running and hope to get better.
Hope that everyone is doing well.
Tanya

Did another 2.5 mile run today/ Felt good but my legs started to cramp up at the end of it. That wasn't good but everything is better now.

Hey gals,

I'm a runner too. I'm glad to hear there are other runners on this site. This is my first post... I've been running since April, but took August & September off because of a stupid knee injury.

I'm getting back on track. I'm doing 3 sets of 10 & 1 during lunch at work, hopefully 3-4 times a week, and swimming on the off day.

I'm supposed to be starting WW tomorrow... Running is great, but my results are slow. I'll let you guys know how it's going.

You guys are doing really well. I never thought I'd get up to 10 & 1 when I started with 1 & 1. But you build it up slowly and it gets easier, I promise. Good luck!

Thanks for listening.

Good Morning Runners! :wave: Opps Good afternoon!?!

Welcome Laura ... 10&1 is great, keep up the good work... Hey I'm in Cornwall Ontario, there are a couple of runners from Ottawa on this site, and there are a couple of gals on other threads also from Ottawa...

I had an awesome run/jog at the gym this morning... did 40 mins of 5 mins at 4.5 mph(warmup)... 5min. 4.7, 5 min. 4.9, 5mins 5.1, then back down to 4.7 for 5 mins, till 40 mins was over... I've started to look at my cardio in 5 minute increments, in my little :doh: head it doesn't seem so overwelming as looking at it for 45 minutes on the :tread: ... Mind games on the treadmill are fun they make the time fly...

Well TTFN... :wave:

Hi everyone. Laura welcome. Great have you here.
Well did an interval this morning. I wish I could get as good with my eating as I am with my workout. Have been really off this week. Have to get on track soon. VERY SOON>
Have to run will check you all out next week
Tanya

Hey all,

My running has been great this week, since Monday I have racked up 14KMs and should be adding a lot more over the next few days. Monday will be total day of rest though and my Wednesday run I barely ran since I was helping out the Learn to runners and some of them needed to walk most of the way.

Laura: Howdy! I am an Ottawan also! I run anywhere from 4-6 days a week, but some of that is being a group leader for a clinic so it's fairly gentle.

Everyone else! Good luck on yoru runs... I am finding the cold weather runs actually easier than I thought they would be, I guess that says something about starting when the weather is warm and just working at it.

Cheers!

Ali

Hi Ali and everyone else...

Ali you're right, I also find running much easier in this cooler weather... I ran today AGAINST the wind and it didn't bother me at all! I thought, this is sooo cool :smoking:... I ran 5.8K I'm a little slow, it took me 46 minutes, but I thoroughly enjoyed it I guess that's the main thing :D...

I've run 20K this week and I feel pretty good about that .... So far this month it's been 35.8K...

HI everyone had a OK weekend. Could have been much better but my eating was good and was albe to get some workout in. I used my mom's and did her program of 5K in 30 min. Way better than the last time I tryied to do it. i didn't hang on to the tread.
well I did my 10K run this mornig it was really hard it took much longer than It has been taking me. But still got it done.
Hope that everyone has a good run.
Tanya

Hey gals!

I haven't been running much since my buddy is away for business... I can't seem to motivate myself to go by myself. It's always "I'll go later" which never comes...

I promise that today, when I get home from work - I'll go for 30 minutes, at least. I did go on sunday morning and again on monday.

Since I started WW last week (on my own until the one at work starts) I lost 2 pounds! I'm not sure if was all the running that week or the better eating habits - but I like the success of losing.

While my buddy is away, I'll find my motivation somewhere else. It just takes so much to get out there - and once I'm there, it's all cool and fresh and excellent... it's just getting ready & outside that's the problem. Especially when it's raining.

Have a great day ladies!

I did hill training yesterday and OOOOOOOOUCH.... I feel like I did a heavy leg weight training workout... My legs are so sore... I'll skip my 4K run today and do my 10K tomorrow.

I have revised my running goals yet again.... I'll be doing the 10K clinic (again I'll do a repeat) in January instead of the half-marathon clinic. Why? When I did the learn to run I could easily do a 5K, and although the longer 10K distance isn't super hard, I am still trying to get a good comfort zone going, so I want to work on my base and get comfortable with 10+K for now. My instructor told me that definitely is the smart way to go, so I am happy with my decision. It will be fun too since my BF will be taking that clinic too.

I love the weather we have been having (except the dense fog last night and this morning), it's been supurb for running. The winter will be a new chapter, but apparently winter running is AMAZING for our core muscles and by doing winter running it gets us in amazing shape for the Spring/summer and fall. I also think it will help being active outside in the winter. I tend to hibernate and eat more in the winter so being committed to an outdoor activity hopefully will make the winter easier.

Laura: I sometimes run at lunch but decided to give it a miss today since I am really sore and am running a Long Slow Distance tomorrow. Good luck and yah on the 2lbs!

Ilene: For someone just starting running outside, you're going at an excellent pace! Seriously, you're probably working your heart rate at 65% which is ideal (an excellent pace for fat burning too). Basically at this point just getting used to doing those distances and taking it slow is the best thing you could do . My instructor told us on Wednesday that in all seriousness we shouldn't start speed work until we've been running for two years. I have started going slower and it has been increasing my endurance and will probably help take off the last 1.5 -2 inches of my waistline (I am just slightly below 29, I want to get to 27"-27.5").

Tanya: completing 10K is awesome! Time doesn't matter!

Cheers!

Ali

Good afternoon gals!

Thanks for all the encouragement. I'm pretty happy with my progress thus far.

I did 3 sets of 15 & 1 last night in the Barrhaven fog and it was amazing. It was cool, but not cold and I felt great. I had all this energy and I dont' know where it came from.

I try to concentrate more on time than on distance. Should I try to up my distance, no matter what the time is? I figure I did about 5.5K last night and I'd like to go for longer periods of time, but I don't want to get too far from home incase I bust something...

Sweater Girl - did you join the Merivale Running Room? I have a few friends that have joined and I'd love to join a 10K or a 5K in 28 minute club... but $$$ is tight now and I think I'll wait until the spring...

Just a question - What do you guys plan on wearing when it gets colder? When I go, I wear spandex-y pants (ie. yoga pants), a long-sleeve shirt, a head band, and a fleece (which usually comes off after 10 minutes)... I've heard that you're not supposed to go in extreme temps but what is a good guide to follow?

Thanks! Here's to runners everywhere!

Ali -- Why, thank you for those encouraging words... it's hard for me to tell if I'm doing good or bad because I run alone... There is a sort of group that run from the gym on a pretty regular basis but they are wayyyyy ahead of me so I don't dare ask to join. One Saturday they came back from a run, I over heard them talking and they said they had just come back from a 38 MILE :dizzy: run!!! I'm sure they said miles...

Laura -- I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say about what to wear in the winter, because I don't have a clue either :?:

I looked online and found a link for winter running

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-51-196-0-1035,00.html

Gives good advice. Basically for your baselayer look for stuff that has coolmax or dri-fit and basically has little or no cotton so it can wick away moisture. You can get double layer socks or Nike ones that aren't made from cotton either. Make sure you also have some reflective gear. Breathable is also a necessity.

Ilene: 38 miles? wow, impressive, that's far more than a marathon.

Laura: I am run out of the Kanata one (it's right above the Goodlife that keeps delaying it's grand opening <but I'm not bitter, but it was suppose to open last spring then June, then August, the November now January sigh>). Last night was so eerie, the run wasn't overly foggy but was very humid (one of the guys I was running with actually had steam coming off of him). I met a friend at the Centrum after and as I was driving back I could barely see in front of me so I drove very slowly. I am going to try and get my mom to join the running room on merivale for one of their walking clinics. I think she might enjoy it (she's moving to Nepean from MTL next month).


As for extreme temperatures do what you feel comfortable with. Some people run in -40, they were a baraclava, goggles and the whole shebang. I'll try to run through most of the winter.. Just hope it isn't as cold as last winter <knock on wood>.

Cheers!

Ali

Hi Ali and all :wave:


Ali -- 82k in the month of November , wow that's really great! So far I've only done 57.3... I did 6.5 today, it was nice and sunny and very cool, but I found it very refreshing... I did it in 40 minutes, I'm getting there slow but sure...

Hope every one has a good weekend...TTFN

Hello, I am new to the fold. I used to be a competitive runner, but fell off the wagon, gained a bunch of weight, and now am 30 pounds from goal so want to seriously begin again.

I am 34 and a mother of 2. Just wanted to introduce myself and try to get in here.

Hi all,

I've been running in some pretty lousy weather recently. Freezing rain last week and cold rain on Sunday... Kind of kills motivation a bit, but I must keep trucking. I am running tomorrow and hope my blister gets better... Wanna hear irony... I have never had a blister running and then I get a pair of anti-blister socks and owiees, I get a huge one on my toe on Saturday (on a 11K jaunt) and it popped on Sunday (on my 4.6km run). Ah well. and today I a formal meeting so I am wearing heels so ooooooow. Anyhoo, my goal for December is 100KMs to be run and at least maintain my weight.

Ilene: I am participating in a running clinic and helping out with one which means lots and lots of running... My aim in December is to pretty much match this month's total. I shall see if it's possible.

Bif: Howdy, I find running is fabbo for weiight loss.

Oh and I am fitting back into a size 7 skirt of mine yah!

Cheers!

Ali:)

Oh forgot to mention... I am down to 154lbs which doesn't sound significant except it now means my weight is officially "healthy" so yah:)

Ilene: Wow your time is great (just over sa 6 min KM is fabbo).

Cheers!

Ali

HI gang! A special welcome to the gang Bif :wave: !


Ali - DH and I were in Ottawa yesterday and we dropped in to the Running Room on Bank Street...DH bought me some Nike WMNS Air Pegasus, gloves, socks, and a baclava for Christmas!! I can't wear anything till Christimas morning, but you can bet your runners I just may be out running Christimas Morning!!! I'm soooo excited! I was like a kid in a candy store in that place... Then we went down to the Rideau Centre I needed some Hallmark Ornaments for the kids collection... We then had lunch at Saigon a Vietnamese restaurant my g/f recommended... it was very good... We then went to the St. Laurent Centre... Rona and Costco on Innis... Back to Cornwall shopped more... Convinced DH to buy a blazer and shirt for Christmas, THANK GAWD, cause he needed it!! It was all in all a great day... Ali if you're fitting into size 7 skirts at 157#, you must be some muscular lady!! :high: for you!!

Well gottta go to the gym, do legs, I usually don't run on leg day but I just may, depends on how hard I work them :strong: I :love: working legs!!

TTFN....:wave:

Thank you for the welcomes. I appreciate it. I'm hoping the holidays will bring me a treadmill so I can share in the run stories here. Reading them is inspiring, however.

Good Afternoon!

I just got back from a 9K run on my lunch hour. It felt amazing! My time was 59 min which is still slow but getting closer to my goal which is about 58 min for 10K. That goal is for the distant future though, when I'm actually fit!

I'm running in a 5K fun run - The Santa Shuffle this weekend which is my first 'race'. Although I'm not going into it with any kind of competitive spirit, it will be my first official 'time'. I'd like it to be 30 min or so. That would be a personal best for me. I have been running it in 33 min quite comfortably.

By the time the 10K Resolution Run rolls around I'd like to be able to do it in 55 min. I've got a couple of months and at this rate it should make it.

I'm slightly off my goal of losing 2 lbs a week. Which is surprising to me. I would have thought with all this running it would be more... Oh well it's funny how efficient our bodies are.

TTFN

Anne

Hi all,

my blister is giving me tons of trouble. I did 5K yesterday though and am doing 6Kms tonight. I hate blisters.

Anne: my BF will be doing the Santa Shuffle on Saturday! I hope the weather is nice.

Ilene: It's funny I was buying supplies for my work's xmas brunch on Monday at the Innes Costco.. I hadn't been there before, it's the reverse of the Merivale one basically. But too funny, we could have passed each other and never known. Enjoy your Christmas stuff. I plan on running early Christmas morning (we don't do the presents thing until later on in the day anyway) so I can relax.

Cheers!

Ali

Hi guys, can I join in? I have just started a marathon training program....JUST STARTED. I am mostly walking right now becausee I'm recently over some wierd sort of foot pain thing. I want to make sure I build all the right supporting muscles. I use to run in another life. I was training for my black belt and had to run 5 7 minute miles. I really enjoyed it but stopped somewhere along the way.

I don't have a running or walking buddy. Can't seem to get the BF to understand that walking IS exercise. Right now I was 4 days a week. 2 15 minute, hilly miles. I'm enojoying it a lot!

Reading all of your posts has given me extra motivation!! I'm looking forward to being able to say I'm running/walking :) Oh - the marathon training is at least 6 months long so if I complete it I'm sure I'll be trying 5ks first :) :) Right now a 5k sounds like a marathon to me!! I know I'll get there though.

Hi all,

I took a few days off from running and my knees are feeling much better. I am doing a 5K tonight and 12K on Saturday and I might do 4K on my lunch on Friday and 4-5K on Sunday morning.

I hope everyone is doing well!

Cheers!

Ali:)

I registered for our local resolution run today. It'll be my first race. It's only 5km though, which shouldn't be too painful. It will be a bit weird running later in the day (11am) rather than 6:30-7am though. I'll have to try it over Christmas when dh isn't working during the day.

hey everyone. i have been away for a while but still runnning regualrly. how is everyone's winter running going? its 60 degrees here, so my winter running clothes have been neglected this season thus far. i have to say its not upsetting. my new shoes are working reat, they are kind of heavy though. my pace has inproved considerably which is something i was really struggling with. hope everyone else is doing well.

I am doing the resolution run this evening... It's suppose to be 7C tonight which is almost unheard of this time of year....

Happy new Year!

Alison

Alison, I'm thinking of you as I go out the door here for my personal "resolution run" ... Great way to start the new year... TTFN :wave: ... I be back later to report....

With our topsy turvy life right now, I don't get to exercise as regularly as possible. Then it actually "did" snow at the beach, even though hubby assured me it never snows here. LOL It was just too icy and mushy to run for a few days. And I hadn't had the chance a few days before that. So I went about a week without actually getting out to run, but I managed to get in 2 1/2 miles yesterday and am planning on running shortly.

Hello everybody! Happy New Year!

I am 33 years old, 5'8", 196 pounds, and very out of shape. But I want to get in shape quickly and get down to my goal of 140 by June 1st. I love the idea of running, and have done it in the past when, ahem, much lighter.

Are there any women out there like me who started a running/walking program at a similiar weight? (about 60 pounds overweight?)

I was looking at the Couch to 5K website - looks like a lot of great advice there - but I am concerned about busting a knee or a hip hehehe! (I am also going to start weight-training to build some muscle, which I desperately need!)

How did you do starting out, how did you progress, and what other advice do you have for a portly wannabe runner? ;)

Thanks!

Hi Sarah,

I started running when I was about 220lbs... It can be done. Basically get rid of the notion that you have to run fast... slow and steady is probably best for starting (and continuing)... So basically run slow, be able to talk and you'll be fine. Yes you may have people who can walk past you (it's happened to me before I got serious about running at about my goal weight), but you should work on building your cardio base (heck I am still working on mine).

You may also want to invest in a heart rate monitor (Polar's ones are fabulous) and try to keep around the 65%-70% mark of you maximum heart rate.

I love running, it has gotten me into shape (still working on it).

Build slowly, rest if you're in pain and you should be fine!

Ilene: They closed off Colonel By drive yesterday so it was just wet pavement so that was awesome. What sucked was I was getting a cold and now I am super sniffly today:( Still I did 10K and had fun!

Cheers!

Ali

Sarah, I started walking at about 215 pounds. I would try to run short stints but would get out of breath before I'd even get a quarter mile. I'd alternate walking/running for a mile each morning. As the weather started getting bad and I found myself making excuses, I decided to utilize our apartment clubhouse membership and the indoor treadmills. I was 210 when I first started on the treadmill in June 2003. By July, I was running a full mile. By the end of the year, I was down to 170 pounds and running between 2 and 3 miles and just working on my speed. By Spring, I was doing 10 minute miles. But I've found if I slow my pace, I can do more miles, and if I speed up, I can't go as far, but I can get a good speed.

Alison -- Good for you for doing 10K!! How long does it take you to do 10K? This morning I did 6.7K in 50 minutes... I have to go out and measure a 10K loop and do it some morning... It's gorgeous out here this afternoon I'm sure it's pretty much the same in Ottawa...

Sarah -- When I started I would run 1 minute, walk 1 minute... gradually the minutes for walking decreased and the runs got longer...

Ilene, do a search for your area and "GIS". Your Dept. of Environmental Services would generally have one. You can map out routes and get mileage right online. ;)

Thank you everyone for the running advice!

It's funny but I actually have dreamed at night about running! Like bounding through the woods like Bambi :lol:

A heart rate monitor is a great idea. I know I have a tendency to go beyond my 65-70% recommended max a lot of the time, because I'm impatient, heh! But not surprisingly, I tend to burn out after 2 weeks or so of super-tough exercise.

I am due to get a nice chunk of money, about $225, in a couple weeks, from my health insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield has this awesome benefit where they will reimburse you $150 towards a gym membership and $150 towards a Weight Watcher membership per year. So, in January, I file for the past year, and soon, a nice check shows up in my mailbox. Very nice! :)

So I think I will spend part of that on a heart rate monitor! And maybe new sneakers too. I have had the ones I am wearing now since June 2003. They're the Saucony Grid Stabil. But I think I might have pounded them too much? I dunno. Probably wouldn't hurt to get a new pair!

Sweater, I'm encouraged by your "start slow" advice! And that you started at 220 pounds!

Almostheaven, that's great that in a month, you were running a full mile! Right now, I don't think I could run a quarter heh! But in 6 months, you lost 40 pounds and were up to 2-3 miles! Very, very cool.

I'm excited to get going... I would love to be able to run and not feel like I'm dying :dizzy:

sarah,

i too started running at about 215 pounds. i was fortunate enough to have a treadmill in my house at the time so i started on the treadmill. i started out with running 1/4 mile and then being done. then i moved up to .5 then .75 and then i finally reached a mile at a time. i never would have guessed then that i would be running for fun now. you just have to keep it slow and steady. and not get discouraged at how difficult it can be to get started. when i take a break from running now sometimes i get discouraged at how much i feel that i backtrack but i just take it slow and regain my momentum in no time. i found the hardest thing about running when i first started doing it, was convincing myself that i could.