Funny - this came up in the cool runners forum too

My personal recommendation is start with walking. When you can walk at a BRISK pace for 30-40 minutes then google C25K (couch to 5K) and that is a good beginners program

It is also a good idea to begin strength training to help the body prepare for the rigors of running at a higher weight.

I started running at 206 pounds directly from being totally sedentary. And by "run", I mean I was jogging two minutes at a time at 4 mph. I was pretty out of shape. Of course, I'm not exactly in shape now, but I've been gradually increasing my distance and I can now run 2.5 miles at a time at about 5 mph, and I'm working on increasing the time for which I can run at 6 mph (2 minutes right now :o )

Minerva, you're at least faster than I am, so I'm not sure what advice to offer except build distance at slower speeds and work up to faster speeds a little bit at a time.

Thanks eveyone for the help! I did get an Ipod and it does seem to help! I am getting alot better at the breathing issue. You guys are great and to everyony that is trying to decide if tthey want to run, try it feels so good when you are done.
Bye

Over 200 running
 

Littlemiss: Hey hun....I've started and restarted programs being over 200. I guess i've always been pretty active so it wasn't so hard. This last time has been the hardest. I found a program in Women's Health(get a sub if you don't have one or check out womenshealthmag.com) and it broke it down by week. Walking is defintely the way to start. Like week one is 1min jog/run and 3 mins walking(x7). I've tried before to just run everyday, and i end up quitting after a few weeks. Every other day with one day of rest from everything(maybe some pilates) seems to work well. Crosstraining on the off days i think is key i.e. biking/eliptical/ARCtrainer and what not. Rest is the most important thing to avoid injury and keep you on track. But the first night i logged 2.2 miles in 34 mins and now i'm at 2.9 in 34 mins walk/run. Started at 5.7 barely keep it for a minute and now i'm at 6.3 for 2 mins. So you just have to push through that "i'm so tired i can't go any longer" mind set it guess. And like Jillian said on TBL one night....just go for 20 seconds, and then 20 more and then 20 more. Break it into smaller sections if you have to...that helps so much. Before you know it you're at a minute. Hope this helps....realize it's kind of scatterbrained.

Agreed. Last time I lost a good deal of weight I started running at 185 pounds, while we're talking about starting weights. Not too long after I was a quite lean 135 and in the best shape of my life. It really improved my mood and my sleep patterns too. I have asthma though and sometimes if I have trouble breathing I would just alternate walking and jogging, as much as was comfortable for me. This reminds me that I really need to start jogging again. Also, before I started last time, I was walking 6 or 10 miles a day. I just said to myself one day that I could probably accomplish the same thing in much less time if I just jogged. ^_^ heh. Still, this time around I'm still walking to build up some endurance from being sick and sedentary for a while.

yay runners!

i'm new to this website...so excited about a support group. i've been running on and off since college. i ran a 5K race in 2002, and deep in my heart i *someday* want to run a marathon. that's like one of my life goals, so whatever.

wanted to share my favorite running-related website. it's an interactive pedometer based on google maps. i can't seem to post the link, but search "gmaps pedometer" in google and it's the first link. best. thing. ever. it's so motivating to be able to pace out exactly where you ran...there's even a calorie calculator...see how much you burned!!

and to answer one of the questions in this thread....i'm a tall 5' 11" and ran when i was around 235. i wasn't running large distances, and was taking it very slow, but yeah...i found that it has been consistently my favorite exercise. i love the idea that my body is shedding the pounds - literally shedding them - in order to be able to make my muscles work better for the movement of running. like i'm outrunning the extra weight. like taking off an over coat.

also...one of the most important things i find with running is learning to find a breathing rhythm. i sometimes sing in my head, or spend regular amounts of time (2 blocks, etc) focusing on my breathing. i also find that listening to music distracts me from this, and actually makes it harder.

just sharing thoughts....yay 3FC runners! see you on the pavement...

Thanks for the info posted here. I'm planning to start running soon and did take a look at C5k a while back but never actually started.. sounds interesting! :)

That is the most hilarious quote I think I may have ever heard! I will definitely use that sometime!!!

Kara

Hi everyone...

Amy1980 - Totally agree with you on the sleeping patterns...it's like getting up in the AM isn't so hard, and you're actually tired when it's time for bed...like you don't have to force yourself to sleep. Last night i spent some time with Mike(my bf) and i felt so bad i was too tired to do anything, but he understood...i guess i'll owe him double :lol:

Rockrower - that sounds great...kind of takes the guess work out..have you noticed it to be pretty accurate

liligurl - that is hilarious! way to go on the races that's fantastic...maybe you could whip my bf into shape

There's a thread called January 2008 walk/run challenge check it out when you have time. Kind of a mile goal for January that you can update everyday kind of fun to see how everyone is doing, and it's never too late to join. Anyone ever thought of having regional 3FC 5k races or anything like that?????

Kristine612....

re: accuracy of pedometer

iiiinteresting question. i've actually never really questioned it. one of the tough things is that the places you run (trails, sidewalks, pedestrian only areas...DC is loaded with them...hello?! the mall!!) aren't necessarily driveable. in the past, i've driven on (or near) regular running routes to get a feel for the distance.

i just "pedded" out a distance that i have driven in a car...and found to be about 1 mile. gmaps pedometer put it at 0.91....i guess that's pretty close? for my purposes i like to use it to have a general idea of distance....i usually cross the streets when i'm running, add extra pathways here and there, and so it's tough to get exactly where you ran. although...it is kinda fun to zoom way in using the hybrid function...then you can literally ped out EXACTLY your route.

:carrot::carrot:"One foot in front of the other for one more mile":carrot::carrot:


"Couples who run together stay together, because they are too out of breath to argue"

Kristine612... send him my way, I'll whip him right into shape, the way my husband did me regarding weight training.
We use a reward system...
If I complete all of my required running and weight lifting routines, I get out of household chores for the week...all of them, no cleaning, dusting, laundry, dishes, nothing...
you bet I will complete my assignments and on time to boot.:dance::dance:
He runs his required miles and he gets home cooked lunches everday for work, and a piece of sports memorabilia (last month it was a autographed Tom Brady Jersey) for his "Man Town" entertainment room. :broc::broc:
My requirments are met weekly, his are met monthly.
Trust me this works!
I haven't done any chores in months...
I am the envy of of my fellow officers, and he is the envy of his fellow officers.
(We work for different law enforcment agencies)

To add to the suggestions others have posted:

-definitely invest in running shoes that fit correctly. Runner's World has a list of specialty running stores on their site and there you can be properly fitted for a shoe.

Getting properly fitted is important because there is much more to a running shoe than selecting the correct size. I can personally attest that wearing the wrong running shoe for your foot is only an invitation for injury.

-I have a bad habit of holding my breath when I run and sometimes it is unconscious. So I use a heartrate monitor to remind me to breathe.

Typically my pulse is 148-168 when I run and I know that I need to breathe if it gets any higher.