The last month and half I have been exercising more than I have for years and years. I feel so much energy, and I am getting a lot stronger. I can walk for miles, I can use treadmills at fast walking speed, ellipticals etc.

But when I try jogging I get tired so fast. I have always had a problem jogging and running even when not overweight growing up. I guess it is just some barrier for me that I will have to keep trying to break. And it seems that other cardio doesn't help.

Even more impressed with runners now. Have other people found that they can do a bunch of different gym cardio but jogging/running is still really hard?

I jog but it kicks my but and my speed is almost hilarious, I usually get passed by 80 year old people, I´m a turtle. Maybe if you start jogging really really slowly it will be easier, and alternate 2 minute walking, 1 minute turtle jogging for 20 minutes, I´m sure it will get easier. The you can add time to the jogging part: 90 secs walking, 90 sec jogging...

I did not jog until I hit 220lbs. Then it was easier on the knees and I had less "wobble".

My advice would be to keep trying to run as long as your joints are OK with it. The distance will build up slowly.

If not, then just keep walking as when you do start running you will be able to go further quicker. I was up to 5K within a month or two from starting jogging as I used to walk a couple of miles every day. Even now I still walk.

But running is hard and it continues to bust my butt! I look forward to running lighter when it might get a little easier.

Well I just did a block. With about 2 10 second breaks. Going 2 work on one break then no breaks. Then more blocks. Slow and steady. 1 block seems absurd but I have never really run in my life. I always played sports but no just running.

Some is better than none though and I can only get better.

Jogging is hard, and so different from speed walking. The only way to get used to it is by doing it. Intervals are the best way to break into it; this is why you see so many C25K (Couch to 5K) references on this site. If the week 1 intervals on C25K are still too much for you, then create your own intervals. Once you start doing it, you'll improve surprisingly fast.

I started the c25k program at 256 lbs, and man - running was really tough for me at first. By the time I "graduated" from c25k, I was down to about 235, and it had gotten easier, but still challenging.

I've since moved on to the c210k program. It really is about slowly building up your strength and endurance. Today's run was 51 minutes, with a 1 minute walk break at each 17 minute mark. When I think back about where I started, I'm sometimes quite amazed I've been able to get here. I could barely get through the 60 second intervals at the start of the c25k program.

Running isn't for everyone (my wife absolutely HATES it), but I've found it's a huge feeling of accomplishment for me. Good luck!!

Wow, congrats fitdad. I am mastering the 5ks at the moment, getting my times down. I can do a 5k in about 26.5 minutes on a treadmill and 29.5 minutes outside.

But a 10k would be awesome. I'll try to pick up the distance soon.

What I will say is that as the pounds come off, the running gets a whole lot easier. Running at a higher weight does bring dividends later on.

Thanks Ian. Holy $&#% you're FAST. I'm running at a turtle's pace compared to you - I'm at 38 min for a 5k. I was starting to try and increase my speed, but I found I was starting to dread my runs. It's interesting how I don't mind one bit increasing distance, though.

I'm glad to hear things get easier as the pounds drop - I think I'm starting to experience that a bit now.

Great work and keep it up!!

Did 4 miles today in 40 minutes (my longest run ever)!

I swear, every pound down helps with the running, exponentially!

I couldn't even run at 230lbs FitDad. I started at 220lbs and I just managed half a mile!

Your time for 5k is fricking amazing!

You are a natural. You are just gonna fly!!!!!!

It hurts though doesn't it? Every time I run, I think I am going to die.

But I don't. Without a doubt it's the best workout I get.

My new secret weapon is a head sweatband. It looks silly, but I sweat a lot when I run and it was hurting my eyes and causing me to tire early. With the sweatband, job done!!!

I felt the same way last year. I could easily walk 10 miles and could knock the heck out of the elliptical, but running was impossible. I had never in my life been able to run a mile without stopping.

But I decided to make running 3 miles without stopping a goal. I would run a minute then walk a minute. Then I got to running two minutes and walking two minutes. Eventually, I ran five minutes then walked two minutes. I kept working my way up so I was running more than walking. Before I knew it, I ran a mile without stopping. Then two. Then three! Eventually I got up to five miles without stopping.

I did this on a treadmill. I decided to try running outside and it felt surprisingly different. Harder. But it enabled me to try different inclines so it is now easy when I'm on a treadmill with a slight incline because I have done some uphill running.

I got to 6 miles, at 5.0 miles/hour. Now my goal is speed. I want to get to 6 miles in under an hour. I started on this goal last week. I had been doing 5.0 to 5.1 mph on the treadmill with a light incline (to mimic "real" running) but bumped it up to 5.5 mph. I walked 2-3 minute and ran 2-3 minutes. Then I went to 5.6, 5.7, ...all the way up to 6.1 mph, walking 2-3 min and running 2-3 min. Then I started at 5.5 again. That made 5.5 seem so easy and doable!

I feel so proud to be able to run, so I hope you find a way to do it. Start slowly, even if it is just one minute, and work your way up. Couch to 5k, as others have mentioned, is also a good method of working your way up.

Good luck!

Interesting. I find outdoor runs a lot easier. I think I push my speed too much on the treadmill. Outside or on a track, I can just regulate my pace naturally. That said, I do like to find myself some nice, flat running paths. I never got very good at hills.

Oh how I miss running. I want to lose about 50 pounds before I take it back up (for the sake of my knees), but I know I'll be itching to try it before then.

Thanks for all the responses. I had downloaded on my Kindle fire the C25K pro app awhile back when it was free.

But my phone is IOS. However the free one seems just the same but with adds. I did the first day yesterday. I think the 60 second runs with 90 second breaks were great. So thanks for all the mentions of the app in the responses.

It seems like the app knows what it is doing for building up strength and conditioning. And I was encouraged that I was at least fairly easily able to do the first day.

Thank you all for this thread - it is really encouraging. I am having big problems with rhythm and breathing when jogging, and have just done the first part of the C25K -1 min run, 90s walk - successfully. What an ego boost! So reading others' experiences and how practice makes it easier is really motivating.

Cheers!

I had some work at nights for a couple of weeks and I then repeated week 1 and week 2. But last night I just started week 3 of using Ease Into 5k. I really like it. $3 on Itunes probably an Android version also.

For Ease into 5k, week 3 day 1 upped the running to 3 mins, 4 different times. Before that the longest run was 90 seconds. In the middle there is a 3 min run, 1 min rest, then another 3 min run. What was awesome was the 4th 3 min run which is right before the 5 min cool down was the easiest to do. I felt awesome on that one. I must have gotten my second wind, which I would experience when I played basketball. Nice to know it can happen with running.

I ordered a pair of Adidas boost which got very good reviews on Runner's World. I figured especially with being overweight getting the best possible shoes is a wise investment. Hope to do a 5k late this year or next year.

Cannot believe I am actually running. And it seems to be really good on weight loss and for my stomach. I think it revs up my metabolism more than gym/home cardio.