I want to be a runner

[Erin O'Donnell 61]

I've seen a lot of weight loss success stories and in nearly all of them running has been a huge part of their success. I really would like to work up to eventually doing a marathon. I know, at this point, a marathon is a longggg way off, but I'm willing to work to get there. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for beginner runners ?? Thanks!

[LJCBF 363]

I've seen a lot of weight loss success stories and in nearly all of them running has been a huge part of their success. I really would like to work up to eventually doing a marathon. I know' date=' at this point, a marathon is a longggg way off, but I'm willing to work to get there. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for beginner runners ?? Thanks![/quote']

Hi Erin,

Congrats for being on the path to WL success ! Running a marathon, what a great goal : ) running is the King of calorie burn which is why you read lots about it as part of WL success stories. More than that it offers a unique feeling of accomplishment and like WL requires endurance... Putting one foot in front of the other over and over, again and again.

Yes you can do it!! I started at over 450 lbs and now do Triathlons and 1/2 Marathons (no full marathons yet). When I started I could only walk for 30 Seconds ... You see, at over 450 lbs I was on oxygen with lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure etc... But I started where I was, walking 30 Seconds and added to it each day. I developed a successful plan and passed it on to my sister (who has lost over 230 lbs thus far)

You can read about her first 5k here - following my training plan of 30 Seconds to Victory.

http://www.300poundsdown.com/2013/02/mission-possible-my-1st-5k.html

You can do it - all things are possible.

Hope in Your Future is Power in your Present!

Lee

280 lbs Lost - All diseases reversed

American Counsel on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer & Health Coach

[cat whisperer 127]

Take it very, very slowly to start. I had lost weight a few years back, and worked up to a 5K. I signed up for it, so it gave me a huge motivation to keep going, but I allowed plenty of time - several months (about 6, if I remember correctly.) This was starting from scratch. I followed a couch to 5K program (there are many available if you google it) and I did have an experienced runner as a mentor. I still wasn't able to "run" the whole 5K - I had to stop and walk a couple of times, but many people do. Not comparing yourself to anyone else is also very important as everyone's pace is different and how quickly they improve. I highly recommend reading a book or two by John Bingham - "No Need for Speed" is a great one!! he started off obese and now runs marathons... very slowly

I will give you the link to his website - well worth a look for any beginning runner!!

http://www.johnbingham.com/index.php

I'm going to start back myself in a couple of weeks when I heal from my surgery. Good luck!!

[Erin O'Donnell 61]

Hi Erin' date='

Congrats for being on the path to WL success ! Running a marathon, what a great goal : ) running is the King of calorie burn which is why you read lots about it as part of WL success stories. More than that it offers a unique feeling of accomplishment and like WL requires endurance... Putting one foot in front of the other over and over, again and again.

Yes you can do it!! I started at over 450 lbs and now do Triathlons and 1/2 Marathons (no full marathons yet). When I started I could only walk for 30 Seconds ... You see, at over 450 lbs I was on oxygen with lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure etc... But I started where I was, walking 30 Seconds and added to it each day. I developed a successful plan and passed it on to my sister (who has lost over 230 lbs thus far)

You can read about her first 5k here - following my training plan of 30 Seconds to Victory.

http://www.300poundsdown.com/2013/02/mission-possible-my-1st-5k.html

You can do it - all things are possible.

Hope in Your Future is Power in your Present!

Lee

280 lbs Lost - All diseases reversed

American Counsel on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer & Health Coach[/quote']

Wow! Congrats to you and your sister! And thanks so much for the advice! I will check out the link!

[Erin O'Donnell 61]

Take it very' date=' very slowly to start. I had lost weight a few years back, and worked up to a 5K. I signed up for it, so it gave me a huge motivation to keep going, but I allowed plenty of time - several months (about 6, if I remember correctly.) This was starting from scratch. I followed a couch to 5K program (there are many available if you google it) and I did have an experienced runner as a mentor. I still wasn't able to "run" the whole 5K - I had to stop and walk a couple of times, but many people do. Not comparing yourself to anyone else is also very important as everyone's pace is different and how quickly they improve. I highly recommend reading a book or two by John Bingham - "No Need for Speed" is a great one!! he started off obese and now runs marathons... very slowly <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I will give you the link to his website - well worth a look for any beginning runner!!

http://www.johnbingham.com/index.php

I'm going to start back myself in a couple of weeks when I heal from my surgery. Good luck!!

Thanks so much for the advice!! And good job on the 5k!

[KAATNS 1,473]

This reminded me of a blog I follow www.mamalaughlin.com - lots of motivation and inspiration over there. Fun reading.

[GodsTyro 63]

If you set a goal, don't give yourself a time frame to meet it - you just set yourself up for failure otherwise.

My goal was to run a 5k...whenever that might be. I have one scheduled for November, but the nice thing is most 5k you can choose to walk if need be too.

I'm still getting there but below is what I started with.

First, got the couch to 5k app

If you haven't worked out in a long time and just starting out, I suggest for at least 1-2w weeks only walking at an incline of at LEAST 2.0 and a speed of 3.0 (or a speed that has you walking at a decent pace that keeps your heart rate in the fat burning zone). On top of the treadmill, I suggest the elliptical for 30 minutes. Both of these will help you build a little muscle to be able to begin using the above couch to 5k app.

Start with day 1 and repeat the weeks as much as you need to. For me, by week 4 I've had to switch it up a bit. I couldn't get thru running 5 straight minutes, which told me I needed more leg muscle. So I changed up my routine and started walking at a 8.0 incline at 3.0 mph to build the leg muscle. The 2nd week I would jog 30 seconds, walk one minute- and do this for 20 minutes at that same incline of 8.0

Now I switch it up depending upon my workout and what I need- sometimes I will for 15minutes do the 8 incline and just walk it, then drop to the 2.0 incline and jog long periods of time with short walking breaks.

Learning to control your breathing is also going to help you a lot.

My routine now a days is treadmill (walk/run at a certain incline depending upon what I have going on) for at LEAST 30 minutes, then I do the stairmaster at a level 4 for 30 minutes (approx. 1300 steps- another great way to build some leg muscle), then if I decide to stay for another 30 I either go back to the treadmill or do the elliptical.

Tuesdays and Thursdays I take it easier on cardio, but I have my personal trainer as well those days.

It is important not to push your body HARD everyday in cardio- especially when building endurance. It needs "easy" days, so listen to your body when it needs that but make sure you have at least two easy cardio days

Hope this helps :-) I'm still working on getting to jogging (want to run tho) a 5k but in about two months I've managed to be able to complete a 5k in about 49 minutes- hoping to drop that time down a lot by November.

[CaGottaBand 498]

Try looking into Team in Training. They're a non profit that teaches people how to run marathons. They raise money for leukemia.

http://www.teamintraining.org/

[Erin O'Donnell 61]

If you set a goal' date=' don't give yourself a time frame to meet it - you just set yourself up for failure otherwise.

My goal was to run a 5k...whenever that might be. I have one scheduled for November, but the nice thing is most 5k you can choose to walk if need be too.

I'm still getting there but below is what I started with.

First, got the couch to 5k app

If you haven't worked out in a long time and just starting out, I suggest for at least 1-2w weeks only walking at an incline of at LEAST 2.0 and a speed of 3.0 (or a speed that has you walking at a decent pace that keeps your heart rate in the fat burning zone). On top of the treadmill, I suggest the elliptical for 30 minutes. Both of these will help you build a little muscle to be able to begin using the above couch to 5k app.

Start with day 1 and repeat the weeks as much as you need to. For me, by week 4 I've had to switch it up a bit. I couldn't get thru running 5 straight minutes, which told me I needed more leg muscle. So I changed up my routine and started walking at a 8.0 incline at 3.0 mph to build the leg muscle. The 2nd week I would jog 30 seconds, walk one minute- and do this for 20 minutes at that same incline of 8.0

Now I switch it up depending upon my workout and what I need- sometimes I will for 15minutes do the 8 incline and just walk it, then drop to the 2.0 incline and jog long periods of time with short walking breaks.

Learning to control your breathing is also going to help you a lot.

My routine now a days is treadmill (walk/run at a certain incline depending upon what I have going on) for at LEAST 30 minutes, then I do the stairmaster at a level 4 for 30 minutes (approx. 1300 steps- another great way to build some leg muscle), then if I decide to stay for another 30 I either go back to the treadmill or do the elliptical.

Tuesdays and Thursdays I take it easier on cardio, but I have my personal trainer as well those days.

It is important not to push your body HARD everyday in cardio- especially when building endurance. It needs "easy" days, so listen to your body when it needs that but make sure you have at least two easy cardio days

Hope this helps :-) I'm still working on getting to jogging (want to run tho) a 5k but in about two months I've managed to be able to complete a 5k in about 49 minutes- hoping to drop that time down a lot by November.[/quote']

Yeah I usually do 30-45 minutes on the elliptical in the fat burning program. And then I'll lift weight s and sometimes do a 30 Minute Abs class. I've already downloaded the c25k app I think I'm going to use it on the track in my gym instead of the treadmill because 1. I feel like I'm going to fall off the treadmill every time I use it lol! And 2. Because I feel like it may burn more calories if I'm running with out a machine. Maybe? Haha but thank you so much for the tips and advice! I will definitely be using them! good luck on speeding up your 5K time

[Erin O'Donnell 61]

Try looking into Team in Training. They're a non profit that teaches people how to run marathons. They raise money for leukemia.

http://www.teamintraining.org/

I'll check it out! Thanks!

[naibrittany 2]

Hello, I think running a marathon is a great goal. I began my running journey Dec 2012, with a group called Black Girls Run, and have been hooked since, I just ran my first half marathon May 5, 2013 and felt so accomplished. Initially, my goal was to simply run a 5k and I am a proud 1/2 marathon runner, I ran 13.1 miles in 2:35 hours. So yes you can do it!!! I was banded Oct. 2010, weighed in at 250ish and as of today, I weigh 140. Also, between that time, I had a baby Oct. 8, 2011;)

[GodsTyro 63]

Yeah I usually do 30-45 minutes on the elliptical in the fat burning program. And then I'll lift weight s and sometimes do a 30 Minute Abs class. I've already downloaded the c25k app I think I'm going to use it on the track in my gym instead of the treadmill because 1. I feel like I'm going to fall off the treadmill every time I use it lol! And 2. Because I feel like it may burn more calories if I'm running with out a machine. Maybe? Haha but thank you so much for the tips and advice! I will definitely be using them! good luck on speeding up your 5K time

If you don't use the treadmill, I would actually recommend running outside versus a track- only because there is no incline on a track. Running at a 2.0 incline is like running outside on level ground.

You are still going to burn calories if you run on a track, but if you are planning on doing any 5k races etc you need some incline to help you prepare for it

[lekanto 50]

I used to think I wouldn't be able to run because I was fat with big boobs and bad feet. Once I learned about the Couch to 5K concept, I decided to give it a try. Running actually makes my feet feel better!

My tip: Enell sports bras are the greatest. They are expensive, but totally worth it.

One thing I love is tracking my runs with Map My Run. I run down random streets exploring the neighborhood, then look at my route map to see where I went.

[arainey77 34]

Down load the app. Couch to 5k. It eases u into running a 5k and then once u have that down they have an app. For the marathon.

[MiniMi 1,468]

I've seen a lot of weight loss success stories and in nearly all of them running has been a huge part of their success. I really would like to work up to eventually doing a marathon. I know' date=' at this point, a marathon is a longggg way off, but I'm willing to work to get there. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for beginner runners ?? Thanks![/quote']

What a great goal. I run too. The benefits from runny surpass just the weight loss benefits. Belly fat just melts away. The psychological benefits though are outstanding. Pick an event, sign up for it and train for it. The funnest thing ever!

Oh and if you have any trail run races near you give one of them a try too. They are amazing!