So I started running...

[JohnCU]

Usually warm up, walk about a mile for more warmup, then run/jog for a straight stretch of .4 miles, then walk about another half mile back to my room.

.4 miles is about the most I can run before passing out from breathing so hard (note: i've never worked out a day in my life).

I plan on continuing this until I can run the .4 without total exhaustion.

Anything I should change about that schedule?

 

[FoBoT]

sounds like a good plan

good for you for doing something

i got winded talking to my boss while walking 1/2 mile the other day, i suck

 

[brigden]

It gets easier and easier every day. Keep it up!

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

Originally posted by: brigden
It gets easier and easier every day. Keep it up!

 

[Spoooon]

Yeah, I've been starting to run for the past few weeks.

 

[ajpa123]

Hey, be careful if you're overweight at all. Running is not good for your joints and bones if they aren't strong enough, i would think. Just don't mess any important part of your body while over-exerting yourself.

 

[JohnCU]

Oh, 2nd question: will running help in my goal of toning up my stomach/possibly 6 pack more?

(note: I'm not overweight, 150lbs, 5'8).

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

Did anybody else think Flock of Seagulls when they read the title of this thread?

 

[Amorphus]

Originally posted by: Jfrag
Did anybody else think Flock of Seagulls when they read the title of this thread?

No, but I thought of Forrest Gump.

 

[Riprorin]

I started off by running a 1/4 mile, walking 1/4 mile, running, etc. Within a few weeks I was running 5 miles/day.

The body repsonds pretty quickly to excersing so if you stay with it, you should be running continuously in no time.

 

[jacob0401]

yeah sounds good, you should be able to .4 very quickly without exhaustion

 

[Daaavo]

I know this has been posted previously, but here it is again. Link.

For a person new to running, remember that the rest days are just as important as the days you exercise.

 

[Frodolives]

Wonderful to hear! Sure there are plenty of reasons and excuses why our culture is overweight/obese, but the main ones are transparent. Enough about that.

The last couple of years it seemed that every time I tried to renew an aerobic exercise schedule I was hit by flu or something just as I was getting over the initial challenge. 6 months ago I tried again and have run about 5 days a week ever since. Next month I turn 47, and to be quite honest you wouldn't guess it to look at me

My Dad had his first stroke when he was but a couple of years older than I am now. Sure I still am "at risk" but I frankly don't care as much about measuring how much time I have left, versus being satisfied with how I'm living now. It doesn't take a trip to the doctor to prove the gain in stamina, general fitness, improved immunity to various illness, mental acuity etc.

Exercise doesn't solve all of your problems, but it does yield results that a lot of us could use, and kudos to you for getting with it!

By the way, I'm currently running about 3 miles per run, not huge, but living on a mountain the terrain is challenging. Indications are that I can notch it up to 4 or 5 miles pretty easily. And yes, it's very true that joint stress brings down a lot of runners. Swimming or speed walking are more sensible in my opinion, but swimming isn't available to me here, and my personal history proves that for me I just am not as satisfied with the rewards of walking/hiking considering the relative expense of time and effort. As long as my health enables me to, I choose running.

 

[SWScorch]

just keep it up man!!! You're doing the right thing; start off slow, don't overdo it and injure yourself, and don't get discouraged! Also, if you haven't yet, go to a running store and have them recommend some shoes. Having the wrong shoes can lead to very bad things (I've been running for 4 or 5 years, and last year I decided to try a new brand of shoe, and they gave me ITB syndrome; I was out for the whole spring season and half the summer nursing my injury).

Once you can run the .4 miles comfortable, keep increasing the distance and continue doing what you're doing. Also, weightlifting does help; it's good to alternate weightlifitng with running if you so desire.

BTW, running is pretty hard on your joints, but it increases bone density, so you have less chance of bone injuries. And if you have good form, your joints are happy and carefree.

also, go to www.runnersworld.com and post on the froums there if you have any other questions or want to find some people to run with. They're pretty helpful over there.