[tireesix]

How do I become a runner? I find it difficult enough to walk to the shops and back lol (I am unfit, overweight AND suffer from social phobia).

 

[ChristineIndy]

Start where you are.

If walking to the shops is physically difficult for you, then that's where you start. Do it on a regular basis until it's not hard, and then increase the distance, and/or the speed you walk. If you push too far too fast, you'll end up injured and/or discouraged, and that's not helping you at all!

There are also a TON of books about this - check your library or Amazon.

You'd also be welcome to ask the mamas on the Running thread. I'm sure they'd have a million suggestions!

Good luck!

Christine

 

[kate~mom]

christine already gave you great advice, but i didn't want to read and not post. you become a real person one step at a time

re the social anxiety - take it step by step also. perhaps start walking in a safe, but quiet park during times when you might not encounter too many people. the good thing about being a walker/runner is that others you may run into don't have expectations for interaction.

good luck! and definitely stop by the runners' thread.

 

[Sol_Solved]

There's a great program called "couch to 5K" that takes you from not running to 3 miles nonstop in just 9 weeks, exercising three times a week. Here's a link: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

 

[accountclosed3]

coolrunning.com is a great web site. you'll find lots of information there.

and, you don't have to do the program within nine weeks--you can stretch it longer if you want.

i started out (when out of shape and overweight about 7 years ago) with daily walks. it started out with X minutes. THe first time, it was just however many minutes felt good. And i would do that for a few days and then try to add a few more minutes to it.

then, when i felt comfortable walking for 30 minutes, i'd try to increase my distance during thta 30 minutes. I had an area 'marked out' in my neighborhood (clocked the distance with my car) so i knew how far i was going. Once around is a mile. At first, once around may have taken 30 minutes. Now, i can usually get 3 around in thirty minutes.

once comfortable there, i would add running. I would start walking, and then get to a certain point (usually a particular lamp post) and then i would run to a certain point (another particular lamp post further down the road). Then, i would walk again, and then i would run another interval. I would do this for the time (30 minutes or whatever) that i'd allotted for myself.

Then, once that distance was comfortable, i would increase the running interval distances and decrease the walking interval distances.

and finally, i would simply be running.

and now, i do speed work--i run, then sprint for a distance, then run, then sprint, then run, then sprint, then run--all in a certain duration of time. And then, i walk to cool down, stretch out, and i'm good-to-go.

good luck to you!

 

[Taosmama]

Ditto what everyone else is saying! Start with walking and gradually build up until you're comfortable walking 30-45 minutes. Then add short intervals of running. I started running again last Sept by running 1 min and walking 4; I'd do that for 30 mins, then gradually increased the running part. After a few months I discovered the Couch to 5K, which helped me be a bit more disciplined about it. I just ran an hour without stopping yesterday!

Go for it!

 

[fek&fuzz]

As far as the social phobia part, if you don't want to feel like you are shouting to the world: "look at me, I'm exercising!" then just exercise in comfortable, "normal" looking clothes, and good shoes, rather than getting decked out in clothes that look too exercisey. Especially if you'll be walking to the shops and want to go in them without standing out. Some casual pants and a t-shirt, along with your sneakers will be fine.

As you feel more confident, and begin to exercise more vigorously, you will probably want to wear different clothes, but for now, it's not necessary.