new to running

 Hi all, I'm 18 months out and still have some weight to lose. I discovered running a few months ago and LOVE it!! I want to start with 5k's but right now I can only run about 11/3 miles countinously. My problem is the cardio part of it. I get so out of breath and my heart pounds, is this normal?  Do I just need to add more cardio(like the elliptical) to my workout?  Would love any advice.  I've been able to correct the other problems I was having such as shin pain, heel pain, etc. I was also beginning to wonder if I'm just still too heavy to be a runner. Best of luck to all of you.

Congrats and welcome to the world of running.  This site is really starting to jazz me up with all the running talk and hopefully it will you, also.  I ran today and felt like crap.  This was probably because I just took a week off for fatigue.  As you do it more, you will get better at it.  At this point in my running, I will run a 5K without walking but anything longer and I will use walk breaks.  I still weigh 250 and think this approach is probably better for my body and I think it gives me better times than running straight through. Jeff Galloway has really made popular the run/walk.  For a beginner, you might only run 1 minute and walk 4.  If you are running over a mile I might suggest a 3 minute run to a 1 minute walk.  Just keep alternating the walk/run through out the run.  As you get better at it, you migh change the ration to more running if you choose.  You may enjoy it and keep it as is.   As far as being too heavy to run, I doubt that you are.  I have seen people of all shapes and sizes run.  There is nothing better for me than to beat some skinny geek across the finish line.  There are races with weight divisons but they are far and few between.   http://www.jeffgalloway.com/ Good luck  

Isn't running great?  It does take time to build up the cardio - I wouldn't worry about it.  Scott's suggestion about walking/running is a great way to start.  Just concentrate on doing the distance and work up to increasing the running time.  Here is a link to a great program to start for working up to the 5k distance:  http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml As far as the elliptical is concerned, cross training is great.   Exercises like the elliptical or bike are great for building aerobic capacity and there aren't as hard on the body as running. As far as your weight is concerned, I don't think you are too heavy.  I started running around 210 pounds (and I'm 5'6") Mary