want to start running

Hi there- i am 1 year out and have lost 150 pounds. I excercise 5x a week and have becaome addicted! I'd like to try to start running, but don't know where to begin. I have just realized that I can run more than the 1 block I thought I could! Any advice and suggestions on how to start? Thanks Joy

Hiya, I found this site really useful: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/index.shtml It has a section for 'new runners'. Good luck! Sharyn

Here is a link to the couch to 5K program on coolrunning. http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml Jeff Galloway is who I follow.  He incorperates walk breaks in his runs. jeffgalloway.com

JKap, You've already started. Just stay after it.  Try to go a little farther in intervals.  Jg as far as you can and walk some, then jog a little more but don't overdo and allow you body some recovery time. If you feel the muscles screaming, you're done.  Don't pull a muscle or get shin splints (signs you are overdoing it). Go at your own pace.  Work on controlling your breathing.  JimFIxx recommended breathing in through your mouth and out through your nose.  That has helped me not get that cinch in my side.  Also , interval training (High Intensity interval training (HIIT) helped me to increase my distance I was alble to jog withuot walking.  It included going to a track where I knew how many laps were a mile and the straight section lengths.  I started with walking a lap then running a 40 yd sprint on each lap for 5 laps.  That progressed to 100 yd sprints per lap.  That progressed from 5 laps to 16 laps.  Then I went to 16 laps sprinting 100 yards and jogging the fron 100 yds.  I try to do that 2 to 3 times a week alternating with jogging distance (3 to 6 miles) on the alternate days.  And I occassionally mis a day or two per wekk but I write that off as recovery. Hope that helps.  I had open RNY 9/26/06 and am down from 408 to 230 and loving being able to run again and wear normal clothes off the rack at regular department stores. You've done well too. Good picture on your avatar.  Good luck with the running.  This a tuff time of year to get going but it will get you ahead of many by the spring.