transitioning from walking to running... HELP!!!

I am 7 weeks and 3 days post op. I would like to begin the build up from walking to running. I know most of you are posting about miles ran, haha yeah, that isn't me yet. But I figure you guys had to get there somehow? Any tips? I do walk on the treadmill often and do strength training several times a week as well as softball. I definitely do not lead a sedentary lifestyle.

I cannot recommend the Couch to 5K program enough. It's a great structured way to start running. This website has links to many resources for it including a link to the original program:

www.c25k.com

I walk everyday and implement a little running each day.  I'm slowly increases and can actually run faster then my spouse who runs mile everyday.  Similar to what was already said, after walking several minutes (warm up) I begin doing what the military calls, thirty- sixties (30:60).  You simply run for 30 seconds then walk for 60 seconds. Start out doing just one interval, then increase the intervals on you own pace.  After you get that down, start doing 60:120's.  This not only increases endurance, and ability to run, you burn fat faster.  If you have a smart phone, you can use the app 'Pocket WOD'.  Under the timers, if you click on 'Tabata', you can set the WORK duration, REST duration, and how may intervals.  Let me know if you have any questions.  

 

If you can look past the terrible gorillas, her is a pdf of the same concept in a schedule formate: 

http://www.greatgorillarun.org/uploads/1/2/1/2/12123512/ggr_training_plan.pdf

Thank you so much! Will definitely give that a shot.

I agree that c25k is awesome.  However I had to work to the point where I could even start it, because my fitness level was so low.  I started just by adding 30 seconds of running to eat 5 minute block of walking.  Then I increased that to 45 seconds.  Then to 60.  Once I could do 60 seconds of running in every 5 minutes, I started decreasing the walk time by 30 seconds a week.  

This has worked really well for me and has kept the shin splints and other injuries away.  

I also highly recommend visiting a speciality running store and getting fitted for proper shoes if you haven't already - it's an amazing experience.  

I echo what the others said - - myself, I started as a very unstructured interval method, just built on what I could do until I got to a point (after SEVERAL months) of being able to jog 5k where then I signed up for a structured half-marathon training program. Real running shoes help too!