Dream of being a runner.

Very good. All the best to you, I look forward to hearing about your successes>

Running can be addictive, a time relax, or an excuse to get outside.

The keys to starting are:

1) Commit to it.  The easiest way to commit is to find a fun local 5K about 11 weeks out and register now.  The good thing about small local 5Ks is that lots of people run, walk or walk/run them and a variety of paces so their is nothing to worry about.

2) Shoes; go to a running specialty store and get fitted for running shoes.  This typically at a good store will include a stride analysis on a treadmill.

3) Get an app like C25K 

4) Go do it.

You may start to like it.  My wife for the past few years has never understood me and my running and now other activities.  Late last year she committed to doing a 10K  and well she has yet to do it but she is training to run a half marathon now and has passed the 10K point.  Currently she has an IT band issue and can't run and it is driving her crazy, so now she gets it.

The main thing is to have fun and don't put pressure on yourself.

Thanks for your advice and taking the time out to try to help me!

I just want to say...what a GREAT bunch of people that are here in this exercise forum. Maybe people who exercise are just happier people! Thats another reason to be one of you. I DO have an update to mention though. I actually did download the couch25k app!!! and I used it once so far! I was surprised when I was walking on the treadmill and then off of the sudden she says...NOW JOG!. I was like....You want me to do WHAT?????   but, I did it, over and over as the voice instructed me to do. Nearing the end, I told myself I couldnt jog again, i was pretty done but maybe next time I'd be able to finish...then the voice said "cool down" and it was just walking from there.  that means I actually DID DO THE WHOLE THING!  I cant believe I actually did it! So, my legs have been sore for the past few days...but tomorrow morning I am going for #2.  I am ready to do it again.    I also took the advice about looking for a 5k.  What do you guys think about doing a color run for my first 5k? It sounds kinda fun to me and its coming up this summer. I think if I dont give up, maybe I could be ready by then.

Color Runs are a lot of fun! I think that is a great one to start with. There are people at all ability levels, and there is not a time clock! So, no pressure! Just a fun way to run a 5k. :)

I did a color run as my first 5k. Good luck on your journey! A year ago, I said that I would never run or bike, and now I am signed up for several runs and triathlons! If I can do it, you can too!

Thank you Dejah! I am really looking forward to doing it.It looks like a lot of fun.  I did my second couch 2 5k session yesterday. Went well...I was actually able to do 10 minutes on the eliptical after I finished it!  Wow, that is inspriational. I hope to be saying the same things soon enough! 

Great job! Keep up the good work! 

Never done a Color Run as I value my running gear to much to get it all funky colors, but I know people who love them.

Fun Runs are becoming big events.  Color Run, Fire Fly, Warrior Dash things like that.  Do whatever you think will make it fun for you.

Don't give up if you have to repeat weeks or slow down then do so and don't think anything bad about if you do.  

I do believe that people who are physically active are happier.  My wife used to hate the fact that I ran, bikes and swam so much and then would hammer my body for over 7 hours doing a Half Ironman, until she started running and we began to run together.  She doesn't understand it still but she is a much happier and encouraging person now.

While we run I will point stuff out like "Remember when it took you 5 walk intervals to get this far and this was your halfway now you run it non stop". I am also fairly good at calculating what our distance will be so I will surprise her and say we are doing x Miles and all she tracks is time.

Keep up and don't give up.

Way to go!  What a great start :D

thanks everyone. I am on week 2 of couch25k. Just when I think I can't do another jogging interval...she says "time to cool down". Somehow I just do it!  I feel like it will take me YEARS and YEARS to get to a place where I do a 5k but, for now I am just going to trust the app, trust the people in this forum, and see what happens!  I saw the insane inflateables 5k. It looks SUPER fun(and and hard), maybe one day I can do that too! For now, one thing at a time.