Make no mistake about it, running can feel like pure unadulterated torture when you're just getting started. Everything about it feels so incredibly wrong. Your feet hurt, your knees ache, you can't breath. You feel like Fred Sanford about to have "the big one".



For many first time runners, that initial experience is enough to send them right back to the comfy embrace of their couch. "What was I thinking? I'm not a runner!" Fact is, you are a runner. We're all runners ... it's in our DNA. I won't bother with the scientific evidence for the purpose of this thread, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Being runners, we all have the ability. Our primary problem is that we've allowed ourselves to become so deconditioned that running has become as foreign to us as breathing underwater.

Is there still hope? Yes of course there is.

Talk to the growing number of people who venture out for their first 5k, half marathon, or marathon. Many of them would tell you that there was a time in their not-so-distant past when they would never have conceived of running any further than to the refrigerator and back to the sofa. They would regale you with tales of battles on the unforgiving asphalt and how they came close to giving up so many times. So what drove them to finally succeed? They kept at it. They stayed consistent in their effort. Perhaps they wisely discovered a progressive training format that allowed them to slowly but steadily build their cardiovascular endurance and lose enough weight that the running finally began to feel ... oh no ... comfortable.

Running for fun? Are you serious right now? Oh yes I am. It's addicting. I guarantee if you find the right plan (see couch to 5k or any beginners running program) and execute it with persistence you will learn to love running. You'll reach a point where you actually wonder why you didn't start sooner.

So there you have it my friends. Running flat out sucks in the beginning and then it begins to suck less; before you know it, running won't suck at all. You'll embrace it ... you'll love it. Start training now and be consistent, diligent and smart about your training. Maybe by the time Denver rolls around you'll LOVE LOVE LOVE to run, or maybe you'll just find it tolerable. In any case, I want you to find me and tell me your story. I'll be there running because that's what I DO.

I LOVE TO RUN!!!

oooh! I second!

"life begins at the end of your comfort zone"

Just in time to save me!!! Here is my blog:

http://www.transformation.com/JoeA50...r-today/101130

JoeA50

Nice I can relate to this today. This mornings run was hard, and I very much felt like giving up but I didnt.. I will be a runner that enjoys it if it kills me lol
Amy

HOWDY~YA'LL~!!!

IS THIS THE RUNNERS

FOR DUMMIES???? lol

MELANIE, THIS IS GOING

TO ROCK~!! I AM GOING

TO HAVE RUNNERS RUSH~!

THEN GO FOR A SLUSH~!! lol

CONGRATS, LOVE~!!! ~Leti~

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
http://www.transformation.com/INSPIR...OUS-HUG/101253 MY BLOG

Love your words fitpro I like the challenge of learning to run because it gives me focus and a sense of achievement.
I am 29 days away from completing my first ever half..... Scared a little but on the other hand my partner and decided today that we didn't want to miss out on all the Denver fun so we are having our own Brisbane australia ' denver' half on the same day as all of you.........
Running is cool- I just want to do it better

I certainly never thought I would CRAVE running...but thats the closest I can come to describing this undeniable "WANT" to run...so Im trying. A little bit at a time. I guess running is my "elephant"--because how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

Thank you so much for your post FitPro. I am loving to run already! It is hard but I love the idea of achieving goals. This was my first week training. The max I ran was 3 m and I was tired. But it is awesome that everyweek the distance will be increasing and at the end I will be running 10 m.

Thank you for making us feel that we can count on you for this!

Maria (MK)

Michael (FitPro),

For the benefit of all explain to us how to run, the proper way. For beginners, intermediates, etc.. The shin splints has been an issue for me.

Thanks,

Joe

Hi all -

I am so looking forward to the day when I can say with conviction I love running ! currently my emotions and thoughts are between dread and " what alien took over my body and and decided this would be a good idea " .. I am holding the hope that every time I venture out in my skins that it will become easier and easier ...

have a great weekend

Kim

YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN NOT HIDE~~!!!!!! WAIT UP FOR MUA~

Thanks Mike for your wonderful support and encouragement! Looks like everyone's gotten a great start by setting some goals and just getting out there and making it happen. Like Mike says consistancy is key and our bodies will re-learn what we forgot. Great job this week everyone and I appreciate everyone's participation and patience in getting us going ~Melanie

Ok - I was inspired by fitpros comments earlier so I googled " were humans meant to run" and thought I would share the following finding with you

Then there is the gluteus maximus -- the unusually large muscle humans carry at their rear. Why such bulk in back? Lieberman says it's for running and, again, this feature is less pronounced in our evolutionary ancestors.

"When we walk, we barely use the gluteus maximus," he said. "As soon as you start running, it plays a vital role to keep you from falling -- it stabilizes your trunk."

Other features the authors list that help us run include the arches in our feet, which offer spring in our step, and broad surface areas of our joints, which help distribute the shock of impact from running -- at least enough for ancient man, who didn't run on pavement and who never lived much longer than 40 years.

The upper body, meanwhile, carries its own made-for-running designs, including wide shoulders -- good for swinging arms from for balance as we stride -- and lighter forearms that are easy to move back and forth. Even our heads are equipped for running, they say, as a large ligament stretching from our spines to the back of our heads acts to dampen the oscillation of our heads as we plod along.

Finally, our ability to sweat is unmatched with our estimated 3 million sweat glands. Couple that with the fact that we aren't very furry and you have a cool, running machine.


Source- http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=256348&page=1

So thanks for the food for thought fitpro and I now know that the jogging part of my WOG engages my gluteus maximus whilst the walking part doesn't - big incentive to run more rather than less

OK! I'm gonna start the "couch to 5K". I have never been a runner in my life! I'm starting tomorrow July 5th. I've got my stopwatch and I'm ready to go.

Wish me Luck!

ROSES ARE RED,

VIOLETS ARE BLUE,

& I LOVE YOU~!!!!!

~Leti~XOXOXOXO

http://www.transformation.com/INSPIRATION/blog/Uncategorized/HAPPY-4TH-OF-JULY-HAPPY-INDEPENDENCE-DAY-HAPPY-FIRE-CRACKER-DAY-SO-THERE/101604 MY BLOG

DO YOU LOVE TO RUN YET????




WELL DO YOU????


RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU LOVE TO RUN!!!




STAND UP AN BE COUNTED!!!

I feel kind of late in joining and getting started but better late than never right!
I'm 40...think I may be having my midlife crisis but instead of plastic surgery or a sports car, I want to run a marathon. Go figure!!! My friends think I'm nuts, that I can't possibly do it and have joked about "this too will pass" let me get you a glass of wine...but I'm on my third week of transformation. I started out walking on my cardio days for 2 miles...then one day I thought I'm going to try to run to the end of the block and see what happens (hope no one is looking! LOL) and thought OMG I couldn't breath, my body felt super heavy and my calves were super tight. I'm so much better and I keep trying to add just a little even if it's just to an extra street light. My breathing is easier too. what I find weird is that I want to keep going but my body is telling me No Way but my mind says One More Drive Way.

I'm starting to talk to myself when I'm running and hope I'm not going nuts! I can walk a half mile in about 6 minutes, I then run for a minute forty five seconds...then walk for 6 minutes and so on...until I get my two miles in. I started out doing it every other day and kind of would like to bump it up to everyday along with my upper and lower body workouts.

I get really tight in the calves after to the point it feels like I might get a cramp at any moment. I also notice my right hurts more than my left... someone told me I'm not drinking enough water and need to be taking vitamins. I'm trying to drink more water but hate taking vitamins even though I know they are good for you.

Anyway, would love to join your group and get any help along the way! I'm planning on going to the Denver Marathon and have a t.com accountability buddy that I met from Alaska who has hip problems and won't be able to run but will be going to Denver and we plan on meeting and walking the 1/2 Marathon.

In November there is a local "Turkey Trot" 5K on Thanksgiving morning that I have signed up for and plan on running...kinda doing it backwards I know but it's just how it has panned out so far.

Thanks for any suggestions or help...Anyone else going to Denver???

Patricia

Hi Patricia,
I was like you and wanted to run a half marathon as something to achieve on my 'to do ' list. I am not a natural athlete and still have a long way to go to achieve my goals but LAST SUNDAY I RAN MY FIRST HALF!! If you want to read about my experience it is on my blog
http://www.transformation.com/Ozzied...ST-HALF/106091
Plus I put up a couple of photos that show all the newbies you don't have to look like a super athlete to compete in a half- just a normal middle aged mom like me working towards her goals.
Let me know if I can help in anyway but the Geoff Galloway podcast on motioontraxx which is free iwas a great tool for me.
Deb