eco-mick wrote:Bonnie - can I ask what advice would you give to someone lookng to start running.
I want to hide myself as I feel embassred running at the momemt - perfect in the dark. I got 2 choices - either have a little jog on my enforced work breaks (inc the walking... humm perfect way to build up I think but don't want to tired myself out too quick as I need to drive 3-4 hours back to base) but some areas I go to are undesirable or a layby on a dual carridgeway. The other option is to do this when I get home in the early hours when its still dark as well
Mick
Well done on the loss this week Mick.
Believe me, if I can run, anyone can run. I have been on-off running for about 5 years now but when I started I was a 14 stone lump (that is quite fat for my height, believe me!). I just started off doing one mile twice a week, then added to the distance the next week, and so on.
For me, the thing that got me hooked was my ipod - it had a setting where it measured how long you go for and told you by interrupting the music, every time you got past a mile. It also put it all in a nice graph for you when you got home so you could see yourself improving. Call me fickle but this was really satisfying and seemed to work much better than just knowing I had run around the block. I recon that if everyone was
forced to do ten runs they would all take it up - it is just that the first ten aren't very pleasant when you first start, so stick with it. Couldn't do it without music either.
After a while, although I didn't enjoy running when I was actually doing it (who does? I still hate every step!) I came to love the feeling afterwards - all those endorphins pumping around your body - I remember standing in the shower and feeling like I was buzzing. I also like the fact that my muscles feel like they have been working, and the satisfaction of knowing I have done my run for that day. Then someone I fancied decided to do a half marathon and in an attempt to impress them I put my name down too
. So had the added incentive to go out and train for that. And have found it all totally addictive.
Eventually, when you are running, you will find you get into a certain rhythm and can switch off. I run around country lanes (sometimes drive out to a nice spot) so it is really rather relaxing. Not sure I am in a position to give advice but I guess I would say make sure you try at least ten runs before you give up and don't worry about what other people think about seeing you running. Seriously, people are totally wrapped up in their own lives and really don't care that you are jogging - and you don't even know them, so stuff it. I see all sorts out on my runs and if I even notice someone large running past me, my thoughts would be 'good on you' rather than anything nasty. Put on your joggers and be proud!
Lastly - sorry, what a self indulgent post - when I started running I felt that I was the odd one out at the party - there are magazines, websites, clubs and a total culture of running and it felt like everyone was better than me and I wasn't allowed to join in. But it isn't like that, really - if you can put one foot in front of the other quickly, you can run. If you can run, you are a runner and have every right to buy the fancy kit (if that is your thing) or enter a race.
And don't worry about tiring yourself out - OK your legs might be a bit tired, but if anything running makes you feel alert and awake (the endorphins again) and alive - and when you come to sleep, you sleep much better in my experience.
Oh god going to say something very cheesy now and not entirely appropriate for a website like this - but seriously, the best advice is 'Just Do it!')
), but I really want to get fitter and feel healthier again! So I'll definitely be doing the walking - I'll walk into town tomorrow, and while I'm there I'll get some nice veg off the market and start cooking decent meals again rather than living on sugar O_O. I gave up processed sugar for about a month once (I still ate dried fruit etc) and I felt so much better, but I always drift back to CAKE.
yay! tapped all this into a excel sheet and it says I've lost 15% of the weight I want to lose and target date has notced 3 weeks earier to my goal date - even better 
