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How to start running as a non-runner...
I played lacross/soccer in high school and college, and endurance running was never my strength (much better sprinter).
We belong to the gym but getting there isn't always convenient for our schedules. I like the flexibility of running, especially just by going out the front door.
I live in a development (quiet) so running in our neighborhood is easy to do (no street lights though so running at night/early morning is non-doable).
I always just quit b/c running outdoors is so hard and I'm about to pass out after only a few minutes. I WANT to do it, I just don't know how to get motivated after a few minutes. I've tried the Couch to 5K and I don't like any of the podcasts I've tried. One of my CW hated running, but now she has loves it- she said it was really difficult for the first few months but she just forced herself to continue it and now loves it.
How can you help a non-runner become a fan of running?
Re: How to start running as a non-runner...
It sounds like you might be running too fast (in addition to PP's advice). Slow down. Focus on the scenery.
As for C25K, make it your own. If you find you are out of breath, take an extra breather, and then try jogging again but at a slower pace. I didn't use any podcasts. I just looked at the schedule, figured out the pattern, and headed out with my cellphone.
Also, when things get tough and I'm feeling fatigued, I think "mind over matter." When you get tired, it is easy to give up. You just have to tell your mind that it's not really that hard and that the burn/fatigue means you are working muscles. It's not that you can't do it.
But, really, if you can't breath, you are running too fast.
Thanks, I know I need to stop making excuses. I just give up every time and I really need to just truck through it.
I enjoy working out- I lift consistently, and I run on the elliptical at the gym for 30 mins 2-3x/week (even though I hate every lasting minute of it). When it comes to running outdoors, it's just... different, and I don't know why.
I was beginning to wonder if I'm just not a "runner"...
Have you ever run on a treadmill or do you just do the elliptical? Running and using the elliptical aren't the same. Maybe this is part of the issue?
I just started running in October and used Couch 2 5k to get started. I tried before using the podcasts but didn't like the music behind it. If you have a smart/iPhone there are apps where you can play your own music and it dings when you need to switch. When I start getting tired I focus on my breathing for a bit and then I'm good to go.
I've run on the treadmill and I didn't enjoy it. I enjoy the elliptical much more...
A lot of people don't like running on a treadmill. It can be so boring. But using an elliptical is a lot different than running.
I find there's nothing quite like getting outside for a run. As for C25K - I didn't use a pod cast. I just looked at how far I was supposed to go, used mapmyrun to figure out where that meant I had to run to, and went.
Maybe you don't like running? It's OK if that's not your thing.
I did C25K and I have an app. It used the music already stored on my phone and then a voice tells me when to walk and when to run. I liked it.
Also, I agree with pps that you might be doing too much too soon.
All the above advice is good stuff.
I wasn't a fan of the C25K, but I found Hal Higdon's 5K training schedule doable. It was gradual and got me super excited about going out the door every morning.
Oh, and up until about 2 years ago I wasn't a runner either. Yes there are a million excuses. I run at 5:30 am all winter long. It's cold and dark when I go, but I run in layers with a flashlight.
The C25K apps are a lot better than the podcasts. You can listen to your own music and it tells you when to run and when to walk. Then you just have to stick with it. Honestly, it took about 8 months for me to like running and get to the point where I felt like I was in a groove. Before I reached that point, every step was a struggle.
That being said, if you try it and running just isn't your thing, that's fine too! Keep trying different sports until you find something you like.
I made up my own sort of version of couch to 5 k. I had been walking for a while and wanted to bump up my calorie burn. One morning in the middle of my walk I said I will run to the end of this street. Every day I just kept increasing the distance. Getting to the first mile was hard but after that it seemed to get easier.
You may want to try an app like RunKeeper pro where you can track your pace. It could be that you are running at too fast of a pace for the distance you're trying to achieve.