Advice From Runners...?

In between days, lots of squats and lunges - the muscle will help support your knees and hips (both of which hurt when I started).  And do a little stretching beforehand, but save most of your stretching for in the middle or after your workout when your muscles are nice and warmed up.

Like someone else said, a good sports bra is essential!  I also wear a terrycloth headband 'cuz I sweat like a pig and I hate it dripping in my eyes!

Have fun!

THANK YOU! My hips started hurting before I even finished this morning. I will be starting my weight training tomorrow, so I'll definitely add some lunges and squats.

Hi there. I personally did a lot of other exercise, like spinning classes, hot yoga and weight classes. I decided to go for a run after I reached goal, and was winded within minutes! I thought I was pretty darn fit until that moment. I gave up, an then revisited it a few months later and i haven't stopped since. 

Before plastics (panniculectomy) the chafing and rashes were bad, and my lower back killed me some days. All I had left there was skin hanging. I got compression tights and that worked wonders. I have many pair now. You can also get compression shirts and shorts as well. Underwear and bras too. It's also good for circulation. 

As mentioned above, shoes are a big factor. I was wrongly fitted for a pair during my marathon training and I ended up with an injury because of it. 

Couch to 5 k is what a lot of people do and it's a great program. Good luck!

I'm wondering about some compression garments... My belly is still pretty jiggly and it was definitely uncomfortable this morning. Where do you get yours?

Absolutely a must early out. I still wear compression shorts when I workout. Holds the flappy skin in place.

I love Under Armour products.  

Two words: patient and consistent. Be patient with yourself and be consistent in your training. I will tell you without a question the first 3 weeks of C25K are WAY worse than the last 2. The program works, stick with it and don't be afraid to do a week over if you have to. I think I had to do weeks 3 and 5 twice. Now I am constantly working on a new personal best for a mile run and 5k, my last 5k was around 25 mins (good!).

Don't be afraid to push yourself from time to time, your brain gives up long before your legs will. I found that recently when I decided to give the highest treadmill setting a try and was able to do it for 30 seconds (now shooting for a min) and that's 12 mph.

The place you bought your shoes (if its a running store) should have some free workshops and an assessment of how you run, take advantage of those because you need to learn how to run on the balls of your feet and not down solidly on your foot. Its hard to learn and uncomfortable and a lot easier if you have someone to coach you.

Don't wear your shoes all the time. Put them on when you are ready to go run and take them off when you are done. Don't just walk around in them. They need time to decompress and to dry out and they will last a long time.

Most importantly HAVE FUN! there are some good apps to use on your smart phone that let you track your run and map it out MapMyRun and Runtastic, RunKeeper are all great. Put together a good play list and it doesn't necessarily need to be your favorite music either it should be something that motivates you to run and to stay focused when your body gives up. I like country music but when I run, I listen to angry rock and metal.

Oh one other thing just came to mind. Learn how to pace your breathing, you will be able to run much farther if you can develop a good breathing pattern. 

Thank you! I plan to get as many miles out of these shoes as possible, so I'm ONLY going to wear them for running, regardless of how comfortable they are.

How should I be pacing my breathing? I'd always heard inhale for a few strides, then exhale for a few strides, but this morning my lungs were BURNING when I finished - it's still cold here, so the cool air wasn't kind to me.

Cold dry air is the worse and that is really what was causing the burning. You will find what works for you but I try to breath in and out on opposite steps and I try to keep it as consistent as possible.

What I've learned from my husband who went from couch potato to marathoner in a year, do not skimp on your stretching, especially after your run.  Ever.  Do ALL the stretching!