I have never been able to run. Or even jog. I'm not sure if i'm not doing it right, but I get that terrible side-pain and I'm out of breath within a minute, and I have to slow down.

I was wondering if anybody else understands this, and what I can do to improve it. I think it would be neat to be able to start jogging or running, but if you can only do it for a minute it's quite embarassing.

Do I just have to try to add a few seconds on each day? Or what?

Hello and congrats on your new jogging journey.

I started with walking fast then jogging for like 30 seconds. I gradually increased it till I was able to jog for minutes. I just broke out and made it to jog for 25 minutes straight!! Now if I could just add that extra 10mins on.

Oh yeah about the pain! I had the same thing my chest burned like and my calves and chins did too! I ended up just working through it. Also I stretch adequately and I get proper rest! All of these are factors.

Good luck!!

glad to hear ur looking towards running, its frikkin great for u, the side pain is a stich, the bain of many peoples early workouts

be sure to run on a soft surface where possible though, its much better on the joints

with my students who struggle to run even short distances i start with interval training, an nice easy way to do it is to use lamposts as markers, walk to one, jog to the next, walk and jog alternately

i love running an jogging over walking as it really does a hell of a lot more for ur heart and lungs which are both obvious important :P

btw do not for a second be embarrased about ur performance, its embarrasing to watch all the fat fucks stuffing their faces, drinking beer and smoking then asking "why cant i lose this weight" that is embarrasing

ur making an effort to improve ur health, and looking at the slider in ur signature ur doing great

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll start interval training tonight and let ya know how it goes

So I just gave it a 15 minute test. I did 4 minute walk at increasing speed, then a minute jog, then 2 minute walk, minute jog, alternating until 15 minutes. A few observations

1) Stitches hurt. Are you supposed to just ignore those?
2) I need tighter pants. Mine fell down. Really hinders the running process to be clutching at pants.

Alright, I gave it another go with pants that stay up.

I did 4 minute walk at 3.0 mph, then a minute jog at 5.4 mph. Then 2 minutes walk, one minute jog alternating, then 4 minute walk at the end.

All said and done, there were 8 minutes of jogging in there. I've never done that before.

I was kind of discouraged though that I averaged out to 3.6 mph, and fewer calories burned by the calculation of the treadmill than I might have done on the elliptical.

The treadmill can't be right though, every time I jogged my heart rate went up to around 170, and during the rest it fell back to 140 or so. My recommended weight loss heart rate is 128.

hehe made me giggle, my uncles is constantly buying new pants, his waist was huuuuge and now hes working out he never has any that fit proerly lol

as for the number the machine is giving you, ignore all that bollocks, the main thing you want to observe is this - is the workout challenging?

over a period of time the second thing you should observe is this - am i making progress? ie running faster or running for longer

make sure u challenge urself everytime u workout, even if its just a little make sure it is hard, if you stick to that you will not only become fitter but you'll keep shedding excess fat easier and easier

happy to see ur doing well though, keep it up and keep us posted its awesome to hear about ur progress

I can definetly understand this. Today I ran a total of 2.55 miles and it said I burned 345 calories. Now last week on a different treadmill I ran only 2miles and it said I burned 300 calories. Today I ran faster and harder soo that can definetly be a bit discouraging!

But Exclamtio is right you can't focus on that! What is important is can you feel the burn when you work out. Are you breaking a good sweat?? My rule of thumb is for every mile I burn about 100 calories then instead of counting the cals I count the miles! Right now I am shooting for 300 miles I mean 3miles 300 cals!

Good luck!!

I've decided I don't care much for the treadmill - it bounces too much and it's too noisy. I also feel self concious on it. So, tonight I'm going to interval walk/jog to a park about a quarter mile away from my place, and do a laps around the park until I hit 30 minutes. It a rather large - all the way around the park is a mile. I think the more solid ground will help.

And then I can ignore those silly treadmill measurements :-)

Thanks for the encouragement!

What you're experiencing is commonly referred to as a "side stitch." Its is common among amateur running and "stretching the ligaments that extend from the diaphragm to the internal organs, particularly the liver." Runners normally exhale after two to four steps. Most do so, after their left foot hits the ground. However, there are few who exhale when their right foot hits the ground. Which puts added pressure on the liver. And so, while running in this manner, the diaphragm lifts up, while the liver pulls down, creating a greater negative pressure, and consequently, a side stitch.

* Time your eating. Having food in your stomach during a workout may increase cramping by creating more force on the ligaments (avoid eating one to two hours before a workout)
* Stretching may prevent or relieve a cramp. Raise your right arm straight up and lean toward the left. Hold for 30 seconds, release, then stretch the other side.
* Slow down your pace until pain lessens.
* Breathe deep to stretch the diaphragm.
* Drink before exercise; dehydration can increase muscle cramps.
* Massage or press on the area with pain. Bend forward to stretch the diaphragm and ease the pain.
* * If you continue to experience pain, see your doctor.

Hope this helps.

sounds great, ifu can run on the grass, much better for the old joints

Thanks for the help everybody :-)

Hi, I am now a runner ( yeah never thought I'd say that ) and SELF.COM helped me do it. It's free , just skip the subscription part , and sign up for the walking to running in 4 weeks goal.

They start you with walk 1 minute regular then walk 1 minute fast then jog 1 minute. Week 2 is walk 1 minute fast 3 minute jog etc etc until week four and your running 25 minutes straight - I thought it would never happen after I nearly died at 50 seconds haha but I truley enjoy it now , just plug in your mp3 and go for it. I prefer outside to treadmills , it just keeps my mind ocupied and always something different to look at.

I am a jogger myself....Every Tuesday and Thursday in my P.E. class we go out to the school track and we are required to run 1 mile, but I always end up going a little over 2 miles, depending on what time we get out. And plus I am working out at Bally Total Fitness and using the Elliptical machine. I prefer running outside to a treadmill as well, thats why I always use the elliptical at the gym instead of the treadmill

I'm starting to do better at this. Lately I've been doing 1 minute jog/2 minute walk for about 20 minutes with a warm up and cool down.

This morning I changed it up to 15 minutes of 1 minute jog/ 1 minute walk. I actually did pretty OK. I'm going to stick with this 1:1 ratio for a little while, and try to get my time back up to 25 minute of actual intervals.