I shall certainly look those up....just been out for the first run of 2011, bit stiff but very happy to be back on the pavements....going to start taking a stop watch so I can check my progress...and think it might be better to stick at the same distance for a while till I pick up speed....thanks for your advice..

Hi Susie

Welcome to the endorphin club where dreams can come true....

You are surely well past the hardest part which was your first few runs so now for the next big leap.

My suggestion would be for you and your friend to find the nearest parkrun (google it) to you, register and run a couple. They are every Saturday 9.00am and will be a gentle but fun way to sample a race against the clock. You will learn about how to pace yourself and when you beat your previous time you will get an email to print off and pin up by your computer; on the fridge or wherever...

This will also quickly lift your pace overall so that you can match your friend...

Good luck

Oh thank you, this has really made be feel better about entering, and hopefully as it's not till towards the end of the year my time will come down before then anyway...thanks again, Susie

Hi everyone, I've been using the good run guide since I started running in Sept 10 with my best friend.  Both of us had never run before and I am about 2 stone over weight and have asthma, so it has been a bit of a struggle at times, but I've stuck to it every week we are running a couple of 5ks in the week and every other Saturday we are doing a 10k or 8k run.....I can't  believe how much I love running and how much I bore all my friends talking about it, I'm just glad that my best friend made be believe I could do it and even when is so cold or wet outside, we make each other go out.....We're talking about training for the Great South Run (10 miles) and I really want to do it but I'm really worried that I will be too slow and come in way behind everyone.....I'm currently doing 10k in 1hr 20mins....is this really slow? my friend can do it in 1hr....

Hi Philip, ditto with everything that everybody has said so far. The majority of us have not been running since year dot and I only took it up 20 months ago at the age of 49 mainly to lose 3 stone. last xmas (2009) I reached my goal and built up to 20 miles per week in total, only then I considered a race and entered my first one in March 2010 (a very flat 10k).

Now 19 races on most of the time in the top 20% of finishers, 40 miles plus per week clocking in just over 1800 miles for 2010 I well and truely caught the running bug.

So set realistic achievable goals, these can be small steps then once you have reached them set some new ones, maybe a bit more demanding....you will be surprised how far you can go. 

Philip,

Martin and Marge are great motivators for a beginner with their posts.  I started running in July last year as a very unfit 39yr old.  I could just about manage a 50 meter jog before needing a defibrillator to get me back on my feet.  The first two times felt like I had been in a car crash because I did not do some basic stretches after running.

I came across this site and found all the posts great inspiration and motivation to keep getting out and run.  Slow but surely I was able to run a 10k within 3 months in just under the hour. I am totally hooked on running now as my times are coming down; I have lost 2 1/2 stone in weight and feel healthier than ever.

You may want to check the Park Run website out as a great way of measuring your progress for your 5k, as it’s free and for all levels of runner.  I have found that joining a running club has helped with my goals, as running with like minded people with the same abilities is a great focus.

Good luck and I hope you grow to love running as much as we all do here on the GRG site.

And Lesley-Anne if you’re reading this, how did you get on with your goal of a 5k by Christmas?

HI EVERYONE,NEW TO SITE AND TO RUNNING.UNFIT 53 YRS TAXI DRIVER DETERMINED TO GET FIT FOR A CHALLENGE RACE OVER 3 MILES IN AUG 2011.!.HAVE BEEN WALKING MIXED WITH 100YD JOGS,OVER A DISTANCE OF 3.20 MILES,HOPE TO BE RUNNING (SLOWLY BUT STEADILY) BY END OF FEBRUARY.CURRENT TIME IS 47MINS!!,COULD ANYONE ADVISE HOW MANY MILES A WEEK I SHOULD START OFF WITH?.THIS 1ST WEEK BEEN OUT 5 TIMES TOAL DISTANCE 14 MILES.HOPE TO DO 3 MILES EVERY OTHER DAY,BOUGHT NEW PAIR ASICS KAYANO 16.,HEART MONITOR,.WHAT CONCERNS ME AT MOMENT,BEEN TOTAL COUCH POTATOE,STRUGGLE TO JOG FURTHER THAN 100YDS,WITH DEDICATION AND PERSEVERENCE WILL I BE ABLE TO DO A 3 MILE RACE AV;9MIN MILE WITHIN 8 MONTHS??.ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED.

Hi Lesley-Anne from another newbie!

I found this site after starting running in July. Initially I was aiming to do a 5k fun run for Birmingham Childrens Hospital who did my sons heart surgery. Amazingly my first few weeks went better than I imagined and I built slowly, distance increased steadily, I found my pace increased naturally as I ran more. I decided to run the 10k race instead of the 5k!! Gradually I improved and I used the log book here religiously, I found the growing stats invaluable and once posting here, I was more inspired! Some of the banter is great and the advice and support brilliant. My first two 10k runs were hard and took over  1 1/4 hrs, time wasnt a problem I just wanted to finish the race. On race day I was so excited but also confident, I'd planned well, trained well and been inspired by folks on here like yourself. I did 10k in 55:16 and I was chuffed! Ive well and truly got the bug and have continued training and 'racing'. Best advice is to do it for fun firstly but set yourself mini goals, and plan a race. Log runs and watch those stats grow and improve. Also for further interest log weight etc and see all round health improvements! Mainly enjoy and keep posting we'll all looking forward to hearing how you get on!

God Bless

Adrian

Martin - another cliche that makes me smile when I think of it

"The older I get, the faster I was..."

I think of this when I pass a younger runner such as my son in a recent HM (or anybody else's son or daughter)!

Hi Lesley-Anne

Have you looked at the beginners guide at

http://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/RunningStart.asp

We have a 5K training plan on there for complete beginners - but not sure if you have done a bit of running before or not so may or may not be suitable.

Good Luck with your goal.