convince me running is a good idea

[Hawmaws]

help..
I need to get fitter. 49, a bit overweight. I thought that running may be the fastest way to get back into some form of reasonable form.

I've been out "jogging" the last couple of days but after 200yds my shins are on fire. Is this normal? do I just keep going and it will get better?

Or should I get my bike out of the shed?

[Mobile Chicane]

I don't think it is.

You need the right shoes for a start (a whole world of expense), plus running is hard on the joints for an old / fat person (I know ).

Personally, swimming works for me for fitness, plus gentle yoga / lots of stretching for flexibility.

[egomeister]

What shoes are you running in, and are you running on tarmac?

I was in a similar position when I started running - a decent pair of Asics running shoes made a world of difference compared to the pseudo-running Reeboks I was using before.

[Hawmaws]

got a pair of ascics (I think) shoes. They lay virginal in their box for 3 months before I plucked up the courage. Mostly tarmac.

Should I be heeling, or toeing, or some combination of both?

[egomeister]

Hawmaws said:

got a pair of ascics (I think) shoes. They lay virginal in their box for 3 months before I plucked up the courage. Mostly tarmac.

Should I be heeling, or toeing, or some combination of both?

Can't offer any more advice if you have decent shoes!

All this talk of heeling or toeing is beyond me - I just throw one foot in front of the other and hope the rest of my body is able to follow suit!

[robsti]

Get the bike out of the shed!far better for you than running!

[hidetheelephants]

Did you get your asics from a decent running shoe shop, i.e. did the assistant get you to walk up and down shoes on and off, gait assessment etc? If not, they may not be the right ones for you which can cause loadsa problems. If terms like over-pronate and under-pronate were not mentioned, proper help at a shop like Achilles Heel is what's required.

[Miguelski]

Try swimming...

Much better for the joints and you can have a pretty lady waiting for you with a warm smile, fluffy towel and a G&T at the shallow end!

Miguelski

[Hawmaws]

hidetheelephants said:

Did you get your asics from a decent running shoe shop, i.e. did the assistant get you to walk up and down shoes on and off, gait assessment etc? If not, they may not be the right ones for you which can cause loadsa problems. If terms like over-pronate and under-pronate were not mentioned, proper help at a shop like Achilles Heel is what's required.

er no, I bought them in a sale. Second cheapest pair.

But surely I should be able to get beyond the end of the road, even in diving boots?

[hidetheelephants]

Hawmaws said:

hidetheelephants said:

Did you get your asics from a decent running shoe shop, i.e. did the assistant get you to walk up and down shoes on and off, gait assessment etc? If not, they may not be the right ones for you which can cause loadsa problems. If terms like over-pronate and under-pronate were not mentioned, proper help at a shop like Achilles Heel is what's required.

er no, I bought them in a sale. Second cheapest pair.

But surely I should be able to get beyond the end of the road, even in diving boots?

Yes, but what is your start point; are/were you a complete sofa spud, or a walk the dog/play with the kids/do a physical job type, or a regular exerciser? Sounds a bit like shin splints, but I'm no expert; it may be time for the quack or your favourite physio. Google may help with some self-diagnosis, and I agree with trying cycling instead at least while you work out what the problem is. If you are serious about running, you will need proper runners; budget £80-120 for a pair depending on what level of support/control your feet need, and get assessed for them by a knowledgeable assistant in a runner shop, not a spotty teenager in JJB sports(other chavvy sportwear shops are available). This is a fair wedge(I baulked at it at first, but the difference in comfort from being put in runners with the right support was worth the premium), but having done it once you can buy cheaper online(or if you have the brass neck, you can make a mental note of the type number of the comfiest runners from the fitting, and 'go home to think about it' and bypass the shop and go straight to cheapness).

[Iain328]

Long term, running is a crap idea as far as your knees, ankles & hips are concerned. Shin splints are also not pleasant.

Much better to do some non-impact exercise - swimming, cycling & gym based exercise etc.

[Silver993tt]

Running is one of the best excercises you can do. I started running 3 years ago. Now do 3-4 6-8km runs per week - all on hard surfaces. I didn't spend a fortune on running gear and have had no problems. You need to persist and gradually increas your distances, that's all. Sure you'll feel some pain in the early days/weeks but that's quite normal if you're just starting. Never had a problem with any joints but never overdid anything either. Your body is tougher than you think.

[RRS_Staffs]

Running sucks big time !
IMHO obviously

I am of a similar age-ish and had an oh my god moment a few years ago looking at a pic of myself

Having been fit when younger I was shocked how far I had slumped

My weapon was choice was a bike
Running has never agreed with me and as and when I had run previously I regularly got knee pain and swelling - this with decent running shoes too

The first time back on a bike was embarrassing
Probably the equivalent of running out of steam running to the end of the road if that

It took me a month of riding 2-3 times a week to get some basic fitness and stamina
In 3 months I was feeling great and could clearly see a difference in my shape
I did not change my diet or drinking habit

Having a pal to exercise with helped enormously
Preferably one slightly fitter than you so you have something to chase and motivate you to do more 'sneaky practice' LOL

Good luck

PS Beware cycling paraphenalia could become the new car obsession

[gti tim]

I have just started running again after being incredibly lazy. I maintain a reasonable level of fitness and could run short distances but found myself hacking my lungs up afterwards (filthy smoker).

Now found a route that is approximately a mile of mixed road and grass. Taking it steady to start with but now under 10 mins with little effort. By the end of the week i should be undr 9 mins, and will then start increasing the distance. I am aiming to run 10ks in under 50 mins in time (admittedly will be a long time).
Footwear = pair of Nikes from JJB - do the job and comfy.

[Hawmaws]

RRS_Staffs said:

Running sucks big time !
IMHO obviously

I am of a similar age-ish and had an oh my god moment a few years ago looking at a pic of myself

Having been fit when younger I was shocked how far I had slumped

My weapon was choice was a bike
Running has never agreed with me and as and when I had run previously I regularly got knee pain and swelling - this with decent running shoes too

The first time back on a bike was embarrassing
Probably the equivalent of running out of steam running to the end of the road if that

It took me a month of riding 2-3 times a week to get some basic fitness and stamina
In 3 months I was feeling great and could clearly see a difference in my shape
I did not change my diet or drinking habit

Having a pal to exercise with helped enormously
Preferably one slightly fitter than you so you have something to chase and motivate you to do more 'sneaky practice' LOL

Good luck

PS Beware cycling paraphenalia could become the new car obsession

Thanks, I think mountain biking is the way to go. Lots of cycle tracks round here I can use. Right off to the shed....

[FamilyGuy]

If you're really big then probably something non-impact like swimming or cycling is better. Otherwise running is one of the most effective ways of getting and staying fit, requires little gear and the track is just outside your front door...

One of the problems most people have starting running is that they overdo it and get injured and decide it's not for them and their body can't do it. Starting running requires some restraint and gradual build-up. See the Counch-to-5K plan (link on fraont page) at Cool Running There is also advice there about how to work out what shoes to get. If you can start on grass as opposed to tarmac, that will also help.

[Hawmaws]

FamilyGuy said:

If you're really big then probably something non-impact like swimming or cycling is better. Otherwise running is one of the most effective ways of getting and staying fit, requires little gear and the track is just outside your front door...

One of the problems most people have starting running is that they overdo it and get injured and decide it's not for them and their body can't do it. Starting running requires some restraint and gradual build-up. See the Counch-to-5K plan (link on fraont page) at Cool Running There is also advice there about how to work out what shoes to get. If you can start on grass as opposed to tarmac, that will also help.

Good site. Thanks. To be honest, I was probably doing their recommended walk/jog starter's programme without knowing what I was doing.

I will persevere for a bit to see if it improves. I did notice that grass was a lot easier than tarmac. Think I should start on the grassy bit, rather than do it at the end!

[E21_Ross]

Iain328 said:

Long term, running is a crap idea as far as your knees, ankles & hips are concerned. Shin splints are also not pleasant.

Much better to do some non-impact exercise - swimming, cycling & gym based exercise etc.

what crap. if you are sensible about it (get decent shoes, stay off the tarmac etc) then running is one of the best sports out there for fitness. there are people in my athletics club who have been running for over 30 years and they are fine.

another poster said cycling is better for you than running. for starters with cycling you need to put in a lot more time to get the same cardiovascular benefit running brings. a 1 hour run will be as beneficial as a 3hour bike ride. i'm in no way anti-cycling (heck, i go on mountain biking holidays to north wales and scotland, and go mountain biking around brecon beacons!!) but to say cycling is better without mentioning why or just because of your knees is a little silly.

technically, running barefoot is better than with running shoes. we did some research a while back on forces upon joints between barefoot running and decent running shoes on a firm surface, and barefoot was better. i know this is not really possible unless the tarmac has no chips etc

OP - if you haven't run for years then it's reasonable to expect pain. anyone who mentions shin splints is talking crap. why would a supposedly sedentary person have shin splints, particularly after just running about 200yards in the last god knows how many years, it's absurd. keep running and within a few weeks your pains should ease and go away.

at the end of the day however, if you don't enjoy it, don't do it. i'm a keen runner and for the last 5-6 years i've been doing between 20 and 50 miles a week (depending on the time of the year) and compete for a club and have competed in county and national championships.

but if you don't enjoy it, don't do it. find other ways to get fit. weights etc will not do for "fitness", a weights session burns very little calories and you want to get doing some endurance cardio stuff (but build up to it!) if you consistently get shin pain then yes, try cycling or swimming. i don't see the grounds for people saying "you might have shin splints" or "cycling is better"....better how? for joints? maybe so but as i said, be sensible about it and there is no reason to suffer badly from joint pains. on the contrary, weight bearing sports like running slow down the process of osteoporosis. a runner's bone density will be greater than a swimmers for example (if, for example, you had been running for 15 years and are 50-60years old vs a similar age swimmer)

thanks

Edited by E21_Ross on Sunday 11th April 12:51

[MacGee]

didnt the guy who invented running/jogging die whilst jogging....
too nasty on joints...cycling or rowing rules.

[E21_Ross]

MacGee said:

didnt the guy who invented running/jogging die whilst jogging....

invent running? no, but i do know a guy who died whilst cycling, was about 8-9 years ago now though. john ball was his name. hadn't done much exercise before, was only mid 40's, only slightly overweight, died of an MI whilst on the bike.