LadyTaty, I meant to answer this sooner--I hope you're still on track to start C25K today! I was worried about my joints when I started (I was well over 250 and had never successfully run in my life). I started with walking, and walked for a couple of months before I started the program. I also read somewhere that if I was able to run slower, it meant I was running too fast! That surprised the heck out of me, but I took it to heart, and made my "runs" as slow as I could. I built muscle and endurance, and yesterday, I ran 3.5 miles--and I could have gone farther! It is astonishing to me that at the end of May I was trying to figure out how to handle those 60- and 90-second intervals, and now I can just lace up and go. But I am convinced that the reason I'm here--and here without so much as a shin splint--is that I put staying uninjured at the top of my list. I knew (and still know) that if I got injured badly enough that I got off-track for more than a day or two, I risked never getting back on track again. Patience is not my strong suit, but I've been trying to build that slowly, along with my muscles.

I didn't have to repeat any days or weeks, but I know plenty of people who have, and who don't regret it at all. Listen to your body, and push yourself a bit (but not too much!) in the early days, and it will start paying off for you before you know it.

If I can do it, anyone can do it. Good luck to you, and to everyone else who's just getting started.

based on my limited experience - when my shoes wear out, I would get pain.  I switched over to the nike free run's and have problems figuring out when they wear out.  I no longer get the ankle/knee pain I would get when regular running shoes wear out.  If you replace shoes and pain goes away you know it was most likely the shoes....If it doesn't go away then its another issue.

I've been fighting with bum knee since march.  its cut down my running this year...I'm just working back to actually running vice walking fast....tonight for example I did 8.4Km in 1:08 but the last 4Km were faster than first 4Km.  I also worked in running between 200m and 500m per Km for the most I've run in a while.  I'll see how it feels tomorrow but so far indications are good....

Rock on Zerorez!

I started out at 280 pounds and ran for about a year and a half and did a big race. Check out my article Run Again, from Standing Still to Marathon Runner in Sixteen Months.  Many are inspired about what I have wrote.

Also, check out the movie "Spirit of the Marathon."  Even, if you will never run a marathon, the movie, which can be found on NetFlix, is worth a watch.  You'll see, it normal guys like you and me and pound the pavement. 

Shame to see this thread slow down. Happy to know it will never die. It is an inspirational thread.

Hope all is going well with everyone.

Hope everyone is doing well - I completed 10K today - 1:12:55  first time under 1:13.

as important I finished the week under 225lbs for first time in quite a while.  I've been flirting with breaking 225 but as of last night I was between 220 and 225.  Big test will be keeping the progress.  my overall goal is to be sub 200. 

As the fall progresses, I hope to update the site more frequently.

Skoal everyone!

Jenni,

We all start somewhere.  I had been walking 2-3 at a time before starting C25K at the beginning of the month.  I never would have been able to do this without a lot of walking before I started.  It strengthened muscles and opened up some joints.

Spartan