Too fat to run?

[womanpraised]

Okay..

SO I decided to walk/jog our mile tonight, and set out with the kiddos. We walked a bit, jogged incredibly slowly... walked etc..

About .75 mile in, I started to get this burning pain up the SIDES of my calves, and shooting tingling pain into my feet from the same location. Not my achilles, not the shins, the sides. If my car hadnt been .25 mi away, I would have collapsed.

My shoes are new, and wonderful when I am walking. The other shoes I have, hurt walking or running, so I think that these are okay. I stretched a bit after the first part of walking.

I weigh in now at 264-ish. I can walk a mile in 20 minutes. Jogging and walking, it took us 35.

Should I just stick to walking until I am lighter?

[IceBurns]

Re: Too fat to run?

I weighed 269 when I started and pretty much stuck to walking, If it gets too tough on your feet and legs try rideing a bike.

[Brook]

Re: Too fat to run?

I'd bet it's just a new set of muscles screaming. Pay attention to the way your feet are hitting the ground too. Are you jarring the pad of your foot or slamming down flat footed? I had to make a conscious effort the first few weeks and found that I got a lot less jarred when I rolled my feet heel to toe. The combination of those weak areas of muscle and the new stress on them about killed me my first few times out.

I'd scale back, but keep going and I'd pay attention. You might be able to tweak something small that'll feel huge and make sure you're stretching really well before ya go. Those two things helped me bigtime. Might be helpful for you!

HTHS
~Brook

[cmcole]

Re: Too fat to run?

You're not the only one who's overdone it with enthusiasm.
I did the same thing -

I started well - alternating between running and walking (similar to Coach to 5K process)

However, in my enthusiasm to run with someone else, I went with a guy from work when I started here the end of June. He is an experienced runner; I am not. Previously, my longest run was about 16 - 17 minutes (2.5 km) two or three times a week (or even half that distance running, while the other half was walking with the dogs), and then I was running 30 minutes three or four times a week up and down hills, and on concrete sidewalks, plus walking and/or running the dogs at night.

Too much, too soon, is what my chiropractor and trainer have both said, now that I am not able to go running until my ancles (achilles) and calf (just one) heal appropriately.

So, my advise is take it easy. Don't increase your distance too soon. Listen to your body, and don't let other people make your distance decisions for you.

[texwife&mom]

Re: Too fat to run?

You can start at any weight. If it means you jog for 30 seconds out of your 20 min walk, then yeah!! In 3 weeks you may be able to jog for 45 seconds out of you 20 min walk, or do two segments of 30 seconds. Start slow and build up slower. You can do anything if you do it slowly and don't get discouraged. Great job getting out and moving in any form!!!

[iyamamaschke]

Re: Too fat to run?

I started running at 255 LBS. Are your new runner made especially for running or are they walking shoes. If they are not running shoes that may well be your problem. Running shoes are specially designed for running and are used as such. If you are using a walking shoe to run it may be that you are not getting enough support or the innards are not made for the pounding on the ground.

being a bigger runner myself I understand you enthusiasm to run but, please take it slow. Try something different this is what I did when I first started running it's easy to get carried away and want to abuse yourself but, you have to have patience.

For the first week commit to 3 days per week and do 4 minutes of walking and 1 minute of Jogging, this will help ease your body into running it's a major stress on the body when you are bigger not only do you have twice the amount of force on your feet it is also taxing on the entire rep system and everything, you want to start slow.

After the first week this is if you feel up to it try walking 3 minutes and running 2, if it is too hard go back to week one till you can comfortably do 1 minute of running.

Continue this week after week until you are running 5 minutes straight. It doesn't have to be a race and you don't want to have any injuries, listen to your body if it says stop stop if it hurts really bad stop, that is a cue that you are pushing too hard.

You can run at any size but I would suggest that you lift some weihgts as well to strengthen any muscular imbalances you may have in your body this is a good idea for any runner out there.

Most of all you can do it, everything will come naturally if you let it try to stretch and try not to push that is the biggest thing, as you lose the weight the running naturally becomes easier and you begin to really see a difference in everything from the way you walk to your stride and your gait.

Another thing I was just thinking when you look at your old runners where are they Worn??? That can be a big indicater of how your foot pronates, sometimes you need special type of shoe to get your foot rolling in the right direction.

Here is a web sight to help you figure this out. http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_runshoe_sma.htm

I sure hope this helps you it helped me a lot.

Take care

Sarah

[eireanngobrach]

Re: Too fat to run?

sarah,


i think its hysterical that your adorable son is in every single photo i have ever seen of you ! Looking good there!

[ttdriver]

Re: Too fat to run?

Don't feel bad; all beginning runners start out too fast (present company included) .

Go slow; when you think you can't go any slower, slow down more. Its not about FINISHING FAST. Its about finishing strong. You don't build strength overnight; it takes persistence, discipline and determination. If you take it slow, you will be amazed at how your body will adapt and soon, you'll be increasing your distance and building more strength and endurance than you ever thought possible. Trust me! Oh gosh, when I started running I wasn't FAT, but was a couch potato .. I barely could run a block or two ... fast forward to today, nearly 2 years later and I'm training for a half marathon!

You're never too old or too fat to take charge of your health! Come on!

Betty

[womanpraised]

Re: Too fat to run?

Thank you all for your advise..

We are going about it slowly.. I think any slower and someone *might* call an ambulance for the comatose woman on the track!

Tried again, walking interspersed with tiny slow bits of jogging, and now I have shooting pain down the top of my foot, when I move my big toe.

I AM going to do this. Or my feet will fall off. Whichever comes first!

Sarah... I cant afford special shoes.. i found these at Payless on sale, adn that is the only reason I was able to get them. THey are Wilson athletic shoes, prolly just generic whatever shoes. They will have to do. I just have to figure out how to adjust, if the shoes are the issue!

Thanks again folks.

kimberly

[Iapetus999]

Re: Too fat to run?

I wasn't able to run until I got down to my goal weight

As far as form, one way to learn better form is to run barefoot. (this works best on a treadmill) Now ya don't want to run barefoot for miles and miles but if you just learn what it feels like then apply that with sneakers it might help.

I've learned a totally new style of running. It kindof looks like I'm tip-toeing around.

I know you don't want to hear this but bad shoes can cause you serious injury. It's more important in running than any other sport. Just take it easy and let your body adjust.

[Yoly1001]

Re: Too fat to run?

Just wanted to report that I am not thin and I went running today. I am following the plan on the coolrunnings web site, I walked 90 seconds and jogged 60 seconds. I felt like I could go longer but I didn't want to overdo, this was after doing 35 minutes cross training.

How is your running going? Anymore pain?

[womanpraised]

Re: Too fat to run?

My legs still did hurt. It is in a wierd spot, not sure why, unles the tendons pull across that way, or something? And I have these weird pains attached to my big toes, like when you pop a blood vessel, only it doesnt hurt, unless i bend it or stretch it way up. Have had a couple days of rest.

We are going to try again tonight, sloooowly, carefully, paying good attention to pain signals. I have to be ablet to do this now. its like being told I cant do something... Just makes me SURE i AM going to.

[californiacasey]

Re: Too fat to run?

1) Make sure you have running shoes (not walking shoes) if you intend to start jogging.

2) I felt I was too heavy for jogging so I walked for 6 months, and lost 26 pounds.

3) Just started incorporating jogging.

4) Warm up for 10 min and then alternate 2 min of jogging and then 2 min of walking for about an hour. I find that if I continue this pattern through the whole time, the 2 min of walking let me catch my breath and makes it possible to jog for another 2 min.

5) This has been working great and I did 6 miles this way last Thursday night. (I have been averaging 3-4 miles per workout)

6) Just be very aware of your knees and ankles, if you hurt, slow down and keep walking.

7) It is better to go slower than hurt yourself and not be able to go at all.

[NoMorePumpkin]

Re: Too fat to run?

I was soooo happy to find this thread.

I really am interested in running, but was scared that I'm too heavy. I've been walking on the treadmill at least 2-3 times a week. I alternate what I do for cardio between recumbant bike, eliptical and treadmill. I read the sticky on HRMs. I'm going to get one. I think it'll be more than worth it. I'm also not going to start trying to jog/run until I get the appropriate shoes.

Thanks, guys, for all the information!!

Punkin-kid

[Reveal]

Re: Too fat to run?

I just wanted to chime in about your photo, Sarah. I've started looking for your son in a "where's Waldo" kind of way! I love that he's in them, it just cracks me up. He's adorable, even when he's hiding behind the fridge.