I want to start running but...my knees don't.

Factual Questions
21

[QUOTE=ManiacMan]
Thanks all for the replies…lots of insight here.

I wanted to start running because it is one of those things that has always bothered me…all of the past tries and the failures because of knee pain, gasping for air, feeling like dog crap too quickly. I see it as a challenge to overcome this inability of mine to run long distances…and right now I probably couldn’t run around the block without getting pretty winded. I want to fix that.

I wonder if I should take a joint supplement. I have placed a lot of wear and tear on my knees. I played soccer…wrestled…judo…and cycling…over my years. Couch potato for the last few years unfortunately.
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I forgot to mention the doctor, but definitely get your joints checked out! I have IT and really have to be careful about hills, it’s the straight and narrow for me!

I may be reading too much into your post, but is sure sounds to me like you’re attempting to sprint instead of run. Most people who run really do it at a pace non-runners call jogging, so don’t feel like you have to go fast.

As a long time bicycler for commuting (no longer, but once upon a time) I enjoy running more. It just seems to give me a more positive outlook on the day and I have no idea why.

On the subject of shoes, if you have wide feet make sure you get wide shoes (I use New Balance) or the shoes won’t work right. Foot Locker is not a running shoe store! Definitely get your shoes from someone who runs regularly. Make sure your salesperson has the lean runner look that you see in runners and not the overall bulky athletic look, since the runner will more likely get you the correct shoe.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

-Eben

22

[QUOTE=Jennshark]
All to say that if running turns out to be too painful, try biking. I feel great, my knees and feet don’t hurt, and I’ve built up quite a nice cardio capacity.
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I’ll second this. I was a long-distance runner in high school, but a knee injury while training with the cross country team put the kibosh on that. I couldn’t run more than a mile before my knees are in agony. Bicycling, OTOH, doesn’t hurt my knees at all.

23

I second runner pat’s couch to 5k link. I did that 2 years ago when I quit smoking and it worked great.

Some tips:

-Stay consistent. If you schedule a run for yourself, do it even if you feel like shit.
-Do IT Band stretches (Google it if you need to know)
-Get on the bike and in the pool. All 3 exercises are beneficial for different and complimentary reasons. That is the concept behind triathlon.
-Be skeptical of claims like “asphalt is X% softer than concrete, so don’t run on the sidewalk.” My podiatrist, several running articles, and (I believe it was) Men’s Journal have all debunked that this makes an iota of difference. It’s not like your measley 200lbs or whatever is compressing the asphalt.
-Get an mp3 player. Music can really make a difference. Also, if you’re into audiobooks it’s a great time to listen.

24

I’ll just add my bit,do a good whole body warm up before you start as you’re not just using your legs but your arms will swing,your back will move etc.and have a good warm down when you finish,dont let yourself get cold when you finish even if your melting or your muscles will stiffen up by the next day and you might get a raspy chest.

A short cut I’ve used on the warm down is having a long hot bath with a hot drink to warm up the insides.

Dont run straight after a meal and if you want a crap have it before you set out,when your not yet fit fatigue can loosen the bowels and you dont need something else to be distracted by.

DONT set too ambitious a distance or pace as you probably wont make it,will get demoralised and quit.
Quite honestly you’d have to walk at speed for about ten years to really get any cardio vascular improvement out of it,I’d advise run walk run.
It helps motivate you if you say to yourself I’ll run one lampposts distance and walk two and so on and stick to it for the distance .

If you cant get someone to run/cycle with you try to get a friend interested in your fitness progress,their praise will encourage you and fear of looking a quitter will deter you from jacking it all in.

When you get breathless dont be downhearted,it means that you are using your heart to a greater level then normal which means that each time your breathless your heart is actually getting stronger little by little.

I totally agree with the posters about getting good cushioned running shoes as opposed to expensive fashion trainers,also get someone to look at your running steps.
I knew someone once who ran with an odd stiff gait landing heel first.
This slowed him down,jarred his knees and made him tireder quicker.

I reckon the shoes will probably solve your problem though.

If you can have more then one route to prevent you getting bored and stale.

One last thing you might try,once when I was recovering from a foots worth of broken toes and became totally unfit I got into the habit of going for two runs not too distantly apart in time.

I think that I didn’t allow enough time to let my metabolism slow right down to normal so had a kick start on the second run.
It worked for me.

Finally dont bother with all the special "athletes"vitamin pills and high tech gadgetry,its all bollocks.

Good luck with your endeavour ,ENJOY it and let us all know how you got on.