New to running!

[Gabrielle08]

Hello I am 33 years old. I quite smoking on January 24th at 11am!! I smoked for 15 years. In the time that I quite smoking I have gained about 15 pounds. I went for my first run ever tonight! I had to stop many times but I made it about a half mile. My lungs were on fire! I am here to learn how to become a successful runner!

[Sarahwee]

Brilliant!!! Well done for your first run!

[Slinkyminky Graduate]

Hi.

Welcome to this brilliant forum

Download the podcasts and follow the program religiously

Well done for quitting smoking 👍

[TJEL Graduate]

Hello I'm new to this forum and 🏃‍♀️. Well done, keep going. Everyone is brilliant on here with advice and support. You can do it 😃

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you just go out and run then you will have no idea whether you are doing well or what challenges to set next. I know, that is exactly what I did, until I discovered the NHS C25K programme. This will gradually build your stamina up so that after about nine weeks you can run non stop for 30 minutes. It works. The early weeks may seem easy, but they are still building your stamina and also the discipline required to become a runner, so, in my opinion, are well worth doing.

Take it gently. There is no safe short cut.

[misswobble Graduate]

Good! You will too! Oh yeah baby! 😃👍💪🏅🏃‍♀️

Good news is that you only need to go slowly and it's in the bag

Slower the better for this caper. Your lungs will thank you

The programme is fun, if you take it slow enough 😃

[Redbillie21 Graduate]

Great advice there from my fellow C25K graduates. We've all done the programme and it's worked for us. If you follow the programme to the letter, you will become a successful runner 🏃‍♀️

Oh, and well done for quitting smoking. I have no idea how hard that must be because I've never smoked but I can well imagine it must be really tough 👍

[lozzi23 Graduate]

Hi!! Well done on quitting smoking!!! I did the same over a year ago, I got the couch 2 5k app and followed it religiously, you will surprise yourself how quickly you can improve your fitness!! After I finished that I heard about a taster course with local running club so I joined that and enjoyed it so much I joined the proper running club, best thing I did really and it's stopped me going back to cigarettes!!! Good luck with it all!! xxx

[Razouski]

Definitely use the podcasts. They are a godsend.

[allegrachick Graduate]

You've come to the right place. You'll get great advice and encouragement here. Well done on taking the first steps.

[PaulaBHxx Graduate]

Hi Gabrielle,

I think I can help with this one I too started running as an ex smoker (20 a day for 30 years) and I gave up Feb 2016

I started (fitness22) 5K app on 30th April 2017 - and at two and half minutes run part...I literally couldn't go any further, my legs were ok, but my lungs...Ohhh my lungs were so heavy, hurting like hell and burning me. I went to bed that evening feeling really disappointed and very despondent. I thought I would have to stop running there and then.

Then I joined this forum and read through the posts, picking up tips, advice and support. It changed everything and has been an absolute God send (thank you everyone !!)

Slow down, slow down a LOT

Breathe

Think positive

That's it. :))))))

I'm only on 4 minutes at the moment, but feeling positive and REALLY looking forward to conquering the five

We can do this!!!!