I have tried on a couple of occassions with the couch to 5k program. I would suggest that you check out Leslie Sansone and her walking program to build stamina and then go to couch to 5k program.....thats my plan for the future anyway:)

Thanks for the suggestion jbangert. :) I've done a few 5Ks and a 3K but I only walked. lol Ugh I just wish I could get enough weight off to run without hurting my knees. Or without feeling like my lungs are on fire.

Ok. I have never been a ling distance runner. My lungs just could never do it. So, I thought I would try it. :P I started at walking 2 years ago. Now, I am able to run 2 min., walk 1 minute. 2.5 min. Running pushes me pretty hard. But, I've survived it...Nevertheless, it means a lot to me that I've made the progress. I have currently lost 20 lbs. and I actually love to run.

To avoid injury, I warm up for 10 min then stretch really well before I run (30-40 min.). I bought myself a stupid expensive but really good running shoe that accommodates my "stride" and is built for shock absorption. Because of the cost and importance of my running shoes, I ONLY wear them to run. I also lift weights twice a week (alternating upper body and lower body).

After a while, I noticed how sugar really weighs me down running the next day when I started eating right.

I love it. Gives me a high!

Cypress-moon ...What a great post...and what a great screen name! You make me feel like giving running (intervals) a try!

I usually try to walk for a few minutes, then run for a minute, then repeat a few more times.

Haven't done it in a while since the running was really painful. But, I just got a new gym membership so I can work up a tolerance for it...

Thanks for the replies you guys. :) I feel like I need to get a little more weight off before I really try to get into running. It's crazy that I can workout in the gym for an hour & I'm fine. But running just isn't happening for me right now. Maybe for 30 seconds (if that!). Oh well, it gives me something to work towards.

They say the first 2 minutes is the hardest to get past.

Today, I ran 10 minutes + on the treadmill. I went from struggling with 2 minutes at the track yesterday to 10 minutes on the treadmill today.

I even switched treadmills to see if mine was broken. The only reason I stopped at 10 minutes was to check my breathing and pulse....cause I thought something must be wrong.

I've been working on this for about 2 or 3 years now....Today, it happened. If I can do it, you can do it.

You know what really helped me? Exercise tapes. Not those P90X extreme ones. The dancy ones from the 80's. It's like they slowly build your intensity up and you can modify the movements. And the movements are more distracting/fun, you don't really realize how hard you are actually working.