Is Weight a Factor When Beginning to Run?

by WinterIsOver
(Ilinois)

I am over 200 pounds and wondering if I can safely participate in one of the beginning running programs on your site. Or should I wait until I drop a significant amount of weight before running?

I was limiting myself to walking and other low impact aerobic activity for fear of getting hurt, but then watched a program on television that had very heavy people running on treadmills as well as outdoors. This kind of messed up my thinking.

I would like to get the weight off as quickly as possible and have read that running is the way to go. Could you advise me in this area?

Answer by Dominique:
Hi WinterIsOver... :),

Thanks for your question. By the way, here in Australia the temperatures are dropping, the days are getting shorter and winter is ready to begin! I was actually just working on a few reviews of running gloves...

Anyway, back to your question.
Cardio is the best way to lose weight and get fit. You are in a bit of a vicious circle if you first need to drop weight, before you can start doing cardio.

The Beginners Running Programs are specifically designed for people with a very low fitness base.

They have a few important aspects:

They combine running and walking.

They build up the time spent running very slowly.

The focus is solely on getting you to run, but getting you to run slowly, no fast stuff.

They are the safest way imaginable to start running. The reason many starting runners get injured is that they start off way too enthusiastic. Runs are too quick, they are building up the length of the runs too eagerly, etc. The beginner running programs on my site are different to that. They ask you to run at a slow, conversational pace. And they give you plenty of walking breaks.

I cannot guarantee that you will stay injury free. Just as with riding a bike, or stepping on a rowing machine or lifting weights you can pull a muscle, hurt a tendon, etc. But that should not stop you from giving one of the running programs a try.

So, don't let the ghost stories out there scare you too much and start your running career today!

Best of luck.
Kind regards,
Dominique