Jazz is the running expert here, but as an on again off again runner I definitely know what getting started feels like.
FWIW, prior to joining the military my father in law coerced me into running a 5K thanksgiving day race with my wife's family. I got off the couch and ran it without having run for several years prior. And I paid for it dearly, I messed up my right ITB so badly I could barely walk for a month.
The best advice I can give (as a reluctant runner) is to listen to your body and ease into it a little at a time in order to avoid injuring yourself. If something hurts (badly) which didn't hurt the day before, take it slow until you can determine if it is just discomfort or the beginning of a real problem.
As far as running style, I get made fun of every time I run, but it is usually as I am passing someone. I am not an efficient runner, my toes point out, I over pronate and my right leg hooks around in an odd fashion. I am naturally biomechanically inefficient, and no amount of training will ever fix that. I hope you aren't like me.
As a result of my poor form, I have been plagued by shin-splints my entire life. I have been able to manage them (though they always hurt, even when laying in bed) by taking Naproxen before bed to get the swelling down over night, stretching, running on soft surfaces whenever possible, changing shoes frequently (though not frequently enough I suppose), cross training (elliptical, bike, swimming, etc.) and pretty much just running through the pain. I hope nobody here has continued problems with shin splints, but these steps will markedly reduce the symptoms if you do.
Slims
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence
Last edited by Slims; 08-11-2009 at 11:27 PM..
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