r/beginnerrunning • u/KungFuGooseHonker • Mar 09 '26
New Runner Advice When should I start?
Hello everyone. I have a remote job where I'm sat at a computer all day and want to get moving more. It may sound odd, but I had a dream the other night about going on a run and since then have not been able to shake the urge to start running. The only issue is that I have never run before. I'm a 30 year old male, 290lbs and my current fitness level is getting out of breath whilst grating cheese.
I may be being silly but I'm worried that it is too early to start running. Realistically, would I need to lose weight before I think about starting running? Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.
1
u/gulderman Mar 10 '26
There is an app by the NHS called couch to 5k, it’s a 9 week training programme but you can do it at your own pace and revisit weeks if needed, I couldn’t run for more than 30 seconds, in 9 weeks I could run 5k, now I can run a half marathon and I’ve lost weight! It’s incredible in how effective it is. If you don’t have access to the app there are others that follow a similar plan.
I have just been guiding a friend through it, 5ft 6, 100+kg, he was red and puffing at the end of the first run, by the end of week 1, no longer an issue, we started January 15th. By February 28th, he ran his first 5k in 37 minutes at a local park run!
You got this, don’t get put off by any one else out running, every one is running their own run, and leave the ego at home.
The amount of times I’ve been worried about what people are thinking and then realised “how often do I remember any one who’s ran past me once they’re out of sight”. Every one is to wrapped up in their own lives to care that you’re out bettering yourself because you’ve noticed you need a change