Drama-fitness Megathread 9: The Biggining of Muscles

To add on to what I said before, optimally start with running 3 times a week if you can, on alternating days with a 2 day time-out period. Don't feel obligated to keep this time-out to the same two days of the week, either. I.e. if you feel like you need to take a two-day break sooner, then do so, but try to stick with running 3 alternating days of the week. If you start out small, you need to be diligent about gradually upping your distance every week.

Tbh, I unironically recommend looking at running subreddits. As much as RDrama likes to shit on Reddit, the hobbyist subreddits are an absolute goldmine of valuable information and links.

Please do your own research and only treat this as a starting point.

If you haven't been active? Don't run that much. Start with 2km and increase it by a bit every week or so.

I've been running for years on and off and go outside or treadmill running depending on weather, so I'll give you some advice. First, don't burn yourself out by saying you will start at a 5k. Instead of focusing on distance and speed, focus on controlling your heart rate and get to a point where a mile is something you can do pretty easily. Once a mile is easy, you can increase your distance by maintaining your coasting heart rate and the next miles will be fine. Once you get there, you can start focusing on speed. I like a treadmill to keep me at a specific speed because I like to focus on the music but focusing on music tends to make me run slower without realizing it. A treadmill keeps me at a specific pace.

I've injured myself twice and you should listen to your body. I think I ran downhill too fast and the momentum fricked up my form and I wound up hurting something. Don't push through the pain. Instead, take a couple weeks off. When I first started running, my knees hurt like heck so I only ran for 2 days and then had to take 2 weeks off. Your body gets used to it though. If you're jacked like the OP, it will be harder because you weigh more.

TLDR: don't focus on speed or even distance at first. Focus on your heart rate and breathing and keeping your heart rate at a coasting speed. And don't push through pain, take a week or two off if you feel pain.

eta: I shoulda read ahead and it looks like you already run sometimes. oops lol I will leave this up for anyone else who wants to take up running. :D

Shin splints, otherwise a 3-6 mile run should be fine. We used to do them for high school wrestling to make weight