Sorry to ask silly questions but I have just started running. I have been playing football twice a week for a few years so have an ok baseline fitness. I started with 2 mile runs every other day this week and it is now obviously not far enough but I dont want to push too far too soon. I was thinking if one more 2 mile run this week and then a 4 mile run on Monday then 2 miles on Wednesday and 4 miles on Friday and see how that goes - does that sound reasonable. I have ordered a HRM which should arrive by the weekend. My main aim is cardio fitness and to lose 3 stone over the course of this year (and to keep it off) Thanks in advance for any tips. BB

Dont mind willamona...she has taper madness Welcome! Slow and steady is the way.... Good luck with the weight loss too! We have a weight loss forum if you want to join us there. Make sure you have good shoes - way more important than the HRM

Whoops forgot to give you the link to the WEIGHT LOSS GROUP

Welcome. Be sure to stretch to prevent shin splints. From 0- 12 miles a week maybe a little too much.

Thanks for that - I have gone from 2 hours of football to 2 hours football + 6 miles running in week 1 to increase to 10 miles in week 2 and hold it there for a couple of weeks - should that be OK?

Welcome. Go easy, do not rush things.

Running in soccer is a lot different than distance running and vice versa. My son was an avid soccer player through high school and while I could never catch him on the field, I could lose him in the street because I could run for as long as it took. Soccer develops fast twitch muscles which enable you to be much quicker on your feet, but since they don't contain as many blood vessels as the slow twitch muscle you build with distance running, they can't sustain a long term effort. Stick to your current schedule for a while and see how you feel. Pavement is a lot harder on your legs than grass so it will take some time to adapt. Proper shoes are important as is running at the proper pace. Try to stay at a pace where is is relatively easy to carry on a conversation and you'll develop good aerobic conditioning with less chance of injury. I'm not big on HRM's for beginning runners because it is very difficult for a new runner to determine their max heart rate (the 220-age formulae do not work) and they tend to be distracting. Just use your breathing rate as a guide. In regards to losing weight; running doesn't burn as many calories as you might think, but it certainly stimulates your appetite. If you want to lose weight, your running must be combined with good eating habits. In fact, responsible eating habits have much more influence on your weight than any form of exercise. Tom

Wouldn't it just be easier to pass the stones? I see no questions.

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