Great news Jen, you are a runner after all:GOOD FOR YOU(I can just about manage a power walk:) sound's like those happy endorphines are hitting at ya:)

Excellent tip from May, a GOOD supportive sports bra is a ESSENTIAL must-have wise investment (buy the finest quality brand you can afford) for all female runners with a chest that jiggles / bounces when you so much as jump (you have been warned girls:)!

I can relate to the breathing thing Jen, I have been told I have poor lung capacity:( It explains why I've never been able to blow up balloons) too. Studies have shown the humble apple can really significantly help improve lung function (just as well I love apples:).The breathing advice you were given is correct, like you I subconsciously used my mouth to breath and really have to be aware of what I'm doing. There are some great yogic breathing techniques for optimal breath out there. Try google!

I'm no runner(this makes me giggle just thinking about it) but have read up on it a fair bit. Stretching prior and post run is essential (Tibetan Rites would be ideal) as is a strong core, as well as good running technique(find via google) and keep to soft grass to prevent injuries and harsh impact on joints. Have you thought about investing in a rebounder as it's a lot safer, to joints at least. Wishing you well whatever you decide:)       

here is one discussion on CHI RUNNING :

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=16058&st=0

it just shows how different views are on it and where the discussion can get





edited to make link clickable

every footstep you take today..powers our marathon dreams tommorrow..
more miles today
means more smiles raceday

i started running 30 seconds a day for 3 months to get some fitness. if i forgot and was in bed, id get up and jog on the bed for 30 seconds! lol! true story..

so what we can aim for is daily exercise..constistent and persistent..do at least 30 seconds of running day..to keep the running action smooth and efficient..and eventually doing 10km runs and 20 km runs will come naturally...

we win durian speed eating competitions one bite at a time.
we train for life one day at a time
we run a marathon one step at a time.

oldest marathon finisher is 98.
people with no legs do marathons.
people that cant see run marathons.
people that eat big macs do marathons..

hardest thing about marathons is believing we can do it.
so get the know how.
believe it..
and then go out and do it and prove yourself right.

every step counts..

Harley jooging for 30 secs on his bed - that must a picture

Jennie , sorry that was a cruel joke, joke going on in running circles, at the running magazines and websites of some gurus offering proggrams to run marathon in 12-18 weeks. Really that not what I would suggest.
Marathon is serious stuff but is not different to anything else and every progress needs to be done gradualy, yes the marathon can be there as the goal or one of the goals, but I would never tell anybody get ready for marathon in 18 weeks.

I suggest You focus on running generaly, keep increasing the distance or better say time on YOur feet, and once You get to ceratin stage, that we can talk marathon.

The initial stage should look like this :

regular weekly schedule, where You do :
1 x 90 minutes run
1 x 60 minutes run
1 x 40 minutes run
1 run, where the session is done as long intervals witrh rest in between, typical example could be 3 x 12 minutes

and at least 2 very slow recovery jogging of about 30 minutes.

If You can handle this week by week for at least 12 weeks, than in my view You are ready to start marathon training.

At the beggining as You are bnow, I would suggest to try to do 90 minutes session as a pure walk, just go out and walk for 90 minutes and each week try to walk bit faster.

60 minutes session I would suggest to do mainly as walk, but include in it few slow jogg section, as You feel regardless of distance or minutes of the run, just include here and there some jogging in it.

40 minutes run try to build into this try tio run for 40 minurtes, take walk breaks if You need to, but this should be Your first continuos run achieved and practiced every week, do not run it too fast.

Forgot the long intervals for the moment

Do the recovery joggs as a recovery slow walks initialy, always day after running session.

good luck

Jennie You can make GC marathon (1st jully sunday) a goal next year, its plenty of time,
but You need to start now with the serious stuff

Rudolf are you able to split the sessions into 30minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon to make upa 60 minute session for the day?

Thanks guys! I didn't do the long run this morning. I thought I would try out the chi running on my 40 minute circuit. I really like it. I ran further than before with less effort from my lungs which was awesome! I found that landing on toes uses a completely different set of muscles and so alternated between landing on my heel and landing flat footed. Good stuff! Bill is going to buy me a new set of runners for my birthday which will help also.

I found it more difficult to maintain this style of running goind up and down hill (didja see that? I ran UPhill!  ) but with practice I'm sure I will get there.

I have used the just to the next tree/seat/bridge for the last couple of weeks and found it to be really effective.

I'm really exited by Rudy's program. Last night I was out with friends and I told my friend I had doubled my running this week... she was so happy for me! She asked 'well how long are you running for now?' to which I told her I didn't really know as it's on a path and I've not measured it... she then asked well how long timing wise? When I told her I was up to 'two whole minutes' she looked so stunned! It was a little mean of me to let her think I was going this great distance! We fell about the place laughing. She has just finished a course to become a personal trainer though and is keen to help me out which is great. Looking forward to my first 5 minute run. Anyhow I've written Rudy's program down and I'm going to walk those times but ran as much as I can during it if ya know what I mean!

That was my exitement for the day so far! Thanks for all the help and replies here guys. It's great to have this support.

Harley I'm looking forward to getting into biking as well. I have a bike which Bill lovingly washed for me yesterday. But at the moment my legs are still so weak! I'm hoping the running will strenthen my legs enough so that I can start riding and vary my training. Even  as a child I had less strength than all of my friends. I now look forward to becoming STRONG! Physically and mentally.

xoxoxox

Cool, thanks for clarifying Rudolf.  I just thought it has been ages since I have run 60 minutes and if I broke it down into two sessions I would be able to do the 60 minutes.  I am probably upto the stage again of running 40 minutes.  No hurry, I will be back up to 60+ again soon enough.  Then I will try your elite program, hee hee.