Message Boards » Fitness and Exercise
TOPIC: How heavy is too heavy to run? |
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Joined Mar 2012 Posts: 30 |
July 02, 2012 2:41 pm
I ran when I was much heavier (close to 250 lbs). The best suggestion I can give you is make sure you have proper running shoes. I would recommend you go to a dedicated running store, and have them fit some shoes (made a huge difference for me) which will prevent injuries.
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Joined Jan 2012 Posts: 179 |
July 02, 2012 2:41 pm
I'm 240 and I jog walk 4 times a week. Legs get sore but that's normal
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Joined Jan 2011 Posts: 278 |
July 02, 2012 2:44 pm
QUOTE: I discovered running at 195lbs. I got up to an hour a day and I loved it! I guess either the weight or the over doing it caused my right foot to hurt (like a metatarsol break) I am back up to 208lbs. because I stopped running but I LOVE it and I do not want to stop. So my question is, am I too heavy to run? My dad thinks I need to lose another 50lbs. before attempting to run again. I see these guys on biggest loser running and I can't understand why it doesn't bother them so much. Please help, thanks. If you have a fractured metatarsal DO NOT RUN. Not sure how long ago your injury was, but I had one and didn't treat it and was out of commission for almost 8 months before it healed on its own. I don't think you're too heavy to run. You may have had the wrong shoes for your frame, or increased your mileage too quickly which caused the injury. I'm 212lbs and have been running a long time. Working up to a half marathon now. And no, I didn't fracture my foot running... I did it jumping rope in Five Fingers shoes. Whoops. 
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Joined Jan 2011 Posts: 278 |
July 02, 2012 2:49 pm
QUOTE: QUOTE: i would heavily advise against running if you are over weight, no matter the circumstances it is taking its toll on your joints and it is VERY likely that you if you do continue to put that much stress on your joints that it will become a major issue down the road Solution without a gym membership - walk at a good pace. If you REALLY just love to run but are overweight then you need to make sure you are using correct form while running and actually go out and buy good running shoes (and no nikes are not good running shoes). Also, running on pavement or concrete is absolutely horrible for your joints, find a dirt track, or run in the grass. Solution with a gym membership - stationary bike or elliptical can AND SHOULD be your best friends. Both of these are very low impact on your joints but you can still burn adequate calories. Stay away from the treadmill if at all possible. anyone who has more detailed questions can feel more than free to send me a message good luck to everyone! What are you basing this advice on? I notice from your profile you're a 19 year old male with 20 lb to lose. You are making a very strong point here, and I'd be interested to know what experience and knowledge base it rests on. What she said.
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Joined Nov 2011 Posts: 6,087 |
July 02, 2012 10:22 pm
QUOTE: QUOTE: I didn't start running 'til I was 209 pounds and that allowed me to follow a training plan. On August 19, 2011, just ten weeks after I started running, I ran a half marathon and finished it easily with zero injuries. I would recommend against running when seriously overweight. According to Runner's World, two out of three recreational runners are "injured" over the course of a year. Knowing that the injury rate is that high, why would you take a chance? Some running injuries are due to trauma, most are overuse injuries which come from putting too much strain on the lower half of the body. The problem with overuse injuries is that most times, you don't feel anything 'til it's too late. As a novice runner, you don't have the experience to know what injuries to watch out for (there's about half a dozen common injuries) yet you're stilling beating up your body each time you run. I don't follow. Your argument is a large percentage of runners experience injury because of overuse... i.e. training too hard too soon.... and so fat people shouldn't run... ? Forgive me, but that doesn't seem logical? I've been running since October, and have yet to experience any kind of serious injury. I was about 245pounds when I started to run. I take it easy. I built up my mileage slowly. I stop if I feel any aches or pains, and I rest when I need to. I'm running a half marathon next week, having covered the distance several times already. I still weigh more than the OP.... I think those overuse comments are based on the fact too many runners, and weight not even being part of the equation, have ability and tendency to overdo it, either for time or frequency or both. There are some optimum levels that statistically you could start in, and if safe, move beyond with knowledge you gotta watch it, especially so if overweight. It's an old study, but it gives a nice place to start to keep things safe while you learn to read your body correctly. http://www.exrx.net/Aerobic/RunningInjuryVO2.html |
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Joined Mar 2012 Posts: 14 |
July 02, 2012 10:46 pm
I'm not sure how heavy is too heavy, but I would be nervous of joint damage. I'd rather go swimming to avoid as much stress. If you like running, then run, just remember the wear and tear on your knees!
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Joined Jun 2011 Posts: 227 |
July 03, 2012 2:30 am
Finding an exercise you enjoy is important. Personally I find running really boring so I only do 20-30 minutes a week and it's on the treadmill in the gym which has a telly on it.
I got back into badminton just under 3 years ago and have been playing for 2 hours every week since. I love that and barely even notice that it's exercise. Of course you need to be careful and I'd suggest good, properly fitted, trainers and taking it very easy to make sure you build up your joint and muscle strength but don't be put off doing it if you love it. We all know how hard it is to motivate yourself to lose weight and having an exercise you enjoy is a really big help.
Edited by 3shirts On July 03, 2012 2:33 am
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Joined May 2012 Posts: 409 |
July 03, 2012 3:06 am
I don't think there's such a weight you need to run within your limits but other than that you love it so go for it. Get yourself some new comfortable kit & Definately get your gait checked & new shoes then let those miles help you get fitter healthier & leaner!!
Good luck 
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Joined Jul 2011 Posts: 580 |
July 03, 2012 3:26 am
I see a bunch of bull**** floating around this thread about how only thin people should run. So let's get a few things straight right now:
1) You're NEVER too heavy to run. NEVER! Maybe not a marathon, or maybe not 6 minute miles, but that's okay. It's still running. 2) You're never too thin to get injured. EVERYBODY who runs, at some point or another, gets injured. It's just what runners do (like it or not). By the "only thin people should run" bull**** theory, you'd think that there'd be a direct correlation between weight and overuse injuries. Well, guess what - there's not. Anybody who wants to tell you this needs to sit down and shut up, because they don't know what they're talking about. So my vote is, heal yourself, then run again. But that's just me. Overweight me. I'd rather plow right over anybody who tells me I'm too fat to run, than stop. 
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Joined Mar 2012 Posts: 398 |
July 04, 2012 10:21 am
I was over 250 pounds when I started the C25K training. I am at 226pounds now and up to 28 minutes straight run on week 8 of training. i had some minor set backs in the 3rd week but got back on that horse. and i have pretty bad plantar fascitis that has flared up for weeks at a time but i manage it with stretching, icing and ibuprofen! my foot dr told me if it was not intolerable pain all the time then keep treating as i have been. surgery is not an option i would choose and steroids do very bad things to my body so i stay away unless absolutely necessary! run if you can and you enjoy it. there are plenty of people at normal weight who have aches and pains too. do what you feel you can.
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Joined Mar 2012 Posts: 398 |
July 04, 2012 10:23 am
QUOTE: I see a bunch of bull**** floating around this thread about how only thin people should run. So let's get a few things straight right now: 1) You're NEVER too heavy to run. NEVER! Maybe not a marathon, or maybe not 6 minute miles, but that's okay. It's still running. 2) You're never too thin to get injured. EVERYBODY who runs, at some point or another, gets injured. It's just what runners do (like it or not). By the "only thin people should run" bull**** theory, you'd think that there'd be a direct correlation between weight and overuse injuries. Well, guess what - there's not. Anybody who wants to tell you this needs to sit down and shut up, because they don't know what they're talking about. So my vote is, heal yourself, then run again. But that's just me. Overweight me. I'd rather plow right over anybody who tells me I'm too fat to run, than stop. AWESOME! love you, man! Keep running! |
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Joined Aug 2011 Posts: 225 |
July 04, 2012 10:27 am
That's awesome that you love running! Keep doing it, but just know your limits. You know better than anyone else when pain is normal or if you're overdoing it.
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Joined Feb 2012 Posts: 154 |
July 04, 2012 10:38 am
I started running last summer at 243 and eventually felt pain in my shins and feet. I think I was pushing myself too hard too fast. Just four months ago, I started running again at 235. I started slow (25 steps at a time) and I just ran my first 5k this past weekend at 215. But I hydrate well, stretch my feet, shins, calves, etc very well, and I built up my distance gradually. Even the 5k, I just ran about 60% of it.
Make sure your foot heals, because it's possible that you broke or injured it. But once it's healed, I see nothing wrong with you running again. Just listen to your body when it needs to down-shift. 
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