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Comment by bliti | Hacker News Reader

I used to be overweight and could not run to the door even if my life depended on it. Five years later and I run no less than 5k a day from Monday to Friday. Resting during the weekend. Do run events every other month or so on Sundays.

How did I do it?

I started with the couch-to-5K program[1]. That led me to diet and eat better. Did my first 5k four months later. Then a 10k three after that.

Running is not for everybody. But you should try it out. Run at your own rhythm and style. Some people are naturally better at long distances, some of us are sprinters. The truth is its about patience and pacing yourself. It is also great for thinking (or not thinking). My life is definitely better because of it. Feel free to ask me questions!

[1]http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

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Couch-to-5k did it for me too. I was a little skeptical when I started, both of the program and my own abilities. I was rather out of shape and couldn't imagine running 5k based on my physical condition. Not overweight, just painfully unhealthy and unfit.

But I was very excited the first time I was able to complete the 5k run without walking breaks, and then I started to work on my time. I am not a fast runner but eventually got to a pace of 30 minutes. Certainly not anything like pinnacle athlete form but it brought a lot of personal satisfaction.

I paired my running with swimming. I would do a 5k run and then a 1k swim. It did wonders for my energy level and endurance and I felt much better.

Good on you! Similar story here - 6 years ago I lost 100 pounds through better diet and running. Started with Couch to 5k also. Since then, I've run 15+ marathons, and even a few ultras. I'm the healthiest I've ever been, and have never felt better. Plus, I'm setting a much better example for my kids than I was previously. Now they're really starting to get into running too, and have been doing some of the shorter kids races.

Regarding "some people are naturally better..."; it took me ~4 months, "running" 4 days a week, to be able to jog a 3 mile (~5K) run in ~30 minutes. My age then was 28.

My friend, who never worked out in any way, woke up with a hang-over and decided to join some friends for a competitive, cross-country 10K... he came in first. He was 22 years old, IIRC. His father is a dedicated marathon runner (qualifies for Boston Marathon), so that partly explains it.

Now apply that to software and interviewing. Its mind blowing to think of an interview being like that cross-country 10K and your group of friends being in it and being judged against the guy who came in first without trying. Life sure is funny.

Well, something I quickly learned while running; I am trying to improve my life directly, not by comparison.

I am not a conquerer of worlds. :) Strange that being "average" is virtually a sin... Life is funny (or fucking awful, depending).

Absolutely! I can only be as good as the best I can be. I suck at some things, average at many, and unfairly good at handful. I love it because it never gets boring. :)

”Seven years ago Steve Way weighed 16 1/2 stone and had high-blood pressure, a 20-a-day habit and an addiction to takeaways and chocolate. So, like many other people, he began running to get fit. Only he didn’t stop. And 26,000 miles later – more than the circumference of the globe – and at the grand age of 40, he has been selected to run the marathon for England at next month’s Commonwealth Games.”

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/may/31/great-britain-c...

Cool! What did you do to diet and eat better?

That's whole different adventure altogether! Our diet depends on a lot of variables. How we feel, our daily stress, relationships on/off work and whole lot more things. My experience has taken me from that very first step of not drinking anymore pop soda to almost vegetarian (I eat meat once a week in small quantities and sometimes cheese). I did the atkins, paleo, juice, fruit, and everything in between. Slowly learning what works for me. Which meant finding and way that vegetables and grains would be enjoyable to eat. Food, or its taste, makes my day. So learning how to cook and buy nutritious food that tasted good has been a process.

Best advice I can give is to see your diet as a learning experience with the end goal of living a better life. Little daily goals amount to amazing yearly achievements!

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