How much pain is too much?

Question
Thanks for responding. I'm 32, have a desk job and have not exercised regularly in a few years. I'm 5'2, 185. Running to lose weight, but more for mental reasons. I don't have a coach, just read a lot and try to be reasonable. I started walking 2 min/run 1, for about 30 minutes. I was running on grass & trails at a local park. I think this is the program from runners world. I looked at several of them and they all seemed to be variations of this.

Thanks for the help,
Mindy
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Followup To

Question -
I recently started a beginner program. I got through about 5 days when my knees began to hurt during a run. (I'm not even up to running 1 mile at a time yet.) I did some research and realized I was running in the wrong shoe. (Flat feet.) I took about 10 days off until I could purchase new shoes. I thought the rest and new shoes would eliminate the knee pain, but it's still there. It feels like shock waves from the impact of my foot striking the ground is travelling up my leg to my knee. Is this a "normal, work through it pain because I'm a beginner", or a "stop now before you get injured" kind of pain?

Thanks,
Mindy

Answer -
Hi Mindy
It is not totally normal,but some discomfort is based on where your starting from.I really no nothing about your background or your age height weight etc.which would probably have something to do with your situation.Also what kind of beginner program is it?Is this a supervised program with a coach who no's what there doing or is it something you just put together yourself.If you want to get back to me with more info,perhaps i can elaborate a little further Mindy.

The very best

John

Answer
Hi Mindy
I would strongly recomend you keep up with the walking untill you get your weight down,since you could do some serious damage.At 5ft. 2in. it is really to much as you no.I would get into a gym and start doing some leg exercises such as leg extentions leg curls abductor aductor work and also biking to help track the knee glide properly and strengthen the quads.Once you start getting your weight down and strengthening your quads and surounding muscles and tendons,ligaments etc.Then you can get back into the light running.If you don't take care of it now you will be strugling in the future.Just bite the bullet and be patience and get focused on the future.You really have to take this serious Mindy.You have to many years in front of you and you don't want to become disabled from something that could be taken care of so easy.I hope this gives you a plan to focus on.

To your success and
many happy miles

John