For anyone following a Couch-to-5K running plan, or similar program, for mutual support and encouragement!
Running Gear for Beginners
I've tried and given up on C25K in the past, and I'm going to try again in the next month.
I am a very good walker, but have never had much success with running, I think in part because I haven't been well-prepared. So I'm looking for recommendations from veteran runners.
Does anyone have recs for good but affordable shoes, including where to buy them and any questions I should ask or considerations I should take into account when choosing shoes? Also, clothing for running outdoors in moderately cold but not snowy weather? Any other gear that makes your runs easier to manage?
Any other tips for sticking with the program?




Just one quick comment on shoes. Asics is a great brand for running shoes, as is Nike (my daughter, who is way more of a runner than I am, loves both, although her best love is Nike). If you have a Famous Footwear near you, they have the older fashions for less money, and often also have coupons and sales. They aren't cheap, but they are far, far more affordable than going to a sporting goods store and buying the current fashion at full price.
Oh, and if you're using a phone to listen to music and run the app, I highly recommend picking up cheap bluetooth ear buds. I hated the way the cord bounced and tangled and it irritated me, and I can't run without music. My headphones are really important for me to get through a workout and this way I don't get tangled in anything.
I'm not a hugely experienced runner, but I'll chime in with a few things that work for me, and hopefully others will too. Here's the gear I wear/use/carry:
For cool/cold-weather outdoor running I wear:
With the exception of the gloves, none of my clothing is high-end or running-specific. I just buy general 'exercise' stuff when it's on sale and it does me fine.
My biggest problem running in cool/cold weather (I'm in Ontario, Canada) is that my hands freeze. They do eventually warm up once I start sweating, but until then it's pretty uncomfortable.
When I started it was summer and I carried water in a bum-bag/fanny pack thing designed to hold a water bottle. Once I was running continuously and not taking walk breaks any more, I stopped carrying the water because I didn't really need it.
I use a C25K app on my phone and wear my phone on an armband with earbuds. Depending on where you run, you may need to be careful that you can still hear what's going on around you for safety.
In terms of shoes I don't have a lot of experience. I'm currently running in Asics, my last pair were New Balance. I don't have a lot of money to spare so I just go to a general sports store and buy the best-fitting pair I can afford. If you have access to a specialty running shop, and tell them you're just starting out and don't have a lot of money, they should help you find a suitable pair in your price range.
In terms of tips for sticking with the program, trying to do your run at a consistant day/time can help. It's easier to skip a run of you tell you'rself "I'll do it tomorrow" and then tomorrow becomes the next day and so on. The C25K program recommends a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule if you can manage that. Earlier in the day is better than later, again, assuming that works with your schedule. I put my running gear on when I get out of bed on M/W/F mornings and do my run first thing.
And (I hope) having a community of folks here encouraging you and cheering you on will help too!
Oh, and one more thing ;-)
My biggest tip for staying with the program: Ignore how long the program / app thinks it 'should' take you to complete it. It's totally, totally fine (more than fine) to repeat a "Day" of the program more than once (or twice, or three times) if you're finding it very hard, or having trouble with the "Day" after. I think my record for repeating the same "Day" is 8 times!