hello..i m 42 and need help running,well i re-enlisted in dec 2006 army national guard,started running again in april til june,trying to get ready for my pt test(i was doing 2 miles around 19 to 20 mins not to good but improving),then june 26th i was at (AT)end up having a hernia,well i had my surgery july 28th,i go back to my regular job(civi)sept3,well we have our pt test oct 13,how do i get back into running again this short of time after surgery,is there any hope,i m going to be working around 50+ hours a week(foodservice-school going back)i m a forklift operator,any advice would be great,,also i m not heavy i weigh 150lbs.would like to add weight,i started drinking muscle milk this week,trying to add a few pounds,,,thanks

Hello i am 42 and just went into the Army national guard after being out of the army since 1988. I have yet to do my first drill this month. But am ready mentally and physically. I am almost at a 17 min 2 mile. What i do is hit the gym and do cross training with intense biking, step aerobics and weight training. The weight training makes your legs strong for running. I do around 2 hours of working out in the evening everyday and trust me it works. Being up in age or anything does not get in the way of being in shape.

Hi there...thought I would jump in over here. Several years ago I found a running program in Men's Health which was geared towards having beginner runners get into at least a 30 minute run/jog, and after a few weeks it would have the runner increase their run/jog by 5 minutes x 3 days, each successive week. As best as I can remember, here's how it works:

Week 1 : 30 minutes (4 Minute walk/1 minute jog, every 5 minutes), 3 days per week
Week 2: 30 minutes (3 minute walk/2 minute jog, every 5 minutes), 3 days per week
Week 3: 30 minutes (2 minute walk/3 minute jog, every 5 minutes) 3 days per week
Week 4: 30 minutes (1 minute walk/4 minute jog, every 5 minutes) 3 days per week
Week 5: 30 minute jog, 3 days a week

And each week thereafter, increase your run/jog by 5 minutes.

Good exercise program for anyone thinking about 5Ks, 10Ks, or even half/full marathons.

hello..thanks for the reply,i didn t have to take the pt test,oct 13th,but will in nov (11-17)i have started to train again,its hard,working 45-50hrs week(forklift operater)standing all day,legs killing me after work,so i started using a stationary bike in the morning this week then will run friday morning before work, then run sunday,ease back into it ,i will do it,,thanks again