l just started running.l have no experience running.Myfirst day, l ran 3.6 miles and tookthree 10 second breaks.l did not feel too stressed out, but l was tired after.The next day l ran 4.1 miles.l stopped twice for a 10 second break.Am l pushing myself too hard?l do not wanna become injured and I've never really run like this in my life.If l do 3.6 miles for 5 days a week for the next week and then increased to 4.1 miles the week after, would that be too much?
Also, should l be doing something other than running or will running get me into good shape alone?l would like to eventually run a few 5k is and a 10k this summer.
l should add that l was in alright condition before starting.l do alot of skiing, ice skating, etc.

If you are training for competition, you need to practice that much, but you should definitely start out slower. Then, you can increase the length. And when you are training for a 5k or 10k, do not run too far, because you will get tired and worn out. Practice short spurts.

Thats about how much l ran when l started out. Since its really cold right now make sure you stretch really good before each run. :)

Hey it sounds like u have great motivation. That is key to becoming a good runner & getting better, u have to want to.

You r doing good, but you're training is not as efficient as it could be. Running is like lifting weights, u need to have hard days & easy days. You get better after healing from the hard days, & u can not heal if u do a hard day every day..so, l think u should try & run about 5 days a week since you're just starting out, & try & do it like this:

Monday- run hard
Tuesday- run easy
Wednesday- run hard
Friday- run hard
Sunday- run easy
Monday- run hard

So run 3 days & then take a day off, it is not the same days every week so u gotta keep count of which days u ran.

When l say run hard l mean something that really stresses you. You should actually alternate between about 3 different types of hard workouts:
1) Long Run- u run at kind of a slow pace, but go for a long time.you will have to figure out how far that is, but u should be dead when u finish & it is probably farther than 4.1 miles
2) Tempo Run- This is going at a pretty fast pace, & right now I'd say u can only do it for about 10 minutes. You run out from wherever u start for 5 minutes, & then try & come back before 10 minutes has passed. That means u run faster on the way back.but only slightly faster, like u finish in 9:57, u should be running fast enough the first 5 minutes so that u can barely come back faster.
3) Repeats- u can do hill repeats or just something like 400meter repeats, but anyway u run them at about 80% & do between 3 & 8 sets, depending on how far they are. Rest in between each one, & try not to run so fast on the first one is that u can not run the same time on the last ones.

On the easy days u should just go out & jog for maybe 15 minutes, it still gets u a little workout but it is easy enough so that u will recover from ur hard runs.

Other than all that just stretch before u run & try & jog around for a bit before u start ur hard workouts(you do not need to jog before ur long run though). l think with ur dedication u can improve a lot, just remember to alternate hard & easy days & not do the same thing every day.and as u get better u need to increase how far & long u run, or how fast you're going, otherwise u will stop improving after a while.

l am a very active, competive runner. l competed in my high school cross country school discirt championship meet & placed 4th. so l know running. What u need to know is that u r going why to fast. u shouldnt be running 0 to 3.6 miles! thats very bad. start out running 1 mile, if u do good. do that 3 more times. this allows ur body to adapt to running. go up to 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3. practice ur running at a good pace for you. practice ur breathing. breathe through ur nose, out ur mouth. practice ur form. if ur interested in 5k is then go onto a program. i've done hal higdon is programs & they r very good. follow that & u will suceede but u souldnt go from running 0 miles to runnning 3.6 miles. u r putting yourself up for injuries. its not good! but continue running, its great, great exercise & u will know ur in shape. & will help with ur skiing & ice skating. PRACTICE AND DONT GIVE UP!!!! hope this helped!! : )