Hi Mum2many
I'm a newbie to this forum, and to running. I've been doing the Zest beginners plan, now on week 8. I've found it extremely tough some weeks, so don't worry if you need to go a bit more slowly than they suggest - I've stuck at it as I have a deadline, a 5km run that I want to actually run (well, jog gently), but if I hadn't, I'd have taken it a little bit more slowly (an extra week or two running 2 mins before moving up to 3, for example).
I've been doing 2/3 of the training on treadmills, but getting outside for one session a week and I did find that the tarmac took its toll on my shins. I'm lucky in that I live in a very small town (and right on the edge of it), so I quickly switched to running round a field and now on to the (packed mud) canal towpath. The softer surface has definitely been kinder to my legs, so if you have somewhere you can run in the countryside or just a park, then give that a go if you can.
I have a lot more energy than I did - I don't fall asleep on the train to work every morning now (just now and then!). I've lost weight, too, although I've been eating a lot more healthily which has made that happen more quickly (9 pounds since I started running, and I've had a couple of very food-filled weeks!).
The guys here are really helpful, so do ask any questions you have - they've given me some good advice, in response to a dumb question or two :d
