*Sigh*

Question
Ok, I'm fifteen, female, 5'2" (i think), and about 128-9lb. I was less not too long ago but gained about 5lb this month... not sure why.

Anyway.
I'm in my schools marching band (aka speedwalking in strange patterns while attempting to be musical) and I've always loved running.
Usually I'll start running some in June because band starts in July, so as to get a bit in shape. They make us run laps round the school track during camp and at night practices too.

But I've always liked running. I was on the running team at my old school when I was in ... fifth grade or so, and was fast. They had me as a sprinter. But since then I've never had any endurance.

I want to start running now instead of June so as to get in better physical shape too, and I really want to do track at some point, but am worried that starting in my junior year and sucking will make me a bit of a mockery and I'll never have any fun.

Can you give me any tips? I used to just job my way around a couple of blocks, about half a mile, every morning and suppliment it with a bit of weight training, but I never had much endurance and it never did me much good. Can you give me like, breathing tips, or ideas for a program so as to get my endurance and fitness up, and if possible lose a bit of flub? Its not much fun slagging through marching season with no stamina.

Thanks
Nay

Answer
Normally I don't answer questions for those under 18, but in this case, I think its worth replying.  I'm a former track & cross-country coach, and for you to think of going out for track is great.  I wouldn't worry about 'sucking', because the sport of running is about improving with the best that you have to give.  It is the only team sport that is dependent on each individual's improvements, making it a truly individual sport when you look at it in-depth.  If you enjoy running, then by all means, go out for track and see what you can do with your love for the activity itself.  You won't make a mockery out of yourself if you do it.  

As for any tips, I would try some walk/jogging intervals to begin with, then progress to jogging & running faster for intervals.  A half-mile's worth of jogging isn't going to cut it, its hardly any amount of time to develop anything positive.  Try something simple as walking 1 minute, then jogging for 1 minute, doing that 5-8 times, depending how you feel.  That's a 10-16 minute workout, all in all.  From your home, you could do 3 intervals of 1 walk, 1 jog (6 minutes), turn around, and come back again for 3 intervals, and you have a quick 12 minute interval workout done in no time.  You could try this 3-4 times a week, but I'm not going to give you any sort of programs to follow, since I can't do that through this service.  I have no idea what you're currently capable of to handle, so handle what you can and build up from there. I do have a fitness guide I created online that gives some general guidelines to follow on the basic principles of my training programs, called the Mini-Max Method.  You can see it at http://speeddialcoach.com/minimax.pdf

I hope these tips helped you out okay.

Rick