Helping out a new runner.

Sounds good. I'm always trying to help late-starters, and I agree that getting them into a consistent routine of doing a run 5-6 times a week is the most imporatant thing early on. Even it it means short runs like 3 miles every day, at least they'll have the framework to lengthen runs, add workouts, etc.

Interesting premise using linear progression.

depends on how fit he is to start off with.

unless he is on an atkins diet or something that will prevent him from being active, I think 1-2 miles per day for a month is way too conservative and really will not be of any benefit.

there is no reason why someone who isn't morbidly obese cannot have a goal of running 6 miles at the end of 1 month at a slow 9-10 minute pace.

Your plan looks reasonable. I've recommended similar buildups for beginners, except for time instead of distance. So something like 20-30 min every other day during the work week, with a longer run, or run/walk, of 40-60 min on the weekend, for the first month. Over the course of 16 weeks, I try to build them up to running 5-6 days a week, alternating 20-30 min runs with 40-60 min runs during the work week, and a longer run of 60-80 min on the weekend.

You're not Dave Dunham, are you?

Hmmm...the minutes ideas sounds like Nobby Hashizume's Lydiard Clinic. 16 weeks sounds bit quick to my way of thinking, as I am not professionally credentialed or anything, and am going by instinct and what I read.

I was basing my idea/progression on the program that the "Aerobics" author Ken Cooper used to help a pilot named Art Yarrington regain his figher pilot status after being grounded for an abnormal EKG. He started at a mile a week for a month, then a month at 2 miles a day, then 3...etc...that sounded do-able.

Your progression sounds good but I have found that just sending people out on the road seems to rankle some. One guy said something about feeling a bit 'aimless' running by time alone, although he was just running on the roads; something about not liking running on trails and fields as he tended to sprain his ankles. That guy supinated like no one I ever saw before, running behind him made me cringe to watch his footstrike.

thanks everyone for your feeback

I was not fit but had a few pounds on and did the following.

Go out and run/walk 3 miles almost every day until I could run three consistently (this took about two weeks). Then I ran 3 most days, but added a mile once in a while. After two months I was able to run 6 miles, pretty much every day with little problem.

There was no schedule. When I felt ready to run more, I ran more. That's the point I'm trying to make. Your guy could take two weeks or two years depending on his current fitness and motivation.