A reality check

[Bazza1234]

I first started out "running" about 4 years ago - even in those early days I asked myself what it was that I wanted to do - and I decided that I thought that every human being regardless of age "should" be able to walk for 5 klms and run for 1 klm. I don't know where those numbers came from - but at the time they were not possible for me Then I caught the "bug" and went on to run 10klm "races" and Half marathons - 100 x 5k parkruns. So - now I have not run for 3 months and don't know when I will be able to again - it is quite possible that my "greatest" ( in my eyes) run of 2hours 23 minutes for a HM will be it for me. But - I have been reading the various countries recommended physical exercise levels which have changed recently ( and in fact doubled) 150 minutes of "moderate " exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity per week - even doubling those numbers and I am NOT running, I exceed those figures. So - this begs the question? - have I overdone it in the past? I have easily done 4 hours of "vigorous" exercise running per week in the past.

[ShannieP]

Things change,new research say this that or the other.

Maybe in a few months someone will say something different again.

Do want is right for you,your pace your speed,your plan.

And 2hrs 23 minutes for a HM if that is it,it's a PB and it's yours.

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to ShannieP]

Well,if you were overdoing it there's nothing you can do about it now 😃

I hope you can get back to running 🙁 If not, what will your vigorous exercise be? Badminton, squash, cycling? Gym type stuff?

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Well, this is my problem really. If I can't run, then I certainly can't play badminton, squash etc And running is so easy to do as a form of cardio exercise. In fact most of us ( certainly me) have really run at an unnecessarily high HR . It is actually really easy and enjoyable to run slowly at the correct HR. I am managing to get 40 minutes ( 4x10 minutes on 4 machines ) at the gym - but don't know if I could keep that up for the rest of my life!!!

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

The recommended figure is the minimum. I don't know that there is a maximum. I think personally you were doing just fine and were just unlucky to get an injury - if I remember correctly it wasn't running-related. As far as I'm concerned if it does you good mentally and doesn't knacker you physically then you can trot along all day if you want. That's probably what our ancestors did and could be what our bodies are made for. If you were going hell for leather every time that would be a different matter - but you weren't. You were tail-running with the newbies, telling them to slow down and enjoying yourself. So, no I don't think that 4 hours a week is excessive. But that's just my personal opinion!

[Irish-John Graduate10]

Remember when "Three out of four Doctors recommend -" some brand of cigarettes?

There is a cost to everything in life - live long and prosper v live short and be merry kind of continuum.

Enjoying the time we have and deciding how long we want it to last is a very personal decision. I know people who want to go out before "old age/mandatory retirement" and I know a few who are supremely into supplements/healthy living etc who want to reach a hundred.

Me - as long as I don't get Rabies or brain cancer I'll call it "satisfactory" however long or in what condition it ends up being Did all the wrong lifestyle choices for years so kind of interesting I'm still around according to all those studies anyway