advice please as not run since covid

[Bunny55]

Morning everyone hope you’ve all had a Happy Christmas. I’m seeking some advice and support please. I’ve been running for last 5yrs I’m 62 and used to run 5ks twice a week at around 36mins. I then caught covid a year ago it completely floored me. Extreme fatigue, wasn’t eating well, low mood. I’m now feeling a lot better but have struggled to get the running shoes back on mainly fear I won’t be able to run even round the block! I’m desperate to get back out there but unsure how to start up again. Ie part run/part walk, force thro a 5k, start with all walking? Can anyone perhaps who has experienced similar give some advice please, thank you 😊

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Hello, great to hear you are ready to run again.I would strongly suggest after 12 months off to restart the program.

Certainly your fitness and aerobic capacity will have declined after a bad bout of covid and 12 months non running.

But also what's often overlooked is your resistance to injury will have also reduced.

Restarting a progressive training program again and building up slowly would be a sensible option!

Good luck

[Bunny55 in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you that’s good reasoned advice Ivejust printed off plan put some distances/times in my diary and will work towards that starting in the morning. Thanks again for your support 😁

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Hello there Bunny55 that’s great news you’re feeling much better and ready to run again! I wholeheartedly agree with Instructor57 and I hope you have fun doing it 😁.

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

Take the great advice from Instructor57 ... by doing C25K again, you will be sure to get back to your running safely and having had fun.

Many folk are in the same boat and it is good to know we are all here to support each other too!

[grumpyoldgirl]

Hi Bunny, I've just posted on Oldfloss' thread about running after covid. I caught it in February when I was working my way through a rerun of c25k, and my experience was much like yours.

When I restarted again months later, I discovered that my body was much more compromised than I'd thought. So much so that old injuries were resurfacing, muscles and joints felt achey and injury-prone. So I'd say start at the beginning, but maybe do a lot of active walking first to regain some stamina. Be prepared to repeat runs, and weeks of runs.

My ankle was feeling distinctly unhappy so I halted the running and started on the Active10 app instead, and now I feel like I might start again on c25k when the weather improves (I like to be confident of a decent running surface after breaking my ankle).

Best of luck!

[Bunny55 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

thank you for your reply grumpyoldgirl I went out this morning with a positive mindset . I did a good warm up walk them set myself a short run target only about 10mins. Well after literally minutes I felt exhausted my old knee started twinging which I thought was long gone. So I walked again and then tried a run but felt very disheartened. But I’m not giving in I’m listening to all advice and also yr experience has made me realise covid has affected some of us this way. So I’m resting for weekend, taking down the decs! Then I’ll get back out there on Monday. Good luck to you too 😘