Advised by doctor to stop running immediately. At week 9!

[Hannahod123]

Due to being quite flat footed i

Have regular visits with the hospital to see how my inner soles etc are working, this time I went and the doctor asked whether I was doing more exercise than usual, of course I said yes and praised couch to 5k as usual, after running some tests the doctor just said you need to stop running. Apparently I'm doing irreparable damage to my foot muscles! Never thought that would upset me! At a loss now and having to resort to the cross trainer which just doesn't give me the same pride!

[Narmour Graduate]

You have my sympathies!! what a blow. Can I suggest swimming as an excellent form of exercise instead? obviously won't have the same impact on your feet so might be worth considering?

[Hannahod123 in reply to Narmour]

I can't swim! Wouldn't hurt my feet but could drown haaaa, definitely something I would like to work towards doing though!

[Narmour Graduate in reply to Hannahod123]

Maybe there is an NHS Couch to 25 metres???

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Very sorry to hear that - Well done for getting to wk 9 on feet not designed to run. You must be feeling quite deflated. Really you achieved it anyway and I'm sure you will be able to put that determination into something else you enjoy. Good Luck. Linda

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I am so sorry to hear your news. Must be a real blow. Health must come first though. Can you set yourself harder inclines on the cross trainer to help give you that sense of achievement? Take care. Rfcx

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Really sorry to hear your news but your health has to come first every time and no exercise is worth causing irreparable damage to your feet.

You say you can't swim but 9 weeks ago you couldn't run could you!?! Check out your local swimming clubs for beginners lessons, you may well find its something you can do and enjoy. Wishing you all the best and take care.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

What a nightmare! I really feel for you. I reckon Oldgirl is right (as usual), you need to find another physical challenge and swimming could just be the thing. It doesn't have the convenience of running, which can be done anywhere, but is great exercise. Good luck with whatever you decide to do next and remember you will always be a C25ker.

Is this permanent?

[squaremum Graduate]

So sorry to hear that, you must be gutted. Like the others, I also think you should look for something else to transfer your energies to and swimming is the best form of exercise there is (sorry runners!). Whatever you decide, let us know what you are up to!

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to squaremum]

I agree with you squaremum, I was a swimming teacher for years and I'm proud to say I have helped many dozens of children to learn to swim and enjoyed every minute of it, every Saturday morning 3 hours during term time for 7 years. It is one thing in my life I am really proud of doing for others, especially children.

[squaremum Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Good on you, Oldgirl!

[Tready Graduate]

I agree with the others, it very sad that you can no longer run but swimming is an excellent alternative. I was also a swimming instructor many years ago, we ran a swim 90 miles in 1990, load of people signed up for it and we had some very weak swimmers who over time were able to swim a mile each session. It's also an excellent way of improving fitness. Good luck whatever you decide to do

[Twizzle53 Graduate]

I am so sorry to hear that you have to give up running. You must be devastated! Try not to be too disheartened though. As one door closes another usually opens and I agree with everyone who has suggested swimming as an alternative. I am currently in the process of arranging swimming lessons for myself (I can swim but I want to improve my stroke.) I've made general enquiries and discovered that one to one lessons or one to two cost around about £25 at the village hotel group (google swimtime). I know this seems expensive but the local council pool is always busy and the waiting list is always full. On top of that they teach up to twenty people at the same time.

Finally I'd just like to say congratulations are getting to week 9 despite your flat feet. Be very proud of yourself, it is a fantastic achievement and you should definetley consider yourself as a graduate of the C25K.

[OldNed Graduate]

I'm coming to this rather late but if you've got as far as Wk 9, presumably without too much distress/pain to your feet, I wonder whether it's worth getting a second opinion? I very much agree that you don't want to damage your feet but Doctors aren't infallible and they can sometimes err on the side of being over-cautious. After all, a good number of them seem never to have heard of C25K!!!

[Hannahod123]

That's what I've been thinking, I miss running! The Cross trainer is good but I don't feel that same sense of achievement!

[MinxyMissK Graduate in reply to Hannahod123]

Do you have proper running shoes? Surely those would help, I'm with OldNed, perhaps try for a second opinion? After all, us humans are designed for running.