Attempt number two! I'm a noob again.

[Horrorhiker]

Hi all. I'm on my second attempt at C25K and It's great to be back.

I thought I'd just share my experience as it might give a bit of encouragement to anyone having some problems.

I started C25K about a year ago, as a mildly overweight, not at all active guy, getting toward the mid 30's. With a bad back history as long as your arm.

I was really loving the programme, was totally looking forward to graduating. I was running cross country (1st mistake), and I was getting gradually worse aches and pains all the way through, and at the end of week five, my body just wasn't having it. I had loads of bad pain all over following each run, and it was that bad that I decided I was just one of those people that couldn't run.

I was totally bummed out by this to say the least.

Anyway, fast forward several months and I put my back out twice at work in a short space of time, and to cut a long story short, work arranged for me to see a physio.

This led me to joining a gym, to exercise my back more than anything. In one of my physio sessions, I mentioned that I didn't manage the C25K programme, and that I wasn't a runner. She said that I was talking rubbish (in nicer words). Told me off a bit for being defeatist, and said that with the programme I should be able to run 5k, with my back problems, no hassle. Just stick to a more forgiving terrain, and follow the instructions.

So anyway, I went to the gym for a couple of months, went on a diet, lost a stone or so and by then I was confident enough to get on the treadmill as part of my regular workout.

I now use C25K to start my workout session and I start week 4 on Sunday. I've had no more than the normal aches etc that go with jogging, and I'm real excited about finishing this time.

I suppose the moral of the story is that if you encounter problems with pain, the answer may not be that running isn't for you. It's probably another factor. For me, it was not being flexible enough, not warming down properly, and running on the wrong terrain. After all, you see people of all shapes and sizes doing this programme. It's determination and common sense more than anything I think. And patience. I'm irritated at myself for wasting a year to be honest.

I watched 'Obese : A year to save my life' the other day, which showed a lady doing a 5k, then was challenged to do a half marathon. She did it, and you could feel the pain she was going through, but she did it. There's nothing like an inspirational tale.

I remember this forum being super brilliant for being supportive in the often snooty running world, so it's great to be back.

Cheers

James.

[wilmacgh Graduate]

Great blog. Thanks for putting your story on the site.

[Horrorhiker Graduate in reply to wilmacgh]

Thanks, and no probs

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Great to hear that you are back running. Are you doing it all on the treadmill?

[Horrorhiker Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks. I've done it all on the treadmill so far. I plan from this week (week 4) to do one of the runs outside. I plan to do a parkrun when I've graduated so I'm assuming it might be a good idea to start acclimatising. I'm slightly nervous in case it's loads tougher, but that's the name of the game I suppose.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Glad you're back! That's a great blog too, and will give encouragement to a lot of people. Enjoy your running

[Horrorhiker Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Many thanks. I'm definitely chuffed to be back in it again.