Week 1, Day 1, Take 3

[HestonF1]

Hello all,

Although this is my first post I've been reading this forum for a few weeks now and it looks like a great place for advice and support.

I first attempted c25k about 3 1/2 years ago, buying trainers from my wife's catalogue, that looked good and assuming they were my fit because they were the size I wear.

1st run was ok, 2nd run okish and 3rd run my body just said no! I lost heart and gave up!

Fast forward to 2014. I'm nigh on 38 my belly is pushing out horizontally, something needs to be done! I sort out my diet, cutting down on biscuits and crisps and wiping out the Golden Arches! I start walking a couple of miles every other day and the pounds start to drop happy me! Then I got to the stage where I wanted to run again! Maybe I should get in touch with Laura again!!

In trainers I had used for everyday wear for the last 8 months or so I set of on day 1 run 1. Completed it with a few niggles but nothing to write home about, day 2 had similar niggles but I felt ok immediately after the run. Later that a day I began to stiffen, pain in my left knee gradually got worse. After a week of limping and no running I gave in and went to the doctor to find I had sprained my MCL.

In my time away I've been reading up on running, keeping in touch with this forum. I discovered that the problems on both occasions were with my left leg. The leg that wore the trainer that only just fitted, ok for walking, no good for running.

So this morning I've started again in my shiny new shoes that fit properly!! Hopefully I'll be telling you next week I'm on week two!!

[beforefifty Graduate]

Ah well done for re-tackling the program ... and in shiny new trainers You have done the right thing - I think correct footwear and a proper sports bra (ok, women only) are the only two items that must be right and you have to spend a little money on. Everything else is nice but unnecessary, especially when starting out. Don't forget to take it easy, it is not about speed at the start, it is about building stamina and strength.

Best of luck with the program, I'll be looking out for your next post

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Well done. Good footwear is half the battle. Just trust Laura to get you there!

[EverTheOptimist Graduate]

Congratulations for restarting the programme!

I recently dug up a quote from John "The Penguin" Bingham, an American author and advocate of running slowly for fun, rather than hurting yourself in the quest for speed.

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

I had my right MCL snapped in an argument with a car when I was 16. 30 years on I decided to try and see if I can run. After a few weeks of C25K on a treadmill I headed outside, got to week8 but my MCL gave up on me. So much so I had to rest for 2 months in order for it to settle down.

I then restarted from week 5, but switched to a more "barefoot" running style, using the ball of the foot rather than the heel. This has hugely reduced the strain on my knees, although I do need to be careful and not overdo the work on my Achilles! As a result I have just graduated from the programme.

Hopefully the shiny shoes will do the trick, but if you do suffer from knee problems, have a look at "barefoot" running style (Wikipedia has a reasonable article) or for a comparison, try this article for size

running.competitor.com/2014...

Best of luck!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Hats off to you for starting the programme again. You'll probably find that your new shoes make a big difference to how you feel so they're always a worthwhile investment.

Good luck and I look forward to reading your posts.

[HestonF1 Graduate]

Thank you all, and thanks for the tips. I've left it late replying because as time passed after my walk/run I began to feel my knee again!! Thinking oh no I've screwed it again!

I've woken this morning to no pain and no stiffness like before, a little sore to touch but nothing serious.

So hopefully I'll be back on the road tomorrow morning.

I really hope I can get through this, I feel brilliant after every time I go out and I know the benefits by far outweigh the negatives.