Oldie Newbie (2)

[Austen304]

I was surprised at the number of responses to my first post and the speed with which they appeared. Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. I shall follow up the link about running pants but the suggestion of a skirt over tights is a step too far for this neighbourhood. Before starting to attempt to run, I went to a specialist shop and received advice about shoes from an assistant who runs half marathons. The shoes I bought have been excellent and taken away my fears about knee problems (though stair climbing is nowhere near brisk on the day after a run). I started the programme in May and have repeated each week's runs until the last two weeks, which I completed only once. I remain astonished that I have progressed from the first week, when I was willing the 60 seconds to end soon, to a stage when I can run (albeit at a funereal pace) for almost 30 minutes, not without strain and constant complaining to Laura, and even simulate real running over the last couple of minutes - and at an age when being on a couch is expected and not considered a sign of lethargy.

[misswobble Graduate]

If you are stiff after the sessions don't be surprised. I walk down the stairs in Frankenstein monster fashion (thump thump thump) to this day. Oh to be young again

Good luck. Go steady. Slow is the best way to approach this. Don't bother about times/distances or pace. That's an order!

Have fun!!!!!!

[Austen304 in reply to misswobble]

Yes miss!

[AdamB Graduate]

Those legs have got quite or few years of running left in them still. I've just looked up the results for the 80+ group in the Great North Run. There appear to have been 39 finishers in this group and the times some were putting in were fantastic. One of them started off by covering the first 5K in under 20:45 minutes (how many people would dream of that for a parkrun time?) and went on to complete the full half marathon in 1 hour 43 min. I know I'll never reach this sort of time and this guy has 20 years plus on me. We have a parkrunner at my local run who I have good reason to believe is 90 plus.

Enjoy that running and don't let anyone tell you that you are too old. Once you get to that 30 minutes and complete the course just remember to keep getting out regularly. C25K isn't an end in itself - it's the start of a new beginning for many of us.

[AdamB Graduate in reply to AdamB]

To second what misswobble says - the time/distance is unimportant (and I possibly shouldn't have quoted times above). What is important is that you get out and enjoy it.

[AvatheGardener Graduate in reply to AdamB]

OMG that's an amazing time for 5K. blimey! inspirational!

and indeed C25K can't be the end- it's just a way to get started

Austen, they're a pretty friendly supportive bunch on here- all those worries about proper runners looking down their noses at you are unfounded as far as this forum goes, it seems

[AdamB Graduate in reply to AvatheGardener]

Never forget - we are all "proper" runners. We get out, we run. That's all that's needed. Don't let anyone dare tell you otherwise.

[Austen304 in reply to AdamB]

That's very encouraging. I don't have aspirations to run half-marathons but it's reassuring that there are over 80s doing so, in significant numbers. No time to feel smug, I have some way to go.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you are feeling stiff after a run then try stretching nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/... These are a good basic set and helped me to get over post run aches. I still do them after every run.

[Rignold]

I am trying to imagine a neighbourhood where wearing tights under a skirt would cause moral outrage... What is the accepted way of wearing a skirt in your neck of the woods?

Excellent work on the running though. As others have said, time is immaterial (literally in fact) and stretching is important.

[Austen304 in reply to Rignold]

The skirt is the problem, not the tights. Usually reserved for females in this, rather conventional, neck.

[Rignold in reply to Austen304]

Puh! Are you living in the 1950's? Have your neighbours not heard of the transgender agenda?

Of course, living in Glastonbury where wandering around dressed as Gandalf or Mavis Cruet does not raise an eyebrow, my judgement on such matters may be somewhat out of sync with the rest of the country.

[Austen304 in reply to Rignold]

In the West Midlands, with its industrial history, the dress code in foundry and forge did not encompass skirts, jewellery, or even fur coats. Tradition in the workplace still pervades the factory, though the banking, insurance and IT crowd have their own preferences today.

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definitely do the stretches they do help .. as the others have said don't worry about speed or distance just go out and enjoy the runs