Do I Need to Go Back?

[mrrun]

Hey everyone! I am hoping to complete the program in the next 6 runs, all's well and injury free this time, thank god. Right after that I will have to stop running for 3 weeks as I will go on holiday, somewhere very hot and humid so running at 30-35c would not (I think?) be very beneficial for a guy in his fifties. However, I hope to be swimming a lot so at least my stamina should stay reasonably intact. When I previously completed CT5K in January I had to stop for 4 months because of foot inflammation (bad shoes, no insoles, pushed myself too hard) so now I'm thinking twice before doing anything. Would anyone know if on my return to running I should carry on where I left it (30 min uninterrupted run) or be more reasonable and simply run easy and see how I feel?

Anyone with similar experience?

All the best!

[gazelle2B Graduate]

Hi mrrun, I went on holiday for 10 days after R2W7. When I came back, I began at R1W6, and boy am I glad I did! I definitely had lost stamina during my time off. However, everyone's different, and you may just want to go out for an exploratory jog when you get back and see how you feel. But try not to get too hung up on it -- remember, running's for life, so who cares if you start again at 30 minutes, or go back and repeat a couple of weeks. Doesn't matter! In any event, make sure you enjoy that holiday!

[mrrun Graduate in reply to gazelle2B]

Thank you, Gazelle! Yep, knowing my body I think I should start small after the holiday. Often you think that an alternative sport will keep you 'in tune' but even more often than that a good holiday turns out to be nothing more than inactivity and beer (I can only speak for myself

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

It depends which week of C25K you are actually on?

[mrrun Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I've just completed W7R3 and hoping to complete all 9 weeks before flying away. So far I'm doing fine, not struggling, no pain.

[Wizziewood]

Well done you, you're nearly there!

I've just got back from a holiday where I wasn't able to run so I ran for 20 mins on my first run, 30 mins on the next and today I've got back to 5k (just over 36 mins. Bear in mind I had done 5k a couple of times before I went away). Based on this maybe ease yourself back into the level you finished at before you went away over two or three runs.

This is just my advice, listen to everyone's ideas and do what's right for you.

Have a good holiday ... and keep running!

[Tomas Graduate]

Always, always, always listen to your body. If you set out to do X and it becomes clear that this is unreasonably hard, then aim a little lower. On the other hand, if X is surprisingly easy, then by all means aim a little higher.

[RainbowC Graduate]

I've had an unplanned month off running, so tried 20 mins for my first restart run. That worked fine for me, and I'm now building slowly back up to 30 mins. But everyone's different, and it depends on all sorts of things including how active you'll be while on holiday. For me, I'd decide what I felt would be a good run for the first time back (e.g. Aim for 20 mins, be ok with a short walk after 10 mins, accept that I might have to walk after every 5), and take it from there. Others would do it differently.

[mrrun Graduate]

Thank you all!

Tomas, that rings very true for me. I ignored the warning signs previously and got stuck with injuries that could have been easily avoided. Equally, I tried a faster than I normally do 25 min run two days ago and 15 minutes later my legs turned into iron, was barely able to finish. Today I paced myself slower, comfortable pace throughout, and only 'sprinted' the last minute as kindly suggested by Michael Johnson in my earphones. Listening to our bodies is probably one of the best guides.

For me running is my best and healthiest connection with my youth and funnily enough, unlike youth, I will be able to (hopefully) keep it for a looong time!