Attempting to get a little fitter

[Steve05]

I stopped running about 3 years ago for no reason other than laziness!! I had done Great North Run 4 times but now at the ripe old age of 60 struggle to run for more than a few minutes.... do you think I can return to longer distances again??? ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

[Wizziewood]

I'm no expert but if I can become a runner for the first time in my life at age of 60 I'm sure you can get your fitness back.

The C25k is brilliant, just work through the weeks at your own speed and you'll smash it.

There's lots of advice, support and encouragement on this forum so keep reading and keep posting.

Good luck and happy running!

[Steve05]

I went out last night walked jogged walked and must admit felt ok when I got home. I will go again tomorrow evening using this app as a guide. Hopefully regain some of my old fitness.... never been one to quit but not confident at the moment.... thank you for your message 😄

[jaybro28 Graduate]

Absolutely. One of the guys racing with us this morning was pushing 80, and was completing his 1,147th race. You got this.

[Steve05 in reply to jaybro28]

Ty , out again tomorrow no excuses ...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

When I started C25k four years ago I was 57 and had not run for forty years. Although I am not interested in longer distances, I can run 10 miles and do a 12k run every week. It has transformed my life. Bazza123, who regularly posts on here aged 70, started at 67 and until his recent accident, was running half marathons. So the answer is yes, there are plenty of us here who are older than you.

The thing you have to remember is that you don't bounce back from injury as quickly as you did when younger, so caution is paramount. C25k is a brilliant way to get back into running and I would thoroughly recommend it.

Get those shoes on!

[Steve05 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Ty... I will do...

[nikkiwabit Graduate]

I am 56 and have never run (can't even remember doing as a child), only on week 4 but getting somewhere and have some over ambitious plan of my first triathlon aged 60. So of course you can do it. Loads of people older than you are doing serious runs.

One word of warning if you ran a lot before (and this is based on my swimming experience) don't expect to be back where you were straight off. When you start back, your body may initially think it is take up where it left off only to then tell you it was a mistake later. You will need to build up slowly again, although with your previous experience it will be quicker than a newbie as you will not have to learn thinks like how to breath, or in my case "how to" run. That bit is like riding a bike (allegedly/hope so - that's the last bit of the "tri" to do)/

[Steve05 in reply to nikkiwabit]

That's just it I think that's what my brain is telling me .... need to learn some patience... ty

[Hidden]

You ask 'do you think I can return to longer distances again???'.

I'd bounce that question right back at you. Do YOU think you can run longer distances again?

I don't know the answer. Nobody except those closest to you could have any idea. You said you quit for no other reason than laziness. Are you lazy? If you are, then you're probably not going to be running far again. No point pretending. But I think I can honestly say I've never in my life met a lazy person. I've met plenty of apathetic people. Plenty of procrastinators. More than I can count of people that are reluctant to try because they fear failure, which is bizarre because the best way to guarantee failure is to not try. Are you any of these? Or are you going to decide that you are going to it, and then do it?

[Steve05 in reply to Hidden]

I like ur answer I am hoping being on here will give me the push that I need. It has been a bit of getting home from work and I can't be bothered!!! .... ty

[Hidden in reply to Steve05]

I know that feeling. It's a very easy trap to fall into.

One of our martial arts instructors has thrown away his sofa. I keep threatening to do the same in our house.

Sofas have their own gravitational pull. There is only one type of entity in the known universe that is a dangerous as the sofa, and that's a black hole. Once you get caught by the sofa it is night on impossible to break free of its pull.

It's best to avoid it if at all possible. Then it's easier to do other stuff. If you do get caught and fall on, it's best to break free as soon as possible, because the longer you're on there, the more of your energy it will steal, making it increasingly difficult to escape. I'm trapped on mine right now. I've been here since just after dinner.

There are things you can do though. If you drink plenty of water and cuppas, not only will you keep your hydration levels up, which help you with energy, but you'll need the loo plenty too. There is one force greater than the pull of the sofa, and that's the call of nature. And once on your feet, you are free from the sofa. Then while still on your feet, you can get out and do stuff.

[wightdiamondgirl Graduate]

Almost definitely. I have never run in my life apart from school Sports Days, but I have just completed C25K and I am approaching 70! I wouldn't say it has been easy, but I was determined to keep going and see if through. With your previous experience I would imagine you could of it once more. Good luck.