The beginning

[Lachalla]

Hello I'm in my 50s and going to start this tomorrow. I'm over weight and unfit and apprehensive. Will my knees cope? Need encouragement please.

[fatboytorunner]

First of all well done for making the decision to start .... start off slow and see how you go is all you can do ... try and run / jog on softer ground to begin with as it will be easier on your knees .... main thing listen to your body .... if you do have some pain or niggles make sure you rest .... if you need to repeat a week then do so .... make the programme work for you and not you working to keep up with the programme .... also look to strength train outside of running body weight excercises HIIT sessions I would suggest also so you are strengthening the muscles on your legs, your core and around your knees as well ... don't be put off just start slowly and you will be absolutely fine ... look forward to seeing your post and how you are getting on ... best of luck!!

[Lachalla in reply to fatboytorunner]

Thanks so Much! That's so nice of you.

[fatboytorunner in reply to Lachalla]

You are welcome .... running is amazing in so many ways ... it's given me back my self esteem, the feel good factor about myself and it's my sanity after a hard day. it's the little bit of me time I get to clear my brain destress and get it all straight in my head again! I hope it does for you what it has done for me! 😊

[Sadisand1967]

I'm on day 2 ... didn't think any running was possible as am very overweight and unfit but I got through and enjoyed it , take it at your pace and good luck x

[Lachalla in reply to Sadisand1967]

Thank you! Tomorrow !

[Tricky2836]

You can do this like previous posts say "take it slow" good luck and keep us updated

[Hidden]

Welcome to the best running club in the world. Loads of people here to give you help, encouragement, support, cheers, hugs, tech advice. We have two mentors on the site Oldfloss and IannodaTruffe - when you see a comment or a post from them, it's worth its weight in gold. Unless your knees are giving you problems now, the programme is designed to take you slowly but surely through to Week 9 and 30 minutes running. The mantra is aching is okay but pain definitely not. So choose your running coach, put on your trainers and go run - but before you do take one last long lingering look at that sofa, and then kick it into touch!

Happy running.

[Jules2246 Graduate]

Hi I am also in my 50s a bit overweight and never run before in my life. I have had bad knees all my adult life so I felt the same as u at the beginning. I want to encourage you tho....

For the 1st 3 weeks my knees hurt after each run culminating in a lot of pain after week 4 run 1. So I took a week off and did lots of research and started doing knee strengthening exercises

I resumed the programme and now a couple of weeks later my knees are stronger than I have ever known them to be and everything is easier... just getting out the car and up of the sofa is easier. I think our bodies need time to adjust after years of neglect and laziness!

I really want to encourage you to go for it. My advice would be take it slow. Don't try and run too fast even just a bit faster than a slow walk is still jogging... and you can up your pace once your stamina improves. I'll keep checking back to see how you're getting on. 😀

[fatboytorunner in reply to Jules2246]

Great advice 😊

[Lachalla]

Hello That's very encouraging. Thanks

[Lachalla]

Thanks so much everyone. I already feel more optimistic. I will post and let everyone know and hopefully in a few weeks I will be in a position to encourage someone else who is starting! Here's hoping

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Go for it! Follow the program, take it slowly and be prepared not to know yourself before long. Re the knees: everyone's different but mine are better when I run (I'm nearly 57 and a stone overweight, having been 8.5...). Happy runnings.