Encouragement for a French friend

[Lizzisforliving]

Hi

I just had lunch with a close friend and I told her all about C25K (evangelising, natch). She doubted she'd be able to do it (stop me if you've heard that before), her concern being her breathing. Anyway, I plan to keep gently encouraging her (she's just lost her husband and so we're seeing more of each other, and I think she'd probably enjoy another activity), but I wondered if anyone knows of a similar programme in French (I didn't find one when I googled)? I think she'd manage fine with the podcasts in English (I am an alumnus of the Michael Johnson C25K coaching academy), but she might not be able to participate fully on this board.

Thanks

Love Lizz x

[Anthie Graduate]

Hi Lizz, Being a froggie and living there as well, I feel I'm obliged to reply lol! Unfortunately, there's no real equivalent to the C25K programme in French and no app with a forum. At least I haven't heard of any but then I'm not an app expert at all (I'll ask around and will leave you a message if I get positive feedback). If she lives in a city where's there's an association sports club (ask about ASPTT or something similar)), they usually have organised sessions for people to learn running with different levels. If your friend is retired, she should get access to special rates and benefit from having a real coach. From your message, I figure it's not so much the plan she needs (you don't really need the podcasts as long as you can time the walking and running parts) as the support from this forum. But if she joins a club, she'll get support from the group. A lot of the retired women in my nordic walking group are exercising every single day with the club: when it's not nordic walking, they go to stretching, Pilates and gymnastics... It's all included in the price of the club fees (the ASPTT, which is the national athletics organisation). Let me tell you: I'm 46 and sometimes I feel like they're so much fitter and healthier than me! If your friend lives in a small town, it's bit more complicated. But perhaps, posting on the forum in English and reading can be entertaining as well if her English is not too bad.

[Lizzisforliving Graduate in reply to Anthie]

Hi Anthie

Thanks for such a detailed reply. You guessed correctly that she's retired, and she already does a lot of activities (including English classes, so she'd benefit from posting on here in English) some of which are sports-oriented - gym douce, swimming and some kind of walking (perhaps Nordic, I'm not sure). Anyway, I'll pass on this info - she's in Nîmes (and I'm out in the sticks), which may be too small for the organisations you mention. I really loved doing C25K and I want to spread the word, and I really believe she'd be able to do it, and enjoy it.

Thanks for your help,

Love Lizz x

[Anthie Graduate in reply to Lizzisforliving]

I wrote back yesterday but apparently I forgot to click on the submit button! Nîmes is not so small: there must clubs and associations especially for retired people and perhaps an ASPTT. But as Ted says, you're definitely the best support she can get and next time you're visiting, you can talk her into going for a W1R1 with you? She seems very active, so it would be very surprising if she found the first runs difficult and you can show her how to run very slow

[Lizzisforliving Graduate in reply to Anthie]

Thanks, Anthie. I think I'll wait a few weeks, for the better weather, and until I'm sure she's interested and that I'm not brow-beating her. But yes, what a lovely idea to start the programme again with her,

Love Lizz

P.S. Nîmes always seems short of the facilities of other cities, but it has a lovely small town atmosphere. And great weather and monuments! X

[TedG Graduate]

Hi Lizzi, you’re all the support and encouragement she needs to get started.

She’s in great situation having a friend who’s completed the programme 😊

Wish your friend ‘Good luck’ 😊

[Lizzisforliving Graduate in reply to TedG]

Hi Ted,

What a lovely thing to say, thank you. I'll pass on your good wishes, and try to encourage her to give it a try.

Love Lizz x