Seven weeks in, at 63

[sheffieldgirl]

This is my first post and I just want to say a VERY big thank you for all the useful advice and sheer enthusiasm posted here, along with the doubts and concerns – I started C25K on my 63rd birthday in the first week of January, not at all sure this could work for me. I've never been sporty, let alone athletic, and I've had dodgy knees in the past. But this is such a good programme. Now here I am in week 7, and I've done 2 parkruns....!

The two very best bits of advice (and they were transformational) were: (1) about that mega leap to the 20 mins in week 5, which did really scare me: do what you can. If you make 16 mins or whatever, it's still more than you've done before. This was so heartening, and stopped me repeating run 2, thinking run 3 was beyond me. To my amazement I did run for 20 mins, more than I have done since my 20s.

(2) Use your own playlist once the longer runs start. So obvious. I've loved Laura's coaching but it's felt so liberating to have my own tracks. I ran a bit to catch a bus today and my first track kicked in mentally. Weird!

My daughter has been the driving force in this. So a very, very big thank you to her, too. Sure, my knees are feeling it sometimes, but hey.

[V1kster]

I’ve got the dreaded 20 minute on Thursday. So far I’ve managed quite comfortably but that leap from 8 to 20 seems so daunting!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to V1kster]

Delight, not dread.... each run follows the one before. Just keep it steady and slow and you will be absolutely fine You are completely ready for it. That is the beauty of the programme, Trust it

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

You can do it! Thanks to this programme I've noticed much more closely how my own apprehensive inner voice works. And have managed to turn down the volume in a friendly way and just get on with this run, and just this moment of this run. Not spiralling forward to will I make it, what does this mean for next time etc. Really is about trusting oneself, too.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to V1kster]

Don't dwell on it just listen to your running mentor and do like you always do.

Good luck! 🤗

[Laviv10 in reply to V1kster]

We have all dreaded it. In fact I really thought I had missed a week or something! Take the run slowly and imagine all the lovely things you will be able to do when you finish the run. Have a great playlist - that really helps. I am on w6r2. Never thought I could do it!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Very well done indeed..there area few of us seasoned runners here... I started, the winter of 2015.

Keep it steady and slow and maybe try these out for your knees

nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks for the knee link. Yes I must!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Well done, you're doing great 👍😁🌟

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you! Now wondering how it would be to do treadmill today for the first time, in view of the snow....

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to sheffieldgirl]

I think it would be nice and toasty with a great view👍

If I had access to a treadmill I suspect I would be an indoor runner this week 😉

[misswobble Graduate]

Whoop whoop 💪👍😃🏃‍♀️ Well done indeed

Slow and steady is the way forward, just keep,plugging away and you will be amazed at how far you can go given time

Plenty of sixty somethings here, and out there 😁. You will h@ce clocked them at Parkrun I dare say 👀

There are some very good mature lady runners in Sheffield area. It’s the hills 😁

I am just fine the road from you 👍

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Ah, hills. I'm from Sheffield but living somewhere much flatter. Hills are hard!

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Hello and welcome. Congratulations on what you have already achieved, super!

Brilliant post too!

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Thanks! I'm learning a lot with this.

[astrozombie Graduate]

The older I have got I have realised age is irrelevant. I am fitter now than I was in my 20's probably like a lot of people here. I walked with a 20's to 30's group a few times and so slow in comparison to the 40 plus groups. Congrats that is good going. I used to just listen to the recordings and tried not to put myself under too much pressure. I can't remember if it was this run as could have been one of the other longer runs but for one of the longer runs I had an interview in the grounds of a country house and asked if I could leave my car and walk the grounds. I was do pre-occupied with analysing the interview before I knew it the I was being asked to have a 5 min cool down. I started it again. The next day I was struggling again which proved to me it really was mind over matter as when my mind was elsewhere I performed better.

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to astrozombie]

Interesting. I did try saying to myself during parkrun 'this is easy' but didn't quite convince! For me, variety of routes helps. Having something to ponder could be worth trying. Thanks.

[astrozombie Graduate in reply to sheffieldgirl]

Some days I can run more than others'. I am not consistent at the current time. I have been too busy changing jobs over the last 6 months so I have not gone down the parkrun route. When I have time I run to the next village and back which is circa 3 miles. I am not good around other people so I prefer to be solo but just my preference. I often have things on my mind so definitely helps though I won't be running for a few days as struggled to stay on my feet walking yesterday but I did take a short cut through a field which ends with a hardly noticeable incline back up to the road but in snow it was not so easy. Running on fresh snow as on Wednesday is nice but once it turns to ice it is strictly walking only.

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Welcome and well done- you are doing brilliantly.

Keep us posted so we can share for you! 😃

[sheffieldgirl Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

Thank you that's so kind. Update: 25 mins today was a hard old slog!

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to sheffieldgirl]

But you did it - some runs just feel that way, others go better.

Just realised that autotype in my last comment changed 'cheer' into 'share' - ah well, sharing the cheering is good! 😀

[astrozombie Graduate in reply to sheffieldgirl]

I remember those last 3 well and they were not easy. For a couple of them I was running on snow again and for one of them I got absolutely drenched. The vagaries of the weather. I was away so spent my Christmas plotting routes and then running them. Good luck with the final few.

[ebcroquet]

Amazing 🙌🙌😊🏃‍♀️