Hi well I was so pleased on Tuesday to have have done the first run. I ached a bit in the evening but yesterday morning I woke with very stiff and achey thigh muscles, hip and lower back pain. My lower left leg was sore and painful possibly due to breaking the bone (fibula) about 5 years and having pain on and off over the years. As yesterday went on the pain and stiffness got worse, I kept walking around slowly trying to relieve it. By 7pm I couldn't walk up and down stairs, or rise in and out of chair without pain. It was so miserable and my daughter was worried about me! This morning things aren't much better. I think I will have to lose weight before I can carry on with the programme. I am about 6 stone overweight, this is obviously putting too much strain on my bad leg and my muscles I think.
Bananar/Katherine
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Bananar
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After my first run, I felt like I'd been done over with a tyre iron. The worst bit? The muscles over my ribs, several inches below my armpits. I could have actually cried they hurt that much. I took four days off after the first run, and after that stayed more hydrated, made sure I got enough sleep and rested well. Each run, the recovery was better and now I just feel tired, and maybe a tiny bit stiff. A d I too am overweight, currently around 5 stone, but I'm running for 30 minutes at the moment. You CAN do it, but right now your body is giving you reasons not to. Ignore it! Power through the aches, and keep pushing yourself!
Ouch - I feel for you - I was the same in wk1 - it's a massive shock to those of us that are carrying excess baggage or have done not that much activity. Try to keep moving around if you can and stretch it out- take some time to rest - if you need to take extra days between runs do it. The plan is flexible - but try not give up hugs x
I’m also enjoying the day 2 pains! But it does sound like it hit you worse. I would say don’t give up completely even if not is really discouraging. However I would also recommend not pushing yourself too much beyond what is comfortable. Maybe you could shorten the runs and ease yourself into it gradually?
Thank you for kind words and advice guys. So far today I am feeling worse! Can walk best by shuffling (not raising legs as that hurts, but still haven't managed to get out of the house)
I will definitely need to take a few days rest then start again very slowly. It's quite frustrating, as I felt so good after the first run on Tuesday morning. I wanted to start running as I have read it's good for your mental health but I think brisk walking would be too?
By all means walking is a good exercise and many do long walks during their rest days.
It may be a good idea to seek advise from your GP before you commit to running, based on how your initial experience went but I would also check if there is need for shoes support (insoles) and whether the shoes are the right ones for you. Any good specialist shoe shop will be able to advise.
Finally, I’d find about specific exercises (core, strength and stretching) which could help you relax and prepare your muscles. In any case, whatever you do, don’t give up and follow the program in a nice, slow and steady way with rest days between the runs.
I've not had this from running (so far!) but when I started to going to a dance class, some weeks I could barely move a couple of days later, so what you describe sounds very familiar.
NHS Choices has a really useful page called 'Why do I feel pain after exercise?', which is probably worth looking up. It has a lot of good advice, but best of all it explains how to tell 'DOMS' (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), however severe, from other aches and pains which might need checking out. I found that in itself reassuring, which helped me cope with the pain! It does lessen as your body gets more used to exercise, so it's worth keeping going if you can. All the best with it!
Ouch - that sounds awful. I really feel for you. Please don't let it put you off coming back after you recover and really being kind to yourself when you run. Slow and steady as the admin on here always say. And they're right!
I was exactly the same....after my first week I felt like I wanted to give up. Our bodies have just had a great shock to our bodies so you have to be gentle and kind. May I ask did you maybe run a bit to fast? Slow and steady my love is the way forward. As silly as it sounds I actually felt better with my aches after going for the next run as it looses the muscles again.
Also I do treat myself once in a while to an Epsom salt bath - something to look forward to. X
You’ve had some fab advice off everyone so can’t add much more. I was just thinking as I read that you could try doing week one only walking first. Walk faster where you’re supposed to be running. Then give the first run a go again with very slow running. See how it goes.
Hope you feel better soon, keep moving and stretching as much as possible.
Also don’t worry about struggling and being negative that’s what we’re here for to support and cheer you on.
We do feel for you just now. I am also overweight and had similar problems when I first started as I’d really not done much exercise at all before.
Once I’d stopped hurting I built myself up by just brisk walking a few times a week for about three weeks. So week one 15 mins, then 20 until I could comfortably walk for 30 minutes. Only then did I started the program again proper and it made a huge difference.
Listen to your body, a bit of achiness next day is fine but it shouldn’t be painful. If you build up slowly slowly though you’ll get there. Whether it takes you 9 weeks or 9 months to get to the end you will feel the benefits for it as each week goes by.
I’ve still had to repeat some weeks but I’m about to start week 7 and I can’t believe what a difference this program has made to my life.
I’ve lost a little bit of the excess weight but more importantly I’ve learned that I can push myself just that little bit further each week and that all these small improvements each week soon add up to something amazing.
I felt much more stiff and aching right at the very start - remember we're moving muscles in a way which we haven't used them for a long time (ever in my case!). I'm about 4 stone overweight and I say keep going... slow and steady. I also find it's important to stretch a little before and after the runs too. Good luck - you can do it!
Thanks so much everyone for kind words it sounds so silly but I am in tears (again, but not because of the pain this time!) reading them.
Yes I did possibly go a bit too fast on Tuesday, I could only pant when I was running. I am still very stiff this morning but a bit less sore. Walking still difficult.
When I recover I will start with brisk walking only for a few weeks as suggested by Jenny567 as it seems very sensible to me
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This morning things aren't much better. I think I will have to lose weight before I can carry on with the programme. I am about 6 stone overweight, this is obviously putting too much strain on my bad leg and my muscles I think. 
it sounds so silly but I am in tears (again, but not because of the pain this time!) reading them. 
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