Can’t even get started!

[Janny12]

48, sedentary with long hours job and a husband who thinks I’m mad even considering starting running at my age. Predicts injury (though, fair enough, I’m something of an all-or-nothing faddist). Maybe I’ll manage covertly this weekend ...

[sallenson Graduate]

C'mon Janny. Put those trainers on, covert as you like, and start an amazing journey!

You are going to astonish yourself hon xx

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon 👍🏃‍♀️

[boniobiscuits Graduate]

Please don't let your husband talk you down. You're clearly thinking that you need a change in your life, so don't let him be a gremlin and go for it and prove him wrong. I'm sure that he'll be equally as gobsmacked as he will be proud when you graduate.

The programme has been created in a way that, if you follow it to the letter, the risk of injury is very low.

Good luck and please go and discover your inner runner, it's a wonderful thing to find.

[Bowlofsteam Graduate]

Good for you for considering it. I’m 45 just approaching week 8 and have never before run in my life. There are LOADS of people on the program older than you starting from a similar place. Hopefully you’ll get inspired. If you follow the program and go slow, that will really reduce down the likelihood of injury. Remember that rest days are as important as the running and if you do get into it, investing in some decent running shoes also helps to prevent injury- as does stretching etc.

You can do this!!! Good luck. 👍

[Runningnut in reply to Bowlofsteam]

I invested in some shoes but they were out of stock 😢

[Bowlofsteam Graduate in reply to Runningnut]

That’s a shame. Try not to let that knock you back though. Just try somewhere else👍

[SANDI_runs Graduate]

Go for it Janny, I'm 52 and just finished week 6. My partner still thinks I'm a nutter! But I'm doing this for me not him!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to SANDI_runs]

Exactly! What’s up with em 🤨

[Carolinemcd Graduate]

Cheering you on from the sidelines!! 👍🏼

[DoingthebestIcan Graduate]

I'm 55 and overweight and graduated a couple of months ago. The trick is to go VERY slowly, then slow down and just when you feel you can't go any slower, slow down again. It works 😁

[Bowlofsteam Graduate in reply to DoingthebestIcan]

😬😂 great advice 👍

[Janny12 in reply to DoingthebestIcan]

Thanks to you and the others members who posted with encouragement. Am really touched. 🙂

[DoingthebestIcan Graduate in reply to Janny12]

This forum is fantastic. I really feel I would have given up without it.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to DoingthebestIcan]

It sure does 💪

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

I used this programme to return to running at 49...and completed my first Half marathon last year at the age of 51!🙂 Many others from this forum (and its sister forums, 'Bridge to 10k' and 'Marathon Running and Race Support') have done the same and more. Maybe share this with your husband...perhaps he could give it a go too?😉😀 Couch to 5k is a great programme - the journey starts here! Good luck!🙂

[Pippayoungart Graduate]

Go for it. You sound like you have grit and determination. And tell your husband he needs to change his attitude! I told my husband that i needed his help and support to keep me going and he has turned into my biggest cheerleader! Also i’m 60 and have managed it so you can too!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Pippayoungart]

I told my husband I didn’t need his support ! Miffed me off good and proper Growl 😏

[Deborahchick46 Graduate]

C'mon janny have us girls ever let a man come between something we wanted to do before?

It would make me go out and prove that I could do it.

( I replaced my loo seat this week all by myself . 😂) Different story for a another time.

Anyway I'm 46 and picked up trainers in April.

I'm on 8.5 k runs at the moment making my way up to 10 k.

You can do it , take one run at a time.

Nice and steady it's not a race . Good luck xx

[Run1980 Graduate]

Don’t let your husband put you off, it’s a great programme and you will feel amazing doing it. Shame you can’t talk him into joining you, be nice to do it together. Good luck, I hope you do it x

[Knitruntalk Graduate]

I am 63 and also a non-runner. I could swim further than I could run before c25k. I am on wk3 and find it challenging but if you don't give it a go, you won't improve your fitness. I have told myself just getting out there and giving it a go is better than not trying, so do try a covert run or two and let us know how you get on

[cazzam16 Graduate]

You can do this, just keep it slow and steady, I'm in my sixties and graduated a week or so ago and pleased to say this morning I finally completed 5K, (still not in 30mins) just follow the programme, it really works.

[MVBrown Graduate in reply to cazzam16]

Well done on reaching your 5K. Personally I think it’s about regular exercise which is what your doing. Hats off to you. Thanks for encouraging us reader and newbie runners.🙂

[Kay54]

I started this week & am at the wrong end of 63! It's important to have support from your family so ask for it. Good luck

[misswobble Graduate]

Ooh you should have kept schtum! 🙄

I kept quiet about it too as I knew my husband would take the pee. I hid out on the trails for the duration. Lycra was unchartered waters for me as was exercise. However something had to be done for my own health, and a lass at WW class had got me sorted with the podcasts. I “borrowed” my husband’s MP3 player 😎 and set out to shape the new me

He only found out I was running when I got locked out and had to bang on the door to be let in. I was right, he did take the pee, and told me that “what I was doing wasn’t running”. Quite what he knew about it 🤷‍♀️😁. Anyway I was so mad, fumed inwardly and vowed to “show” him 💪🏃‍♀️

I entered a race and arranged secretly with my son to go with me. On the morning we gets ready and OH wants to come as it was from his fave place, the football stadium 🙄. I only went and won a tenner for fastest over 55s lady 😁. Next up I secretly entered a ten k race. I sent him on a false errand to my niece’s to get shot of him for the day so I could get ready in peace My neice told him what I was up to after I’d finished, when she rang me up to check how I’d got on It turned out to be ten miles, not 10k, but I did it 😃

I kept running and still am. One marathon polished off. He wasn’t taking the pee then 🤨. My heckles are up just thinking about it. They say hell hath no fury ........ 😁

You do your exercise 💪👍. It’s nothing to do with anyone else. It’s for you! If you are fit and healthy your family will benefit in the long run

My husband will take me to my next marathon and moan about shivering at the finish line. Small price to pay I think 😆

Let us know how it goes. The beauty of it is that you only need go very slowly. Those who take their time over it will finish strongly and in good shape. Those who rush won’t 🤷‍♀️

[DoingthebestIcan Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Great story 😁😁😁

[Janny12 in reply to misswobble]

Thanks so much. That does it - going to the running shop in my lunch break!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Janny12]

Good for you, you don’t need spend a lot 👍

[Mayanow in reply to misswobble]

How amazing you are!!! You showed him alright! And even that gave you more drive. And you now run 10 miles????

r

RESPECT misswonder!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

I’m working towards my second marathon now 💪😁

[Mayanow in reply to misswobble]

You are truly admirable!

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Fantastic. You're a winner. 🥇🥇🥇🥇

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Hidden]

😃👍

[Jell6 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Wow Wobble!

[Matilda2903 Graduate]

Hi, I'm 48 as well and, when I started this I struggled to run for 60 seconds, I honestly thought I would die! Today I ran for 25 minutes and in time you will too! Don't listen to anyone else, believe in yourself and give it a go, you'll be amazed at what you can do! Take it slowly and listen to the advice from people on this forum, they really help you! Good luck and keep us posted 😀

[Forestgrump Graduate]

DO IT. DO IT. DO IT. DO IT.DO IT!. ;o)

[lexiemcd Graduate]

What a shame you're not getting encouragement from your husband but you'll get plenty on here so don't be downhearted. I wish I had found the C25k programme and this forum years ago but better late than never.......69 years in December and a Great Grandma ...never too old believe me - I graduated a couple of weeks ago and love getting the satisfaction of knowing I achieved what I thought was the impossible with every run I do !!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Go out covert... when he notices you’re stronger and fitter, drag him out too!

[Nigel6731]

I'm 47. About 5 months ago I started C25K. Couldn't run for a bus. Got cramp about 15 seconds into the first run of C25K. Thought, this isn't going to happen. Now running 40 minutes, 3 times a week and at a good pace.

[Mayanow]

DO NOT listen to negative suggestions! I never EVER ran in my life and i have proved everybody wrong: i struggled with the 1 min runs and now... i am finishing W7 with flying colours.

You CAN do this. Dont look ahead, just do the run you're on with confidence. And go as far as you can without expectations.

There is no failure :

The success is getting out there! Wow.

The rest will come. Have faith.

Ps slow and steady is it.

plus: GOOD trainers. No reason for injuries. It's a jog.

Let us know how you're doing!!

[limberlou Graduate]

I was nearly 65 when I started and did NO Sport at school and a little bit of runnjng for a couple of years 25 years ago. I have flat feet, arthritis in several joints, had flu-induced asthma this year to contend with and horrendous pollen allergies. Trust the programme and you’ll do it. Run slowly and if you are struggling run slower still. Let snails pass you.

I started mid March graduated end of May and ran my first 5k a week later in 40 mins. Thought that was it for me....” I’ll just stick to 5ks”.

Then I discovered Bridge to 10kand off I went. YOU can do it too. Don’t listen to your hubby but stretch before and after and go for it.

And come on this forum for loads of great advice and encouragement 👍👍

[Emcdee]

I've been a bit faddy in the past. Famously bought an exercise bike which wound up as a handbag hanging extension of my wardrobe and a mini trampoline that I used once. I had marginal success with exercise dvds but haven't done one in years. So husband has been surprised but very very proud that I'm on run 15 and still keen.

Do this for you and let your husbands surprise and pride be a bonus. You'll do great x

[Hidden]

And their you go,more incouagment than you'll ever need. 😊👍

[Caldarium]

Janny i am 47 & nearly 48 and im over 15 st. This is my second outing at running last time it lasted 5 years and only injury made me stop then. Back then i was also about 15st and serious unfit and made it down to just over 11st purely through running.

My OH also thinks im mad for doing it again but trust me you will love it!!

[JacquiAM Graduate]

You can do this and prove him wrong! I think my hubby was a bit sceptical when I started this journey ... I’m 54 and never run in my life - even at school I always found a reason not to join in PE lessons! Anyway he sort of humoured me a bit at the beginning but now he is so proud of me - I ran my first 5k this morning, 10 weeks after starting the programme and am now hooked! You go girl, we’re all behind you 😊🏃‍♀️x

[Babs24 Graduate]

63 , three shoulder relacements. One hip replacement. Dodgy knee. If i can. You definitely can! Choose your days. Get out there. You will feel great. X

[Jell6 Graduate]

My husband wanted me to do"something" to get fitter. I didn't want to be told to, or asked about it.

I quietly started the programme and he still has never seen me go out, or return from a run( talk about early starts, and stealth!!).

He made enquires around week 6, as you can't hide all the running gear, and when I completed he asked how far I was getting, how fast etc. He was helpful and had good advice when I injured my knee( he is part Gazelle).

My point is, if you want to do this, do this. It will improve your fitness, and bring you satisfaction (and lycra).

You do it on your own, at your own pace, my best advice is to get gait analysis, and a decent pair of running shoes to reduce the injury risk.

Good luck, keep us posted. 🤗