Weight is it an issue

[Rider_1000]

Hey everyone. I've been doing the C25K for 8 weeks now and just about to start my 9th. I'm always been into playing regular football and rugby, but not enjoyed running as a sport in itself. However as I've got older I've slowed down and with a young family just can't commit to the routine of team sports so I decided to get into running. since using this app, I've gone on leaps and bounds and able to run 5k by week 3 and last week I did a couple of 10k's one after the other. I felt really good and this app really helped my confidence. However I noticed that I've put on weight since running... about 1/2 stone in 8 weeks. I'm only 5ft 8 and although I'm quite a big frame I'm starting to go into the overweight category looking at my bmi. Is this something I need to be concerned about? Calorifically I'm using way more than before and strangely, my waistline has shrunk slightly. But particularly for my joints I noticed during the last run my knees were starting to ache a lot more after the runs (might be purely coincidental).

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

You did 5k in week 3 using the app? That’s pretty amazing! 10k since on the app? That’s world class!

With the waistline coming in and weight going up I’d say some of that is the muscle is heavier than fat thing... but it seems a little excessive. Calorific burn and input aren’t reliable... you can’t usually outrun a bad diet, and low intake produces weight gain if anything.

Not sure any of this helps.

[Rider_1000 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks Unfitnomore. I have to maybe adjust my post. I played football and rugby for a long time so I probably already had the fitness to tackle a 5k or 10k. (albeit the 3 week 5k wasn't completed in the time, I just covered the distance probably around 35min to begin with). I just never had the will or technique to run it continously. This app really helped immensely by building the reps and starting at 10min cycles, 15min etc. and I got quite far quite quickly. But I think your right. I might be too relient on the calorie counter and my diet is quite protein-centric, to cope with the contact sports element of the past. perhaps that needs to change to a more carb based?? What sort of diet do you use for running?

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Rider_1000]

I don’t think we’re on the same C25K app lol. Ours would have you having done 10k in 28 minutes... I was gonna say job done, get some sponsorship!!!

Yeah, unused protein is gonna get turned into sugar first and then that will get stored as fat if not burned. We need some protein to rebuild leg muscles as we damage them a little each run. We don’t need much upper body mass though, and maybe you have that... I’m guessing at 5 foot 8 you weren’t playing on the wing which would be the closest body shape to a distance runner, at least it was in my day, watching pro rugby these days they’re all build like brick outhouses! Are you still doing much upper body gym work? As we’re not looking to take on the legend that is Mo Farah, we don’t need to be his shape... but if you have a muscle building diet you need to use it still. There’s a couple of guys heavily muscled up top in my local parkrun and it’s not a hindrance to running.

[Rider_1000 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Haha. Yeah I think we are using the same app. But I just ignore the 5min cool down after each run and rewind a few steps and keep going... By week 8 I would run for about an 75-90min without too much hassle. It really was confidence inspiring. Don't know how the mind works but once you get in the zone I just listen to some music or a podcast and I can keep going... (not at world record pace mind... Lol).

I played hooker for my local team and university, obviously we had to run but my main task was to throw from touch, scrums and take out as many backs as I can. Lol. Generally the backs were generally smaller but as you say as the youngesters become bigger and faster I'm getting smashed so I thought it was time to stop getting hurt... I did work out a bit predominantly Hiit training and some light upper body gym work. We ran but it wasnt the main requirement for our position. I would be interested to hear how the big guys at your park run get on with carrying weight. Ive certainly noticed my joins aching more (not painful but certainly uncomfortable).. I might just lessen my calorie intake a bit to get my bmi back on track.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Rider_1000]

Could be worth a little tweaking... with the waist going down you’re not far off the diet. We’re only looking at a few pounds... hydration and bodily functions can account for about 4 pounds in difference... yes, I’ve checked this 😂

The couple of guys I’ve seen run have big arms and chest... but still have runners legs... seems to work well enough for them. Parkrun has every shape there is, prop forward, number 8, winger... they’re all there! They don’t run as fast, but they get round in tidy enough times.

I used to be a runner, but only trained up to 4K... 90 minutes is scary long! I raced 3k, if it took 9 minutes I’d had a bad bad day lol. This distance running has my respect, it’s a different beast with the same training in different balances. Football and rugby players can cover a lot of ground in a game, but usually 50 yards at a time tops... so the muscles do build differently, somewhere between distance runner and sprinter... be sure to allow them time to adapt!

[Rider_1000 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Wow thats almost a full squad out for park run... You would have never caught a flanker or a prop on one of those a decade ago!

I guess the distance thing is coincidental. I like the mental change as you break through the 5 - 10 min barriers and you get a rhythm stride going. It was normally at this stage a few months ago. I would say that's the circumference of the pitch I'm done.. But I have the upmost respect for the pacy runners that can do sub 4min/km that's a challenge!! (that's amazing when you did a 3km sub 9min!) As you say one step at a time. I appreciate your advice I might give it a month and report back with the finding of changing my diet and carrying on beyond the c25k!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Rider_1000]

Nice chatting... happy running... and be careful with those leg muscles.

Yeah, we see them all run... and I guess they don’t shift as much ale. They call this progress?!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Well done in getting to week 9 of C25K, you have done really well, no going back now, you will soon graduate, the fact is that as you have already ran 5 and even 10Ks is proof that your former sports of football and rugby helped you to achieve those runs. There are very few people here that have been able to run a 5k at only the 3rd week, let alone a 10K. Diet is also very important, you say that you are starting to gain weight since you started this course, not sure what would cause that, perhaps a doctor or some medical person could help you out with that issue, they might also help you with your joint and knee pains.

[Rider_1000 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks AlMorr, I appreciate your support. I was never a good runner. But I think your right my sport past is inadvertently helping me. But I have to stress that the app really helped build confidence in running techniques and systematically developing the ability for anyone to be able to run distances and more importantly to run at my own pace.

I think Unfitnomore makes a valid point. I need to probably adjust my diet where I'm not constantly being battered or tackling people anymore I think I might lower my protein intake and increase my carbs. What do you do for your diet?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Rider_1000]

Thanks for your reply Rider_1000. I get the bit about you being battered and especially tackling people, I watch a lot of rugby on TV and see a lot of tackling in that sport.

[Rider_1000 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Yes it takes its toll after a while... The youngsters that are coming up through the ranks are really into it, really disciplined and they are superb.. I have to say best generation since 2003 (England won the rugby World cup). I can't keep up with them anymore. Hopefully my children will develop an interest in some kind of sport and I can be around to support them. That's what it's all about at the end of the day!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I am not surprised that your joints are aching.

It takes many months to build a runners body, regardless of fitness that you bring to the feast.

Training plans such as C25K are constructed as they are for good reason. Sure you can exceed the plan's recommended runs but just because you can do something does not mean it is wise to do so.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5.... and also healthunlocked.com/couchto5... are stories of fit new runners who thought they knew better than the experts.

I would recommend scaling back your running and developing slowly and steadily, otherwise injury might well stop you in your tracks.

Take care.

[Rider_1000 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks iannodatruffe. That's some excellent advice and perspective. I don't claim to know more than the experts and I certainly maintain that I wouldn't get to where I am without the steady build up offered by the app. but I just did what I felt was right at the time and it felt good to just carry on when I felt I could. I certainly heed your warning about over excersion. I think as I get closer to the end of the c25k it's looking for good advice for the next steps and beyond?

[Razouski]

Sage words from IannodaTruffe . The mentors really do know what they are talking about.