W4 completed in Canada!

[Latecomer]

So pleased to have completed W4! I’m near a park and it’s been great to get out and see the different wild flowers and birds here! My 71 year old right hip joint is giving me gyp though - not sure what to do about it - should I take another rest day or try to walk off the pain? Not many other runners here in London, Ontario - none with grey hair like mine! What I find hardest about running is getting so breathless - I can hear myself huffing like a steam train as I jog, ever so slowly, along the paths. Is this normal? Should I be taking these great gulps of air and working up such a sweat? I don’t want to stop the programme!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

International runners are all around me this week! You’re in the hometown of one of my favourite bands too. Great job on the run.

With the breathing I just distracted myself from over thinking about it, and it came all by itself. I have noticed that my recovery time back to normal breathing is reducing quite quickly. Sweat is normal, I produce gallons of the stuff I’m sure!

Enjoy your next one.

[Latecomer in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks UnfiTNoMore! I will not overthink it - and my recovery time is quite short too! What is the name of the London band you like? Looking forward to starting W5 soon!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Latecomer]

Kittie... they’re a girl band, but sound very different to their name!

[Latecomer in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Looked them up on YouTube - sheds a whole new light on London! Thanks!

[steviej99 Graduate]

Wow week 4 completed, that's amazing! Don't ignore pain it will almost always get worse not better. It may stop you completing. Can you see a physio for some advice? Don't worry about taking a whole week off if you've done the 4 weeks straight through. A lot of running programmes have rest weeks, helps the body rest and get stronger. Good luck, your so determined you will succeed

[Latecomer]

Thanks for that advice - certainly don’t want to make things worse! I’ve just come back from an hour’s walk and my hip feels less painful, but I’ll rest more until it’s completely better. Found some gentle exercises to do on arthritisresearch.uk so might try those too - but gently!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow down more..but, also.. remember to up your core strength and stamina exercise too, as the runs get longer... the legs need the rest of you to keep up.....don't overthink it... like blinking... we just do it.

Never run through pain...or mask it with painkillers... try these...

womensrunninguk.co.uk/healt...

[Latecomer in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss - I’ll take your advice and never try to run through pain. I’ll try those exercises and rest until the pain has gone away. It feels a bit frustrating because I was on a roll, but I don’t want to spoil it all now. Thanks again for the advice.

[Dmc165]

Wow week 4, thats amazing. It’s so lovely to feel part of a community, people of all ages all over the world communicating and supporting each other. I hope your hip Is ok. About the breathlessness, I am 61 female and on week 2 and very breathless. I repeated week 1 because I was so breathless that I could not complete more than 3 runs. So I think if you are 71and in week 4then you have nothing to worry about. Well done. Maybe rest a bit more, you have all the time in the world. Best wishes from wales, uk.

[Latecomer in reply to Dmc165]

Ah thank you! It is lovely to feel part of a community, isn’t it? I wouldn’t have got this far without it! I’m going to take the advice to rest a bit more before carrying on, although I’ll still go for a daily walk. Keep going! You’re doing really well too - like me, I bet you’ll surprise yourself!