When is it ok to run again?

[Latecomer]

I did W4R3 a week ago today and then stopped because I got an arthritic sort of pain in my hip and didn’t want to injure myself and spoil things. Since then i’ve been on an hour’s walk everyday and have done some of hip exercises. But the the twinge is still there - it hasn’t gone away completely. Should I wait until it’s gone? I think I may have got it cos of running on a hard surface last time instead of my usual runs on a softer forest floor. I’m impatient to get out there again but don’t want to ‘spoil my ship for a ha’porth of tar!’

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

I would get out there but take it slow. Focus on style rather than pace for a bit. If things don’t improve, see a medic. Hope it goes well x

[Latecomer in reply to ButtercupKid]

That’s very tempting Buttercupkid! Maybe I could run on grass and repeat Week 4 too? Still a bit worried - tho I can do walking easily. I’ll maybe walk today and try it tomorrow. I’ve got osteopenia too which makes me more worried than I ought to be! I get a lot of encouragement from the other older people on this forum so i’m not giving up! Hell no!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Latecomer]

That’s the spirit ! I’m very overweight and repeating week 1 for the third time: once I can jog all the runs I’ll know I’m ready for week 2. The ability to repeat without judgement if you feel it would be helpful seems to me to be one of the key strengths of the programme. Hope it goes well for you !

[Latecomer in reply to ButtercupKid]

Thank you! And I agree with you that that’s a big strength of the programme - it’s not going to go away. Good luck with the jogging - doesn’t matter how slow. You seem very determined - this forum will help too!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Latecomer]

I’m loving the forum. If only school PE had been this friendly 😄

[Gigglers3]

Hi Latecomer! so nice to read a post from an older person. I'm 70+ .

I've had a few queries that feel age related and have made me cautious about the possibility of doing greater damage to an existing condition. I think it would be great if as well as all the wonderful advice & encouraging support given here we could also tap into NHS advice for medical concerns as in the question you raised.

It's a while ago since you posted so I really hope you're feeling better and back on course.

[Latecomer in reply to Gigglers3]

Hi Giggler3 - I started again yesterday after about 3 weeks off because of a chesty cough. It felt so good! Lovely mild autumn day. Went back to W4R3 but had no problems with it.

It might be difficult to include medical advice on the site but the advice never to run through pain is good. And in my experience your previous fitness is never completely lost - you don’t have to go right back to the beginning. ‘Slow and steady’ is the best advice. I hope you keep going - it’s worth it!

[Latecomer]

Thanks for your message Giggler3 - there are quite a few of us older ones on C25K. I went back to running, repeating W4 and going on to W5R1, then a cough struck! So I’ve been off for 3 weeks now. I want to start again next week, again repeating some W4 runs. I’ve been a bit put off by the cold weather, tbh, but I don’t want to let that stop me. The general advice is that it’s OK to be cautious, never ignore or ‘run through’ pain, keep it slow and steady, rest up and take medical advice when you need to, but don’t give up! All the best to you.