My first time 😜

[Snowpony]

Hi all, I’m a good walker, fast but that’s as much as I do usually. I’m 44 and suffer with lower back aches regularly now. I started c25k yesterday. My calf muscles are quite strong and developed. Def the strongest part of me 🤣 but during the first minute of my run, they hurt lots!! And my shins! I would have thought that everywhere else would have hurt but them! Today, they still hurt lots and so did my inner groin 😬 my question to you knowledgeable lot is, why does my developed muscles hurt and not my others and should I do tomorrow’s run if I’m still really hurting???!!!! Thanks for any advice

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Muscles develop to the activity that they train doing... so while walking or cycling will develop the same muscles as running, if you compare the legs of a runner to a cyclist or walker, there will be subtle differences. Because of the different action, the muscles will be stressed in different places. You are using the same muscles for a different activity... but would you expect a javelin thrower to be able to switch to hammer easily? They use the same muscles in different ways just the same. Your muscles will condition to running and walking is great cross training.

Try to keep the calf muscles loose on rest days and get those post run stretches on. Planking and other core work may help that back too... core strengthening helps a lot.

Well done on run 1... enjoy the journey.

[Snowpony in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you

I def need to strengthen my core! Also introduced pre and post stretches today. Hoping they help me manage to get out of bed tomorrow morning 🤣

[cyclingtorunning]

I’m 47 and never run. W2r2 feel okay, but I like you struggled with my left calf and Achilles for the first week. My back was tender but is improving, definitely rest between runs that’s my advice from a fellow newbie. But I’m happy I’m not the only 40+ with aches and pains 🤪 well done keep going 🤩

[Snowpony in reply to cyclingtorunning]

Thank u!! Nice to hear from another novice!!!

I thought that I’d try to run every other day..... do you think that’s enough resting time if you are very sore? ATM, it’s more my shins and calves and groin that has pain . Fingers crossed my back is ok well done in yr efforts too

[cyclingtorunning in reply to Snowpony]

Perhaps try slowing down, admittadly it feels like you're hardly moving but it works for me. On my first run I went out too fast and walked about 20% of my " outing". I've slowed down considerably and I now nearly run the whole time. My calf does hurt and I really stretch it out even when I jog. I went to gym and put the machine on 5.5 this made me slow down also had the benefit of setting 5 mins brisk walk (4.8) and then 5 mins cool down. Good luck 👍

[Cheesesalad]

Hi. I'm 48 and I too suffer from lower back pain regularly, sometimes cripplingly so, rendering me immobile for a few days. I am on my 3rd attempt at this (W2R1 today) on my first attempt I stopped after W1R3 because of the muscle pain in my calves and thighs during and day after my runs. I thought I'd rest a week and then restart. For no reason other than life got in the way it turned into 5 weeks before I had my second try. But I worked out the pain was likely due to me simply going too fast. 2nd attempt was going well until W2R2 after which groin and back pain stopped me continuing I was nearly 2 weeks with limited movement. Another 5 weeks off and now I'm back on it. This time I am doing a proper post run stretch which I hadn't done on previous attempts. And so far I haven't had any rest day aches and pains. I was also surprised how inflexible I am so am gonna work on that too which may even help my back pain. Long reply I know, maybe a 'You're not alone' would have sufficed but you got my story anyway.

Slow down and stretch is my advice.

Cheers

[Snowpony in reply to Cheesesalad]

Thank you did W1R2 this eve!

I also did a little bit of stretching after the 5 mins of brisk walking before and after the running but I’m sure I should have done more!!!! My groin pain def eased during the exercise but right now my calves and shins REALLY hurt!!! I’m gonna be sooo slow on the school run tomorrow!!! 🙈 I’ve heard from a couple of people that it’s good to run even if you are feeling stiff and that it helps???!!! I dunno..... 🤷‍♀️ Hope you are more successful with yr attempts this time

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Brisk walking is a good start before c25k but running is different where as both your feet are off the ground at the same time take it slow and try not to thud your feet on the ground try and put them down gently. As fir your next run just try and see how you get on good luck

[Snowpony in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you,

I don’t think my feet are very far off the ground when I run and I do feel quite heavy footed.... 😬

I’m gonna keep going 😄