This a big step for me. I’m a mum of two teenagers and I turn 50 this year. I do yoga and Pilates each week, but don’t feel ‘fit’. I’ve always thought that running is not for me because I just can’t do it.
I want to prove myself wrong.
I’ve decided to do my running/walking during my morning dog walk as I have to do that anyway. Completed the first one this morning - tough, but the dog loved it!
I know my problem will be motivation to stick at it and keep going. Any tips would be great.
I think you’ve chosen the right thing if feeling fit and strong is what your after! I took this up shortly before turning 53, hadn’t run since school, and absolutely love it!
Tips: stay hydrated on rest days and run days - keeping topped up throughout the day - it seems to stop a heavy leg feeling. Your brisk walk can be faster than your run! As the durations increase you may feel the need to really slow down. I swear by the Japanese slow jogging technique - m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2... and still run this way as it’s low impact & im trying to get fit nor do myself an injury!
And enjoy it! It’s amazing what you can achieve in such a short space of time - the benefits come pretty quickly and should be a great motivation for you. This is a lovely helpful forum full of great people with advice and support throughout your journey. Good luck and this was the best decision I’ve made in years!
Hi!
Thank you so much for your advice. I’ve watched the YouTube running clip and am definitely going to give it a go. I think it’ll take me a while to learn the technique (because this morning I was a bit like the lady at the start 😅but it looks like a good way to learn to pace yourself and less impact too, which is great.
It’s good to hear from someone else who’s coming at this from a similar angle to me. I haven’t let on to anybody that I’m giving C25K a go. I do feel a bit daunted, but recognise I need to do this for myself. I read some of your other posts - very uplifting 😊.
It’s great to know that you are enjoying running and getting so much from it all.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I didn’t tell anyone either! But then I can home so bright red that I had to confess to my husband because I looked such a fright! I learned the technique bit by bit - first the feet, then the back& arms & still rewatch now and again for a refresher and to check I’m doing it right.
This is such n amazing thing and you’ll be simply staggered by what you can do! Keep posting it’s so lovely seeing how everyone progresses x
Does the red face problem get better as you get fitter? I’m a bit worried I’m always going to be purpled faced for an hour after every run. Makes it trickier to fit into my day lol.
It does get better - pretty quickly in fact! Sometimes when it’s hotter or the first time I run a new duration I get it a bit but never so much as Run1 - a beetroot sweating ketchup! I also seem to care less as this goes on but was very self conscious at first.
Well done! I find yoga and pilates a great complementary activity to running. You've done the hardest by far, which is starting and it will get easier although obviously each week the programme pushes you a bit but you dont need to worry about that for now. Concentrate on each run as you are doing it. Go slow and you can definitely do it!
oh and for me I found the one day run, one day off a good rhythm to avoid over thinking.
Thank you! I think I’m going to find lots of help and encouragement here - it’s a great forum.
Well done you and you won't regret it. I've finally got my wife talked into trying it. She done run 1 today. Still have to keep her at it lol
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Enjoy your journey.
Hi.
Thank you so much for posting the link to the guide - it’s brilliant and will be invaluable to a complete beginner like me.
As for my worrying about how to keep my motivation and confidence going.... I’ve found all the encouragement I need right here, it’s all on this great forum.
Hopefully the benefits of this C25K malarkey are going to rub off on me as much as they have on others!
Thank you!
Hi Delly-dot ! Welcome to the forum, I turn 50 this year too and if I can graduate then you can. Lots of great advice on here and keep posting as this will motivate you throughout your journey....I do slow running and now run 3 x 30 mins a week so this plan works and you feel much fitter (most days) 😂 Good luck and enjoy 🏃♀️
Thanks for the encouragement and great to hear from a fellow 49er! This forum is so positive. I think I’m going to find lots of motivation and advice here. I was sent a link about the slow running technique on YouTube so I’m going to try that on my second run tomorrow 🤞 😊.
Welcome to the forum and to a completely life-changing experience. I can't tell you how amazing I feel after just 12 weeks of running regularly... I feel about 10 years younger, my concentration and confidence have both improved and I'm looking forward to life in a way I haven't for years. Not to mention the 2 stones weight loss! You have picked a great way of feeling good.
My most important tip is to put your runs into your diary or planner or whatever you use and keep them sacrosanct, other than for emergencies. Take the decision making out of it once and for all. I run on Tuesday nights, Thursday mornings and Saturday mornings. Now I'm in the habit of doing this and I just don't plan anything for these times and I don't even question it.
All the very best on your journey! 
Hi!
Thanks for the great advice, especially about planning the runs. We have a young and energetic dog who loves to run, so I’m going to do my running when we’re out together in the mornings because I’d be out with her anyway. I thought it might be tricky combining the dog walk with a run, but she just ran off-lead beside me and loved it! 🏃♀️🐾🐶😊
Great plan. The other thing I did was to plan in my graduation date from the programme, which I realised happened to co-incide with my birthday weekend. So I arranged a little drinks get together with friends on that day as my birthday/graduation. I found that very motivating too.
I just came back and read your first post, what a difference a year makes 👍😀🏃♀️
You are lovely. You have me reminiscing now! This feels like ages ago, but it isn't really. I got there in the end, with a few stops on the IC on the way, but I now feel like I can say "I run" 😁. I soon hope to say I can run 5k 🤞🏼once my back has recovered from lugging heavy pots around the garden 🙄! Honestly....
Thanks for all your lovely encouragement 🤗🤗
Ooo heavy pots round the garden sounds like real fun, it’s a lovely time of year, a year isn’t long in the grand scheme of running, I well remember our first few runs bent double gasping at the end of each minute and sounding like a steam train breathing lol
First run in the rain 
First run complete :)
First run completed! 
First park run today!
First run complete! 
