I’d heard of C25K, but didn’t know more than that when I decided to have a go in early March.
Fifty years ago, I grudgingly ran at school. Smoked all my life, up to four years ago. Now my waistline has thickened.
I had a new phone, my first with a camera and internet. Loaded the app, selected Sarah Millican and set off with her instructions to walk now, run now. No music, not much fun.
I looked as if I was going for a walk, fleece, long trousers, woolly hat and gloves. Nothing to frighten the neighbours. Just did a little jog every now and then. Then found the podcast. Laura chats and there is music too. The tunes are all a bit crash bash, but set a good pace. I chose a route round a dog walking area near the allotments. Surprised to realise how steep some of this is. Laura said Run now, and, ashamed to now say, I turned round to run down the slope rather than up it and even stopped running before Laura told me to, once or twice. This was week 1.
The podcast is sorted, I know where half an hour takes me, if I walk 5 briskly then go round a couple of reasonably level circles of streets and paths, brisk 5 to finish and I am just a few minutes from home. I can stop gasping and wheezing and gradually go back from bright red to normal pink. Week one was a struggle, how fast do I run? Conversation pace? I can only just gasp, never mind chat normally! Tech difficulties. I used my iPod for the podcast a few times, but adjusting volume was a bit fiddly with gloves on. Repeated week 1 and felt reasonably confident going into the W2 podcast. I have grudgingly run for 90 seconds, 2 minutes should be doable, and there are less runs this week too.
Laura’s spoken tip - land on your heel, contradicts advice from Iannoda Truffe who recommends FAQ pages in the posts, he says Ball of foot. I decide to believe Iannoda. Thanks for all those tips!
Week three, even less runs, but 3 minutes! Twice! OK give that a go. Did it!
Now my route changes to an “Out and back“ route, turn round at half time. I have found a long level road. First time on that route, I just kept going, intent on getting a bus back. Missed the bus. Long walk, Late home. I began to find I was puffing less at the end. Normal breathing coming back quicker perhaps? Less podgy round the middle? Or is that wistful thinking?
About now I found the YouTube Japanese Slow Running guy. Pace, stance, action, no bouncing, they all make sense to me. I’ll try to put that into practise. Takes several runs to think I do most of it effectively.
Week 4, Hey, this is nearly halfway through and it didn’t really hurt. Getting the hang of this.
Thinking of getting a running jacket, wind and waterproof. Perhaps look a bit like a runner? Lucky so far. Run days have been dry days. 3 minute run, did that last week, no problem there. 5 minutes though? There are only 2 of them. Yes you can do that! and I did. This program seems to work!
Week5 is different. I now have a bright red “runner” jacket. It’s the hottest Easter for years! Typical! Run 1. 5 minutes? Did that last week but I get a longer break in the middle, 3 minutes rather than two and a half last week. Should be OK.
Run 2. 8 minutes sounds a lot. Slowly, it can be done. It was.
Run 3. Warm St. George’s day. I have brand new runners trainers too. I can do 20 minutes slowly. Over four blocks, I didn’t catch up with the dog walkers, but for twenty minutes, my legs made running movements, both feet off the ground at once. Just!. 20 minutes. I did it!
Over halfway through the program! Surprised to find that I am enjoying this.
I do recover quicker. My stomach is getting flatter.
I have to thank all the other silver runners, and the youngsters on the forum who post such encouraging words. You helped me get to over halfway through this, and I am now reasonably sure that a few more minutes running, each time, will be possible too. Thanks folks.
My daughter points out an app with a heart on it, on my phone, records my steps and my distance covered. Who would have thought it?
Should I now worry about going far enough? Quick enough?
No! I ran for twenty minutes.
Soon that will be thirty!
Fish, chips and mushy peas!
Hello all - 71 years old and hoping to run!
