About three years ago I had a health check and was told my body fat percentage was about 26% and too high for my age. I didn't really look too big so it appeared to be that visceral fat that lies around your internal organs and can lead to health issues. I started by walking when a mile was a bit of an effort for me and progressed on slowly, week by week, until I could walk 12 to 14 miles without much bother. My personal lifetime best was about this time last year when I walked 17 miles in one go. During this time I became a local Health Champion and have discovered so much more about how to keep healthy. Although 68 years old, I don't take any medication and feel like I'm back in my 20s or 30s. I'm fitter than I have ever been.
When advising people about healthy lifestyles I decided that if I was to recommend C25K I ought to try it myself, so I started out 10 weeks ago on my own. This was so I could fit in around other time commitments. The first thing I noticed was the different muscles that were needed for running and see that I have noticeably changed shape since I started and my posture is better! To me it feels so much different to walking. I was very proud of myself to finish last Friday and Graduate without injury. Yesterday I started the C25K+ and set out on a completely new running route as well. I'm just going to consolidate my running for a while and would like to do the local park run as soon as I feel ready. Oh, by the way, that body fat percentage is now down to the upper teens and good for my age!
I can really recommend C25K having followed the course, but am aware that far too high a percentage of people in my town, for one reason or another, are just not physically or mentally capable of starting yet. It's so good reading about all those who have not left it too late to get underway before that stage and I can use their stories to inspire others.
Do what's good for you and don't do what's bad for you.
Written by
oaprunner
Graduate
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Fantastic journey! Thank you for sharing. It just goes to show that we can decide to make the changes that really matter at pretty much any age, and if we stick with it, and take it steady, we can turn our future towards a brighter path.
What a wonderful life changing journey & what an inspiration for others. 😄Many congratulations on your graduation! 😄
You are quite right that some people need to walk first before they can begin to run & it is a great way forward. However, many people, including myself, have used C25K at a very slow pace as part of a “get fitter and lose weight” effort. Two years ago, I believed, at the age of 58, that I couldn’t possibly run. I began the program expecting to do W1 repeatedly throughout the winter - but at the end of each week I discovered, (much to my surprise), that I had managed and went on to try the next week - all the way through the program.
My experience of being absolutely astonished at completing C25K is a recurrent theme on this forum - and it is a huge pleasure to see and share other people’s astonished delight. 😄
What a fantastic inspiration you must be. Well done. I an a health walk leader andcsee the massive impact even a 1 ½walk every week in company has on the walkers lives. They range from mid 50's to 3 at 87 on Zimmer and sticks. Sadly I don't agree with your name, oap should now start way through your 80's you are but a lad. 😉
I'm doing lots of reading now and love all the challenges before me. It's great how running keeps me warm in winter, but I find I need to wear gloves when it gets very cold.
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