Hello Everyone

[Brian-P6]

First post for me and wanted to say Hi.

I started the C-2-5K on 17 November and have completed Week 3. Week 4 starts tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it

I have to keep stretching my right calf, it keeps feeling 'tight'. Doesn't stop me doing anything and I never notice it on a run. Anyone else suffer with that problem?

I guess at some point I'm going to have to think about running shoes. Bearing in mind I can't get out much, what actually am I looking for? I'm unlikely (due to circumstances) to ever run more than 5K at a time in the next few years because I can't get away for long enough, so I'm not sure what to do about that mainly because I don't know what I'm looking for.

All the best to you all,

Brian.

[RunningMigster Graduate]

Welcome to the gang Brian.

And well done on completing some of the hardest weeks of the program.

I'm preparing to go and look for new running shoes myself. Gait analysis seems to be the way to go and then I'm going to try on a few different brands and models until I find something I like. Hoping I might catch an early sale price.

Let us know how you get on.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done

on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes links to appropriate stretches and buying running shoes.

Stretching immediately after every run, while muscles are still warm and supple, pulls out contractions, avoiding carrying tensions into the next run and also improves recovery by improving blood flow

Enjoy your journey.

[Grannyhugs Graduate]

Oh my I’m so sorry to hear about your wife but the best you can do for both of you is keep happy and fit in body and mind. There’s a lot of running you can do in 30 minutes and I’m sure if in the future you wanted some longer runs people would be more than happy to help out. Remember if anyone ever offers support or help they feel happy to give it. Have you found the strength and flex forum, gives good exercises to stretch out calf muscles. I also use nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/h... you may want at some stage to look into gait analysis for new shoes. I don’t know what stage your wife is but I’m a health walk leader and walking has proven to be very beneficial to people with Alzheimer’s. Lots of luck

[Brian-P6 Graduate]

Thank you all for your kind words and helpful comments. The information on the stretches are great thanks, I've taken them on board and hopefully my right calf will start getting a little easier.

Grannytobe - I'm afraid she's quite 'moderately severe' and would be lost at the bottom of the driveway. She also refuses to go out or leave my side which makes day-care a complete non starter (I've tried) and isn't always sure who I am So here I am, a semi-prisoner at age 52 when we'd wanted to see the world. C'est la vie.

But hey-ho, I'll keep plugging away and look forward to my 3x weekly runs.

Just finished the Wk4 Run1 today. That was much better than I was expecting considering I'm now up to 5mins, and that 5 mins is feeling better than Wk1/2 60/90 seconds so something is working Mind you, the hilly bits were a b**ger! But then if you enjoy the downhill sections, you have to pay the price coming back.

[Brian-P6 Graduate]

Those stretches are doing the trick. I had been doing the calf stretches but the ham string stretch is sorting me out.

Thank you again, it's almost gone now