Huge step back 😕

[Over60sRunner]

A couple of weeks before Christmas I was running 50+ minutes, albeit slowly, but today I had to pull up at 26 minutes /2.5k as my legs were just too sore to continue. Admittedly, it's better than the 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes I managed last week, but it's just SUCH hard work at the moment and I am still very post viral on many days each week 😕

I'm wondering whether I should go back to the beginning and restart C25k and would value the hive's thoughts. Strangely, I can walk for hours no problem at all, but running has become as miserable again as it was a few weeks in when I just wanted to quit 🙄

[Stellarstar Graduate]

Hi, I can sympathise with you. Maybe a bit of sunshine 🌞 would make us all feel better. It doesn't look like warming up At the moment though. I haven't run since Christmas. I developed a sore ankle then hurt my back. This week I had a positive covid test result. It's not looking good for running but hopefully I'll get back into it eventually! I reckon I'll have to start at the beginning 😐

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to Stellarstar]

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm up and down like a fiddler's elbow which is why I wondered whether it would be easier to start again 🙄

I hope things start to improve for you soon too 🙏

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

What exactly is sore?

Joints, calves, shins, quads or glutes.

Do you do a dynamic stretch warm up and static stretch cool down?

How is your hydration?

How frequently are you running?

Going back to W1 is fine........I have done it several times........it won't necessarily solve the problem if some of the above are not in place.

Give yourself time to fully recover if it is still hard work.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I'm well hydrated, well stretched pre and post run, all is the same as it was when I was jogging along 50 minutes or so three times a week.

All of my legs are aching, but especially my wretched calves, which used to be the bain of my life in the first few weeks of running, but sorted themselves out when I got gait analysis and new shoes.

My biggest problem is muscle pain and chronic fatigue after catching Covid last year in October - I've just not been right on and off ever since 😒 which is why I wondered whether starting again might be the best option to allow my body to readjust.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Over60sRunner]

I think you need to make fewer demands on your body until fully recovered.

Post viral fatigue can last for months.

Take care.

[John_W Graduate]

If this is any way associated with Covid, then I'd suggest you cut back your exercising quite a lot. Anecdotally, I keep reading of folks who tried to push on but they're struggling. It seems a complete break from exercise might be the order of the day.

Maybe take a complete month or 2 off and then start again. Take a long-term view.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thank you for your insight John 🙏

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

I haven’t had Covid, so can’t advise, but sending you warm wishes for your recovery and hoping you’ll be back up to speed for spring.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie 😁

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Sorry to hear this but I think you have had some good advice already !It could certainly take some time.

Everyone's recovery from covid is going to be different but it could certainly take some time !

Have a break !

You have very sound advice from John_W and IannodaTruffe .

You you can't rush this .

This article may also help .

runnersworld.com/news/a3862...

Take care

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you 🙏

[Hidden]

With post viral fatigue the risk is that you overdo it when you feel a bit better and that wipes you out again. I agree that you should cut right back and would suggest starting c25k again in a few weeks. The graded approach is perfect for developing stamina. Wishing you all the best!

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Helen. I suspect that's what I did in late December as I was fine one week and utterly wiped out the next 😯 I had five weeks off work and six weeks off running in October /November 2021 then went straight back in at 30 minutes, rising fast to 52 minutes over 3/4 weeks feeling amazed and fantastic and then crashed and burned!

I'm so scared of losing all the gains I have made over the last seven months - my blood pressure and blood sugar are slowly back on the rise and I don't want to undo all the good work. However, I am also accepting of the fact that I am going to have to be lead by my limitations 🙏

[DorsetDiva]

You might not need to go right back to the beginning, but it sounds like going back to a more comfortable stage might be a good idea. Then build back up from there. Good luck.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to DorsetDiva]

Thank you 🙏 Yes, I think that's the way forward ✅

[Faller in reply to Over60sRunner]

I agree go back to your comfort zone but don’t completely stop. I sat still for a while on recovery and it has taken over a year to regain both my fitness and dignity having gained a lot of weight and ended up in hospital Christmas 2020. I also have some underlying conditions which impacts occasionally. I eventually started from scratch c25k but only in November and will struggle to ever get the full distance but have accepted that I have to work with my body and it lets me know when I’ve gone too far. I am 63 by the way. C25k is my motivation and I will be adding gym work to fight off other ageing properties on the horizon. Keep it up but be kind to yourself👍

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to Faller]

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm 63 in August, overweight, diabetic (again!), and now borderline hypertensive (again!) so I can relate to it. All we can do is keep on keeping on and be realistic in our expectations ❤️

[Jell6 Graduate]

I posted about running post covid a few days ago. It's worth reading.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to Jell6]

I have already - and many others both on the forum and outside 😁

I think I'm probably rather below the bar for the majority of them. I'm very overweight , 62 years old and I only run 2/3 times a week on a good week - rarely more than 3k. I've only ever done 5k twice in 7 months of running, it took me the best part of an hour and nearly killed me. I'm definitely a joffler rather than a runner 🤣🤣🤣