The prodigal returns

[Never-too-old-run]

I graduated last September but unfortunately I've hardly done anything since then. Should I go back to Week 1 Run 1 to slowly build up again or is it OK to start off midway through the programme? I'm managing Week 5 Run 1 but not finding it all that easy whereas last year a 5-min run would have been well within my comfort zone.

By the way, I've just changed my username from Too-Old-To-Run to Never-Too-Old-To-Run because it's actually true! If anyone had told me that I'd graduate in my mid-60s, I'd never have believed them!😀😀 Nevertheless, it's frustrating to have lost my rhythm during the winter, largely due to complacency about becoming a graduate! 😐 I imagine it's a case of use it or lose it, is it? Grateful for any advice.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Welcome back I would certainly suggest that after a six month break that you restart the programme from the beginning.

Be aware that it is not just aerobic fitness that will have been lost but also your resistance to injury.

Restarting a progressive training programme such as C25k is the sensible thing to do .

There is no rush and you know you can do it .

Enjoy

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks for your reply, Instructor 57. So frustrating to have to start again though but hopefully I might enjoy it more this time!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Never-too-old-run]

Unfortunately it really is a case of use it or loose it !I'm hoping to restart the program again myself soon , but my stop was forced onto me following a heart attack

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Sorry to hear that. I was just downright lazy!! No excuse. 🙈 Starting again this afternoon. Thanks again

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Never-too-old-run]

9 weeks will fly by and you'll be in a great place to progress after that. Trust me, it's worth it.

I'm on my 7th comeback in 5 years ... More comebacks than Elvis and Peter Mandelson combined.

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to John_W]

Ha, ha! Thanks for the encouragement, John W! 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Good to see you back here ...repeating C25K is fine no pressure , you know what is coming ...you know it works ...and , you know you can do it. Many of us have repeated...including me, and it is the way.

I gradually built back up, and had a 10K race...April 2nd...the day before my 73rd birthday it was great!.

Hope your first run went well! Xx

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Now that's definitely what I call an achievement, Old Floss! It just goes to show that age isn't a barrier at all if you're prepared to put in the effort and persevere on a regular basis. And yes it did go well, thanks👍Having already tried to pick the programme up again from week 5 for the past fortnight, week 1 day 1 was a cinch. I hope the trend will continue. 😆 LOL

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Never-too-old-run]

Go you!

[Stentrunner Graduate]

I’ve just started for the third time. I started the first time as part of my cardiac rehab, graduated, then had to start again after major surgery a year later. I’ve just had a torrid five months with AF, and have just completed Week 1 Run 1 again. The great thing about starting again is that you know you can do it - the worries about next week’s daunting task are all gone, you know it’s not going to be as hard as you feared the first time.

Good luck!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Stentrunner]

Go you.. very well done x

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to Stentrunner]

Sounds like you've been through the mill Stentrunner. Brilliant that you never give up! Your story encourages me greatly! If you read the feed yesterday you'll have seen that I tried to restart at week 5 run 1 after a six month break. It was such a struggle but I took advice from Instructor57 to begin again at Week 1 Run 1 which was a doddle and which has given me my confidence back to progress further again 👍Good luck on your own journey!