I'm 68, started the Couch to 5K programme three years ago having not run for 50 years and having been the slowest girl in the school at every sports day when I was at secondary school. Much to my surprise, I managed to get through to graduation after 8 months - with a couple of restarts - and I've really enjoyed doing my slow 5K runs twice a week since then but last week I tripped while running in the park, hit the ground with a great thud and skidded along the gravel path face first. I cut my face and knees, I'm badly bruised and one of my eyes is swollen shut but more than anything I was extremely shocked when it happened, I couldn't raise myself off the ground for 5 minutes. I don't know that I'll have the courage to run outside again - the memory of hitting the ground with such force and how long it took before I was even able to push myself upright is really scaring me. I think I'm quite tough but I'm not sure I can face risking it happening again. Maybe I'll join a gym and use a treadmill but I'm very sad that this new pleasure that I've found pretty late in life is gone. I was going to post a photograph but it's really not pretty!
A fall while running: I'm 68, started the Couch... - Couch to 5K
A fall while running
Hi cornishgirl54 , I'm really sorry to hear about your fall. There's no doubt that when we go over it's a shock, as well as painful. It can take time before being able to restart running, for both physical and psychological reasons.
All that said, please don't write off outside running completely at this stage. If you enjoy it, I think it'd be a huge shame to give it up. If the gravel path feels too scary, maybe try running on grass? Assuming your shoes are suitable, of course. (Incidentally I take it that they aren't worn and didn't contribute to your tripping?)
Otherwise, yes, why not give treadmill running a try? It wouldn't be for me, but many people enjoy it.
Fwiw, I'm speaking as someone who wiped out badly 11 months ago, resulting in a trip to A&E. Took me months to get back to running the sort of distances and terrain I'd done before. Nonetheless, for me risking another fall while out running is better than staying indoors.
Your choice, of course, may be different, you can only do what's right for you. Wishing you a full and rapid recovery.
Thank you, that's a really kind reply. I think my problem was that I don't always pick up my feet sufficiently, there are some roots from large trees running under the path and I maybe just nicked on with my foot. Reading what you've said, I'll maybe it give it a while and then try running on the grass. Thank you, I'm grateful for your encouragement.
You're welcome 😁
I fell on a super simple trail, less than 1km from home, that I know really well. Lack of concentration and wearing road shoes, wrong choice for that surface. I felt so stupid.
Wimpy too, because every other forum user who reported a fall seemed to have got up and continued their run, sometimes for a good few km. Whereas I immediately walked back home, dripping blood and looking like an antiquated domestic violence poster.
When I was able to run again I made a point of putting on my trail shoes, going back to where I'd fallen and running the exact same stretch. I was literally shaking as I approached, but needed to prove to myself I could do it. So I can empathise with your experience.
Take your time, and do what'll make you happiest.
On the last day of March I was going out for a long run (up to two hours) and tripped up on a raised manhole cover four minutes into my warm up walk. I hadn't even started running! I got a deep gash in my left knee from that (which is still healing), gravel rash on the palms of my hands, and a cut on my forehead where my glasses frame hit me above my eyebrow.
With other falls I've been able to dust myself off and continue. I knew immediately that the run that day wasn't happening, so walked the short distance home where my tame nurse cleaned up the wounds (including using a tincture pad that had me whimpering with pain).
I'm not great at picking up my feet either and especially when tired I often drag my toes on things.
The important thing is not to let this experience put you off.
I think I will try again, when I've a bit of time to get over it and when the cuts heal - there's been so much encouragement from everyone, I'll give it a go when I feel more confident. Thank you for replying, I'm really grateful.
I am so, so sorry this happened to you. Falls trally shake you up. I had one before Christmas where I ended up in an and e with sprained wrists, elbows, bruised knees and a scraped chin. I had the same experience as you lying on the floor not able to get up for what felt like ages. Absolutely horrible and you have so much sympathy from me.
Let yourself recover. You don’t need to decide anything now while it’s all still so raw. Cmoi has some great suggestions in her lovely reply and I wholeheartedly agree with all of them. The main thing now is to just be really, really kind to yourself. Time really is the best healer. ❤️❤️❤️
Reading your reply again, it makes me realise that the thing that I found most upsetting was that I just felt unable to move when it happened. I'm not used to feeling so useless and I really couldn't make myself get up, it was quite an odd feeling. I think that's what's putting me off running again, not the cuts and bruises.
Thank you. Everyone is so kind on this forum, I'm extremely grateful for the collective empathy. I maybe won't decide to give up running quite yet.
So sorry about your fall, I can understand what a shock that must have been. Before you make any final decisions about running outside, maybe you could try brisk walking in the meantime? Maybe you already do. I walk loads & find it really helps with my running, I guess the point I’m trying to make is that any movement outside is so good for us, fresh air, scenery and walking is just as good as running in many ways. Good luck with your recovery, I hope you’re not too sore!
That's a really good idea. Maybe if I start with walking I'll regain my confidence. I certainly don't want to give up running if I can find a way back to it. I'm very grateful for everyone's advice here.
I'm so sorry to hear about your fall !I would imagine the phycological fear of running outside again is as real as the physical recovery , and both will take time !
You have had a couple of great replies from runners who I know have both had nasty falls, Cmoi and MissUnderstanding
I thankfully haven't (yet) so I can't really add much more , but I would wholeheartedly agree that giving it up or not is probably a decision to come after your fully recovered!
Don't commit yourself yet , concentrate on getting better , then maybe when you are out walking , pay a visit to the same place, it may help to ease your fear.
But for now , concentrate on your recovery.
Best wishes !
Thank you. I'm really encouraged by everyone's advice, I've always found this forum very helpful and I'm very grateful for everyone for their encouragement to keep going. I expect I will get back to running if I give it a bit more time.
I haven't fallen running, but I had a nasty fall while walking my dogs, they weren't pulling and I was 10m from my house! It was dark and someone had had a load of those small gravel stones that had come out of their driveway and I stepped on those and if you can imagine a cartoon character trying to run on marbles, well that was me -lots of I'm going to fall, no I'm not, yes I am...in the end I went over, managed to roll with it (muscle memory from years of martial arts in a previous, younger life) but my body did not belong to my previous, younger life and I clipped the outside of my knee and my elbow during the roll. My knee swelled up and my elbow hurt, I laid on the ground for a good minute asking myself if I was more shocked than hurt or vice versa and doing a physical inventory check - nothing broken, just winded and bruised luckily, dog leads still in my hand, dogs looking VERY amused....
Obviously I had to get up and I have dogs that need walking so I had to get back on the horse so to speak, but yeah, I couldn't even walk 10m without falling over.
All that to say that sometimes we fall, this time you were running, but as nowster said, he hadn't even started running and I was just walking the dogs. Possibly, if you'd been walking and not running when you tripped, you may not have stopped walking, just been careful if you walked there again?
It's circumstances I think that collide and you fell, I know it's easy to say, but don't concentrate on the 1 time you fell, but the many times you didn't. You did get back up, you were shaken and you were bruised, but it is a shock too! In your place I would go down to where you fell, maybe with a friend if you want, and just run those 10m, prove to yourself that you can do it. Or find out if you run 50cm to the left (or right) if there's nothing sticking up there. It would be a shame to let one incident spoil what seems to be a real pleasure for you, not to mention the health benefits that come with running.
Your point about concentrating on the many times I haven't fallen on that particular stretch of path rather than the one time I fell, is a really good one. I was running the parkrun course in my local park, which I've done two or three times a week for the last 3 years so I must have run along that particular bit of path hundreds of times and it's the first time I've fallen. I'll try to keep that in mind when I venture back, thank you.
I really like your image of running on marbles - as I fell I remember feeling distinctly like a cartoon character that's run off the edge of a cliff, which with arms flailing uselessly in the air.
So sorry to hear about your fall.I have had one fall about four years ago whilst running . It does shake you up. I still remember my whole body felt shook up. ( I did manage to carry on even though it was a bit of a struggle) My fall was no where near a bad as yours so I can only imagine how much pain you are in.
I hope you feel stronger soon and hope that in your own time and when you feel up to it you will get back out there.
When you are feeling stronger.. how about just starting off gently by going for a walk and if you feel up to it just start to jog a little way to see how you feel, then walk just to get your confidence back… because you will you know.
Take care 👍🥰🥰
There have so many really helpful replies to my post, I think I will give it another go. It's been really helpful to hear other people's experiences of how they have coped with falling - and it's made me think about why it might have happened - not picking my feet up enough, maybe just not concentrating sufficiently. My sight isn't as good as it used to be - maybe I need to think about glasses when I'm running. All extremely useful and I'm very grateful to everyone.
Yes that’s the spirit! Good for you. You will get back to enjoying it again I’m sure.when I fell I happened upon a hole in the road and all it took was a stub of my foot and down I went ! 😂.
I’m so glad you are going to give it another go… 👍🏃♀️🏃♀️
I wear bifocals, even when running, and that requires concentration.
I've been wondering how easy it would be to run with glasses - I was also wondering if contact lenses might be a better option. I've never worn them but would give it a try if they helped.
Contact lenses wouldn't help me much as I have long sight. I can see distances (but not as well as when it's corrected). I'd just be legal to drive under the number plate rules.
My problem is anything closer than about 6 ft away is now very blurred. Until I was about 40 I didn't need glasses at all.
I have been fortunate to find some sports sunglasses which can take bifocal prescription inserts.
That's really helpful re the sunglasses that can take prescription inserts, thank you, I'll look into that.
Your replies are helping me get back out there too cornishgirl. I fell twice recently, both times in my first expensive pair of shop fitted runners. Didn't consciously decide not to run after the second fall, but it's been nearly 3 weeks of too busy and excuses, so I think it did have an impact. My daughter is running with me today and I'm in the old runners 😁
Well done for going out again. I'm sure its the therapeutic thing to do - to go back to it - but I'm not ready quite yet. My one eye is still closed from the fall so I would be a terrible hazard if I went out now! I hope your run goes really well. What a fantastic supportive and kind forum this is.
Yes, you need to be fully healed before running again, and having just come in from run with daughter, some company on that first run back is definitely a help. Agree with you totally about this forum. Hoping you heal well and get back out to enjoying runs soon.
Thank you - I think I will gather my courage at some point and pick up running again. I'm really glad your run went well.
just wanted to add to the kind and thoughtful comments! You say you struggled to get yourself up? You must probably felt fearful and a tiny bit embarrassed, but you did get yourself up! So hold onto that thought, as someone else said maybe go for long walks first as just being outside May make you want to start again. Go easy on yourself and give your self time. You should be so proud of yourself for being a runner anyway. Take care of yourself.
I've been wondering why this fall hit me so hard - I just physically didn't have the strength to push myself off the ground, my arms wouldn't work when I tried to use them. I don't think I particularly felt embarrassed, more just helpless. In fact I would probably have been glad if there had been someone around to help me off the ground but there were only two swans looking at me quizzically. On reflection, I think it was just some kind of shock at what had happened that didn't allow my arms to do what I wanted. But I will gather up my courage and go out again, when my battered face has healed a bit. Thank you for your encouragement, it makes such a difference to my view of going back to running.
Falling and accidents in general are such shocking experiences. I have had several in my sporting endeavours over 60 years running, playing squash, cricket and hockey. I can recall 3 where like you I was immobilised with the sheer shock of what had happened. I think the advice given by all the others is excellent, but one thing that now helps me, I am 74, is improving my balance. I do Pilates and each session has a balance section. Being better at balance has saved me from a fall on several occasions whilst out jogging. Good luck in your recovery and take care.
Thank you for your really helpful advice about balance. I have noticed as I edge towards 70 next year that my balance is not as good as it used to be and now that you've highlighted that as a possible issue- and of course you're absolutely right but I'd rather tried to submerge the thought that my balance was deteriorating - I'll research pilates classes where I live. Thank you, that's so helpful.
I've had several falls whilst running (and a few just walking!) and I am still not quite right after falling on a park run on New Year's Eve. I didn't realise at the time but I damaged the ligaments on two fingers on my right hand. It is such a shock when you fall. Are you able to run with someone else? You can look out for each other. After my fall, my husband said he did not want me running on my own so we he came with me and walked while I ran. Funny thing was, I ran up a hill and looked behind me to find him on the ground having tripped over the dog's lead! 🤣
You made me laugh so much at this - which actually is quite painful, where I cut my top lip on my teeth I can't really laugh at the moment! But thank you for cheering me up - everyone here has cheered me up enormously. I knew this forum would help put it into perspective but it's helped me much more than I thought possible, thank you.
Like you I completed the programme three years ago at age 69. Last year I tripped and took all ( and I mean all!) of the flesh off my elbow. 4 hours in A&E, 10 stitches, antibiotics and two different tetanus jabs. I restarted running as soon as I could but I am now very careful about where I run. Uneven pavements or dirt tracks are a big no. I now prefer to run on quiet roads and dodge onto the pavement if a car comes along. Take time to get over the fall but don’t leave it too long until you put your running shoes back on! Goid luck, you can do it!
Thank you, it's really good to hear from someone who has had such a similar experience. I think my days of running on the gravel path are over and the pavements round me can be pretty hazardous - I think it will have to be running on the road but I'll need to get some more brightly coloured clothing. I don't want to swap one hazard for another.
Oh no.. I do feel for you.. I’ve had two scary falls, although one was on a dog walk and one when cycling. I’ve not fallen while running, yet..
I read a book a few years ago called Being Mortal, by a medic called Atul Gawande. He worked with older people admitted to care homes. His first question to them on admission was about the health of their feet! He stressed the importance of caring for feet, bone strength, and balance, because many of the deaths among his patients resulted from fractures caused by falls.
As an amputee with a severe bunion and hammer toe on my remaining foot, the book frightened me to death.. but I decided to do as much as I can to look after what I have got left! Good excuse to buy well fitting expensive trainers..
Of course you don’t want to risk another fall and any physical injury, but it seems the more activity you do to strengthen your bones and the more you practice keeping your balance, the better. I do hope you will recover quickly and build up the confidence to run again.
That's such an interesting reply, thank you. The issue of balance was suggested by someone else - an issue which, although I was aware that my balance was worse than it used to be, I had been pushing down in my consciousness, so I will now stop ignoring it and see what I do to improve it - but your point about looking after your feet is also a really good one. I have to say also that I'm humbled by your courage.
Thanks, I’m far from courageous, in fact an anxious wimp a lot of the time.. worrying about the future. It seems to me that using our bodies as much as we can is a bit like paying insurance premiums, and the return should be a longer happier life. 🤞
That's a good view - and there's also an element of the lottery involved in terms of genetics. But you're right, important to do all we can to help the odds for a healthy life. As gyms and keeping fit are important for so many people now I hope that will be translated into healthier and longer old ages down the line.
Seems most of us have had a bad fall... I tripped on a drain cover during lockdown, people actually stepped over me as I sat there pouring blood....I mashed my specs into my face. Head and face wounds always bleed spectacularly. Two plain clothes police officers eventually stopped and helped patch me up. They made me go to hospital although I would have gone anyway. I have a two inch scar over my eye brow and a large bill for new glasses!
I started again by walking, then run/walking. I've fallen when just walking too, so I reckon I may as well run. You begin again when you feel the time is right.
I' m very encouraged that so many people seem to have had bad falls and have gone back to running. Having been sure I wouldn't ever run again when it first happened, with so much encouragement on the forum and hearing about falls similar to mine, I now think I will - but I'll take your advice and start by walking and then running very slowly. I always run pretty slowly so that won't be a problem! Thank you so much for your encouragement.
My main problem was that in addition to a smashed up face I uled all the muscles in my chest, back and shoulder when I put my hand down to break my fall. I could walk ok, but couldn't expand my chest to breathe when running. That kinda meant a slightly longer recovery, which was actually very welcome. Best of luck xx
That sounds really nasty. Good for you for going back to running - I must say, I'm already being to miss it - which really surprises as I'm a very late convert to running.
people stepped over you!!! What is it with some people? Too engrossed in their phones?
I feel your pain. Around the same age, I caught my toe at a slightly out of aligned paving slab and face planked onto the ground.
Now it's true to say that my family characteristic is a very large nose! With that in mind, even as I fell, I managed to lift my head but hit the ground on the chin. The blood was everywhere! Fortunately, I was in a running group who walked me back to my car.
Yes, it was scary, but a few weeks later, and it was weeks, I was back out again with the group. It was my fault, not even the Council's, I should have lifted my feet higher!
Just let the bruises go down and set off again - but watch where you put your feet 🙃
Of more concern to me would be that no one came to help you ☹️
Keep well ...
I have what I might kindly describe as a generous nose! As a result of that, my nose took a lot of the force, it's definitely looking as if I've done the statutory rounds with Henry Cooper but I'm sure it will recover. The hospital suspected I'd fractured my cheekbone but it turned out not to be so I don't think I came off badly really. In terms of no-one helping, I passed four people on my way home, all of whom looked the other way - perhaps they thought I'd been fighting! - but just when I reached my front door a young girl stopped and offered to help me into the house. Where I was running there was no-one around except the swans and they weren't at all helpful!
Morning cornishgirl54Sorry to hear about you accident and hope you feel a little better.
Please don't give up your running !
There is a style of running I believe developed in Japan called "Slow Jogging " Who came up with a name like that!
There are videos on you tube demonstrating this. I mention this as it appears you are less likely to trip or fall using this technique .
It's just a thought. Alot of science has gone into this so it's worth considering it as an alternative style of running. Also there are Slow Jogging groups in many different countries.
Have a great day
Jet!!
I've seen videos of slow jogging - what I do is pretty slow already but I will certainly take it more slowly when I go out again. Having thought about it since seeing the replies on here, I think my two issues are not picking my feet up sufficiently and deteriorating balance. I'll working on adjusting the first and I'm going to look into pilates classes with a view to the second. It's all good food for thought so something positive has come out of it.
Hi. As I mentioned maybe the Slow Jogging technique is what would help to reduce the chance of tripping. Jet
This is just a tounge in cheek remark but is there anyone out there under 60 who isn't falling to pieces! I am a graduate, 63 years old doing regular 10ks. Some mornings I wake up and feel like one of Michael Jackson's zombies out of "Thriller!"I have a vision of one of my arms falling off while running and it just happens to be the one I put my Garmin on and instantly regret not putting on a screen protector!!
Seriously though the C25K is amazing especially for those who take up running late in life. Running helps me physically, mentally and spiritually., and as I have said on many occasions :
"Every run is a gift, but every walk is a miracle!"
Best of luck Cornishgirl
Hope your back on the road soon.
Best Wishes
Jet
I definitely agree about the benefits of running and I say that as someone who is totally amazed that I've taken to it. When I started - a bit more than three years ago - I used to tentatively run for 20 yards in the park just to see how it felt to run after so many decades and to test whether people would stand and stare at me because I looked so unsuitable as a runner. Of course, no-one did but it took quite a few tentative 20 yard runs before I decided to get stuck in and do the C25K programme. I'm really glad I did and I my greatest ambition now is to run the Manchester 10K with my son at some point - but I need to get back to the 5Ks before I start to think about that again.
I have to agree that being self conscious about running can be a massive hurdle for many to overcome. It's probably the main reason why they don't bother to try.It takes guts to take that first step out the front door for your 1st week of the C25K.
For that reason I ALWAYS say hi to any runners OR walkers I meet whilst running or not.
There is nothing like encouragement from another human. I love the reaction from people just walking when you say Hi and wish them a good day. A smile and a "morning" goes a long way to make the world a better place! and it costs nothing!
By the way for everyone who doesn't acknowledge your "Morning" There are ten that will!
Hope you're back to your 5ks soon
Have a Great Day
JET
I definitely agree about saying hello to everyone I meet while running in the park. I always try to do that and nearly everyone responds, it's very unusual that someone blanks you. I particularly don't like to startle people if I'm running up behind them when they're walking ahead of me so when I'm within a few yards of them I say something like ' would you mind if I pass you, I'm very slow so it will take me a while to overhaul you'. It's true of course, I am slow, but they usually laugh and don't mind moving over.
Funny thing happened to me a few weeks ago just as I was finishing my run.There was another runner coming towards me as I was pressing my garmin to stop recording my run.
Just before he ran past me I looked up and said "Thats not good I've just checked my recovery time and it said 3 weeks" his face was a picture, and he had a giggle as he went on his way, no doubt he got the joke!
Happy Days.
Jet
So sorry to hear this. Actually a fall was partly what encouraged me to run in the first place. I was walking up some steps at a railway station, tripped, grabbed the rail - and did the rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I'm 60, have lost three years to long Covid, slipped a disc at Christmas, but this was it. A literal step too far. I'm now gently exercising and on week four of C25K. It's slowly giving me back my fitness and I feel more connected to the world. When I was much, much younger I used to use a gym treadmill, but that always seemed like work, whereas even the 5 minute runs I am up to now are more of a pleasure - and I'm only running around the streets or in the park. I do hope you get back to it - and come to enjoy it again. As others have said - try walking or brisk, longer walking to begin with. Can you run with someone and in a sense look out for each other? Good luck!
Thank you. It's really good to read how much running means to everyone here, it reminds me that I really enjoy it and I'll miss it if I don't go back to it. But I will start cautiously. I always run by myself as I'm sure I would be slower than anyone else - I always dreaded the thought of sports day at school because I was so slow - but I will start gently and get back to running.
You have done a really good thing, getting up after all those years finding the courage to run. Now find the courage to, dust yourself off and try again. You will be amazed how you feel after you have done it and know, it was just a little set back, something you can over come. Good luck, I am sure everyone is rooting for you, I certainly am👍
Thank you. I'm quite overwhelmed by the support I've had from everyone here. I wrote the post mostly as therapy - I thought by writing it down, I would be able to get rid some of the memory of it and it has certainly helped - as have the really nice messages I've received. Thank you so much.
Hi cornishgirl, I also came a cropper on gravel . It was loose gravel on a slight slope and it had been raining. When I put my foot down, it felt like the ground slid out from under my foot. Broke my ankle! It took me a long time to get back to running, but like you I discovered it late in life and I missed the feeling of strength and fitness it gave me so I was desperate to get back to it. I'm injured at the moment (not a running injury this time), and I'm itching to get back to it. I confess I haven't been back to the spot where I fell, and I have learnt to stop running and start walking if there are any hazards ahead (more gravel, small friendly dogs, etc). I have a friend though whose balance has been affected by an illness and she is no longer confident to run. She tripped up and fell, and she didn't react quickly enough to put her hands down to save herself (also a residual effect of her illness). Like you, it was her body's reaction that upset her more than the fall itself.
Since people have mentioned balance. Well as part of my ankle rehab I had to do all sorts of balance exercises. The simplest is just standing on one foot for as long as possible, building up to a minute. (Stand near a wall or something for support if you are wobbly). If you stand on a folded up towel, your core muscles have to work harder to keep you balanced, so the exercise is more effective. Another easy and effective one is stand up straight then go up on tiptoe (both feet ), hold for a second, and slowly return heels to floor, repeat say 10x. Also builds up ankle strength. I can do more if I hold the back of a chair.
Anyway, whatever you decide to do, I hope you can find a way to stay active. It's use it or lose it as we get older - which is what got me started runnning in the first place! Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thank you for that great reply. I completely agree with you on the balance question - I hadn't really thought about it until someone else who replied highlighted it as a possible contributor to the fall but I'm now really going to focus on improving my balance - and thank you for the tips on exercises. I've spent a lot of time recently with my mother, 97 and now very unstable on her feet, and I can remember that her mobility problems started with loss of balance about 10 years ago. I'm really put some time into improving my balance while I can. Thank you for much for your kind reply.
oh that sounds awful, Im really clumsy and have had a few falls before, one quite bad, so can understand your fear. But as others have said already, don't let it ruin your love of running. You will be mindful and you will have it in your head, but believe me, you could fall just as easy walking along a bumpy footpath, so please don't let it put you off completely.
I too don't pick my feet up very well, and through the winter I was really nervous at running out at night, however, I fell over three weeks ago, badly sprained my ankle, and I was only getting out of the car, not even running!!
Just take it slowly and let your confidence come back, as it will I promise you ☺️
Falling seems to be more common than I realised. I will definitely go back to it but I think it will be grass only for me, at the beginning anyway. I feel I'm almost ready to give it another go now.
Oh poor you! I’m a late runner too, started C25k the day after I retired at 65. I graduated, consolidated, and then started on the Magic Plan…to ultimately run 10k. As I am a snail 🐌 I ran the timed version first, and my big plan was to run the final 60 minute run on Xmas morning…you can read what happened here…
healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...
Yep…tripped over a kerb and face planted. I had to walk back home with a bleeding face and broken glasses. My positive thoughts (such as they were)…at least I didn’t break, pull or tear anything. What did I do? That following week I went for a couple of walks and a couple of short runs, then went out on NYE morning and ran the 60 minutes. They were all over the same route as it was during Lockdown and I was exercising from home. I still have little anxiety twinges when I run along paths with driveways and dropped kerbs…but I did get back out there. Various groups of people informed me that I was now a ‘real runner’ now I’ve had a fall…I’m not too sure about that! 😬🤦🏻♀️
In terms of the balance issue…have you popped over to our sister forum Strength & Flex? Lots of ideas there..including links to a recent Pilates Event which ran through March and daily links to Yoga With Adriene…yoga of course being good for posture and balance.
Take your time, have a read through the S&F Forum…take some gentle walks, be kind to yourself, and see how you feel after a week…
💐🐌🏃🏻♀️💕
That's a really useful link, thank you, I'll look at the strength and flex forum. I'm so glad now that I wrote my initial post - I've had such good advice and great suggestions about improving my balance etc. I'm usually someone who lurks on forums, rather than posting, but the support on here has been a really positive experience. Had I not posted I think I might well have given up running but now I feel enthused to give it another go, starting slowly.
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