starting C25k

[Clah12]

I have tried c25k twice before but not completed!

Is 55 too old? Would walking be better?

any advice much appreciated!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

55 isn't too old for starting running or beginning C25K, good luck, when you do start, take all the runs slowly, you can repeat any runs or week's if you wish to, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, no running on consecutive days as that could cause a injury.

[Strangethings Graduate]

I am 58 and am on week 6 now 😊

[Beachcomber66 Graduate in reply to Strangethings]

Youngster! I started 6 years ago aged 66. Best thing I ever did!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Ha ha ! Sorry to smile but we have so many folk over 70 here, including me... I started at 65!

Welcome back...

No age limit at all here, Please do read this post. Essential to your safety and knowledge and FUN!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Why did you stop before, and have the reasons for you wanting to run changed in anyway...

Keep posting here, we can help support and advise and there are so many other posters here too, There experiences may help you!

Slow and steady is the mantra, which I am famous, (or should that be, infamous) , for...well, it works... so on you go and enjoy!

We shall watch for your first post.

PS

Walking, as you will check out, in that pinned post, is a great rest day exercise

[drl212 Graduate]

Nope, not old at all. Completed the programme 6 weeks ago and I'm 60. Took me a couple of weeks of consolidation runs after the C25K but I got to 5K and I've been able to run that several times.

Slow and steady, and consistency.

Sometimes the toughest part of the run is getting your trainers on and taking that step out the door...

Good luck and let us know how you are doing...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to drl212]

You are one of the best examples of a runner, taking my famous, ( infamous? ), advice) ... slow and steady...it works... ! You are demonstrating that as you move forward with your runs...

And also, as MissUnderstanding always advocates... getting the running shoes on, is often the hardest part...the running gremlins can hide under there!

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate]

Not too old at all, you may find it’s your thing and wished you had started yonks ago !! I certainly did . Good luck

[Sparkles22 Graduate]

hi I started the c25k two years ago when I was 52 and now I run 10k I think it depends on your health plus determination it was hard to begin with but I promise it does get easier. Good luck

[Rabbitrunner53]

Clah12 you can do this I promise you just clear your mind of negative thoughts you'll be surprised. I hated running all my life but a health scare made me look at myself. 70 and just completed week 8. You can do it.

[Volkswarren1]

I’m 51, just take it slow and repeat runs until you can complete them.

[ManchesterSeahorse Graduate]

Definitely not too old I’m 59 and the only barrier is in our heads! Some days are easier than others and in the journey we may have to repeat weeks, that’s all okay. I guarantee you will feel a fantastic sense of achievement when you have finished the programme. After that as everyone says, slow and steady I try to maintain 3 runs a week of varying lengths, it keeps my fitness level up.

Good luck and enjoy x

[Crunner]

I am nearly 60 and just about to complete my final run week 9 run 3.

I would say yes you can do it but listen to your body , push yourself but not so hard that you in pain!!! Good luck!!!

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate]

You are definitely not too old.

I would suggest that you make sure you can walk for at least 30-45 minutes at a good pace before you begin. Possibly do a couple of weeks of ‘walking with intent’ to get yourself ready for starting the running.

Once you commence the programme, you can adapt it to suit you- tweak the runs, the walks in between and extra rest days- all are ok if it helps to keep you getting your trainers on for the next run (definitely not increasing the intensity, therein lies injury and disappointment !) .

I have done it once through being overly competitive with myself , following the runs precisely so I finished in 9 weeks and it proved to be too challenging for my 60 year shins . So I recovered and began again, but this time I broke the runs down into more manageable chunks and spread out the process . I started with 30sec runs and gradually increased them . I didn’t take 9 weeks as the aim but rather the goal was to keep running comfortably. It has worked for me.

As well as watching the Japanese slow running video, I would also recommend finding a warm up video you like and doing that before you go out for the 5min warm up walk . It makes a difference to be warmed up all over and it gets you in the zone. I use the NHS 5 min warm up.

Do come back and tell us how you get on. Best wishes to you, I hope you enjoy it this time.

[hamit Graduate]

No not to old at 55, that's young. I started at 71 and still running at 77. Take it slow and steady. Good Luck.

[Am-I-a-runner-yet]

Good morning. 55 is definitely not to old, I starred 9 weeks ago and just started week 7, I re did some of the runs to be comfortable with them, and I'm 54 and still a bit on the heavy side! If I was starting again the main things for me was not eating drinking to much before you run, there is some good advice on here about that. Believe in yourself, it got easier for me when I realised, "I can actually do this" and don't get disheartened if you have to re do runs, I got stuck on week 6 and got some great advice and support on here. But most of all keep smiling. Good luck and enjoy

[nowster Graduate]

I started in 2020 during lockdown. I'm 55 now.

I thought I was reasonably fit. Doing week 1 told me I wasn't.

As others have said, you're probably best not starting C25K until you can do a brisk walk for about half an hour.

[Never-too-old-run Graduate]

Heavens no!!!! I started at 64. Go for it but slowly does it. Repeat the runs until you can do them comfortably before moving on to the next and you'll eventually get there like I did. Now contemplating a 5k park run............

[BGood]

certainly not I have done C25K twice now last year and this due to an injury & I am 58 my friend I run with is 75