Week 8 Run 1 SLOW!!

[Lesleypod]

Hi allI've been a lurker and enjoying all your stories and successes!

I'm 52, female and started C25K after completing it a few years ago. Was running around 10 years ago, completed 5Ks in around 27 mins, ran several 10Ks and then ran a half marathon with an injury in 2 hours 2 mins and that finished me! The old injury still niggles now and again, so I've been taking it really easy, however I'm slow as treacle!

Running at 4.3mph (less than 7kph) as, any more and I'm seriously out of puff or heart rate is through the roof. Please tell me it gets easier!! I know I'm 10 years older, but I didn't think I was this unfit. Would love to do a 30 min 5K, but it feels like a pipe dream, sadly.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello ! Well,... in answer to your question.. it may not get easier, BUT you get stronger...

Try to forget that 5K in 30 minutes for now... just focus, 30 minute, comfortable, enjoyable running

Slow and steady is the way... I have been running that way since I began when I was 65... I am 74 now

Slow is good... slow is the new fast, and slow gets us where we wish to be... safely and having had fun...

So... relax and on you go and, maybe pop into the S and F forum to see what supportive exercise you can do, to keep that body fit for action! x

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏🎄🤗Welcome to the Forum Lesley. There are many areas in our lives that we would like to be the same as 10 years ago. However this is now the New You and we rejoice with you that you are back running! Week 8 is an amazing achievement! Well done to have got this far! I am with Oldfloss all the way… run slowly and enjoy it! X

[Trailslogg Graduate]

Hi Lesleypod, this could be me! A sub-30 minute 5k more than 10 years ago, frequent runner, then sidelined with an injury that niggled on for years... (And when finally my knee felt completely fine again I immediately overdid it on a run and went back to not being able to bend my leg for months...)

Anyway, at 54 I think I may have finally wised up. After graduating a bit over a year ago. I'm still running super slowly. But I've learned to embrace the slow runs, and to enjoy being out there and able to do so at all - a run where at the end I feel strong and am uninjured is a win in my books nowadays.

So Oldfloss and Annieapple have wise words: keep running slowly and enjoy it, whether the speed comes back or not. As Micah True (immortalized as Caballo Blanco in Born to Run) said: "Think easy, light, smooth and fast." Start with easy, because if that's all you ever get that's not too bad. Then focus on light (landing softly, light steps) and smooth, and if you've got that, speed follows automatically.

Happy running!

Edited to incorporate the full quote:

"You start with easy, because if that's all you get, that's not so bad. Then work on light. Make it efforthless, like you don't give a shit how high the hill is or how far you've got to go. When you've practiced that so long, that you forget you're practicing, you work on making it smooooooth. You won't have to worry about the last one - you get those three, and you'll be fast."

[Annieapple Graduate in reply to Trailslogg]

🍏Great quote ! I loved Born to Run! X

[Lesleypod Graduate]

Thank you so much for your replies, especially on Christmas day! Need to work on my breathing and stamina and hope that it all falls into place.Merry Christmas to you!