Started again

[GreenHooks]

I graduated in 2020 but due to injury had to rest and then never restarted. Going out this morning for wk4 r1.

Unfortunately I’m 5-6kgs heavier than before and as well as 5 years older, definitely menopausal but this adds both positives and negatives. I’m still going out first thing in the morning as I don’t want anyone to see me. We live in a small rural community so people about would definitely know me. I go out alone, with a playlist and plod. I’m definitely slower and feeling a few more aches and pains. A lot of shit has happened in these 5 years too and I have definitely neglected myself so there’s a lot of work to do here.

Anyhow, I best get out and run before the day starts for too many more people …

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

Five years older, 5kg heavier, five years wiser. You've done this before so you know it gets better as you move through the weeks.

Many of us don't like the idea of people seeing us run, but take it from one older, heavier runner to another (though you are obviously much closer to spring chicken territory than me) that nobody is judging. Even if they did, they don't know you - why should you be bothered by their opinion? You are doing something fantastic for yourself.

I live in a small rural community to but that didn't stop me running on a public path singing 'Anarchy in the UK' the other week and nobody arrested me or is shunning me now 😭😭😭

(of course one of the joys of being a woman over 65 is you become totally invisible )

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

I agree with almost all your post, including your final sentence inasmuch as it's an observation on how much of (Western) society regards older women, cf this report: ageing-better.org.uk/sites/...

Personally I'm damned if I'm becoming totally invisible in a few months. 😜

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Cmoi]

Really interesting article  Cmoi , we are individuals and invisibility isn't inevitable.

What really peeves me is that women in the media are criticised for showing signs of aging, or else told they are 'brave' for avoiding plastic surgery, going grey etc. Of course it's a personal choice and if looking a certain way makes you happy then fine, it just scares me when all the actresses over about 45 are nearly indistinguishable - frozen faces, puffed cheeks, subtly plumped lips, shiny foreheads - how can this be healthy? Every time I see my wrinkles I tell myself I earned them, and if they really start bothering me I take my glasses off and I look 18 again, at least in the mirror 😂

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Totally agree. Though if I take my glasses off or contact lenses out, I'd struggle to find the mirror, let alone see myself in it! Minus 11 in one eye and minus 10.75 in the other, combined with plus 2.5 in both. Fortunately complex prescriptions work for now 👀🙄🤣

[Cmoi Graduate]

Well done on your progress!

As for not wanting people to see you, I used to feel that way. I'm 64, a few kgs overweight, never been a looker, and I live in a tiny rural community in mid-mountain France. When I started running I was pretty sure I'd be the subject of snarky gossip about my being a sweaty, red-faced, crazy-pony-tailed, make-up-free mess.

How wrong I was. I mean yes, I generally look a wreck when I'm running. However what I get is waves, smiles, and greetings (round here it's considered rude to pass someone without saying Bonjour.) Turns out that people of all ages respect me for getting out there, regardless of what I look like or how fast or far I'm running.

If running first thing is your choice, that's great. But it saddens me to think that you might be doing so because you feel you have to hide yourself away. You don't. You have every right to be out there running and nobody has the right to stop you.

Enjoy yourself!

[CBDB Ambassador]

well done! It will be a familiar journey but I’m so many ways another new runner experience. We never go back to where we started completely! That’s half the joy, I find! Bones might have aged but confidence and experience probably increased?

Happy running!

[Jancanrunagain Graduate]

Hi there- me too 5kgs heavier and 5 years older. Welcome to the invisible ninja community. Like Yesletsgo I also sing inappropriate songs at an inappropriate volume (inappropriate because I’m tone deaf and sing accordingly)

My inappropriate choice is any of Prince’s more out there stuff. Which in cultural Italy is a surprise for most of the locals

You’re doing a cracking job - us invisible ninjas may creak a bit more - but in our heads as we progress we can channel more of Usain Bolt or Mo Farah and the locals may smile but not as much as we do because we know we’ve made ourselves better.

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Jancanrunagain]

On the days when it all comes together and I run really fast I truly am the evil, molten metal Terminator chasing cars like a well oiled machine, though I might be mistaken for a chubby granny by a passer by. Invisibility rocks!😁

[Jancanrunagain Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Evil metal molten Terminator- I’m thinking Tina Turner in Mad Max - what a great ninja alter ego!

[JetSetWilly Graduate]

Good on yeah!!! Best time of the year to start again ..mornings getting lighter and how luckey to be able to run in the countryside!! Nature is starting to come alive and spring is just round the corner......Amazing!! Don't fret what others think of you just enjoy your beautiful surroundings.Take care and have a great run.

All the best

Jet!!

[Bikafella Graduate]

I'd be interested to know after that long break how you managed jumping back into the course at Wk 4. I've graduated twice and second time I started from Wk1 run 1 to ease back in without injuries I was 7yrs older a lot slower and had a liver transplant in between so I wasn't going to overdo anything. But I'll start again when weather warms up.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Bikafella]

Fwiw I didn't read the OP's post as starting back at W4R1, I read it as their first post since starting back.

That said, I started C25K at week 3 and went on to week 4 early. It was immediately after France's first Covid lockdown, during which only one hour's exercise within a 1km radius of home was permitted. So I'd been walking 5%-20% gradient forest tracks for weeks on end before doing C25K walk-jog intervals on roads with gradients that very rarely go into double figures..

(Disclaimer: anyone reading this should be sensible, stick to the programme, don't overdo it, and don't follow my example as I'm an absolute disgrace.)

[GreenHooks Graduate in reply to Bikafella]

I didn’t start at week 4! 😱

Went back to the beginning and am working my way through the programme. Although I’ve been “active” there’s been nowhere near enough activity vs couching to skip the beginning ,,,,,,