I was probably at the healthiest and strongest I've ever been during lockdown, as I completed Couch to 5k and was running at least 3 times a week and enjoying it. I started to workout with a personal trainer and I felt great.After a hysterectomy the following year everything seemed to go pear shaped (including me). I stopped running and seemed to completely lose the desire to be active.
Now, fast approaching 70 years old, am I too old to start again? I do have a positive attitude to life generally, but feel a bit daunted and am finding it hard to remember the euphoria I felt when I completed the C5K first time round.
Would really value your thoughts and advice.
Thanks in advance.
Written by
Fatbags1
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According to your profile you're 64. So am I, and in my book that's not fast approaching 70! So nope, absolutely not too late to restart C25K. Oh, and I'd say the same if you were 69 or older. Refamiliarise yourself with the How to run C25K FAQ, then go and enjoy yourself!
Same age as me - never too old otherwise I have to write off my last 11 runs …
Seriously I lost the love for quite a while and it very much was a case of looking in my running gear drawer ( for the past 5 years not running drawer) and realizing how much enjoyment satisfaction and body positivity it gave me.
Only you know how to climb daunt mountain we can’t do that for you. But I’m so happy I restarted and although the flab and the wrinkles say a different story inside I’m beginning to feel more like I was 6 years ago and far less like I actually was only 3 weeks ago
I did run for a few years in my 30’s but did very little exercise since. So, when at the age of 70 I decided to do C25k I did each week twice, very gradually building up strength. I’m 76 now and although never running more than 5k and often ‘Jeffing’ I’ve done 75 parkruns and joined a running group. So my advice is - have a go😀
I’m part of a ladies group that did c25k last year. Some of us are still running every week. Times for our 5k run now varies from 25 minutes to 42 minutes. Ages in our group: youngest is 32 oldest is 78. Before you ask the youngest isn’t the fastest; and the oldest isn’t the slowest !!!!
I turned 70 yesterday. I haven't been able to run since last October because of ligament pain in my left knee. It's so close to being fixed. I'm hoping to start running again around the end of March, desperate to get going again. So, no you're not too old as long as you go really really slowly and listen to what your body is telling you. Running will make you feel amazing, it gives me sure a boost. Good luck
Morning, I can imagine how you are feeling, I think it takes a lot of courage to get out and do this. I started at 60 and still feel like I am too old every time I go out to run , I am 64 .But
You are asking the question so you know the answer already which is no you aren't too old. So what you need is some support to get started. Firstly, take all the support from this group. Then check in with your GP for any advice. Then go and buy yourself, if you can afford it, or borrow some running clothes and shoes that make you feel really good. Then start off really slow, repeat weeks if need be and be gentle with yourself. Finally remember what my son says when I complain about being too old and fat, "But you are lapping all the people sat on their sofas Mum". I really hope you enjoy it, let us know how you get on.
I’m almost 67 and like you I peaked in COVID (plenty of time to exercise and run for an hour) but I slipped down the slope and ground to a halt. I retired at 65 eighteen months ago and got my act together again. The good news is the route back was much easier than first time round so I must have had some lurking residual fitness and in 6 weeks I was back to 30 min runs 3 times a week. I still can’t do 5k in 30 mins - more like 40 so some days it’s 30 mins and sometimes 40 but I’m still trotting along. I’m sure you can do it so go for it
I recall the first lock down period (started 20th Mar 2020?) with some fondness - I had re-started my running regime approx six months earlier (Autumn 2019), after a long period of inactivity. Nothing much changed for me during the lock down - you were still allowed to go out to do personal exercise?
I had used the perimeter of a football pitch just behind our house as my starting guide, initially running the widths and walking the lengths, then moving on to walking the widths and running the lengths, building up to running full perimeters, then gradually increasing circuits until I was reaching approx 3k non-stop - then I worked out a circular 5k route from my house, which I have run religiously 3 times a week (Tue, Thur, Sat mornings) ever since, so now approaching six years of continuous exercise activity.
I'm 68 now - your age is irrelevant to this equation - it's all about will power and self motivation - if you really want to reach a goal, it's down to you and you alone?
I started C25K the day after the lockdown announcement. We were allowed 30 minutes for exercise.
It was bizarre running alongside normally busy roads with almost no traffic on them.
I had to give up my first attempt at C25K after doing the first week due to stomach problems. I then reattempted a few weeks later. Got to the end of the second week. Then the penny dropped: the flyer in with the medication I was on at that point said "Don't do strenuous exercise." I didn't restart C25K until two weeks after I'd completed the course of that medicine, which was late June.
Definitely not too old. Reading these replies are inspirational. I'm 59 and have had some hiccups along the way to C25K. I was there then stuff happened and a couple of months ago fit back there. Then 3 weeks ago I fell and broke my wrist whilst on a run. I've lost some confidence and fitness and wonder if the universe is telling me to stop but I don't want to. Maybe I'll give it a go in a couple of weeks. Happy running everyone
Oh no! Never too old. I am 70 this year too. Ive droppped a stone in weight and Ive joined a friendly exercise group and do a slow park run each week. I feel 5 or 10 years younger. Things that helped were making a commitment, running and walking with friends, going at my own pace. We cant do what we could do when we were younger but we can put our best 70 year foot forward. Dont give up now. This is gonna be a great decade! Good Luck..
I didn't start till I was 60. I've had several gaps since, including one after surgery for bowel cancer, but the surgeon was amazed at my quick recovery time and said he wished all his patients were runners. I started again midway through last year. Then there was another gap, but I started again last week. I don't like running, but I like what it does for me - a lot of aches and pains I previously put down to age disappear when I'm running regularly, and unnecessary fat goes too. So yes - get back out there and reap the benefits all over again. PS - I'll be 71 on Friday
Not at all. Pandemic was yesterday. You were not a lot younger, but you found a refuge in C5K. Running helped you go through pandemic. It is a good motivation.
I am approaching 70.....I was 69 a few weeks ago.....I spent a lot of last summer either in bed or in hospital and believed my running days were over. Slowly I've built up to 5k again, I'm feeling amazing when I can slowly run along the road or the seafront, so no I don't think you are too old.
There's a lovely saying.. you don't stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running.
Take it steady, don't push yourself and come back here to tell us all about it 😁
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