Are there successful over 60s out there? I have seen no comments. I am not overweight and don't smoke but would like to be fitter.

[resto]

[PeaBea Graduate]

Yes, there are a number of over 60s active in both this forum and running - and can probably run faster than me!!!

[Randomrunner]

I'm just getting started and wonder if I'll even do 2 mins.....and is it really possible to do the programme at this age??

[PeaBea Graduate]

Yes. I am 58 and recently completed C25K and though some runs were a challenge and my pace is a juffle (cross between a jog and a shuffle) I did it. I am currently working on my 5k pace but will then aim to get my runs upto an hour as I want to have a go at orienteering in the spring. So go for it. I should add that I am also carrying spare kilos and I want to be able to juffle for pleasure (!!!!!) rather than for running races.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Hi! I'm 59, so almost sixty and yes, I did it without much pain (see my blogs) and am now trying to improve my pace before going for the 10k. I'm only a trifle slower than my 19 year old daughter, but I am much, much fitter on her on endurance and distance! Happy running!

[Pat184 Graduate]

Hi resto I am 74 and started the couch 2 5K last June and graduated in September. Although I was quite fit for my age I had no stamina, checked with my doc and he said go for it, and I am still out there, slow but out there running and walking and I do two exercise classes a week. All the encouragement I had from this forum really helped. Remember age is not the thing that makes you old its an attitude of mind. Go out there and enjoy .Pat

[Randomrunner in reply to Pat184]

Wow!! Well done!!! I will stop my stupid excuses about being old!!! Thank you...

[gingernut49 Graduate]

Hi, yes, I'm 63 and started C25K in January.

(I'd lost 2.5 stone doing the 5:2 diet and had so much energy that I was delighted to find these podcasts! Now that I'm running I've lost another half stone.)

I found the first run hard and failed to complete the seventh and eighth 60 second runs, but now, on week 7, I can run for 25 minutes and it's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be!

The main thing is not to move too fast, that will come with practice. I can now walk much much faster than I used to be able to, and my jogging has speeded up a little, though lads walking walk faster than I jog - I'm sure that will improve in time.

I don't have a car now so it's wonderful not to have to rely on buses to get me around and I haven't used my bus pass in 2013!

[caro8642 in reply to gingernut49]

Hi Gingernut - how long were you doing the 5:2 diet to loose that? brilliant achievement by the way. I am now on the third week and nearly reached the half stone, and it is so easy!

[Randomrunner]

I just started the 5:2 diet...62 and never run in my life.....a friend started me on the walk run program and am still on the 1 min x 12... Running on my own was a bit of a block but I do my time at lunch...I tried 2mins but just not happening!!! I have a feeling my commitment is not there yet....but I do love the feeling of being out there and pushing myself.....and yesterday for the first time felt I was walking faster too....so small progress....and it's great to see there are folks of my age out there just starting....I meet some 'sprinting amazons' on my trail....I'm just going to not look as they hammer past in matching gear!!!!

Thanks Gingernut for your post!!! :-))

[Ifatfirst Graduate]

Hi Resto,

I'm 66 and graduated in December. It did take me just over a year because I kept waiting for my daughter to have time to catch up and complete the series with me. In the end I was so fed up with week 5 I went on and finished on my own.

I was careful to run off road for my joints but I then did the final weeks and now have my grad badge.

I found it easier in a way to run on my own as I wasn't tempted to try and keep up with somebody else's pace. It has improved my stamina and my approach to the yoga and Pilates classes that I do once a week. I still try to run at least twice a week and am really pleased I can run/jog for 30minutes.

Go slow, take your time, don't set yourself any goal that is too far ahead -- and have a go.

[MaryDerry Graduate]

Hi Resto, I am another one. Did my graduation run a week after my 60th birthday. Never ran in my life beforfe and did the programme in about 10 weeks. It feels great to be doing this at my age. Having some issues with knee and hip, so have left more than one day between each run, but still do 30 minutes. So, no excuse for you! Go for it!!

[gingernut49 Graduate]

Hi Caro, I started after watching the Horizon programme, just eating from smaller plates and not eating after my evening meal as I was a shocker for nibbling. I had lost some weight that way, but then I found Kate Harrison's 5:2 Diet Facebook page then bought her book when it was published and I then knew what to do. My weight loss was then a pound a week and I'm now at my goal weight.

I'm so glad I found the NHS C25k podcasts: I would never have believed I could ever have become a runner - and, what's more, enjoy it!

[dottiemay Graduate]

Yep, will be 61 in May, started the programme last October, graduated in 9 weeks just before Christmas. I always aim to run a minimum of 5k every time now, which I can do in around 33 minutes. Ran 10k (accidentally) last week!

I'm not overweight, don't smoke, enjoy walking but wanted to be fitter and have something to focus on when I left work.

So, yes as you can see, there are many over 60s doing this!

[Saruma Graduate in reply to dottiemay]

Dottiemay, this really made me giggle. How on earth do you 'accidentally' run 10k?

[dottiemay Graduate in reply to Saruma]

Hahaha...well, I set out just for a normal 'target 5-7k run' and everything seemed to be right - I felt good, my breathing settled down and the conditions were perfect for me - cold, damp and still.

I got to 5k, decided to push on to 7, made that, thought well let's go for 8 then (which was my summer target!) - still okay; can I do 9? Yes I can, in that case I'm going for 10! And I did!

I was tired and my legs were aching and the last 0.5k was very tough but having got so close, there was no way I was going to give up!

[nannyp]

Hi resto I was 65 at christmas and have never run in my life, tomorrow I start week 5 , I am glad the weather is a bit better so it might be a bit more pleasant, I am still waiting to say I enjoyed that run but at the moment am satisfied to say blimey I did that run, so go for it if I can get this far I am sure you will be able to aswell.

[Ifatfirst Graduate in reply to nannyp]

Exactly- blimey I did that run- is a great way to sum it up. With blimey that wasn't too bad on a good day.

Plus of the later runs is that although they're longer -there's less of them!

[Hidden]

Yes. I am now 64. Started the programme 12 months ago and now run for over 30 mins outside in all weathers 3 times a week.

There a fair number of us. We ask questions and blog even as graduates.

Hope you enjoy the journey to being a runner.

[roundbutsound Graduate]

I am almost 62, very overweight and I was unfit. I've been doing C25K for a while, taking it very slowly but last week I did Week 5 Run 3 which is a 20 minute run without breaks. It felt very good to do it

[resto]

Thanks everyone. That's really encouraging. I have yet to buy some shoes so hopefully before too long I will take the first step. Can't say I'm very confident, but I can see I will only have to log in here for all the encouragement I need.

[Hidden]

Resto - can I recommend Mike Stroud's 'Survival of the Fittest' - amazon.co.uk/Survival-Fitte...

It's a great read with many interesting threads but a very important one is the value of taking up exercise at any age and how much we in the modern world underestimate our endurance skills - the first chapter describes 72-year old Helen Klein's participation in the 300-mile Eco Challenge race. Also, don't miss the legendary 'Born to Run' by Chris MacDougall.. Another total eye-opener in terms of how older people can compete and a cracking read...

[OldNed Graduate]

Hi resto. I'll be 63 next month. I started running in Jan 2012 and graduated on my 62nd birthday, not having run since school 46 years previously. I'm now running 5K regularly, more than that sometimes and I'm in the BUPA Great Yorkshire Run (10K) in September. Oh, and I've lost a stone on the 5:2 diet and expect to lose at least another half stone to reach 11st. As you've no doubt realised, there are quite a lot of us older runners out there! Go for it!!!