I don’t want to be an athlete. Am I in the right forum?
Three months ago in March, I started my C25K journey. 74 years old, 16 stone+ in old money. 101Kg and change in metric. A few years ago I was a regular outpatient at our local hospitals for while and it still hurts that a nurse said “ Well you are technically obese!” I stopped smoking then, and put more weight on. I didn’t look bad if I sucked my stomach in. I took a couple of walks a week, parked a bit further from the shop, to no avail. I like my food too much, although I ate lots of salad and fruit, along with bread, cake, cheese,& pasta. Finally, I got my first phone that had a camera and broadband with apps and things. Handmedown from the grandkids. Loaded the app, set off early one morning for a walk. Accompanied by Sarah Millican in my ear. Well round the corner, out of sight of the neighbours, I broke into a gentle jog for a minute, then walked again. You know the plan. Ran out of puff, ran out of charge, ran out of broadband. We are out in the country here! Repeated week one! Settled down with Laura’s C25K podcast on the iPod, which comes with music. About week 4/5 I didn’t need to suck my stomach so hard. 6/7 I seem to be a couple of kilos lighter. Finished week 9 with a slow 5K.
Couple of weeks ago I decided to join my wife and count calories. Weigh and note all I eat. That many calories in just a teaspoon of mayo? It’s a bit of a task to do, but there’s enough online help. Set yourself a daily target. Add those calories up for a weekly target to allow you to go over on one day and under on another. Hungry? Eat, but sensibly and write it down. Cheat and it will take longer. Bit like C25K!
Repeated week 9 which was a bit boring, while I read about what to do next. Bridge to 10K? Not really me. If I want to go that far I have a bus pass.
I am amazed that I can run for thirty minutes. Very happy with that. Could improve my breathing perhaps? Do I run in a good posture? Could I improve my footfall?
I think these are my current goals. Look more like a runner than an old feller jogging.
Finally settled for Stepping stones. So this morning I set off with Laura again.
She wants me to run at 150 steps a minute, in time with the music? Gulp! 150!
Warm up walk then off we go. 1234,1234. She keeps coming back and counting. 1234, 1234. Five minutes then up the speed to 155. 1234,1234, and again. Five changes, 25 minutes gone, I am wet with sweat and rain. This is my first rainy run on this course. I just ran several hundred metres further than I did on my week 9 30 minute runs. Wow! That seemed to go very quickly cos I was concentrating on my 1234 steps. Interesting tip from that podcast? Put your feet down as if you are cycling, round and round, up and down.
A lot of people on the forum, some time ago were a bit scathing about Stepping Stones. It seems because they were better than it, to start with. They may do better on Bridge 25K? I am not fast, think JSR, so I found it very useful and the repeat is certainly is going to carry me through a few more runs. Then I might look at the Speed or Stamina versions. C25K inspired me to be more careful with my diet in balance with my exercise. After this mornings run I am 96.3Kg. Losing a little more and being a little fitter seems a reasonable aim. I don’t want to be an athlete. There is life beyond C25K for us shufflers.
Three cheers for NHS and Laura. Particular thanks to the dedicated ADMIN team. Am I still in the right forum?
Written by
Hatman
Graduate
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Fantastic post and fantastic goals acheived! 👍🏅 extremely well done, you're making good overall changes for your health that will stand you in good stead for your non-althetic hobbies 😉
Yes, definately still in the right forum. C25k for all! 😁
By all means. I enjoy the occasional audience and trust me... I never expected to be here either! This running thing does odd things to previously sedentary people! 👍🤣
OGR, Many thanks. Never mind me not stopping posting, You get yourself back up to speed soon and join in too. Not too soon though, listen to the advice. Get well soon.
Great life story and it proves that if you put the effort in anything can be achieved. Also isn't it a shock when you start counting calories but you get used to it , I used Samsung health app when I put on 4st due to stopping smoking and eating everything then just stuck to 1500 calories per day it's been a year now and I've lost 3st so it can be done . Keep going and good luck 😊😊
Thanks for the advice, Buddy. Much appreciated. I will have a look at that.
I remain happy with my 47’48” for 5K. Just to have done it once, suits me. Congratulations on your 33 minutes. So encouraging to hear of that weight loss. There’s chance for me yet. Keep enjoying it.
Thank you youngster. I quite enjoy your exploits too. Don’t worry about your next run. You just ran for fifteen minutes. It’s only a minute longer. Go and enjoy doing it. I look forward to your next instalment. Lucky you running with a support team. Say Hi for me.
Hehe, lovely post and thank you 😀. You may not want to be an athlete but I always think in our own way we all are. We learn about our sport and share our knowledge with each other, I can’t think of a better word to describe us 😀. Happy running. Athlete or not 😉.
Hehe, I still openly giggle when the word athlete and my name are used in the same sentence but I do feel very proud of it, the one thing I am without a doubt is a passionate runner, like everyone on here is, we are all equal. 😀.
Brilliant..brilliant...brilliant, Just a fantastic post.😉
You stay here..or wherever the fancy takes you..because you will achieve whatever you set your heart on!
Your strength and determination is enviable.
You have too, discovered what the Plus podcasts are all about..the folk who are scathing about Stepping Stones, and the other podcasts too...usually have missed the whole point of them.
Done correctly...they are challenging.
And so useful...that is why we recommend folk do not do them straight after Graduation..
Running is about far more than just running..it us about the disciplines within our running..and the honing of the running skills... very well done you!
You will enjoy the other podcasts too I feel sure.
I did each one three times when I first used them..and still use Speed and Stamina even now..either alone or within other runs.
I feel the best thing that shines from your post like a beacon....is that you are running for you...running towards your goals...and running for enjoyment.
You are a runner...but you like so many of us...you are your own runner.
I look forward to watching your progress and reading more posts..
Many thanks Oldfloss. I am really pleased that you folks up on that Admin cloud read these and comment so fully. It is certainly encouraging to feel that my lonely thoughts are appreciated and commented on from on high.
I started this stepping stone with trepidation. I had no idea how fast 150 footsteps a minute would be, but of course was inclined to think it would be too fast for me. But hey I had to stop early a couple of times on runs in week one. I have done C25K since then! Not an athlete! Just fitter! is my goal now. Thanks to you and your gang for your help in that. Progress is likely to be like my running, slow.
Great stuff.. Wherever you lay your comment Hat, that's your forum.
Google search should provide details of six podcasts. Stepping Stones, speed& Stamina. One of each with first, full introduction then music and directions. T’other just daily use music and directions.
What an inspiring post and it’s great to hear your progress.
I don’t want to be an athlete either, but can’t believe I’m loving this running life and, as someone who had never run before, am amazed at how much better it’s made me feel- physically and mentally.
We’re not all athletes, but are all enjoying the running! 🏃♀️
Oh yes. I seem to remember one where I just got ok with 150 steps and the word was suddenly, Now we’ll do 155. And then, blow me down, I think it went to 160! Aaaargh. Well done you for hanging in there. 🎉👏🏼🎉 Have to say I haven’t repeated that one for some time! 🤪
I vote you’re absolutely in the right forum because you’re caring for your health and sharing inspiring story that helps encourage others, including me, to do likewise too 👏👍
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