Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Having got rather sick of resembling a potato, I've started on the C25K programme. I'm sixty years old, and apart from regular walks, haven't done any proper exercise for years, hence I'm at least 16lbs overweight. I just did week 2 run 2, which went ok so I'm hoping I can keep this up, and it'd be good to get to a point where I don't fear the street furniture is going to overtake me as I puff along.
 
After getting to half marathon runs a lot happened in my life a few years ago (nothing bad) so I gave up running “for a bit”. Oh how I wish I didn’t make excuses and continued to run!

The bug is back now though I can feel it! Just waiting for some budget running shoes to arrive and I’ll be hitting the pavements again. Overweight and lacking fitness I’ll be starting right back at the beginning of c25k Week 1, Day 1 :(

If by some miracle my fitness returns after a few runs would you guys continue the program or advance ahead slightly? I do not want an injury so my plan is to persevere if needed.
 
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I've came to the realisation that my 3 year old son is getting faster than me and I've let myself get really unfit. I've signed up for a half marathon in September, whether I do it at any sort of decent pace is kinda irrelevant, it's primarily a goal for me to hit to just be standing at the start feeling somewhat prepared. Starting from a dead start so intention is to do C25K, then 10k, and go from there. 6 months is going to be rough but I'm actually really looking forward to it.
 
Bunko said:
After getting to half marathon runs a lot happened in my life a few years ago (nothing bad) so I gave up running “for a bit”. Oh how I wish I didn’t make excuses and continued to run!

The bug is back now though I can feel it! Just waiting for some budget running shoes to arrive and I’ll be hitting the pavements again. Overweight and lacking fitness I’ll be starting right back at the beginning of c25k Week 1, Day 1 :(

If by some miracle my fitness returns after a few runs would you guys continue the program or advance ahead slightly? I do not want an injury so my plan is to persevere if needed.
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Personally, I'd go slow and steady in your position. If you're keen to do more and want to jump ahead, consider perhaps a walk, or a weighted walk if possible, instead of a run to just allow your body more time to get stronger?
 
Don't think i'd posted in here but any attempt to start running after my diagnosis of not a mortons neuroma were scuppered by breaking my toe 5 weeks ago!

In the meantime thought i'd give people the heads up. I've always seen adverts for the Blackboard device for building ankle stability, but always been put off my the cost for what is a really basic device. Seems to be a lot of companies jumping on a foot health/barefoot style bandwagon at the moment.

I found there's a load of copies on Aliexpress and picked one up for under a tenner. It arrived Saturday and feels pretty good to use, just for sitting on the sofa or standing an my desk. It works similar to wobble cushions but because it's more stable you can control the movement more as a beginner and work on the movements rather than just trying to balance.

Definitely worth it for anyone trail running and wanting to work on ankle strength/mobility.
 
I think I missed your diagnosis thing somewhere. Presume you are getting somewhere with it now? What is the board thing meant to do?
 
Ian_Eb said:
I think I missed your diagnosis thing somewhere. Presume you are getting somewhere with it now? What is the board thing meant to do?
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I'd always been told it was a mortons neuroma (basically a hard deposit wrapped around a nerve for protection between your metatarsal bones. Surgery is hit and miss for success), but in January i had a CT scan over here in Spain which said it's not a neuroma but a calcium deposit in the similar area. Presumably it's a lower risk but i can't find much online about it. Main thing being i figured i'd be able to start running because it was unlikely to get worse so as long as pain was manageable i thought i'd be ok.

Have an appointment with a rheumatologist in a months time so hopefully something gets resolved. I've also started getting some weird hard lumps in my left palm which are really painful which may be related. I've then also developed some lump on the top of my left foot which i've no idea about. Weirdly it doesn't hurt.


The board thing is about generally about improving foot strength and ankle mobility. In theory this should make them less susceptible to injuries
 
We're all doomed eventually ;-)

I have been doing some walking on the treadmill at the gym recently. No weird knee twinges, clicks, bangs, grinding etc so I am going to work up slowly to a jog and see how it all goes. You never know, I may be able to get out and run/stagger again !
 
Did the hawkshead 16km today, really hot to the extent I was sweating at the start line.
Had a couple of niggling injuries, strained my hamstring nearly two weeks back just getting out of bed of all things then my hips been sore for a few days, not sure if it's linked to the hamstring issue as it's the other side so potentially compensating.

Trying some different fueling out... Yeh dropping tailwind and salt tabs was a bad idea, never had cramp before but the last few hundred yards to the finish line my calves proper cramped was so painful to run .

So I think I'll stick to salt sticks every 30 mins or so and tailwind with the odd gel rather than just gels and some water

Stavely next in. A few weeks think it's a half marathon
 
Plastered all over socials that Strava has bought Runna. Not sure how I feel about it as I really love the Runna app. Hopefully they integrate well and don’t muck the app up.
 
i've been tempted to try runna a few times but never got to it. Suspect Strava will make a super + edition or something with it included.
 
Did someone elses route from Garmin today. 17km trail run, started course but didn't realise it didn't start activity until well past half way
This is the route I chose. Legs are dead after a few hours out. Was hard running through bracken and uneven boggy ground
Elevation was tough
https://imgur.com/a/aZmwF6x
 
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I'm still progressing with C25K, I completed the first run of week 7 this morning, all outside so far. I'm still very slow but haven't failed a run yet so I'm confident I can complete the course. I haven't noticed any weight loss so far which is a pity (I'm probably about 16lbs overweight) but at 60 years old I'm definitely noticing I feel fitter than I was and generally have a bit more energy.
 
wozzizname said:
I'm still progressing with C25K, I completed the first run of week 7 this morning, all outside so far. I'm still very slow but haven't failed a run yet so I'm confident I can complete the course. I haven't noticed any weight loss so far which is a pity (I'm probably about 16lbs overweight) but at 60 years old I'm definitely noticing I feel fitter than I was and generally have a bit more energy.
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That’s a great effort. Slow and steady wins the race.

Keep up good posture, good sleep and quality nutrition :-)
 
I've not weighed myself in quite some time, I know I'm overweight but I also know I must be a bit fit in order to run. I feel healthier than I did a few years ago despite maybe being a bit heavier.
 
blairw said:
12 Week HM Prep kicks off this week followed by 3 week recovery then 18 week marathon prep...
Base Build has went well and set a new 10k PB (46:22) during it so feeling confident of a big HM PB (current PB is 1:52:43) and a successful Marathon in October.

Last 10 weeks running (km): - 37, 54, 49, 41, 36, 23, 49, 47, 49

Marathon Plan is Pfitz 18/55 so peak milage of 55 Miles / 88 KM
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Worth a quick update on this - been following a Pfitz Half Marathon plan and I am just under 4 weeks out from race day - Ive already accidentally set a HM PR in training during a progressive run, so I'm targeting a massive PB on Raceday in Edinburgh - going for sub 1:40 which would be a near 13 minute race PB. Last 4 weeks have all been over 60K in volume with the week before last at 70k, this is peak week coming in at round 75K including a 24k Long run
 
Awesome stuff. With the power cut yesterday i went for a walk and threw in some short jogs to gauge fitness/injury. My plan was to try and introduce this a while back but i broke my toe.

Fitness is in the gutted from the injury and general lack of running/increased weight. However hoping to try and get back to it now i know i'm not doing further damage to my foot and it's "only" pain. Would love to be able to get back to a couple of hour runs in the mountains providing i can avoid injury.
There's definitely some reduced strength/muscle and i got a bit of lower back pain which isn't ideal!
 
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