Couch to 5k

I did couch to 5k in 2019 best thing I ever started. I now run three times a week. Great for your mental health. The app is great. Take it slow and don't give up. Good luck.

My daughter is the run leader for our local couch to 5 k. She loves it and regularly has in excess of 20 new starts to the course. The group members bond, encourage each other too. They turn up, no matter the weather, all ages and abilities. After achieving the 5K some carry on to park runs and many have tackled 10 k runs. My daughter is so proud of each and every one of them. Go for it. It may change your life

I haven't myself - I walk my dogs 4 miles everyday - which I enjoy - but I have enjoyed watching Fern Britton share her progress on Instagram. She's done really well with it .

Lots of great comments and advice,thank you.Now I just need to get new trainers and a good bra!

Good trainers, new bra…and then all the other Lycra and gadgets you won’t be able to resist. I don’t run at present but did it, graduated and then signed up for a half marathon. I loved running even though I went through life believing I couldn’t run at all. C25K is a great way to start.

I did the BBC couch2k via mobile phone app course during Covid lockdown after 40 years in office job, but was daunted starting aged 60. I was not overweight but unfit with a slight muffin top layer of fat accumulating around the midriff . I found the programme was encouraging and not too difficult to get up to 5k distance with determination. I jog on the flat rather than run, and avoid hills when I first started, and did buy decent running trainers with gel soles which minimises risk of kneed injuries from impact from running on pavement surfaces. Brookes trainers are expensive brand but are good and you can get last year's models a bit cheaper. It's worth getting 'gait' assessed if you can find a sports shop that does this.. I still run 5k at least once a week and usually twice. I do 5k parkrun each Saturday over mix of grass and tarmac trails most weeks . Have now added once a week sea swimming, occasional cycling and started tennis sessions with a beginner's group, and do feel better for it but it is an effort to make the time while working full time. When I retire, I will try to do add some resistance training with weights a couple of times a week.

Yes, 12 years ago when I was 60.
I have now completed 4 London Marathons, (the last one last October), half marathons, and many other shorter distances.
I go to parkrun whenever I can.
Rather than running full on I now follow the Jeffing method (devised by Jeff Galloway) and am able to cover greater distances with slightly less effort

And c25k is completely free!

Tried and conceded at first hurdle. I have a prolapse so in spite of padding up I finished up very wet. Also, no negotiation with rate at which you progress, next week the pace was being upped and as I struggled with the first week I decided no point in continuing; I could barely hit first week targets, no chance for future weeks. Felt a failure but I just couldn't do it; end of

I desperately need to get fit and really fancy running but in late 60s and with arthritic hip I don’t know wether it would be detrimental or beneficial. I work full time and try to keep as active as I can but often feel stiff and unfit .
I’d appreciate your thoughts .

Did it 5 years ago at age 56. Still going strong. I did mine with a support group which was really helpful. Do the Parkrun weekly and try to run a couple of times in the week as well.

I started at 69 and it was brilliant! Go for it and stick at it. If at any stage you feel it's too much don't push on to the next level just stick where you feel comfortable. You'll know when you're ready to move on. Once I reached 5k I ran it 3 times a week. Had to stop when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. Picked up again when it was safe but now have had to move to a different exercise each day to get my creaky joints and muscles into action. YouTube site called Fabulous 50s offers a real range of exercises. Good luck!

I did the C25K so that I could take part in parkrun, which is such a great weekly event. I started it many times, but always found my sticking point was week 4. Lo g story short, I now volunteer every week at my local parkrun, and have made such a great group of friends through it. We regularly meet up for dog walks and coffee, and if I do feel like a little jog, I go out in the week on my own. So the secondary benefits have been wonderful for me!

I use a Cellerciser which I can use indoors or out on my deck year-round. It's a high-tech mini-trampoline and 10-30 min a day is enough to get you in shape or maintain without injuries, in all kinds of weather, to music or TV of your choosing. Watch some videos from Dave Hall for more info. Great for bone density too.