cewtwo says:

Boy, I sure qualify for that one!

 cajetan says:

Haha!! Well, do you think there are no other runners in our age group on this site or, perhaps, we're the only ones willing to admit it?

 anniewal says:

I think I qualify more than the both of you - or should I start a new forum for even older runners?

 amy says:

i am 52 years (do i qualify?) old and 155 pounds. i already lost 50 pounds, stopped smoking and excersize regularly. i also try to eat right. my new goal is to lose the last stubborn 10 pounds, and to start running again after 30 years. i tried the couch to 5k program, but just when i was feeling encouraged with the results, my knee got wrenched.

the last couple of weeks i've taken it easy during healing, and walking some slowly. today finally, i got in a 5k walk at my old walking rate of under 16 min per mile.

i want to start the conservative version of the couch to 5k running program. i think running on concrete may have caused my knee injury, so i will try it via treadmill. anyone else out there trying this also?

 cajetan says:

Anniewal,
We can make you an honorary member of our alumni association!!

Amy,
Wow, your self-discipline is very impressive. Congratulations on your progress!! Sorry to hear that your knee injury is slowing you down a bit. Running on concrete indeed might have contributed, in part, to your injury. I avoid concrete for that reason and basically stick to a joint-friendly treadmill (one which has a bit of bounce to it). When I do run outside, I stick with unpaved paths, boardwalks, or asphalt if I must. So long as I switch back and forth from asphalt to the treadmill and do not constantly run on hard surfaces, I tend to avoid knee problems.

 amy says:

thanks for the good advice. as soon as i am mentally and physically ready, i will give it another try - off the concrete

 anniewal says:

Hi everyone,

Thanks cajetan, I am honoured to accept such a prestigious position!

Amy - wow - you are an inspiration in what you have achieved so far. Well done! Sorry to hear you are having knee pain. I'm no expert but assuming you have good supportive running shoes I would say that building your running back up on a treadmill is a good idea. You can keep it at a pace comfortable for you and importantly you can stop if you feel any pain coming on. This is always a difficulty when you go out on a run as you have to get back home. I agree with Cajetan, running on concrete could well have contributed to your knee problem. I am fortunate (here in the UK)to have the option to run on softer ground near where I live. I usually run along the canal towpath which in most areas is just natural ground compacted down by walkers and cyclists. This might sound strange to runners in the USA! I am not familiar with the couch to 5km programme. Perhaps you can enlighten me. I assume it is a gradual build up to running 5km from scratch. Whatever you choose to do Amy keep up the good work you have started and good luck!

 amy says:

i found the couch to 5k program on apple itunes podcasts. it is a half hour of music interuppted at intervals with verbal instructions on when to run and when to walk, in order to build up the couch potato to be able to run a 5k. they also have a website www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

i am about 1 mile from my gym, so i starting walking there last week, then using the treadmill for the running portion. so far, so good. i think it will take a while before i can run for a half hour straight. well they say slow and steady wins the race. at least my knee is holding up.

 anniewal says:

Thanks for the info on your training programme and the website link. Good news that your knee is holding up.

I find it a bit difficult to motivate myself to go out running some days. When I was competing in my 40s I just got on with it and trained very hard. Now I run to keep myself healthy and maintain some fitness but I confess I miss the buzz that I got from racing and have to give myself a push to get out there.

Good luck with your programme, Amy! Catch up with you again soon.

 cajetan says:

Amy,
Good to hear that you are healing and taking it slow without any further knee aggravation. It's perfectly fine to run and walk in order to build up your endurance for a 1/2 hour-straight run. The important point, as you know, is to keep challenging yourself but not to the point of injury. It certainly sounds like you have what it takes to challenge yourself, that you are attuned to your body and that you know your limits. I'm glad that you are sticking with it yet remaining sensible about not over-doing it. This, in fact, is one of my key concerns. That is, us 55 year olds (or thereabouts)need to be a little more careful than our more youthful running friends about pushing our bodies to extreme. They can take much more abuse and recover faster than us. At least that is what I have found. So, while the treadmill is less glamorous than running through "hill and dale," my conservative self knows that I will be less prone to injury on the treadmill. Fewer injuries, in turn, translates to longer periods of fitness and being consistently fit is one of my goals.

 cajetan says:

Anniewal,
I am so glad that you have graciously accepted our honorary membership!! You miss the "buzz"? Something tells me that you could probably be buzzing again quite successfully if you really wanted to...I can relate to what you are saying, though...dealing with competition head-on is a very self-affirming, "in the moment"-type, experience. I still get instinctively charged up when I see someone running ahead of me...the compulsion to pursue is really quite an animal thing.......but some days I just tell myself "let it go",...just enjoy the sound of your breath, the efficient and fluid movement of your body and the beating of your own internal "drum." When I was younger I could go longer periods not running without any significant impact on my drive to run. Now, after three days of not running, it really takes quite a bit to motivate myself...I do really think that it is a function of recovery time and age.

 anniewal says:

Cajetan,
Oooh, I know were you are coming from when you see another runner ahead of you. I am the same - must test myself out again!! Most of the time I'm okay and just feel glad to be out there in the fresh air and at peace with the world. It is 3 days since I ran, though, and I will have to give myself that push once more. Letting too much time lapse between runs does play on my mind but then that's why we joined Runner+ to help motivate each other. Catch up with you soon -metaphorically speaking!!