Get Running Forums

First of all, congratulations to benjohn for such a great application and a request. Being a non-native speaker I would love to have Get Running in Spanish as well, so my friends who don’t speak English can also enjoy it (I’m willing to help, if needed…).
Now to the core of my question. I’m a 47 year old man, a social scientist with a very sedentary life, just a bit overweight and with a very poor track record in terms of physical activity. Right now I’m about to start W4R2. So far I’m enjoying it and quite happy with my progress, but to be honest also quite worried, because it doesn’t seem to get easier and the coming weeks look dreadful. I’m afraid age matters, and perhaps I will not be able to move further. If there’s anybody else out there that began the programme being above 45 please share your experience. I would really appreciate some positive views at this moment!

Gotta be getting easier or you wouldn't have made it this far, remember how difficult week one was? that's how I keep looking at it, I'm sure age doesn't help.....but I'm with ya, I started a week before my 44th birthday, my running partner (my sister) started at the same time and she's a year older than I.

I used to run quite a bit when I was a younger man.....and it came very easy for me, not so much any more, but I'm gonna stick to it until it gets easier.

Oh.....I start week four tomorrow, congrats on getting this far, that's awesome!

Thanks Uruguayan!

I'd love to localise Get Running in to other languages. It's a lot of work once you start to also support other languages, but I would like to do it – thanks for the help offer!

Okay – so, you don't say how much over 45 you are! I know several Get Running users over 60 who've gone through the program. I don't think age is a huge concern.

Your starting level of fitness will determine how difficult it's going to be to go through the program. The couch to 5k program that Get Running uses is designed to last for nine weeks, but there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't go through the program more slowly – I certainly took longer going through, and I was 33 when I started.

I suggest that if you are reasonably comfortable with week four, then run week four a few extra times and let your confidence build up. What I try to emphasise is that if you are getting out and exercising, you are doing something excellent – it's much better than not exercising at all! Be assured that the exercise you are doing is building up your fitness and moving on to the next week will become manageable.

Well done, keep going, and happy running!

Age should be no obstacle at all so long as you stay injury free - but then that can happen at any age. Just take it slowly and be disciplined about stretching afterwards. I am 55 and loving the programme. A few weeks back I was up to week 8. My knee was playing up so I backtracked to week 5. Now I am starting week 8 again and feeling much stronger now. Spring here in France and had a glorious 6:00 AM run in the park yesterday - 25 minutes. The blossoms were all out and I was enjoying the new R.E.M. on my iPhone. Perfect start to the Saturday!

Thanks. Today I had my big third run of week five, 20 minutes non-stop!!!! It was tough, but by no means as awful as I had expected. Now all my previous fears have turned into a renewed confidence on my capabilities to end the programme. So far I didn't feel the need to re-run any session and have followed the programme in strict order, just postponing two sessions one or or two days because of travel, but without any real break. Now age doesn't feel like an issue.

My only concern for the coming days is jet lag. Because of my work, on Saturday (when I'm supposed to start week 6) I'll be in India, and on Monday I have to fly all the way to the US for a week, and then a two-week stay in Mexico. Let's see how it goes. Wish me luck!!!!

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I feel great!!!!