Week 4 ex smoker

[Get running lee]

My story, just turned forty smoked fifteen a day since leaving school, turning forty has made me think about my health for the first time in my life. So i have decided to quit the smokes....that was 4 weeks ago when i downloaded this app app for my iphone. I have just started week 4 run 1 saved over one hundred pounds last month due to not smoking so today i went to a specialist running shop and got measured for a proper pair of running trainers, i think iam starting to enjoy my runs, i havent lost any weight yet ive got about 2 stone to lose. however i do feel fitter already still using my nicorrette quickmist to get over my nictione addiction however only a few times a day now... Starting to feel positive about my life for once, even though still blowing out my hoop after each run.. Bloody hills....lol..good luck to everybody feeling it at the moment your not alone. All the best lee in sunny devon england.

[Petra]

That's a great story! Hope you're being able to keep up with not smoking (I bet you can). I've never smoked, so I don't know how difficult it is to quit smoking, but I understand from everyone who quit that it is very difficult. So good luck with it! And keep us posted about your progress!

Petra (from a rainy Netherlands)

[Get running lee]

Will do petra! So far so good, many thanks for your support hope your enjoying the program to.

[Petra]

many thanks for your support hope your enjoying the program to.

Yes, I do! In fact I've almost finished the program. This evening I will run my last run (w9r3) of the program! I started on July 13, skipped two week because of a holiday, and repeated week 7 because of that break. I could never imagine that I (45 year old, overweight) would be able to run for 30 minutes, but I am!

Petra.

[Catherine_M]

Hi Lee,

I have alot of respect for you, two tough journeys and it sound like your doing fantastic with both.

I'm only on week 2 run 1 but an enjoying it so much am also thinking of going to a specialist shop, not sure if this is what you did but there's a shop near me you go to and run on a treadmill and they monitor the way your feet move when you run then suggest the best trainers for you.

Don't be a stranger I look forward to herring how yur getting on

Catherine x

[Get running lee]

Hi catherine many thanks for your support, i did go to a specialist running shop, he watched how i walked in bare feet and recommended a number of trainers for my style as a over pronater i needed a suppport type running shoe. Wet the soles of your feet in some water and leave a footprint on a tiled floor or paper so u can see what type of trainer u need. I went for some adidas responce shiny silver ones for 70 pounds the difference is amazing. However i think i might be pushing too hard too quickly today as i have tried sprinting my runs today, and my knees are really sore now... so i think i will just enjoy my two restdays and hopefully not push my knees too hard to quickly in future.allso been running without the app inbetween my rest days which i think hasnt helped my knees ... Lesson learnt i think? just follow the app and dont try to do too much to soon. Lee in foggy devon.

[Ian]

It's very tempting to push too hard too soon. The "runners high" is hard to resist on rest days. The rest days are REALLY important. Glad you learnt the lesson before injury Lee.

@Catherine, You don't need expensive shoes, but you do need the right shoes, particularly if you over or under pronate. Last year I tried running a few times in old trainers and with no programme. I spent so much time injured that I gave up having got nowhere. In my case I spent quite a bit on shoes in a specialist shop before starting this time. I could have spent much more, but I got the shoes that were right for me. The shop I was in don't tell you prices until you have decided which ones work best for you. Then your choice is not influenced by price. Frankly I found the amount I spent helped me to be motivated to run.... I wasn't going to waste the money.

Oh, and I nearly forgot. Congrats on kicking the smokes! Still haven't managed it myself.

[Get running lee]

Thanks for your support Ian, yes i agree the rest days are just as important as the running. I manged to kick the smoking with the help of patches and a mouth spray, its amazing being able to breath and smell and taste food properly and not have the stigma of being a smoker. I can say honestly say i dont miss it, good luck on your journey. Lee

[Catherine_M]

Hi Ian thanks for the advice, bought a pair of trainers today which feel 10 times better than my old ones and got them in the sale! Can't wait to try them out tomorrow

Catherine x

[KeepTrying]

Hi Lee. Glad it's going well for you. Ian is absolutely right about the not pushing too hard too soon. This C25K programme is all about building your body for endurance and stamina. Not speed. That can come later once you are at the 30min point - if you wish. Also don't shirk on the warm-up before or the stretches after. They are really important to help you avoid injury and enjoy the runs. And well done with the fags!! Mike