To think I'm not built for running?

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

Did a thread on Exercise yesterday but no response.
I'm 40 and 5ft 10.Ive done couch to 5k before and got to around week 4 but my knees hurt a lot and my stamina was shit.Is it my height that is affecting my ability or just that I need patience? I wondered if my height caused the knee pain.I'm starting ct5k again this morning so needed some encouragement

Knee pain can be exacerbated by weight and unsuitable shoes
I would focus on building leg strength before running if you get knee pain
Knee pain isn't good

Can you sit and stand on a chair using only one leg?

In my opinion you need patience. It takes time. Do you run on grass or the road? Do you have decent trainers to protect your joint (they don’t have to be expensive but they need to support you)? Stamina will come. Repeat weeks as you need to.

I felt exactly the same at 5ft 7. I persevered with couch to 5k and it “clicked” around week 6. It seems to me I was trying to hard, you really need to listen to the instruction particularly around not bouncing as you run and the slow breathing. I’ll never be a great runner but I can comfortably cover 5k in around 30 mins now and it feels really good. It’s also really important to have a day off between runs to let your joints and muscles recover. Good luck, stick with it!

In terms of stamina, keep at it. Make sure you are jogging rather than trying to sprint at first! Otherwise you will tire yourself out.

If your knees are hurting, that could be caused by a number of things. Are your running shoes good? Consider how you are landing on your feet as well -look up running position. Running down hill can cause people's knees to hurt as well, maybe stick to flat areas at first.

I am 5'9", 42, a size 16 and the world's worst runner. However I do run. I think if you take it slow enough (I run at 7mins/km) it will come. I also knackered my knees the first time I tried ct5k, and IME running on pavement 3x weekly from nothing is the culprit. Rest up, and when you go again try on grass. It's more difficult to run on grass but it will help you adjust. Am fine on the road now.

I'm doing couch to 5k and am not a natural. I have found it really helps with aches and pains to do a warm up and cool down video. I had to try a fair few to find ones that suit me but it has really helped with the shin and hip pain I experienced.

Lots, of leg and core strengthening. Look up strength training for runners.
I think it gets overlooked

Nope! YANBU - I am a lot taller than you are and I was an athlete in my youth at a very high level.
There is nothing (!) I can run for 😔 I am fit, not fat, go to the gym regularly (obvs not now) but cannot get into running.
I need a treadmill, internet, music, warm & safe environment, no cars... but after 5-10 mins I am bored, knackered and had enough.

Just cannot do more than 2 K max... you are not alone

And of that doesn't help, a good sports physio will be abled to help you address "strike" issues.
Please don't believe a high street trainers shop who will diagnose your strike and give you build up shoes. Spend money on physio first

Maybe you’re trying to do it too fast?

I’m 39, I have multiple health conditions including Addison’s disease and early menopause and I’ve got a BMI of 29. I’ve been doing couch to 5k for 7 weeks now and I’m only at the end of week 3 of the programme. I repeat runs / weeks until I can do them really easily before I go on to the next one. If I have pain anywhere I wait until it’s gone and try again. I don’t run fast - just a very, very slow jog.

Maybe you’re pushing yourself too hard?

I've got decent running trainers I'm just going to do the best I can.I see joggers/runners and they make it look so easy but obviously they have been doing it for years.Im impatient by nature

You could argue I'm not built for running, I'm 5ft 6 and size 16 .
I'm slower than others but I still run , I may have to stop more too .
I just keep going , I feel great during and after no matter if I've run for 10 minutes or 1 hour .
Running is something everyone can do but we all have different abilities , keep at it .

Your knees are hurting as running is a high impact exercise and terrible for the knees, hips and pelvic floor.
A good pair of new cushioned running shoes will help, also,avoiding running on pavements.

The majority of people doing C25k find it hard and it's a programme to build up stamina.

Do some strength work to support the muscle development and joints. Running is high impact but that's a good thing for bone density and joints, because the time in the air of no weight alternates the pressure.
Take rest days.
Go slow. Really slow... then slower. That's what builds the stamina. Speed follows later.

Just a thought, I run regularly, have done a few half-marathons and early last year developed an issue with my knees after a couple of months off from running; I saw a sports physio and he noticed straight away is what that my glutes had got 'lazy' and were transferring the strain to my knees. A few weeks of squats, clam shells and other butt exercises and it was all solved. Make sure to be doing a proper warm up, cool down and some general strength/core work to compliment your running 🙂

I’m 59, I’ve already been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knees (though no worse than average for my age apparently) and no way would I take up running. I do a lot of leg strengthening exercises and Pilates which really helps with the pain.

I second building up leg strength first - I’ve had knee problems for years after doing a lot of running without any strength training. Am finally doing some physio for them, building up the muscles in my thighs and it’s working wonders. My physio has me doing couch to 5k now (after a few months of no running at all), in order to build up to running longer distances without damaging my knees again and I’m now on week five and not experiencing any pain - this would have been unheard of before. Just add in a couple of days of squats, lunges and other such exercises every week (as a PP said, Google workouts) and you should notice the difference. Good luck!

I can't run more than 50m or so. Never been able to, even when forced to do athletics at school. I walk much faster than most people and can walk for hours on end with no problem. But if I try to run or jog, I break down within a few seconds.

I think some people are not built to run.

Im interested in peoples comments. Im about to start week 4 but have terrible right knee pain. Im taking regular ibuprofen because its waking me in the night, is very painful when I run and or go up/down the stairs. I'm very disappointed and my DH thinks I should stop C25K and do cycling instead, I've got excellent trainers with good support and gel soles etc I'm not bouncing to much but I am running on pavements. Im rural and grass round here is mainly very long. Before e staying C25K I could easily walk 6-7 miles (and further if necessary) but now my knee hurts so badly and Im struggling to walk that far. I was doing it to improve my cardiovascular fitness.

A personal trainer did tell me once it was harder for tall people to run. I imagine it's like anything you have to keep at it. My body goes into shock if I try to run 😂

With dreadful knee damage I had not run for about 15 years...consultant at hospital said I could run, but no race training /marathons and most certainly not if in any pain

But with lack of other options, I began really gently after spending the first month or 6 weeks of lockdown focussed on leg strength and stability exercises and so far I have been ok to run ( fingers strongly crossed )

So calf raises, bridges ( hamstrings apparentky ) , squats, single leg squats, planks, side planks, ( core work is about stability ) step ups, ( using a small wall) , inner and outer thigh , tree poses, angel dives, standing on one leg with eyes shut,

I'm 47, BMI 29 and 5ft 2.
On my third couch to 5k my knee hurt the next day and then I could barely walk for 2 days and it was very painful indeed.

I stopped as I did not want to screw my knees up. I've never been a natural runner, even when slim, but give me something like swimming and my endurance is fine.

I now go on a cross trainer instead.

I had to stop running (used to do 5k a couple times a week) due to the impact on my knees and pelvic floor. I think unless you have the time and energy to really concentrate on good form it can do more harm than good. Now do low-impact workouts at home (Fitness Blender have some good ones) which I find much better.

I'm not an expert but my advice would be to try to make as little effort as possible, what a mean is your limbs to be loose, don't make it too hard for yourself. I did C25K with the god that is Michael Johnson, listen to the little purses of advice he and the other trainers give. I've not listened to the others. Pace yourself, it's not a race.

I also thought I wasn't built for running,but lockdown has me trying more for the first time...
I'm 5" 8, strong from strength training and reasonably fit...but it is still very hard!
What helps me is running up hill and on earth, not tarmac.
I have a field near me with a perfect hill, I walk/jog there and do hill circuits for about half an hour. As the weeks have gone by, I've been able to jog more and walk less.
Running up an incline is easier on your joints.
Look up slow jogging - readibg about that gave new the confidence to just try it.