Stopped drinking a year ago and started running again about 6 months ago. Finding it such hard work. Too tired to do much training and the best I can manage is about 4km. in half an hour. Cannot believe how its all disappeared. I used to love running but now its a chore. This week I started mountain biking to see if i can get my poor dead legs going and after 4 days feeling better already.

Any tips about restarting the running machine at 70?

Welcome to RF Brian.

Glad to hear you're back out agin at 70...good for you.

Main tip I guess is to take it steady...not try to do too much too soon...the body will need to get used to the effort again.

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To complete each section of Jurassic Challenge, 26.2m, in under 4hrs 45mins..ta Grant !!

Don't let it dishearten you. Take it slow and let it come back gradually. Might be worth looking at what you eat before running to keep your energy up - I swear by eating a banana an hour before running. 4KM in half an hour is better than me at the moment, and I'm only 27!

Oh just thought - take a look at the guide in the beginners section, it will help you ease back into running. You get a decent sense of progress from following the guide which can be quite motivating.

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Challenge: Complete Race For Life (June 21st) in 39.30 mins. Ta Steve! Completed in 39.24

Hi Brian,guess it would be difficult running where you are geographically located.Not surprised that you feel better on the bike than when running.At 70 it is indeed hard to get going again.
Are you running just to get fit or do you intend to race again?
This should colour your approach.You can get very fit aerobically by hard walking.cycling/swimming or a combination of them.I would tend ,as I often have after injury,to go back to hard walking and gradually introduce the running into your schedule.Keep up the cycling,it is good aerobically without giving you the mechanical injury problems that running can induce.You can also do anaerobic and speed work on the bike rather than by running where injury may result.
If you want to race again you have to be mentally prepared for major drop off in performance compared to earlier years.My experience at 70 yrs of age was that my times were 75-100% slower than in my thirties.Felt the same just slower.You also need much more rest than when younger.
Good luck with your fitness aims.

Hi Brian. Respect from a youngster of 61.

It does seem to take longer to improve with all things physical than in the 20s and 30s. What we have, though, is persistence and no overwhelming desire to beat all-comers.

I started running properly for the first time about a year ago with 2 or 3 mile runs and forced myself not to compete with myself and get better times with each run. I don't time my runs accurately any more but I do use an HRM and record pace x avg HR.

I've had lots of ups and downs but now I'm managing about 3 x 10k runs a week. Pace was getting steadily worse but then I suddenly dropped about a minute from 12 to 11, for no apparent reason. That feels good!

I think it's just a case of, "getting the miles in" without being over-demanding of ourselves.

Hi Brian, I've started my running machine again at 75.

Have entered for a half marathon being held in October. Have kept to my own training schedule over 12 weeks - mainly fast walking and various distances of jogging using the 'Pose Method of Running'. Having said that, I can only complete 12 min. miles. But hey, I enjoy it! That's what it is all about.

All in all an inspiring thread given the age of most contributing - and makes me feel positively like a spring chicken at 55! I took up running at 52, but as others here show it's never too late. Stick in Brian, best of luck.

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Don

Your trying too hard! 4 km (whatever that is in Imperial?) in half a hour is too much. Just go out and run/jog slowly and dump the watch! Run three days a week with a day off in between. If you was on beta blockers like me you would really know about 'dead-legs'! and I am running up a long steep hill!

4km = ~2.5mi

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www.richardsimkiss.co.uk
'The minimum requirement to achieve something is to believe that it's possible'

I started running in September - my 'normal' time for 4km is just on the half hour - it took me about 10 weeks to get up to 4km. Mind you, I'm also a youngster on this thread - I'll just be pleased to be able to still running in 5 years time, let alone when I'm 70 !!

Mature Rules !!!

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Je ne regrette rien!
“Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.”
Race for Life 5km, Luton Hoo 27 June - target 34 mins
Doing virtual run to Newcastle - 816.62 km to go.

If I'm running 4k when I'm 70 i will be very happy, relax and enjoy it.

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Goals for 2010

Sub 27 minute 5k by the end of January ( postponed until after Silverstone)
Sub 2.30 Half Marathon in March
1000 miles run by the end of the year

Hi Brian, I'm with Lisa on this one. 4Km at 70; you're an inspiration. How many others could do that? Don't be hard on yourself, just keep up the good work. Best of luck.