I've downloaded the couch to 5k app to get a bit fitter and entertain Cupar at the same time. I'm now wondering if I can start building up the walking with him, oh and I don't mean climbing Ben Nevis, it would be hour to two hours eventually of walking and with any luck I may even manage to be able to run to the end of my street without needing resuscitated. At the moment I'm going on instinct. Cassie since her spay doesn't seem to be as energetic so I've been taking her for shorter galavants. Cupar however seems to really enjoy the running and me keeping pace with him for a change. We're only walking for an hour maximum on lead with ( don't laugh) five minutes running. I'm unsure when I can start walking him further. Paranoia worrying about damage to hips etc.
Well done on wanting to get fitter. I always put the proviso that I am no expert......but after 12months there is less of a problem with exercise and although this doesn't just change overnight, your approach of building up slowly is entirely sensible. Doing a little regularly and building up is far more sensible than doing nothing then going all out at weekends. The latter will be more likely to get both you and your dog's into difficulties.
I would just add a word of caution about how your dogs are accompanying you. I think the issue is less about the time spent exercising, but more about the type of exercise. If you're expecting Cupar to run alongside you on lead, on a hard pavement, that's quite hard work for his joints, because you're setting his pace rather than him being able to choose how fast he goes. I take mine on the odd longer hike, but allow them (force them!) to take plenty of rest stops and the remainder of the time let them mooch at their own pace.
I think that by 13 months of age there is almost no limit to the amount of exercise a fit labrador can take; except I would never advise too much jumping onto hard ground. I am sure that slowly working yourself and Cupar up to taking longer hikes will be a wonderful experience for both of you, well done!
So long as Cupar is fit, and since he'll be increasing his exercise alongside you, I think that's fine. He should be moving at a pace which is comfortable for him - slow enough for him to walk (properly) or fast enough for him to trot. If you are jogging slowly and he can move at an easy trot, I wouldn't see him doing this for 5k as a problem at all. It is actually much harder for a dog to sustain a slower walk over a long distance, and gentle trot is usually no problem.
Thanks everyone.Cupar would most definitely be doing an easy trot. It's me thats struggling. I started last week but couldn't manage the full 60 second run. Please don't laugh. It's a 5 minute warm up walk 60 second run then 90 seconds walking, repeated 5 times. There's also a pooch to 5 k one but it's 8 times. So really I wouldn't worry about Cupar keeping up with me it's more waiting on me. Anyway last week started. Next day my legs were really painful ( I am bothered with painful legs so far seen 3 physios hips x ray and mis diagnosed fibromyalgia) Decided that I hadn't properly done stretching excerise and warm ups. So I tried again yesterday. I've just returned from our normal walk and poor Cupar had to forgo loose lead walking and stopping to smell the roses as I was in agony. So it looks like Cupar and I are not going to be running any distance any time soon.
Walking is where it's at - forget running if you have painful joints. Change the run bit to walking very fast and push on. Aim to decrease the time by walking faster, but forget the running bit. You'll still see loads of benefits!
Absolutely. I walk between 3 and 4 miles every day with Molly. Walking that far you have to get a wriggle on or it takes forever. Walking briskly is excellent exercise, even on a cold day you can get a sweat on (unladylike like I know) which is good for you. You can walk for much longer than you can run (usually) which promotes stamina. I've been walking in the same area for 20 plus years. Runners come and go, but us walkers keep on going.. I have an app on my phone which records my route and mileage which keeps the interest up.
Exactly! And don't over do it - just do your 60 seconds faster walk - if you were a dog, your owner would only let you do so much that it didn't cause you discomfort but still push a little bit more each day. I walk just 50m a day extra with Charlie as he builds his fitness. But I do it 5 times a day, every day, without fail....- 250m in a week, 1000m in a month....I'm not so sure I'm as careful with myself! I have recently resolved to be as good at taking my salmon oil as giving Charlie his.
Thanks all for the support. I never thought about using the 60 seconds to do a faster walk. I shall have a bash at it.
Good luck! And if you're stretching, remember you should only do dynamic stretches before your exercise and leave the static stretches until after. There has been some research to suggest, though, that stretching before exercise is counter-productive and can lead to more injuries, not fewer. They report that it is best to warm up by doing a gentler version of what your actual exercise movements are - so, if you're running, walking for a while, then a gentle jog before dong a full-out run; if you're doing weighted squats, you'd start with bodyweight squats, then a light load, then your working load etc. When starting new exercise, you will probably suffer from DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) the day after, or two days after in some cases. It's not very well understood and isn't necessarily indicative of a "good" workout, but nearly everyone gets it when doing new movement patterns. It can hurt, but it should be a good "oh my, my muscles are sore from my exercise" hurt, rather than any sort of joint pain. Definitely build up slowly to whatever your goal is. Pushing yourself too far, too soon will lead to you giving up and there's no point in that. If you have access to a cross-trainer, they are far kinder to joints so might be a good place to start to build your fitness before taking it into the outside world?
Thanks for this. I have never been a sport or fitness person. In fact I detest sports of all kinds. I am going to stick to walking, it's painful enough. I was really hoping to build stamina, instead I've found muscles that I didn't know existed and they're crying out for me to stop. The couch to 5k that the NHS is doing does recommend the warm up as a 5 minute walk, which I did because the dulcet tones of Laura told me to.
I suffer with spinal problems so I can't run due to the vibration on my back. I slowly built up my fitness by walking casually with Harley when she was younger and slowly built up speed and distance. I brought a 'fitbit' which monitors how far I walk, how many active minutes I have, how many steps I take and my sleep pattern. It is brilliant. I am now up to about 30-45 active minutes a day - around 3-4 miles walking a day. I know I won't ever be able to do much more than this, but am so happy to get out every day with Harley and enjoy our walks
Naya it is an achievement when you suffer from mobility problems and can keep on going. I think my biggest fear is not being able to move without pain. I am using my phone to keep track of my steps. 3-4 miles is about what I do with the dogs , most of it off lead. Our dogs get walked much further than most dogs and mine get to interact with me when they are out. Today I discovered dancing. I might try to build on my stamina with dancing. I'm actually laughing at this, I really don't do sports or excerise unless it's holding the latest blockbuster novel. Oh and a glass of real ale.
I honestly think that the things that are good for our dog's joints are equally good for ours. A programme for a dog with sore joints: exercise in short sessions, don't do too much at once. Build it up slowly. Lots of swimming is fabulous. Supplements can't hurt and might do some good. Keep the weight down. Feed decent food, don't feed any junk, and don't drink anything but water. A programme for a human with sore joints: exercise in short sessions, don't do too much at once. Build it up slowly. Lots of swimming is fabulous. Supplements can't hurt and might do some good. Keep the weight down. Feed decent food, don't feed any junk, and don't drink anything but water. It's the final bits that are a bit more of a challenge for the humans though!
Yes indeed. *she says slurping her glass of wine following her steak pie* I am also a fan of dance - any kind really, but my particular thing is belly dancing (I know, ha ha ). It is really good for core muscles and posture and is low impact. And most of the groups are very women-centred and supportive
Belly dancing , well I've definitely got the wobbly belly, it's the my coordination that might be a problem. I really am laughing at that. Now the drink water: yip Oh that was only water! Wine is good for you though?
