63 C25K sounds like some kind of secret code.

In a way, it is.

My husband Barry is 63 years old and he’s training with the C25K program to run his *first 5K race.

(There is that little *asterisk because Barry has run a 5K here and there over the years with absolutely no training what-so-ever and lived to regret it each time.)

C25K is different because Barry at 63 is different.  He knows better.  A severed quadricep a decade ago while playing basketball and a hip replacement 4 years ago have taught Barry that his days of doing anything he wants whenever he wants are over.

Barry is active.  He’s athletically talented.  He always has been. When we met, Barry lived to play basketball, tennis, golf and any other sport that came along… (not to mention how dang hot he was!)

Barry had all 4 kids on bicycles, on basketball courts, tennis courts, golf courses, baseball and softball fields, in swimming pools, on skis and anything else they wanted to try from day one…

He participated in every family field day event the kids ever had…

Slowing Barry down has always been a challenge.  He just moves, thinks and acts a ga-zillion miles per hour and he wants to RUN.

So when I began my FORWARD MOTION of going from 26.2 to C25K on Jane’s recommendation… I convinced Barry to train with me.  Methodically.  Safely.  I dare say s-l-o-w-l-y.

I was surprised, I must say, when Barry agreed.

And he hasn’t missed one day of training.

He’s the one who carries his iPhone with its stopwatch app to keep track of exact (did I mention exact?) intervals of walking/running.  He’s gone from non-runner to runner in 2 weeks.  He’s stronger and faster than he ever imagined in 2 weeks.  He’s keeping me on my toes, too!

But what I’m most happy about is that while his intensity is still there, it’s tempered with wisdom.

He’s 63.  His body has been beat up with years of crazy, awesome, over-the-top athletic endeavors… and now it’s time to be, well… practical.

I like the word practical.

Practical doesn’t restrict one blessed thing anyone wants to achieve.  Practical makes anything possible.

Like going from the Couch to a 5K… and training your body to run with your wife and kids and grandkids.

63 C25K actually may be the combination to life’s secret code!