When injury strikes

So, just to meander slightly, it's 5.30am and I'm sat outside in the garden writing this as I can't get back to sleep. Picture a beautiful sunrise and being able to sit outside where it's lovely and cool, knowing later it's going to get much hotter. Being awake so early wasn't in the game plan - it rarely is at this time of day, but I was hungry and water just wouldn't stave off the hunger pangs!! Tea and toast it was.

So, to catch up: since I did the half-marathon in April, things have gone downhill. One week after the event I managed to injure my knee (not really sure how), and after a week of walking with a lot of pain, I gave in and went to see a physio, and he felt that the HM might have been a precursor to the knee pain. I was told on my first appointment to stop running for the time being.

So with fortnightly appointments and exercises to do at home (and the gym) I was given the go ahead to run again near the end of July. Thankfully being able to do cross-training cardio exercises, as well as strengthening exercises, has enabled my fitness level to remain and not decline. This weekend just gone I did my first parkrun in weeks and finished in a respectable 37.14, which considering it was hot I was really pleased with. A couple of niggles on the route which then went away, and no lasting effects since. So, its looking good as long as i don't overdo it. Thankfully the summer holidays means I can take things easier and not be on the feet as much as I would be at work hence hopefully promoting a better recovery before going back to work in September. I have a hospital appointment in September to investigate what could be a meniscus issue, but it's not holding me back too much. I just have to be sensible.

Admittedly, once I got the go ahead to start running again I was nervous because I was worried about not getting very far due to getting out of breath quickly, or my knee would hurt a lot and I'd have to stop running again. And my running mojo which had remained during the time I wasn't running took a hike in the opposite direction.

So, I have a choice now. Sat outside in the garden in lovely and to actually go for a run before 7am would probably be beneficial however, its very lovely being sat in the back garden and listening to the birds and background traffic (as well as a persistent car alarm!!!).

So, what now? The physio was suggesting that there would be no reason why I still couldn't do the Great South Run in October. I know I have ten miles walking in my legs (tested that theory doing the Gromit Unleashed 2 trails) so a walk/run would almost definitely be in the bag.

SO to go for a run, or not? It's lovely and cool, and I'm lovely and relaxed!!

Amazing!!!!!

Today I set myself a target.

Having entered the Wickham Whistler, a multi-lap event where you run as many laps that you want, I set myself a target of 2 laps. Since January, the furthest I’ve run is 3.5 miles, and to meet a month target run of 26.2 I needed to do 5.9 miles. Each lap was 3.3 miles long.

I set myself a plan of running 3 mins and walking 1 min. I kept this up for the first 3 laps, even recognising that I was having a thoroughly good time.  The only sign of being uncomfortable was towards the end of lap 3. I could have stopped there having done what I set out to do. But 4 laps would be a half marathon. Did I have enough in me to do the 4th lap?

I started on my timed intervals but suddenly I couldn’t keep going with it. It was like my legs said no more. I finished the lap walking it.

But I did a half marathon distance - double what I expected to do. I managed to stop my watch after three laps without thinking, and then restarted it for the final lap. This however had its benefits. I was able to note that it took me just over 2 hours to do 9.9 miles - just under the distance for the Great South Run, which I’m doing again in October.

As said before I have seen unexpected changes to my mindset since restarting running in January. I am definitely more positive, I am enjoying it and am willing to push myself further. I loved today’s event. Seeing friends I haven’t seen for a long time made all the difference to how I felt.

So, let’s check out the next On The Whistle event.....

Did I mention that I hurt now???

It's been a while........

Wow!! I can't believe I last blogged back in October when I signed up again for the great south run 2018. My intention had been to start training again from that point. It didn't happen.

However, since the start of January this year, I have been to 4 parkruns (out of 7) and been running with a friend too. I did also deliberate rejoining a running club but as training sessions do not fit with family stuff, it was not worth the membership at this time especially as I am not entering races on a regular basis to get the affiliated discount.

Anyhow, I am finding several things since starting running again:
* I am actually enjoying running
* going back to parkrun with people, be it friends or my daughter, has made it lass daunting for me to turn up
* whilst I have completed 5km running once so far this year, it's showing that I haven't completely lost fitness over the last 12 months, and my other runs have gone okay with walks in between.
* I really do have an awesome running buddy who adjusts to what I need to do to keep moving
* I belong to an amazing running community online
* I'm reconnecting with running club buddies
* I'm actually believing in myself that I can do this

And to be honest it's the latter comment that I've never really had that feeling of before. I don't know whether it's because I have no 'pressures' such as lots of races, belonging to a running club, but I look forward to running most of the time now. Still need to work more on my motivation but one step at a time........

Along this year, I am tracking my running efforts with the Run Mummy Run challenge where I pledged to run 5 miles a week. It hasn't always happened, however I am still running each week.

So it's all good at the moment.

Happy days