Out of the running...?

[SunnyMummy]

Ugh, it feels like ages since I've run, & even longer since I've been on here! After the high of my Beachy Head 10k at the end of October, I think I lurched between enthusiastically signing up for umpteen workout classes as well as general cross-training at the gym, & mixing up my runs a bit, to realising that actually it's getting cold & wet out there & my asthmatic lungs were starting to struggle, after having made such fantastic progress from the couch earlier this year. Not just any old couch either, but a sick-bed couch, as I had postpone the start of my running career due to an inconvenient bout of flu then pneumonia. Running - once recovering - was a great form of rehab incidentally. Oh & to add to the misery, my bunion & opposite knee decided to really start making themselves known too, so that on those days when I could fool myself into breathing steadily, & possibly start enjoying my run, I would then be wondering at what point 'discomfort' becomes 'pain' & whether I should keep running through it - generally yes, else it's a long walk back. It all put me right off, but I tried to persevere. Then bang, my toddler came down with her first bad cold & ear infection, then I could feel it lurking & of course it went straight to my chest, then my other little one joined in got wiped out by it. Suddenly not only do I feel pants, but I have two sickly children & no childcare as obviously I had to keep them home. Which was fine, because I (almost) completely lost my mojo.

However, I'm a typical 'over-thinker' & very self-aware & I've noticed a seismic shift in my underlying attitude this time round. I know, & I mean KNOW, that this is all only temporary. I'm still a runner, I think. Ok, as the weeks have rolled on - it's been nearly 3 now since my last run & I was only managing one a week for a couple prior to that - I've acknowledged that I will have slipped back a bit in terms of my fitness, comfortable distances & possibly speed. And that's ok. Actually, weirdly, I'm rather looking forward now to resuming a 10k training programme at what I think will be around the 5k starting point - it'll be a good chance to consolidate all my previous training & just get back into the groove, plus taking the pressure off my winter lungs. I need to take it steady when I resume training this coming week & try out a few basic tricks (like wearing a snood to cover my face & warm the incoming air slightly) without worrying about whether I'm running far enough or getting a good balance of speed & distance work. Crikey, I think I may even get back to running for fun rather than 'training' for progression... For a bit anyway 😉

Happy running everyone... *cough cough* *splutter splutter*

[skysue16 Graduate10]

Oh dear, you have had a rough time of it, you poor thing! But you sound very positive and have a plan. YES you are still a runner 🏃😀

Could you run on the treadmill if the cold air affects your asthma? I wear a buff round my face if it is very cold, that stays in place well if I stretch it up over my head at the back (if that makes sense!).

I do hope you and the little ones feel better soon .

[SunnyMummy Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

Hi, thank you. Yes, I've considered resuming some treadmill runs once I'm able to get back to it, but the thought of it after spending so much time in the great outdoors just doesn't inspire me. I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but I just find outdoor running much nicer! However I may have to give it a go. I do also find that I want to do EVERYTHING at the gym whereas I was trying to keep 'running days' & 'gym days' separate, so maybe I just need to be a bit more disciplined 😕

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to SunnyMummy]

Yes, I agree running outside is much better.....

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Blimey you have been through it! But you've got it -all these things are temporary and you're still a runner.

Just head out for a walk/run and see how you feel and build from there. You'll know what you can do. The first time back might be a tad hard but your previously earned fitness will stand you in good stead and you'll recover from each run quicker than the first time.

Keep posting here to let us know how you're getting on.

[SunnyMummy Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Oh thank you, yes, I'm simultaneously looking forward to & slightly anxious about my 'first' run. Curiosity I think as much as the need to get out. I think you're right & it may well be a walk-run but I just need to get off the couch again! 😀

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to SunnyMummy]

You will. Put your running shoes on and make the decision to just "go for a walk". I bet you won't resist a little run!

[SunnyMummy Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Haha yes, I can't even walk my girl to school without breaking into a little trot here & there 😂

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Happy training, that's good you are back... 😎

[HeleneCorsa Graduate10]

You poor thing. Being ill while also caring for small children who are ill too is a unique form of torture. I don't know how old they both are but I have three aged 11, 8 and 4, and believe me, that phase of constant sickness passes. While you're trapped in it, it seems as if it never will, but they build up their immunity and so do you. When mine were little the big surprise was not so much that they come down with so many bugs and so on, but the fact that they pass them all on to us too.

You are clearly still thinking like a runner and I have no doubt you'll eventually find a way to get back out there. It might even be worth looking at repeating some of the C25k programme again to work your way back into it, even if just for the odd week, just to get back in to the swing of things. I'm sure you'll work back up to where you were when you completed your Beachy Head 10k, which after all was not all that long ago.

Onwards and upwards!

[SunnyMummy Graduate10 in reply to HeleneCorsa]

Aww thank you for that, yes it does feel a bit groundhog day-ish at times, particularly now my littlest one has got a recurrence of what I think is the same virus... Agghhh! These two are aged 4 & 21 months - started school & nursery respectively this September so it's all new bugs, plus there just seems to be a persistent virus doing the rounds here too. But yes we've had more than our fair share this year! I've also got a grown-up one but so vaguely remember the always-got-a-cold stage lol.

Yes I'm definitely going to resume a walk-run routine of some sort as I can feel that my lungs are going to struggle, but as others have said, hopefully I should be able to bounce back up more quickly than first time round... And even if it takes a bit longer, I know just getting back out there will be good ☺