This post isn’t about a run. It’s about the funk and struggle to reset after a long term goal has been achieved. I’m writing so I can be accountable to myself, so apologies for another essay!!
It’s been a month (nearly) since the Great South and I am pleased I managed to avoid stopping running completely (thanks to Park Run, where I’ve smashed 35 mins) and I joined Good Gym, so I have that commitment to run in town in the dark, every week.
But after a couple of longer runs the pain under my left heel, which I’d out down to bruising, couldn’t be ignored. It was worse the morning after a run, improved with rest and ibuprofen. It’s put me off running longer than 5k and playing with intensity during a run.
Similarly I’ve kept up swimming around a mile 3x a week but eased up on the intensity, because my right shoulder started to hurt constantly again.
So the calorie burn hasn’t been as high and, while I’ve had some days where my food consumption has been under control, I’ve been drinking too much alcohol and eating too much of the wrong things.
The upshot is I stood on the scale and I’ve gained 5lb in a month. I know it’s fat from the way my clothes feel. I checked back through the Apple Health app and November’s exercise has been back at the levels of July. I’d already been aware of the loss of focus.
I’m nowhere near pre-C25k square 1. I’m not going to beat myself up for the last month. I knew it’s just time to get my act together again.
Then Michael Johnson was on BBC Breakfast this morning talking about incremental improvements during his stroke recovery. MJ was my C25k coach - hence my C25k grad photo from July. It’s like a ‘reset’ button hasn’t just been pressed - it’s been well and truly slapped!
Line in the sand. Things are changing, from today. Starting with the diet and alcohol. I know what I have to do, so this just means being more aware and disciplined. Can’t out-train a bad diet.
Next, I am phoning a physio this morning, and probably getting insoles. My Saucony’s are still comparatively low mileage, but I can feel my feet spreading during a longer run. I’ll be fine with tomorrow’s Good Gym - it’s only 3k.
Finally, once the physio has checked me over I am going to make exercise a priority again, and go back to booking appointments with myself in my diary. When you work for yourself including weekends there’s no-one else to ease the pain of the ‘to do’ list! But that’s no excuse. And I’ll have to make my peace with bad weather and darkness.
So, deep breath, I am genuinely so excited to start fat-to-fit phase 2 from NOW! 😁👍