View from the IC - New Runner, Still Learning, So Easy to Forget

[TailChaser]

So, I’ve been running for 9 months now and thought I had the hang of it, more or less. What I forgot was I’m also still learning about what my body can take and how it deals with outside influences.

Last month was hard work but I got 10k under my belt, ran 50 miles in total and just thought I’d consolidate over the Christmas period. Unfortunately my body has had other ideas...

Just got back from the osteopath who has given my back a good going over as some of my vertebrate have forgotten what they are supposed to be doing. I thought/assumed that it was my job that had caused the problem (gardener, hauling bags around) but no! It’s a pesky cold!!

I was fighting off a cold when I did my last Parkrun on the 1st; it was a bit slower but I thought nothing of it as I just felt a bit icky and lethargic. Did intervals the following Monday, they weren’t as fast as usual either. Did 5 hours of work on site on a cold but sunny day. Got home, felt fine. Yoga, later in the day than usual, did a bridge and...ouch...that doesn’t feel right. Carried on with the yoga, finished the routine with no further problems. Wednesday...ouch, ouch, ouch. Back hurt, hands hurt, knee hurt. Right side of lower back obviously inflamed... Managed to get myself sorted enough to clamber around the Santa Scramble on Saturday but boy, yesterday my body gave me grief! Much better today, after yet another sleep on the floor

So, talked to the osteopath about this today, and he advised me that it was down to running with the cold, even if it isn’t too bad it still weakens your body and opens it up to other problems. So, another lesson learned...next time I’m fighting a cold, just Marshall or something at Parkrun (or any other run!), it will save a lot of grief.

What I am amazed about with this running lark is that I’m learning so much about my body. I have to be honest and say I’ve never taken much notice of how my body reacts to things up until this running year, I just work through things usually. It is a real eye opener. Each time I hurt my back I learn something new, and now I know how to deal with colds I (hope I) will treat them with much more respect than just trying to work through them.

Happy running everyone, see you back on the pavements & trails soon! 🎅🏼🏃‍♀️🦆🦆🦆

[Katnap Graduate10]

And we forget what its like on the IC when we're off it.

Wishing you a speedy recovery! 😸

🎅Xmas Katnap 🎅

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

🤗

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Oh my goodness TC, who knew about the cold connection? Would never have guessed that, apart from going a bit slower maybe. So thanks for the heads-up. If I get a sniffle this winter, l’ll wrap up warm instead and, like you say, marshal or something to get my running fix!

Hope you’re back to full strength soon and your back co-operates. 🤞 😀

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheeky. I know, I’d have never have thought they could be so evil! 😈 I haven’t had a proper full blown snot & sneezy cold since I’ve been doing this and I just thought it was a mild one that just went away again after a couple of days. This one was in disguise I think!

The osteopath has given me a couple of exercises to do and they are helping, so hopefully soon be back the swing of things 🤞🤞🤞

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Hi again TailChaser, Now I realise why you said do a mile for me. I wonder when I'l go imperial again c25k seemed to send me more metric! I hadn't realised that running with a cold was such a bad idea. Do hope that you get fully fit again soon. Here are some flowers for you. 🌻🌺🌸

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Hiya & thank you 61 😊🤗 I love flowers 😃 Neither did I, I knew it weakened your immune system but this one has been so sneaky finding all my weak points! However, all this exercise we do makes us stronger, so I reckon we can be bouncing back quicker than a non-runner, so fingers crossed I’ll be getting the k’s and the m’s in again soon (I use whatever sounds better tbh 😁).

[Hidden]

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been in pain TC but glad to hear that you are taking care of your body. It’s the only one you’ve got 😉being kind to it can be alien to us, sadly.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

You’re right Paula, and I am better to it than I used to be - only takes me a few days to call the osteopath now, rather than a few weeks! We live and learn 🤗👍

[Now-runner_NeedsAttn]

"What I am amazed about with this running lark is that I’m learning so much about my body. I have to be honest and say I’ve never taken much notice of how my body reacts to things up until this running year, I just work through things usually. It is a real eye opener."

Me too. I started out thinking the best approach was to run as far as fast as I could. My Achilles started to hurt a bit but I thought "I'll run that off, no problem". 6 weeks of limping later...

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Now-runner_NeedsAttn]

Oh no, poor you, Achilles problems aren’t nice at all. I hope you’re ok now? I think, after a while, our brains, our ‘up for it’ brains become the evil PE teacher and our tired, creaking bodies are the little Year 7 kids hoping not to be picked on 😂

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I’m glad you’ve got some exercises to help you TC . You don’t want to end the year on a downer. Merry Christmas to you all 🎅🏻🤶🎅🏻🎅🏻

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. No, it’ll be fine I’m sure. I’ve had this at Christmas before, when I wasn’t fit, and it was way, way worse. Merry Christmas to you and UpTheStanley 🎄🎄🎄

[Equi-geek Graduate10]

Thanks for the warning TC - second-hand gold and all that! Hope you are up and out there again soon. 🙏🤗

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

Yep! Evil cold finds all those weak spots. First night back in bed last night so on the mend thank you Equi-geek 😀

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Mmm... 🤔 Interesting read.. thanks for sharing.

Hope u recovered soon

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thanks Deals, yes, it was a bit of an eye opener 😨

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sorry to hear your back is giving you gyp again TC - take it easy

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

Thanks JP, it was going to have a go at me for doing the Scramble anyway. I can look after it properly now (🤞🤞🤞)

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10]

Sorry to hear this. ☹️ I too had the starts of a cold last week. Googled and said if symptoms were neck up ok to exercise. So I did a circuits session then a couple of days later a 9k hill session run. Felt fine if a little lethargic. Next day felt a lot worse. But still just in my throat. Yesterday did yoga but now feel like 💩.

I’ve listened to my body and it’s clearly telling me to chill the hell out! 😬. So I’ve got my straight jacket on and forced myself to stay on the couch (😳) till I’m fully over this.

Wishing you a speedy recovery too. xx

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

That is really useful to know AP! I wish I’d Googled! I always think of colds as being in the head so I just expected it to come out the normal way...but it hasn’t at all! I wish it would!! 🤧

At least we’re getting them out of the way before Christmas I suppose but I keep walking past people going for runs and it’s really annoying when I can’t even walk properly atm!! I know exactly where you’re coming from - we can have a good rant together 😩😩😩

It won’t be long, we can do this!!! May your muscles and your tissues stay strong 🤧🤧 Hope you’re better very soon too 🤗xx

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

Yes serious run envy!!! As much as I’d like to go for a run under these circumstances DONT listen to your head but your body. Right back to the couch for me. 🤒

Wishing you a healthy Christmas time and look forward to see your runs on Strava very soon. xx

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Steering clear of Strava a little atm I have to say, just pop onto it when I’m wondering if Katnap has finished his run yet. I think today has been the worst as it’s my usual long run day and I’ve been stuck in my office working or doing householdy things instead 😩

Take care of yourself. We’ll be back up and running soon I’m sure 🤞🤞🤞 I’ll keep any eye out for you on Strava too 🤗 xx

[Ripcurlrana71 Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

You too lovely. Have been given antibiotics from doctor which seem to be helping. 🤞xx

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Fab AP 👍🤞xx

[Flaraflarkin Graduate10]

Aww TC, what a helpful and insightful Ostie you have 😊 We do tend to just plough on through when we're not feeling 100%; I have had sniffle after sniffle over the past couple of months , not taken any notice because it hasn't been full blown (haha sneaky little cold joke there 🤣) and just kept on going ~ and then Ouchy bum, hips Ugh! And still on the IC! We must listen to our little bods like you say 🤗 You've done an awful lot of mileage lately, take care my VRB ~ Sending healing vibes your way 🤗🦋🦆

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Flaraflarkin]

Oh no Flara, it’s not fair is it? We were all doing so well getting through this wintery bit and then *bang*! 😱

He’s fab my osteopath and he talks the hind legs off the proverbial so you never notice the acupuncture needles or the dreaded ‘crunch’!

I hope you have your mojo in a locked room so that you don’t lose it again Flara. You were doing brilliantly too! Hopefully it’s just having a snooze until you’re back to it 🤞🤞🤞

Healing vibes right back at ya! 👊💪💪💪👊🤗🦆🦋