Extended break

[Joy57]

I haven't been on here for nearly 2 months but I've just had a look and hooray! I still recognise some names. I managed to fit in a 2nd week's skiing which was at the start of March and was brilliant. The day after getting home I resumed ju-ju- 's plan which called for 3k that day. That was fine. Later in the week I did the 3k of the next week of the plan and during that my knee started to twinge. After that it became very painful even to walk, and stairs were a real problem. I thought my running days were over.

There hadn't been any injury so I diagnosed it as an IT band problem. I felt that rest would improve it. However after daily paracetamol and ibuprofen for 4 weeks and no real improvement, I went to have a sports massage last week. I've had them before, but this was someone else, recommended by a friend who is a serious runner (unlike me). After 4 days it started to feel a lot better, I could walk without a limp and I'd been advised to try walk/jogging if I could manage it.

On Tuesday I downloaded c25k all over again and did w1r1. I did r2 today. It's almost 3 years since I first did it so it feels weird, the knee still twinges a little but with no lasting consequences. I had a follow up massage today.

So maybe I'll stick to working my way through c25k again. I'll pull out of the 10k event I had entered for May. I'm just glad that I can see a running future for myself again. Fingers crossed. Thanks for reading 😃

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Hi Joy - glad you are beginning to make some progress again - it's so frustrating isn't it? Sounds as though that massage is helping though👍. I think I have a similar problem at the moment - intermittent pain/twinges in my knees (one in particular). I think everything's settling down and then it flares up again. Am having a dreaded running break😩 and have booked a physio appointment but sadly not for a couple of weeks. The lady I see is worth her weight in gold and a runner herself so I am hoping she'll set me on the road to recovery as she has done before! Take care and here's hoping we're both clocking up the miles again soon!🙂

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra! Let me know how it goes 😄

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Glad you are on the mend. To be thinking you wouldn't be able to run any more must have been traumatic!

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

It was indeed Jonathan!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Hello Joy, it’s so nice to see you back again. C25K sounds like a good way of getting to build up your running again. And you know it works. I wish you well on your running journey. 🏃‍♀️👏🏻👏🏻

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. It's strange to be back to square one again but at least it's doable! (if the knee holds up)

[skysue16 Graduate10]

Hi Joy, lovely to see a post from you but sorry to hear about the problems with your knee. It is so frustrating isn't it 😕. Sounds like you are making progress though, so that is good. Gradually building up using C25k is a good idea, I did that too. Wishing you all the best 👍😊

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

Hi Sue, good to hear from you. I'm lucky that I haven't had any major problems before that have stopped me running. I'm just glad to be making a start back along the right path and one thing's sure, I now realise the importance of stretching after a run! Too many times I've just jumped in the shower and neglected to stretch 😑

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to Joy57]

Yes, I am also much more aware of the importance of stretching, although occasionally time pressures prevent me from doing them properly 😬

[Katnap Graduate10]

Welcome back! Fingers crossed you make a good recovery. 😁

😸 Katnap 😸

[Hidden]

Welcome back Joy

Knees shmees

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Good to see you here again Joy. You have been through it but it sounds as if your new sports masseuse has magic fingers! It's amazing how tight muscles can affect us. I had a back injury recently (gardening not running 🙄) and I saw a physio and an osteopath but it was after a sports massage that I felt any relief.

Welcome back and happy running to you 🙂

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP. Fancy injuring yourself gardening after all the running you've done! It's not fair is it? Anyway I'm glad you're on the mend. All the best to you x 😄

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

Welcome back Joy! I'm sorry to read that your absence has been due to injury but it sounds like you have a great plan in place to get back on track. The nice thing about repeating C25k is that you know what to expect! There'll be no dreading and questioning w5r3 this go around 💪. Take it slow and steady.

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks Sask. If all goes well I might accelerate c25k a bit, being an impatient kind of soul 😄

I hope your weather is such that you can get out on the trails again 😀

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Joy57]

Thanks Joy 😊. I should be hitting the trails soon. There was a tiny bit of snow on them last week, but they should be dry enough to get back on, I would think. I've got a plan to run a HM distance next week (I've been building my base this year in prep for my 20k trail race in the fall) and then will be itching to get on the trails. I'm so excited!

I've heard of others doing one run a week from the plan to do an accelerated form of the plan on their rerun of the programme. Perhaps that would work for you as well. What ever you decide to do, enjoy getting back out there!

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thanks. It was a lovely warm Easter Monday as I went out this morning (before many families went for a walk) to do w2r1. My knee twinged a bit again but it's fine now. I guess I will take it slow. Lovely to get out and see the ducks on the canal again! Good luck with your HM distance 😄

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

At least now you have a plan of action and some light at the end of the tunnel. Fingers crossed it all works out 🤞☀️

[Joy57 Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks JoJo 😄