It seems I'm prone to back problems - when I first did C25K in 2017 I just got to graduate and do my first Parkrun and put my back out. I think a combination of doing a too-ambitious yoga class the day before, and almost running into the finishing post at the Parkrun (so elated to get round that I didn't notice the post that starts the finishers corridor!
I was living on ibuprofen for several weeks after that, and had to have physiotherapy. Then unfortunately family circumstances intervened - we had to move my mother to a care home, sell the house and clear it out. Bending over sorting 52 years worth of stuff didn't help my back, and the numerous meals out as we were too knackered to cook put the kibosh on fitness and running, and all the good I'd done was undone! By the time my back had recovered, I'd lost a lot of fitness.
So I tried again this year, starting at 17 st 9 lbs and blood sugar just into diabetes range. I re-did C25K and followed with several Parkruns and Bridge to 10, completing my first 10k run on 10th December. I lost about 4 stone during the year, and Diabetes was completely reversed and back in the normal range.
However a couple of weeks before I again did something to my back - nothing like so severe as the first time - and I think it was down to raking the leaves too energetically. I'd done the Didcot Parkrun in my best time so far (35:00) and was feeling on top of the world so went and did the leaves. Next day it's like I've slept badly on it, and my left arm hurts as well. Two weeks gap and I managed the 10k (74:35) and took Paracetamol before it. But two days later a hellish 5k followed where my back hurt and forced me to go slow.
So this is the first run since about December 13th. I decided to play it safe to see if the back is holding up, so only 3.3 km at a gentle pace of just over 8m/km.
Felt really good to be doing it again, and no back niggles so far (touch wood!) I was also concerned at losing fitness having indulged in food and drink over the break probably too much. I daren't look at the scales yet! A couple of weeks cycling to work, and a few more runs and I may dare to look at them again.
My short term aim is to do another 10k before the end of January. Also to get under 13 stone. I am registered for the Town and Gown 10k in Oxford on May 3rd. My son is too. He's quicker than me, though he won't listen to advice about pacing himself - regularly goes off at an insane pace then has to walk. He came back looking absolutely knackered after a 5k last Wednesday, and his Strava graph showed he'd walked about 9 times. So, if I can do the tortoise and hare thing in Oxford in May, well, you never know ...
Also am going to a highly recommended osteopath on 14th Jan to see if he can figure out what's the weakness in my back. I've been doing all sorts of exercises to strengthen core muscles etc, but it would appear there is some weakness.