Whether it’s because you are self-isolating or, like me, sitting restlessly on the injury couch, not running can begin to get you down. It does give you that headspace, which I have missed. Luckily I have still been able to get out for a walk or cycle but It must be so hard for those I know who are house bound with vulnerable partners.
I was definitely feeling out of sorts on Monday, having listened to the news of easing the lock down. Concerned about all the people who would be heading for the coast or other beauty spots, and frustrated that I could still not meet up with friends or family even though I could ask a cleaner to come into my home. I was feeling at my lowest of the last 3 months.
But on Tuesday we drove to my beloved Hayling Island Billy trail, where I did much of my magic plan running to 10k, and it was like someone had put a comforting blanket around me. UpTheStanley went for a run while I walked in the sunshine, taking in all the wild flowers, the little egret and shelduck and the many black headed gulls who breed in this area. There were dog walkers, cyclists, family groups and runners but so much quieter than Southsea seafront. I thought of my virtual non-runners along this journey, so this photo is for you, the view looking towards Portsmouth from the trail. If you zoom in you can see the spinnaker tower on the horizon. The walk was cathartic, as was the email from my virtual physio, agreeing that It was time to start my running again. He had probably felt the pleading in my email to him.
So this morning, I excitedly got dressed into running gear, took a warm up walk to the seafront road which has been closed to traffic and restarted running for the first time since 22 February. Whoop whoop. Okay, so it was only 5 sets of run 1 min walk 1 min (as instructed) but that felt so good. I’ve got to leave at least 2 days before the next run and continue do my exercises on rest days - I do like to have a plan. It was just like couch to 5k with UTS running alongside me, but so much easier (for both of us).
Dexy5 is back on the road again.
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Dexy5
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Great to hear you’re back out Dexy. I have to agree with you that the “unlocking” poses more questions than answers. The main one being “where’s the common sense in any of that?!” It only explains that I’ve apparently been wrong up till now in talking to my family when they park at the end of my path although it’s much more controlled than my visits to Tesco!! 🤷♀️ Soon my grandchildren can go to school but not to my house. I think the new guidelines have been drawn up using selective scientific advice! Happy running
Thanks Sybil, it’s good to be back. UTS says he’s beginning to feel like a 6 year old, always asking the same question “Why?” when they say what we cannot do. Your 🤷♀️ Emoji says it all. When pressed on TV, the politicians say that we should use our common sense, but I feel that my judgements are more sensible than their ‘rules’.
I hope that you will still be able to see your grandchildren at a distance.
Yes I can use common sense and be trusted to follow guidance in my garden!! Bumped into the grandchildren (not literally!) when we were out for a walk and they were out cycling. We’re lucky with lots of off road tracks here - not planned 🤣. Keep safe and keep slow (for now).
Hi Dexy5 glad you’ve managed to get out there again! The IC can be a very lonely place, particularly in these difficult times.😔
It’s good that we can at least get out and do some exercise now. I think it’s sadly likely that people will travel to the seaside and beauty spots, particularly when it’s hot and sunny over the coming weeks 🌞😎
Luckily for me I’m able to work from home at the moment, but heaven knows when that’ll change and I’m called into work. I’d like to think common sense will prevail but I’m not that confident😕
Good luck with your running, take care and stay safe🌈
Thanks David_G. Reading everyone else’s posts have been keeping me going and feeling part of the running family, but it is good to take those steps myself again.
I guess you’ll be working in London, so it’s good that you can do your work from home while this is settling down. I think early days are going to be chaotic.
Thanks dexy5, yes I’ll be travelling across London every day when I go back to work. I’ll be able to travel very early in the morning and hopefully finish early too. I’ve planned a route that doesn’t involve the underground but does involve a run from the mainline station to and from work instead. Luckily we’ve got showers available!
That’s such great news Dexy! I’m so pleased for you. You’ve been so patient but I know what that first run back is like, scarily glorious. But you’re back and the only way now is forwards 🏃♀️🙂
Yes my patience has been waning the last week, but I know that the succession of exercises has been so beneficial to recovery. I’m not sure my quads have ever been this strong, so I intend to keep the exercises up between runs.
That’s wonderful news. So glad you’re on the mend. Thank you for the photo. I’m being shielded so can’t go out at all but seeing these sorts of photos fills me with joy. Thank you. 😊❤️🏃🏻♀️
I’m glad that the HealthUnlocked community has kept you company while being shielded Knittingrunner. The posts from those we have come to know so well have been a welcome distraction.
So true. At first I so missed running I couldn’t look at the posts but as time has past and I’ve found ways to be active by walking around and around my garden and eventually getting a treadmill I am slowly coming back.
A new post is coming about my adventures on the treadmill. 😊🏃🏻♀️
Ah, lovely. 😊💕 So glad you are able to get back out there. 👏🏼👍🎉 Enjoy every minute! And thanks for thinking of those of us stuck on the sidelines. Much appreciated. 😄💕
I thought of you, when I heard that some New Forest car parks were to be opened Granspeed. I hope that you will be able to drive hubby out there, even if only to sit in the car and take in the scenery for a while. 😘
Indeed, we went to our nearest one just now to do that. Three parked cars but no one around, so we stood out on the hill and stretched our eyes with the view across the moor. Maybe I’ll wear my running shoes next time to let them feel the path.... 🤔😄🤣🤣
Best news I have had today (not a lot of competition for the title though 🙂). I am working my way back into things slowly, but the temptation to step on the gas is so hard to resist. I think/ hope that I would be very sensible if I had had an injury like yours and a long lay off. BUT suddenly, as if by magic, you are a runner again. As you, on the comeback trail, with a plan, and the world is a different place? 👏👏👏👏
You are right Beachcomber66, I started with the view that I was going to go very slow, but then my happy pace followed. My happy pace is certainly not fast though. I did feel like a runner again today and it’s so good to be back. Hopefully, I’ll also lose the few kilos that have been added during lock down.
Fantastic news Dexy5!! 👌🏽👌🏽! I’m so glad you’ve had an amazing day in such a beautiful spot! And of course, that you’re back on the running path!! Enjoy!! 😁😁❤️
As my darling's original post was totally lacking in the interesting detail concerning her actual run (i.e. the stats ), I really think I need to fill you in . She did five 1 minute runs with 1 minute walking recoveries between them. The garmin pace graph is weird (may post separately about that later, with pictures) but does tend to confirm the impression I gained that each run was a tad quicker than its predecessor (8 min/k for the 1st minute and 7 min/k for the last) . The 5th run took us almost exactly to the 1k point, the watch beeped shortly afterwards and gave 9'14" for the k.
Whoop whoop 🙌 More congrats from me Dexy, good to have you back after all this time! And having read UTS post as well, all I can say is - didn’t I say you’d still be running faster than me even after all this time!
Ha ha. As I was walking through canoe lake to the promenade, I was thinking that you should have been there to keep my pace down. But all was well for those 10 minutes.
So glad that you are back running Dexy5, what a help is UpTheStanley for you, that was a little like the first run or week of C25K, it won't be long before you can get back to run a full 5K, then onto 10K which I ran this morning, that was the first 10K for me this year, my 5th altogether, enjoy the rest of the day 😊 🏃🏾
Oh yes cheeky, who would have thought that c25k would have taken us on to the Great South Run? My next run will be in that T-shirt to show I am a local runner!
I should be back to 5k by the time parkrun returns, and very much Look forward to getting to those meet ups we had to miss this spring.
Bet it felt great to be running again, Dexy - wonderful! I've not run for a couple of weeks due to a about of vertigo leaving me with a bit of a 'swimmy' head! Slowly improving and not stopping me doing much other than running now! 😫The exercise bike has been a godsend though!
Have been waiting for this post Dexy! What a relief that you can finally get your running shoes back on after all that time - I know you will enjoy your 'comeback'!👍
Yes the Billy trail is so beautiful - if not always peaceful with all those noisy gulls roosting in the nature reserve. As for the changes to the lockdown and how the whole situation has been handled - well, I will spare you my thoughts!!
However it gives me great pleasure to say 'happy running '!😀
Fantastic. I’m smiling after reading your post. I’m delighted for you and delighted that your running again. Welcome back. Yahoo! You’ll be ready I’m sure by the time parkrun starts up again.
That's so wonderful, I'm really happy for you that you have been able to start your running again. And to be able to run by the sea must be such a delight. I can't wait 'to be beside the seaside' again, I am so lucky to have the Forest around me to run in but I would love to run along the sea-front one day.
It's good to see you back on your running legs Dexy. Take care and happy running (and walking) 🥳🎉🎊🍾🥂🏃♀️🚶♀️🏃♀️🚶♀️
Running by the sea is lovely, because it is an ever changing view, and I appreciate how lucky we are to be within walking distance. But I also like to get out in the countryside and experience the changing seasons. I ran the The New Forest 10k last year and it was so nice to be able to run under the canopy of trees - so much softer underfoot too. As they say, variety is the spice of life.
Thanks Lexi. If you are on here, it must be time for me to go to bed. Enjoy the hairdressers and the dentist. I think we’ve got another few months before that here.
Fabulous news. Did you woop aloud and get all teary on that first push off? I did! I remember it so clearly. Take care and all the very best with your comeback 😘
No whooping or crying Linda, but such a great feeling of relief that there was no pain. Plus amazement that I wasn’t huffing and puffing after the 12 week break. It was only ten minutes but they felt effortless, and it went so quickly that I wanted to do more. I shall try to be good and think of the long term benefits of taking it slowly.
Great news.....so glad you are back able to go what you love. That was a nasty injury. Thanks for sharing the picture. I’m a sea girl stuck in the landlocked midlands!
Hooray!! Hooray!! Hooray!! For you! I have not been reading posts as often as in the past and may have missed some, but from what I have read, it seems that you deserve several awards for patience. 🏆🏅🎉 Well done to you and enjoy your long awaited return to the running fold. 🏃♀️🏃🏻♂️😊
I confess that I have stopped running at the moment as the garden is needing me. It is so satisfying gardening before breakfast. I was getting up at 5.15am to run in order to avoid people. My husband is on the very vulnerable list because of his breathing difficulties, so keeping safe is obviously important for me. I think the 5.15s were a step too far with the amount of Skype and Zoom teaching that I'm doing. I still feel so behind with so much. This having spare time during the pandemic seems to have missed our house. I am only setting the alarm at 5.50am now. 😊
All the very best for your return. 🎉 🎊🤸♀️🏃♀️🤸♀️🎊🎉
Thank you dear over61. This picture is for you also.
I am glad to hear that you are well and both keeping safe. I think my return to running may have been quicker during normal times, but as my physio was unable to examine me, he was going for the worst case scenario to ensure that the injury was fully healed.
Yes I find I haven’t got as much spare time as expected as everything seems to take twice as long. Enjoy your gardening, it’s very therapeutic. 🌻🌼🌸🌺🌹🌷
It's good that you started again, my last run was on 21st march for about 2 hours, since then I am inside home, itching to go out but fear of getting infected is too much and I feel I will put my family in danger so just avoided till now. Yesterday I went out of my house first time in 1.5+ month to collect my prescription from GP and medicine, it give confidence to restart my running. Meanwhile I was just walking inside home with daily target of 10000 steps.
Good luck on your return to running. If you go out early or in the evening you will probably find there are less people about.
I was doing exercises while not running and that helped My return. You might want to check out the strength and flex Forum for some info. My neighbour does her steps by going up and down her stairs several times.
Glad you are back running again. I know when I started C25k after my ankle injury it felt so good ( albeit scary to start with) even just those 60 second runs, that I wanted to tell everyone “ IM RUNNING AGAIN!!!”
Take care of you and hope you are back to full fitness again soon 💪🤞🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thank you Limberlou. Yes, everyone I speak to gets the story of me running again. I don’t think I’ll be doing the c25k in full as my fitness has not deteriorated too much but will be following advice of the physio. Running every 3 days with exercises in between.
That’s brilliant Dexy I’m so pleased for you ... I bet it felt so good 😊 you have been so patient. it’s funny isn’t it that a few years ago we had never thought of running and now we can’t think of not running! I’m back on the IC as two days ago I fell over hard onto my knee and hand ... I knew it was going to hurt as I saw the road coming up towards my face 🤪 and now can hardly even walk 🙄 I look forward to hearing about your next run though 😀
Oh no Bridget, I am so sorry to hear that. I do hope you are feeling better soon. Have you got a minor injuries unit to go and get checked out? Yes I know that feeling of flying when you know there is nothing you can do about it .
I did my 2nd run/walk today so all is well in my world at last.
That’s really good news ... at last you’re back where you should be and the only way is up 😀😀 I think I’ll go to the minor injuries on Monday if it’s still this bad but I’m not keen on going with the Coronavirus about 😬😬😬
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), I really think I need to fill you in 
Not quite a run?
8k run to beat the sun
Windy and then wet 
