Gardening is exercise!! Revelation!

[Richard7]

In my last post there was one thing I didn't mention … I guess I was still trying to figure it out.

I noticed on my Monday run a stiffness in my hamstring area. Initially I thought nothing of it … coincidence after watching the FA Cup Final at the weekend!! But I skipped my Tuesday run, then Wednesday finally doing a gentle run walk on Thursday. Yep it was still there!

Come Friday evening I knew my Saturday run was off and sat on the sofa (literally the IC) glumly! I then decided to grab a freeze block from the freezer and sat on it.

Come Saturday morning I noticed it was feeling much better!! I would give it one more day to be sure. So Saturday was spent in parts in the garden, during the digging etc I noticed the hamstring pulling again … then it dawned on me … this problem had been as a result of the gardening last weekend!!

Saturday evening saw another spell on the sofa aka IC with the freeze block (restored to ice cold state by a 24 spell in the Cooler)!

Sunday morning, hamstring felt ok, cool outside .. a run beckoned.

As I headed out some of the feedback from my recent post was echoing and I started trying to work out whether to repeat a 3*10 min run or increase it a bit. I decided to go for it.

A gentle 1k warm up and a 5 min walk before doing a 15 min run followed by another 5 min walk another 15 min run another 5 min walk and a 1k cool down.

Knowing I was going for 15 mins I kept the pace down and all was good. So it looks like my road to recovery is improving .. fingers crossed!!

So after a week worrying about another injury it turns out that what I need to do is listen to the advice that is out there. From stretching before exercise (which includes gardening) to rest and ice to aid recovery.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Great run and fantastic lesson we are all guilty of not treating gardening etc as exercise which requires stretching out. I find I need a good stretch after a leisurely push of pram with sturdy grandson up hills🤣 happy running 🤗

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Ha ha , I think I’ve seen almost as many people on the IC from gardening as from running Richard. I’m sure the garden looks lovely though 🌼🌸🌺🌻🌹

Happy running . 🏃‍♂️

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

Oh yes, my legs always remind me that I have been gardening!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Glad you got to the bottom of it Richard☺😉...

Worth a bit of time stretching and strengthening so that your garden can look lovely and you can still go for your runs!

Keep going on that road to recovery, I'm right behind you now too.😘xxx