At last! Back from the IC. It's been a most frustrating year.
During my second 10k run back in February, I went downhill too fast, fell and fractured a couple of knuckles. I finished the run, and thought it was just a bruise, but went to Minor Injuries next day and within a week was being operated on, full anaesthetic, and ended up with right hand in a cast!
Hospital made clear that cycling, running and driving were absolutely verboten, so while the pandemic was no doubt silently spreading in February, I was having to take the bus into work, and unable to wash my hand as it was in a cast! Eeek. Was having young women give up their seats for me!
Fortunately a week before lockdown we all started working from home. Eventually the cast came off, and I started running again (after several weeks absent). I think I got too enthusiastic, and after a few weeks managed to injure the Achilles tendon in my left foot! Not great - from running 5-10k I could barely walk without limping. I'd manage to walk say 1.2 km and then pay for it later. I'd hobble out of bed when I got up.
My physio put me on a set of quite uncomfortable Eccentric heel drop exercises that I've been doing for about three months (said it would take 3-6 months for complete healing).
Only recently it seems to have improved - I have done walks of 5-6 km without problem or it flaring up again.
So I decided very cautiously to try running gently. First I just ran for one minute to see if I could do it. No after effect. Next day I did two one minute runs with a walk inbetween. Then four (1 + 1 + 2). Then 5x1 minute with walk inbetween, the idea being to work up to C25K Wk1Run1. Finally did that today. No bad after effects!
I put on my 2020 Oxford Town and Gown 10k T-shirt, which I ordered when I entered the race, and which, sadly got cancelled this year due to lockdown 
The frustrating thing about it was that it's not like I'm starting from scratch. My body is ready to do it and more, but I desperately don't want to wreck the tendon again. I put my favourite playlist on, and set Jo Wiley going on the app. When it came to the first 1 minute running bit, the playlist was playing "I'm a believer", which seemed like a good omen! During the 3rd minute it was "Don't stop me now!", and was willing Jo not to stop me in the middle! (It went on to the next song before the end of the interval). At the end of the 8th run, Jo said "Yaay! You did it!", and I thought to myself "B*gg*r that! I don't want to stop!", so carried on for another 50 seconds or so to the next junction before obediently walking. I'm sure I could have gone on for much longer, but really want to run the healed heel in like a new engine before putting too much strain on it.
I cannot describe how good it feels to get back running again after such a long break. I've been trying to keep fit by cycling, and putting a reasonable hill on the circuit, but really it just doesn't give the same buzz, or set the heart pumping as well as running. At the end it felt really good to work up a decent sweat!
Despite the frustration of having to drop to a walk just as you've got going, it does give you pretty Strava graphs!
I think, given that W2 and W3 involve only total one minute extra running (6x90s or 3x3 mins) that's what I'll try next - see if Achilles tendon holds out. Physio said even if you get a reaction it will only set you back about 4-5 days.
Hoping to be able to run 5k by the time Parkrun returns (planned to be end of October, though I don't know if today's new rules will delay this).
I'm wondering about investing in some K-T tape for the runs. After the last session with the physio, she put some on, but I was still limping at that stage, and I found it seemed to inhibit the movement even more. But now I think it might give some better protection. Has anyone experience of K-T tape?
And so it begins...W1R1 / Parkrun 😃🏃♀️❤️😎
A wonderful free run with a new favourite playlist 🎶
Week6, Run 1 C25K 🐻🐻🐻🐾💙💙🧸💙🏴🧸🦄🧑🏻🏭🌱🏃🏻♀️🥰
Who Buys New Running Shoes When They Can’t Run?
C25k completed for a second time!
