Three months ago today, I received a text from the NHS confirming that I had COVID. That was the end of being able to run, let alone being able to run 10km which I had the previous week.
βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ So today I am feeling so proud of myself and delighted to tell you that today I completed Week Five, Run 3 of C25K and was able to run non stop for 20 minutesπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ, something which seemed impossible Five weeks ago when I was experiencing chest tightness due to long Covid symptoms.
π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π»π». I must say I was feeling quiet anxious about attempting this run today when my lovely friend Coach (AKA Couchphoenix) offered to do a virtual run at the same time with me, I was very happy to accept his support and great to know that he was out there running as well - Thank you Coach and well done on your 5k this morning π₯°βοΈππ₯°βοΈππ₯°βοΈππ₯°βοΈππ₯°βοΈ
So on Tuesday 6th April at 6:16am I headed of to start my run. I remembered what Coach had said about keeping it slow and steady so made sure I kept to that plan. I ran passed work then onto Clapham Common, goodness me it was freezing, I am so glad I did not wear my shorts as previously planned!!
πΌπΈπΊπΌπΈπΊπΌπΈπΊπΌπΈπΊπΌπΈπΊπΌMy random playlist chosen by My 30 minutes free listening of Spotify was:
Gold, Your Song, Bright Eyes (very random)
Never enough, I want love, It Must be love
Jump for my love and Star girl McFlyβοΈβοΈβοΈ
It was much lighter going out a bit later than I do on a work day and there was lots of runners out. I kept at a really nice steady pace and relaxed into it when Sarah said I had completed 5 minutes and was thinking I can do this. 10 minutes done, dog walker wished me a good morning (I felt like saying yes it really is for me!). I ran near the tennis courts that I used to play at when I was younger. This brought back such wonderful memories of such lovely times and dreams of being a tennis player (sadly was not good enough!!). I felt really emotional about the fact of being able to run again and everything thatβs has happened over the last three months, it made me shed a little tear. I finished the 20 minutes of running at 6:46 feeling so delighted, strong, and incredibly happy to know I am stronger and the belief that I really am back on my way to be able to run 5km. Happy Days!!! πππππππππππππππππππππππ
I want to thank you all for all your inspiration and support over the last few months you have all been so kind to me and it has helped me so much and meant so much π₯°π₯°π₯°
Feeling like a Warrior πͺπͺπͺand so blessed. π»π»π»πΎπππ§Έπ΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώπ¦π§π»βππ±ππ»ββοΈ. Watch out week Six here I come. Lol 6 must be my new lucky number!!!
Happy running to all my running friends ππ»ββοΈππ»ββοΈππ»ββοΈππ»ββοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ
Aw thank you so much Ian that is so kind of you and thank you for all your support and belief in me right back from when I started C25K the first time round!!
I donβt remember that week (still got the old brain fog!) but I will watch out for them!
You are very welcome !As a reminder then , I think a lot of people think they have now run 20 minutes continuous so then feel invincible and set of too fast ,
Just take them slow even though there are walking intervals π x
Excellent run for you Rebecca, well done on running non stop for 20 minutes of W5R3, I am so glad that you are completely better having had contacted Covid 19, onwards and upwards to week 6 run1, you know to run that slowly after the non stop 20 minutes of W5R3. π ππΎ
Aww thank you ever so much Al that is really guide of you. It felt so good, such a positive day. Thank you so much for the tip regarding week run 1, I will make sure I take it slowly.
I have had a good day, only walked 2K today, perhaps 3 including taking my neighbours dog Holly a short walk, tomorrow I intend to run 6K, that will be the longest run for me for a few months. π ππΎ
Update Rebecca, this morning I ran my first full 6K for a while, 45 minutes and 1 second to be precise, I am now on my way back to running a 10K, next Wednesday I will run 7K.
A very special βWoo to the Hooβ for you Rebecca!ππͺπΌππͺπΌππͺπΌππͺπΌππͺπΌπ
How kind of CP to virtually run with you. Funnily enough, I was actually awake then...a call of nature followed by a pre dawn view from my windowπ...I must be psychic π
Iβm so pleased for you...celebrations all round ππΌπ₯³ππ½
Watch out for W6 intervals indeed!
View of pre dawn sky and crescent moon at 06:08am from east facing window...
Aww thank you so much Lottie, that is so lovely of you to sayπ₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°
Yes it was really kind of Couchphoenix to support and virtually run with me, he is a good coach!
Oh how funny you could have joined us that would have been great the three amigos
What a beautiful picture.
lol I canβt get over you are retirement age you look so good.
Looking forward to starting them on Thursday. Have a lovely rest of the evening and thank you for all your support π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°π₯°
Lol what a trio, talk about the dream team!!! LottieMW Couchphoenix lol when I try to tag CP I always type in coach instead of couch!! Lol he really has been promoted from that couch, even with those jokes x
Oh wow that is incredible LottieMW Massive Well Done you ππππ₯°π₯°π₯° my second vaccination π is due on 29th of this month πππππππππππ
What a run πͺ, what a come back/return to running, what a woman π€, yooz well on your way cracking job Rebecca ! Wise move on the leaving the shorts in the house this morning π€, I was the short clad runner oh yes..... One minute sunshine, the next dark skies and biblical hail, turning to sleet, and back to hail π¬, oh my poor pins twas a tad chilly.......
Aww that is so lovely and sweet of you, thank you ever so much you are so kind Sola π₯°π₯°π₯°. I look forward to us going for a run together in Battersea Park one day. Have a lovely evening and thank you for all your support xxx
It would be nice wouldnβt it? to run together, mind you not today, i worked til 11.30 this morning then someone called in sick so went home, came back at 2pm work til now sleep in and here til 2pm tomorrow, oh and someone tipped a chair over which landed on my foot so bruised swollen and hobbling lol π itβs that kind of place
Oh wow! So good to read! And youβll be progressing on to the 5k to 10k before you know it. Loved reading your post, as it is so full of joy of running! πππ½ππ½ββοΈπ
Hi Sarah,Thank you so much, it really did feel so magical and special. How are you getting on? I look forward to supporting you when you do C25K again. Take care xxx π₯°π₯°π₯°
Awww thanks Rebecca, I look forward to your support π₯°.So impressed with your progress.
Couchphoenix is a great support on here, glad you have been spurring each other on.
We all enjoy watching you go from strength to strength! πͺπ»
You have so many people cheering you on. Thatβs why Iβm glad I found this forum so many lovely folk on here π.
Iβm doing well thanks. Been cycling on indoor bike, which is not the same as outdoors but itβs a good workout and Yoga is daily π§π»ββοΈ. Which is fab for my mind too.
Hip getting there. Have a lovely week and omg last LoD was so good!!!! π xxx
Yes he really is, lol number one coach Couchphoenix and his jokes are not too bad either!! (In small doses of course ha ha ha only joking coach!!)
That is so lovely of you to say. Yes I feel the same it is so wonderful and I feel I have met so many new friends and so good not to bore my non running friend, they donβt get it!!
So thrilled to hear you are doing so well, it really wonβt be long till you are back out there. The 9 weeks will go so quickly you see.
That is fantastic that your hip is on the mend. Omg I havenβt even watched it yet had such a busy crazy week. I hope to watch it later.
Have a lovely day and thank you for your support x
I knew you would smash W5R3! Well done! πͺππSo so happy for you. πHow fantastic that must that have felt, coming back after that horrid, horrid virus.
And how lovely of Couchphoenix to run with you.
As others have said - just be a little careful of those next couple of interval runs. Don't set off too quickly and you will be fine I am sure.
Way to go Rebecca! You are awesome and an inspiration!
Awww thank you so very much that means so much. It really did it felt absolutely amazing, in January and February I would never have believed I would be able to run again.
Yes it truly was so lovely of Couchphoenix to support me today, he is a brilliant coach!
Thank you so much for the advice I am going to take them very slowly, doesnβt seem possible that I am starting week six on Thursday. Thank you so much for all your support and inspiration.
Well done. Such a great achievement after being unwell for so long. In the words of Frank Spencer βEvery day in every way youβre getting better and betterβ Youβre probably too young to remember that π€¦π»ββοΈππ
Well done Rebecca, and what a lovely, really inspiring post, can understand the feeling of emotion you had today, that 20 min run is such a big marker, be it 1st, 2nd time doing c25k, it's a funny old thing, this running stuff!!! βΊπββοΈπββοΈβΊ
Amazing feeling, you're running again! You've got this!! πββοΈπββοΈ It was cold though and a nasty sneaky wind π² Take good care and still rest when you can. Nicky x
You are an inspiration. To pick up the pieces and fight back against long covid is a real achievement. There are a lot of us out there who battle health and running and we know how hard it can be. Well done. You'll soon be back to 10k ππ
Thank you so much Lifluf for your kind words. I really know now how fortunate I have been not to have suffered with a long term health condition like others have I really take my hat off to you all, you are the inspirational ones so amazing. I feel I have definitely grown in my understanding and it has developed my nursing skills.
Awesome,Magic, Am-a-Zing. Really well done Rebecca. πππΈπΈπ³οΈβππ³οΈβππ³οΈβπyou are so inspirational. So so pleased that you are knocking π¦ π¦ Covid on the head. You will be back at 10 k in no time just take it slowly. So very pleased for you. Onwards and upwards as they say. Happy running πββοΈπ³οΈβππββοΈπ³οΈβππββοΈπ³οΈβππββοΈπ³οΈβπππππ
You certainly are 100% a WARRIOR and what an achievement. Congratulations on getting back to it against all the odds. Fabulous ππͺπββοΈππ»
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Back out again for the first time in five weeks!!
