Finally, a run!

Hiya,

Due to a stitch, a stomach bug and migraine, I had not run for almost 2 weeks. But today was D-day! Work finished, I shut down my laptop and crawled in my running outfit. It is 10°C, but I am a little afraid of feeling too cold, so I wear my winter tights, thinnest winter shirt (long sleeved with fleece lining) and fingerless gloves. All black, except for my bright pink running shoes.

A tad of fear slithered in my mind. I hope no stitch will ruin the run and I wonder if my fitness suffered or not. I did lose some strength due to the stomach bug, so... Anyhow, I try to push it all out of my mind, push my interval timer on, start my watch and set off!

0 - 5 min: the temperature is nice, not chilly at all. I hope I am not overdressed. I give a hello to an elderly lady on a bench and get a hello back. About the only person who says hello (back) on this run. At the end of the road there is an ice cream van. Very aluring, but I am only 5 minutes in and have no money. I wonder if they would accept payment with an app. Oh well, as mentioned I am only 5 minutes in, can't stop now.

5 - 10 min: I notice the run is going rather well. No toxic ten or so, I can enjoy the sound of my feet slapping the pavement. Very rhythmic, which tells me my cadence is good. I do feel my breathing feels a little off, result of the loss of fitness?

10 - 15 min: not much to say. I don't pay attention to my watch, but I know the route too well. So I know I am nicely on track, being at certain points at certain intervals. I keep plodding on. I do seem to feel something in my right groin.

15 - 20 min: dammit, the right groin is hurting. I only have had this before on a long run after 40 minutes or so and only 1 or 2 times. I have only been running for 15 minutes, no fun and it hurts enough to distract me. Nevertheless I bite through it and am adamant to finish 30 minutes.

20 - 25 min: groin groin groin. Keep going! Where is that ice cream van? Gone, too bad. Otherwise I would have stopped and grabbed an ice cream...

25 - 30 min: almost done. I feel my watch vibrate for 3 km and I know I will end with a slightly longer distance than in the past. Meaning I ran a tad faster. And 30 minute comes, watch off and that is 3,46 km done in 30 minutes. Nice!

Despite the groin and not having run for nearly 2 weeks and the breathing which was not fully ok, it was a good run and I am very happy for it. I do am wondering and doubting how to proceed on Sunday. Weekend = long run and I was at 65 minutes. But maybe it is not wise to do such a long run after being ill, losing a bit of fitness and the groin. I do have to work up back to 6 km (about 55 min I think) by next weekend, because I participate in a virtual race of 6 km then. Anyhow, I hereby close my resumé, having tried to adopt Nowster's style, sorry! 😜

Cheers, Evy

[nowster Graduate10]

You do your chronicle by time; I do by distance. 🤣

Well done! And take care of those upper legs.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Yeah, I do intervals of 4:30 running + 0:30 walking. It is easier for me to more or less remember by interval. Thought to do my best to remember as much as possible to try to do 'a Nowster'. Much more interesting to read I think in your style ☺

[Sparkey5000 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

I’m a time person too....stops me going to fast and exhausting myself too quick

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done getting that run in , especially having not been well 👍Shame the ice cream van had left 😁😐

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

Indeed, 25 mins in would have been sufficient for me if the result was an ice cream. Course, don't know if they'd accept payment with a payment app instead of cash money...

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

The last ice cream van I used (last month) took contactless. It was in a council park but came up as "Mr Softee" on my statement.

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Well done getting out there after all your troubles. Take it easy on Sunday whatever u decide to do👏

[Hidden in reply to Doris8]

Thanks, I so don't know yet. Might just start and run till my body screams to stop 😁

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

What a great description - that would have been a tough call, ice-cream, run, ice-cream, run?! Unfortunately the matter was taken out of your hands! Anyway, you did brilliant considering you were poorly and hadn’t run for a bit. I’d just listen to your body when it comes to the long run, only you can tell. All the best 😊🏃‍♀️👏🏼👍👏🏼🏃‍♀️😊.

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

It was a difficult decision. If I had been at 20 or 25 minutes into my run, I would have stopped and succumbed to the lure of ice cream. But 5 minutes into my run after having been couch ridden for 2 weeks? That gremlin was too small to make an impression on me. And running on an ice cream belly, not a good idea I think 😂

[Woollyweaver Graduate10]

Do listen to your body and take care of that groin! Better to take it easy for a bit now rather than suffer enforced rest later on the IC!

[Hidden in reply to Woollyweaver]

I know, but that race next weekend... I paid the entrance fee and I want to participate. But if I don't build up my stamina again, I won't be able to finish those 6 km...

I think I might need to do stretches or some kind of warm up besides my 5 min walk. That might help too?

[Rennur Graduate10]

Thanks Hidden You have inspired me to give it a go again this weekend. I have had a stomach bug this week and not run since last Saturday. I am now starting to feel better. I think a walk tomorrow and some stretches and strengthening exercises in preparation. Well done. You are back on the horse.

[Hidden in reply to Rennur]

Ah also a stomach bug? They are nasty eh? Hope you'll be able to jump back on the horse soon too!

[Raisemeup 60minGraduate]

Sounds like a really good run especially getting back out after two weeks. It's always a concern to know if your body will get going again, and clearly it has done a good job for you. The groin is also a niggle I get, and is usually OK with rest although I intend to see a physio at some point and use yoga stretches to ease it. I hope it settles for you very soon and you're able to run ache free.

[Hidden in reply to Raisemeup]

I think I should start doing some warming up exercises. Up till now (since mid November) I always just did a 5 minute walk and that was all. So maybe I should look into some warming ups...

[Raisemeup 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

I agree. As we progress to running further, a 5 minute warmup walk alone doesn't seem enough, so I stretch a little as well, and the same after.I'm sure you'll find a little routine that suits you - good luck ☺️

[Lizcanrun Graduate10]

Well done on your run Evy. I would be cautious about running tomorrow and listen to your body. Hopefully you're not in any pain today. Of course if you want to make sure you get the 6K, you need to follow that van!!

[Hidden in reply to Lizcanrun]

😂