Vv10 - better late than never?

[Jiveblue]

Spent far too long this weekend setting up a photo collage then writing a simple post…only to have problems uploading the collage and then to lose the text. Tried on my phone but the same thing happened. Wrote a shorter post and tried again….Still no luck. And then… finally… I noticed several comments about photo problems on the site. AAARGH!!! So it wasn’t me being stupid after all (as the gremlins 😈😈had taunted) - the photo upload just isn’t working!! Doh!

Insanely grumpy about how much time/effort has been wasted to get to this point, but I am still proud enough that I’d like to record our achievement in completing VV10k!

I snuck off the IC and Rosie (faithful hound) and I trudged the whole way in the warm summer drizzle. I started out feeling sad that I couldn’t run and aware that 7.5k was the furthest we’d been recently as my dodgy knee makes walking hard work! Much steady plodding, accompanied by skylarks to lift my spirit and 5k was reached… Then I started noticing little details which I wouldn’t have seen if I’d been running - a snail 🐌 nestled in a leaf, blackberry and wild strawberry flowers fresh opened in the warmth, fluff from the willows caught up in the teasel heads…. And a fabulous view of a green woodpecker which flew across our path with a flash of red, yellow and tropical lime green.

All the emails for VV10k had a strapline about ‘Celebrating You’ and I realised that I was enjoying taking part, glad of the company from Rosie, and although I wasn’t running I still had a great sense of achievement when we finally reached 10k. Strava praised my 'longest walk' and Rosie slept for the rest of the day! She's a 'burst of energy' sprinter dog so such a long walk was not part of her playbook but she had patiently walked beside me - only checking periodically with a slightly quizzical look when we 'missed' our turnings to get home as I had joined several of our usual loops to get the full distance!

It was definitely more challenging than running in last October's version so I reckon I’ve earned my t-shirt and bling and will submit my time with pride! It took us 1hr 56mins including stops for the inevitable poo collecting, treat giving and photos - though obviously I can’t share those at present!

Onwards now with the new challenge of covering 1223km round the coast of Iceland - virtually of course!! Having completed LEJOG06 and had a fab time doing COGH, I had to find something which would allow me to add my cycling kms (as that's part of the knee maintenance programme)....

Now I’ll slink off to the IC, await progress with diagnosis… and dream of running again sometime!

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

What a lovely post Jiveblue! Well done on your VV10k, that’s a great achievement either walking or running I reckon and to have such delightful company as well! Good time to - I wouldn’t be far short of that doing it as a run! I hope you and Rosie are recovering well from your walk!

[Jiveblue Graduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Thanks OGR... yep I’m still very pleased that we stuck at it! Think it will be a long journey but first thing is to establish exactly what’s wrong with my knee and how/whether it can be fixed!! Hoping it’s ok to carry on lurking ‘in the wings’ as the cycling is nothing like as satisfying as a run and I really miss being an active part of this kind, caring, encouraging group of folk!!

[dijep Graduate10]

Congratulations and well done for completing your 10k even if you couldn't run, I reckon that takes even more determination than if you could run.I can also fully appreciate your frustration with the technology after spending time to create is a lovely collage, perhaps you'll still post it when they've sorted out the issue.

[Jiveblue Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Thanks for your kind words dijep ! Can see you’ve had a journey of determination and steady pacing to get off the IC yourself! In a strange way it’s less frustrating being told not to run just now as I know I can’t even walk comfortably! But I’d certainly like to know what’s occurring and whether it can be fixed. Repeated visits to Osteo are interesting (he’s very knowledgeable about sports injuries) but costly. However NHS so far is pain killers and an x-Ray. Altho MRI would be best way of diagnosing the issue, in this area that only happens after a period of physio... so more delays while I get onto that list. Am tempted to get a private scan and lessen the load on overstretched NHS resources... but not sure quite where to start!!

Will indeed try again Re photo if only to send the selfdoubt gremlins on their way!!

[dijep Graduate10 in reply to Jiveblue]

Yes I know what you mean it's easier when you just know that you can't run, rather than wonder if it's worth having a go.

Just after Xmas I did NHS physio but at the time it was over the phone so a bit weird, but I got back to running following her advice. This time I bit the bullet and paid for a sports physio who is great, although each visit seems to involve a different kind of pain 😧 But it seems to be working.I hope you don't have to be on the waiting lists too long 🤞

[Jiveblue Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Thanks. It’s really good to hear someone else endorse my feelings otherwise I tend to stew for too long with the busy gremlins 😈😈 and then assume any problem is a reflection of a failing in me rather than seeing it just as an issue to be managed!!

The great thing about this site is there’s often something new to think about or ideas on a new approach to take! And lots of laughs too! 🤣🤣