I have not posted here for months (sorry for that!) as unfortunately life got very busy and stressful, and I also got injured back in April - which put my motivation for any kind of running or running talk in the negative. I basically avoided thinking about it for 3 entire months. I was convinced I had an Achilles issue, but after finally seeing a pt apparently I had / have a muscle injury! So I've been on a strengthening programme. That means though I have been off for 3 whole months - with over a month of that with 0 walking also due to the injury (On the up side I did do some swimming!)
Finally 2 weeks ago I had my first run again! Its only now I look back and realise how fit I was before getting injured - it was great to be back out running, but wow have I lost a lot of fitness. Which I suppose it to be expected? I started with 15 minutes of mostly running with walk breaks, and just today did a 4k with no breaks I'm now basically needing to work up to the 5k (which I hope will happen soon), and really up to 10k again. I do need to be slow, and not increase too fast as I definitely don't want to get re-injured and have another couple of months on the IC.
I'm definitely struggling for the motivation sometimes. I do find it demotivating being all out of breath and almost waiting for the Strava man / voice to tell me I've made it through another km! But I am determined, and really want to reach 10k
Thats when I thought of this community: only thinking of it made me realise how much I'd missed posting here and also reading everyone's updates!
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a_in_gsr
Graduate10
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Oh my goodness I hear you! Such a shock when you realise that it's not just the legs that are out of condition, it's lungs and cardio too!My hard won advice to you is to take it a smidge easier than you are now. Don't be in a rush to run further. Maybe add walking intervals back, until your breathing is more comfortable. Good luck and happy running 😊
I must say I was expecting my fitness to decrease, but I'm not sure this much! Its such a struggle because I'm so exited to run, but I keep having to remind myself that my heart (and legs!) have to catch up with my mind. I really should go slower! Walk breaks sound like a good idea
Coming back from injury is difficult because you do have to go backwards before you can go forwards. Keep up the exercises in non running days and you’ll get all the stronger. You’ve got this.
Here’s a great quote I read today from a Matt Fitzgerald running book.
As Jason Lehmkuhle, a 2:12 marathoner, said in an interview: “It has certainly been my experience that if you try to figure it out, you will just drive yourself crazy. I think that you just have to accept that you are probably going to get injured every once in a while. It’s part of the sport. The way that you deal with the injury is probably more important than trying to do everything to prevent injuries.”
Ahh thank you for this! Its taking lots of energy not to overanalyse the situation and just to let it flow / be grateful for where I am now... but once I do I'll probably be a lot happier
Good to hear from you again! Take all the pressure off yourself. Run slowly and find the enjoyment again. You've done brilliantly to pick it up again after so long with injury, there's no hurry to get to 10k or even 5k come to that! Really look for the enjoyment and the positives and savour each run now rather than continually compare to where you were. You will get there. But enjoy the journey!
It's definitely good to be back! Thank you for your kind words its good to remind myself that for sure - I'm still comparing myself now to months or even a year back, which of course is not so suitable now!
I'll for sure try to remember to take it easy and relax a bit!!
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(On the up side I did do some swimming!) 
I'm now basically needing to work up to the 5k (which I hope will happen soon), and really up to 10k again. I do need to be slow, and not increase too fast as I definitely don't want to get re-injured and have another couple of months on the IC. 
Reasonable 10K after swerving the IC
Good news from the IC
Good news after IC - oh yes !
Back after almost 3 weeks ☺️
Back from the IC and back on the Magic Plan
