First run back.

I was quite excited as well as a touch apprehensive for my first run post Covid. I wasn't seriously ill fortunately just suffered with coughing, sneezing and bad night sweats.

Having dropped my wife off I had a quick warm up walk to the towpath and I was off. I didn't want to head towards town as that would mean a tough 7 lock uphill stretch on my return leg so I went in the opposite direction - a route I hadn't run before.

I was pleasantly surprised that the gravel paths were wide and clear and even the mud trails were quite compact too. On my other towpath routes I would have been slipping and sliding so this was much better.

I settled into a slow pace which was turning out to be my 10k pace. As it happens I just couldn't run any faster anyway even if I wanted to. At my 2.5k turnaround point I was really quite shattered, chest heaving and quite breathless.

As I started on my return journey Gail the Gremlin kept chirping at me " enjoying the run are you Alan, are you enjoying the scenery?" No Gail, I'm not, I'm just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other at the moment now go away.

At 4km my chest was exploding but no way was I stopping. I was certain at this point that canal water must somehow defy gravity and flow uphill!! 😂

On a positive side I did see the largest Swan and Heron ive ever seen before on my run. As I approached the heron it flew majestically over to the other side.

For the final 0.1km I broke out into a full on sprint and for the first time in a long while had to sit down to catch my breath.

Afterwards I felt quite proud to have battled through although Mr Garmin couldn't wait to inform me I was "detraining". 😡😡😡 Grrrr!

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done on getting a 5K in for your first post covid run !That's good going but take it easy , could take a while to get back on track .

And what does Mr Garmin know ? 😁

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you. I think it was something I really needed to do. Whilst hibernating I returned to my previous self drinking too much and scoffing roast chicken crisps and shortbread by the wheelbarrow load through boredom.

I feared that if I didn't get out, with Christmas almost upon us it would be easy to fall back onto the couch and then be much more difficult to get back out there again 2 stone heavier 🤣.

Hopefully I can get another run in Wednesday and Friday.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oooh, love roast chicken crisps 😋Don't usually see them now though 😐

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

Oh yes, I know. I saw a shelf of 6 packs and was besides myself with happiness 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done Runforjoy, it sounds like you told the gremlins where to go. I can imagine how hard it was getting your breathing right after COVID. The booster was bad enough to slow me down.

[Hidden in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you. All I could do was just focus on one foot in front of the other. Obviously pace and stamina will pick up again over time. I'm just glad that the first one is done and out of the way. Yay.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

The first run back after any absence is always tricky so it sounds as if you did really well 👍

Enjoy your return with Gail 😂

[Hidden in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you. I could quite easily have thrown Gail into the canal today 🤣🤣

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Our complicated relationship with technology 😏

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Well done for your first 5K after having Covid! Sounds like it was just what you needed; I’m sure the next run will be easier 😊👍

[Hidden in reply to Jools2020]

I certainly hope so Jools 👍

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

You’ll soon be running for joy, Runforjoy! 😊

[Hidden in reply to Jools2020]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Reggit Graduate10]

I remember that first post-covid run. I got it in September 2020, and was only at 5-7km at the time. First run I had to sack off at 3km as breathing was so hard, but it comes back quickly. I’d guess within a month I had recovered running to pre-c levels, and built up to the 10k a couple of months later.

[Gilly0410]

Well done you! I had COVID in July after having both vaccines earlier in the year. I had every symptom you could think of. It left me lethargic, struggling to breathe on exertion and palpitations. I went back to the start of c25k. After the all clear from cardiology I’m up to just over 20 minutes of slow running, which I feel so much better for. Just need to retrain my taste and smell too!

[Hidden in reply to Gilly0410]

Well done for getting up to 20 minutes Gilly 👏. It sounds as though you had it much worse than I did. Keep on battling, keep on running, keep on smiling 👍