A Jeffed Run

Hiya,

So y'all know that I have been mostly off running since December last year. Was traipsing around on my treadmill with a sort of C25K app, but then the walking challenge of LOTR came and some doubts about running in combination with my RA slipped in my mind and the running disappeared into nothingness.

Fast forward and I have walked every day for 16 days of the 17 since I started my challenge (I know this is not much, but it is much for me). I skipped 1 day of walking when being too sore, but decided that for every 10 days of walking I get 1 day I don't have to walk and can take it whenever I want. But the walking doesn't allow me any time to run (I need more hours in a day).

Either way, yesterday I was able to somehow fit in both a walk and a run. I decided to do my 3K walk before lunch. That way I could do a run around 3 PM, which I also actually did.

Not following any plan, just planned on running 3K and do it - of course - Jeffing. But not running enough or not for the past weeks, I decided not to do my regular 4min30 / 0min30. I decided to give myself a bit more of a break and do 3min / 2min. And look and behold, I ran and had fun! I even stretched my run to 3,7K because I still had 9,7K to do on my Inca Trail challenge (so now I have 2 x 3K left to finish it). And I actually came to realize I miss running.

RA be damned, I feel VERY fine (RA wise that is) and as long as I am capable and not crawling on my hands and knees, I should be able to run. So I should just stop those nagging worries, hide them in a cupboard and do what I want to do.

All I just need to do now is trying to figure out how to fit running in my life again. Correction: how to fit running in my time table. Because when I am done working, I do my daily walk for the LOTR challenge and afterwards either have to shower and/or have to make dinner, eat said dinner and after dinner I can't run as I need 2 hours after a meal before I can run and once those 2 hours are over I feel it is too late as I need to go to sleep not long after! So on normal weekdays, there is absolutely no time to fit in a run. Weekends then maybe? It will depend on whether I go to the coast or not and to plan it well.

Oh well, we'll see. I'll have to have a good thinking about it.

Cheers, Evy

[Fionamags Graduate10]

That's great, Evy. Good to hear that you are back at it and enjoying it!

[Hidden in reply to Fionamags]

Well I'd not yet say 'back at it' as I still have to find time to run. But in any case it did prove I actually miss running and that I will not give it up that easily! 😊

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done Evy !You don't know how happy I am to read this !

Your walking is brilliant, BUT

You are also a Runner!

Take care

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks and yes I am happy too, though I do admit to being a bit worried to on how to fit running in my walking plan. I don't want to give up walking either, because I do think it benefits my health. I will have to do some serious thinking. Maybe I can walk one day and run the other. Of course, that would extend my walking challenge a lot in time and it would mean disappointing myself in my promise to walk every day. Yes, I have some thinking to do...

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Well done on keeping up with the walking! That would have kept you in great shape ready for your running again.

Life can be tricky sometimes and we need to plan our runs, but you sound determined and I’m sure you’ll come up with a solution. I wish you well 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks and yes, I do think the walking is benefitting my health. I was surprised though past weekend when walking 7K that around 5K my energy had already fled me. In the past (like 3 or 5 years ago or so) I have done a few much longer walks with my mom with no issues whatsoever. I guess I do have a bit of fitness to get back. Of course, my body is now also 3 to 5 years older 😆

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I know I regularly “forget” that I’m older than I was and then my body reminds me 🙄 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Well done, I’m sure you’ll find a way to fit it in

[Hidden in reply to SueAppleRun]

I think so too, just need a firm talk with myself 😂

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

Well done for letting yourself be flexible in how you approach the running / walking conundrum.... Life isn't consistent in what it throws at us which makes it difficult to stick to a plan. You are so determined you will find a way.

[Hidden in reply to Mormor1]

Thanks, fingers crossed that I will indeed find a way!

[Hidden]

You all made me think very hard and I think I have found a solution I might be satisfied with. I just have to see how it works out physically-wise. I was thinking about running on Tuesday and Thursday and walking on the other days. Plus 1 day in the weekend I can try (not obligated) to do it like yesterday: a walk in the morning and a run in the afternoon. That way I will still be able to finish my first LOTR-challenge in the time I had foreseen and be able to run regularly (2 to 3 times a week). I feel this might be a good combination for me 😊

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Whilst I'm not running at the moment, I found a run first thing and a walk later on worked for me. So, out at around 6.30am for a run, then out for a dog walk of around 2 hours later in the morning. I'm not sure I would be motivated to run after my walk! Sounds like a good plan though!

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

From experience I can't run after a walk either if it is too close behind each other. But I am not sure if I am in the mood for a walk after a run. Something to experiment with!

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Glad to see your back out running and hearing that u miss it. Keep up your walking too

[Hidden in reply to Doris8]

I definately will keep walking. I think 5 days walking in 7 is a good balance to get 2 or 3 runs in per week. On free days I can try to fit in both even and have 7 days in 7 walking ☺

[Doris8 Graduate10]

I’ll stick to walking . Think I’ve got used to not running , and still doing bone density activities. I quite fancy Nordic walking but would get laughed at around here .

[Hidden in reply to Doris8]

I have actually thought about Nordic Walking! But my mom doesn't want to walk outside with me if I buy a pair of poles and on the treadmill they are unhandy 😹.

That said I have had almost an accident in the past due to Nordic Walkers. Was walking (sat) on a horse walking on a busy road towards a forest. When suddenly there was the noise of the Nordic Walkers swishing through dry leaves behind the corner (not visible yet). My horse (and that of the teacher) scared and my horse jumped in front of a coming car! They luckily could stop, but I had quite a scare!

Maybe carry small hand weights in your hands and mimic the motions of using poles? Then you have the movement but not the poles?

[Doris8 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

That would be a scarey. you were lucky you didn’t fall of horse. Think would get funny looks as well carrying weights. Will just have to move arms more. If osteo got worse would have to think about getting them .

[ReluctantRuby Graduate10]

Have you considered jeffing at even lower ratios like 30/30 seconds or even 20/30? I really enjoy doing this for any distance from 3.5k all the way to my longest run to date which is just over 15k. I find it very manageable, avoids injury and recovery is really speedy, much more so than I ever found with straight running. I know it’s not for everyone but Jeffing is the future for me 😀🏃‍♀️😀

[Hidden in reply to ReluctantRuby]

I have tried the short ratios and I really disliked it. I unconsciously went faster and faster and I don't like going fast as it exhausts me too much. My favorite ratio is 4min30 / 0min30. That ratio I swear by when running outdoors, it is thé perfect ratio for me, I did 16,1 km end November with that ratio. But now I haven't run for a long time and need to build up again. So I take a longer walk break now.