There’s been slow progress in the injury front. The exercises are continuing. Pilates is continuing. Zumba is continuing at a much reduced intensity. The runs are building slowly. There are lambs in the fields which always cheers me up!
After a couple of glorious pain free runs, I had a shocker on Monday where my knee started grumbling 1km in and was yelling by 3km so that had to stop. It’s been a week of no runs to let it settle and calm my nerves about having another go. Today seemed like a good time to try. MrU needs to do 6km to be ready for a 10km we’re both entered for in June but I am still only a maybe. The plan was to set out together and I’d stop if needed.
The weather was rotten first thing so we got caught by sofa magnets and watched most of the coronation. It made for a good conversation topic around the lanes! Five minutes of walk and warm up exercises (I’m paying extra attention to these nowadays!) and it was time to start. As we head along the lane, I notice how many of the houses have bunting up. The weather is overcast but not raining and there are lots of snails on the path. I take care not to step on any, thinking specifically of Oldfloss ! Everything feels comfortable and when I check my watch, we’re accidentally set off far too fast. I slow us down, which seems to be a recurring theme during the run!
Usually, we’d run all the way to a postbox but today, I’m being ultra cautious about my knees and we turn at a park to keep the terrain flatter. As we turn around, I feel a small twinge in the outside of my knee but it quickly passes. All good so far-1km done. The next km back to the start passes easily, and I notice there seem to be lots of little birds out today. Looking am around the houses, we spot more bunting and a few large flags, but thankfully no life size King Charles picture today!
Back to where the run started again and I’m glad that I’ve got MrU for chat or it would be dull running the same stretch again. Today I’m also thankful that 3km passes (where my knee was awful last time) uneventfully. Up ahead, we notice a horse and rider and we have a little debate about whether to adjust the route so we’re not passing it three more times. We choose a diversion that adds an uphill section which should be fine for the knee. After a little chat with the rider about her lovely ex racing pony who is now retired at 24, we pass through another group of houses and along a fast, flat road. The pace began to gently rise again… This was great fun, but once again I was having to yell at MrU who was leading at this point to slow us down!
At 4.2km I just began to notice my knee. Not painful, just a feeling that it was there. As we ran up the hill, I felt great. Going slower than normal felt really comfortable with breathing which is lovely. Hitting the top, we passed 5km at a new record for MrU. He was super pleased. The last km was along the flat and all warmed up and feeling good, we sped up again and finished at 6km. The knee was a little unhappy with me. The physio had given clear guidance about when to stop, which I followed but the walk home involved a steep and uneven path. That was uncomfortable. Next time I need to think a bit more carefully about the cool down walk. The run was fine but just afterwards tipped it into unhappiness. After sending MrU ahead to make coffee, I picked my way carefully back and had a good long stretch and foam roller session. Everything feels good again now.
So overall, positive. It’s nice to get a good distance in after a little while. We’ll see how things go as to whether it’s the same again, or less, or maybe more next week. At the moment, the general trajectory is upward and I’m holding on tightly to that!
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Thank you! It’s so hard, especially when I’m still feeling pretty fit from all the half marathon training and it’s just the knee pain stopping me keeping going. That’s a strange position for me to be in and I don’t like it! I know it won’t be forever and on days like today, it’s great to see the improvement from just a few days ago, and comparing with five weeks ago when it happened, it’s a whole leap forwards.
Such good news and a happy run, all taken in... honestly, you hardly dare hope that it all may be moving forward, don't you?
My heart was in my mouth reading this, especially when the knee twinged... but...you moved on, so did I... then I read the end bit and thought, disaster!!!
Thank goodness that your knee is okay and that it's feeling okay!!! You deserve this so much... everything crossed that you are back on that track again !
Thank you- I’m cautiously optimistic at the moment! So many ups and downs for us all lately that it’s sometimes hard to know what to feel. Today has been a good day and there have been many more good days lately which is positive!
I think I’m hyper sensitive to every little niggle and twinge at the moment. So glad that early grumble didn’t turn into anything. The big grumble at the end has settled nicely. I think next time I’ll have to be a little bit more disciplined at reining in the pace. It was just so great to be back out and feeling much more like myself!
A few rest days now and we’ll see what next week brings! ❤️
Oh you and me both! Really glad despite our speedy antics, we’re still hanging on in there! Just a seaside walk for me today. Plus a very long sit in a coffee shop. Maybe recovery isn’t so bad after all! 😂
That is such great news, the run sounds so enjoyable and you are taking care which is good, wishing you continued recovery and lots of lovely runs. The lambs are beautiful
Thank you! It was so nice to spend so much of the run actually feeling like myself again. Hopefully in a few days it’ll be a short but comfortable run. Slow and steady.
Those lambs are such a sweet little bunch. There was a mob of them climbing on a big hill of goodness know what, jumping up and down and generally making a right racket. It’s lovely to see them so obviously enjoying life!
So frustrating and you’re absolutely right about it being about the long game! It’s the uncertainty that’s most difficult. If someone could tell me “in [some number of] weeks time, you’ll be able to run for [insert distance here] without pain and there’ll be no more setbacks it would make it all so much easier. Even if that was less than I’d like to be doing, it’s so hard not knowing how long it’ll be like this. Patience is hard to find!
Just holding on to the small wins and feeling thankful for all the support on here through the ups and downs. ❤️
Well done ✅ It’s so easy not to listen to bodies especially when we have a target to hit! Obviously the rest was what it needed!
I am keeping to a very much walk/light jog as you are aware! I do try & mix up my runs to keep the runs interesting and not all flat!
I start running again last September ( before recent injury), after stopping completely for 18months 1st two weeks were fine week three they started (knees) I had strained them leaning into my van to get a parcel! I carried on running reduced the distance tried knee supports which made it worse! Really was thinking I was going to have stop running again! Then took the support off. I did lots of stretching and they suddenly stopped hurting and my running legs appear! By week 5 they stopped hurting completely!
Its always hard when you have set a target to reach and set backs occur!
Poor you with your parcel strain! It’s interesting that you found supports made it worse. My physio didn’t recommend using them to me-he said getting stronger was better. I was expecting masses of stretches (some of which I do have) but apparently the thing that will make the biggest difference to me is strength. I don’t mind a gym session luckily! Really glad you found what worked for you and you’re loving the light jog-great way to run ❤️
Set backs are such a nuisance but the more I’ve run and the more I talk to other runners, the more they seem like a typical part of the life of a runner and they make us better long term. Not fun while you’re in the middle of it though! Let’s hope there are no more injuries for both of us!
Let’s hope so! I am going swimming today which I haven’t done for years in the Uk to help the shoulder! It will mean a one arm swimming but I can do some of physio exercises in the pool as well!
sounds like a good sensible run for you MU. 🤞your knee is starting to settle down again so you’ll be ready for your 10 k in June. Well done 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thank you! The 10k is a hilly one and at the moment, downhill running is what’s setting off the discomfort more than anything else so I’m still a maybe-if it doesn’t happen I’ll definitely look for another flatter one a little later if needs be. MrU is running so it wouldn’t be a disaster to be on race crew for a change! Still crossing my fingers though! Thanks for the lovely message ❤️
Good luck with the recovery. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. It’s very important to stop the run if you feel pain. It’s very frustrating to know that you are fit but can’t run. A similar thing happened to me earlier this year with my ankle just before the opening races of the indoor season. That was tough and I’m still playing catch up with my training plan. Hang on in there and it’ll come back to you. 👍
Thank you! It’s so hard, isn’t it! Pushing to go further than I’m comfortable with is so much easier than holding back! I know it’s worth it though. It’s so good to have a physio who has been really clear about what’s ok and what isn’t so I’m sticking to that to the letter. Last time I got a fist bump for my good progress and I’m hoping for another when I see him next in a couple of weeks.
Thanks so much for the encouragement-it means a lot. Here’s hoping your ankle doesn’t plague you with any more problems and it’s a great season for you. ❤️
I can totally understand the frustration, when injury occurs, its really hard isn't it to have to take it easier than we want to . I totally get it but equally taking it easier and listening to your body , well you know it make sense and sounds like you're getting there. You said it yourself, it won't be forever and you just have to keep that in your mind, as hard as it is!😇
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Stepping stones struggle
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
