I wanted to try out my new vest this morning! I wouldn’t normally even take water on a 5K run, but I’m not sure when my next long run is going to be and I wanted to try my new toy 😊
After feeling I was pushing myself a little up the slopes in the woods on Tuesday, today’s run was going to be easy. I’ve had an elevated heart rate since getting over Covid, so I was happy to see that today my heart rate had come down.
The first part of this route is always easy as it’s downhill. I warmed up good and proper on the uphill walk to the spot where I start! This, and running easy at the start, really helps with the Toxic Ten. As soon as I started my walk, it began to rain, but I don’t think that wearing my waterproof jacket would have helped. It was just too warm.
I followed my normal route listening to a ‘You’re dead to me’ podcast about Eleanor of Aquitaine, which was amusing and interesting. Just plodding along - the only real effort was approaching the end of the 4th kilometre which is slightly uphill.
I had intended to go even slower than I did for the whole run, but it didn’t happen. As it was, I was either mostly in Zone 2 (Strava) or Zone 3 (Garmin). Heaven knows why there is a discrepancy, but I don’t think it matters much.
I arrived home very wet but happy with the run and my new vest! I had a drink on my cool-down walk just because I could 😊. I was not out of breath at all on this run, although I was a little tired after not sleeping well. Home for coffee ☕️😊
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Jools2020
Graduate10
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Your heartrate is coming down which is good and the new toy looks very smart on you, how did it feel comfort wise? A lovely steady run, what a great way to start the day 😁
Yes, it was! The vest is so light I actually forgot I was wearing it, so yes, very comfortable. Much more so than the belt I used to wear to carry the bottles.
Sounds like a great run and good that all is going well for you after getting over covid. The vest looks great and very useful. I had been wondering if they made anything like this for carrying drinks. I'll have to take a look around, although I won't be needing one till I progress beyond the 5k I don't think. My achilles has stopped me running for the last 6 weeks but I am feeling like it's ready to run on again. Will be starting somewhere near the beginning of C25k I think. You have really taken on some challenges lately, it's all very inspiring for the rest of us
After having an enforced break earlier in the year, I dived back into Couch to 5K starting at week 3. Worked really well for me! Hope you can run again soon.
I've been out for 6 weeks so am thinking of just starting with the very first C25k run tonight and seeing how that goes. If I find it too easy I might go onto week two in a couple of days, then week three for my third run. I really don't know, but I don't want to rush back for it to get sore again. It's so hard mentally, I think if I had another setback soon I would struggle to get back to it.
I think that’s a good idea to test carefully what you can do. I’d had pneumonia so it was quite easy to assess! Probably not so easy for an Achilles problem so it would pay to be conservative about where to start on the programme.
I didn't realise you had been so poorly, you have done so well getting back into your stride so quickly. I'm sure all the previous running and strength building helped you recover more quickly. Thank you for the good advice, I'll definitely be going easy tonight and testing out just what I can do. A slow build up I think over the coming weeks.
My run didn't go so well I did the first run of C25k again and was fine at first but ended up feeling very sore. Back to the start I think, and it's so very disappointing. I'd waited 6 weeks and it had felt fine. I guess I should have waited longer just to make sure. I just miss running so much! It's great to read your positive stories on here and how you are progressing. How is the running group going that you joined, all still good? All the best
I'm out of action too with my achilles. Been a couple of months now but I don't think it's there yet, physio tomorrow. Good luck with yours and take it easy 😀
I have been really lucky. As soon as I noticed the pain I stopped running on it. If you continue it can make it last months and months so it sounds like you have done really well too. After a fortnight of rest and ice I went to a physio. First session she stretched my calf and stuck needles in the back of my tendon. It hurt but felt a lot better afterwards. She had me doing 3 sets of 10 heel rises on both feet for the first fortnight. After that, more calf stretching and more needles and more exercises. These are pushing up with both feet on the heel rises, but then removing the good foot and lowering right down on the bad one. I've noticed a real build up of strength. It has made it sore but simply because of the stretching rather than it being the tendon. She has told me that if I can hop on my bad foot 10 times without pain, I can run. I did ten last night! Today I'm going to do the first run of C25K again and see hot it goes. Fingers crossed. It's so frustrating isn't it! I hope you can run again shortly All the best!
Well, I've been doing the last exercise you mentioned, 6 sets of 20 per day whilst holding a 10 kg weight, I'll have calves like Jack Grealish at this rate! I've ha achilles problems for m😅any years but this is the first problem since running, thought I'd gor away with it. Glad you're almost there 👍
Those exercises must be doing you a real benefit. They seem very strenuous compared to mine. But ... I did week 1 run 1 last night expecting everything to be fine, and it wasn't. On the fifth run of 8 it started niggling and by the end, it felt as bad as previously. I think it's back to the start for me. So very disappointing. I have a physio on Tuesday so will see what she thinks about it. I can't even go cycling as I get a pain in my knee when I do! Feel like I'm just very broken at the minute.
Oh no. Sorry to hear it didn't go well. When I first went to the physio he said I could run 1 km a week but after the second run it swelled up so we had to knock that on the head. It is really frustrating. I've started yoga which In hoping will help for when I finally get back to running. I'm living in hope. We will get there, stay strong.
It feels like this boat of ours is sinking doesn't it! I'm sure we will both get there soon though. I think you are probably much nearer than me with those exercises with the 10kg weight. Yoga should really help all around. I've done a bit of yoga on and off, but probably not put enough effort into it. I've been doing the NHS strength and flex on alternate days to yoga the last 6 weeks, but also been trying Pilates here and there. There's some good videos online here provided by the nhs if you fancy it: youtube.com/watch?v=44HquH6... I find it quite difficult but it should get easier over time.
I managed all the C25k with barely a hiccup, but on the few weeks after while consolidating it, I tried a hill run up the road. It shouldn't have been difficult but it was enough to cause my issue. I really fell in love with running and find it so hard now.
Please let me know how you get along, it would be great to know when you are back to running again and what your physio suggests next. We will get there, the running will wait for us All the best!
No, I started at the end of the first lockdown in 2020. I didn't have any achilles issues whilst running until recently but after a different injury about 12 months in I really slowed down and listened to my body. The first half of this year was hit and miss due to some family issues so when I started back in a routine in May I think it was too much too soon. My physio reckons it had been coming on for a while but I hadn't noticed. Achilles are really difficult to treat and rely on the patient doing all the work, typical! I'm off to the physio soon so fingers 🤞
It does sound like this issue we have does slowly occur until we are caught off guard. I hope your next physio session goes well. Mine is on Tuesday, I am hoping the swelling will have gone down by then.Good luck!
Super. Good reviews on Amazon and looks better for me than the more expensive one with the hydration on the back. I won't need it until next year, but I have bookmarked it!
You can get the hydration on the back, there is a pocket for it. I didn’t think I would use it. When I did a half marathon before, and regularly going on 10 mile runs, 2 small bottles were sufficient and these fit in the front pockets of the vest.
I have some sports glasses I got last year. The outer bit is a fixed tint polarised cyclist type lens, and there's a prescription insert inside with a bifocal lens.
The firm I got them from don't make them any more, but others do.
I remember having to threaten my optician with court because they wouldn’t give me a measurement that I needed for the sports glasses! They did in the end after I spoke to head office.
I was wondering what distance of run or running time would it be necessary to take water to drink during the run. Are you following a rule of thumb with this.
No rule of thumb. I usually do my longer runs in the morning. I’d think about taking water on a 10K run and above, not usually less than that unless it’s particularly warm. It’s down to the individual though, and I noticed quite a few people carrying water at the Parkrun. One lady does during Couch to 5K runs at my local running club.
thanks Jools, that's helpful. As you say it does seem to be very much down to the individual! I haven't yet carried water with me but perhaps it would have been better if I had for my longer (10k+ runs). Maybe a vest might be a good idea!
Jools, can you give me more details of the running vest/ jacket. I’m about to buy one but would prefer recommendations. NRC app is also telling me that my shoes need changing after 4K more running so that’s a really exciting purchase for me - the thought I have run enough to change shoes! 😊
Gladly! It’s an Aonijie 5.5 litre vest. Options include the bladder and various bottles. I just have the basic vest, ordered from Amazon, for £26.99. Don’t confuse it with the 5 litre vest which isn’t quite the same 😊
I’ve got a basic Aonijii vest and I wore mine the other day for a half marathon
I’ve not worn it for ages, but it was bouncing around, and I had to hold it down by keeping my hand on my drinks flask. I’d never noticed any bounce before, and the main front straps were fully tightened 🤔🤷♀️
When I got I home I checked it over and found the side straps fully extended. I’d no idea I’d ever slackened them off. I think my husband must have borrowed it 😁.
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I did the first run of C25k again and was fine at first but ended up feeling very sore. Back to the start I think, and it's so very disappointing. I'd waited 6 weeks and it had felt fine. I guess I should have waited longer just to make sure. I just miss running so much! It's great to read your positive stories on here and how you are progressing. How is the running group going that you joined, all still good? All the best 
5k in the winter sunshine
