On May 1st, when I started C25K I would never have believed that 5 weeks without running (from end of August and all through September) would have felt like being lost, as if some vital part of what had almost imperceptibly become part of my life, was missing. 2 weeks of feeling totally rubbish in a Covid-type haze barely functioning, followed by something significantly wrong with my back and instructions not to run or row added another 3 weeks to the initial 2…
Today, October 1st, 5 months after W1R1 I decided to venture out. Strict instructions from my sports masseur to take it very easily, and not run for long, meant I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I toyed with going back to Sarah Millican and a curated run from maybe Week 5 or 6 but I decided that I didn’t know how I’d feel during it, and wasn’t sure what level to slot in at, but I would feel depressed and demotivated if I couldn’t complete it. So, I did lots of stretching, downloaded a new podcast, then spent nearly 20 mins trying to pair earbuds with my new phone... Eventually stepped out in my favourite outfit (for confidence), plus a new very thin, very bright lime green M&S hooded jacket bought in June and unworn. I’d been so fed up with not getting out that I’d not been wearing or charging my watch – and I couldn’t find the charger. Probably a good thing – don’t want to overcomplicate it…
Started walking. Walked a bit faster. Wondered if I should find some grass to run on but its wet and misty and I don’t like wet feet -it’s probably slippery too and falling would not be a good thing. Stayed on my most familiar route – it is a loop of exactly 3 km but even tagging on an extra bit at the start I’d already walked quite a bit of it. Then I met a local walking her dog who said I should be running. I explained that I would be, but first day back after 5 weeks so I was a bit nervous about starting....
Then I did. Gosh. I am actually running. Conscious of trying to “feel” if anything isn’t right. Everything feels ok. I am breathing in a nice rhythm. My feet feel fine, my legs feel fine, most importantly my back feels ok. The new lime green top is perfect over my t-shirt, I am neither hot nor cold – and makes me very obvious so I feel safe. I am grinning. Before I’ve really thought much more about anything the automated, slightly manic voice of my Honor Health Running app tells me I have been running for 1 KM and that it’s taken me 7m15s. This is a reasonably fast pace for me. It’s very very foggy, there are some inclines that I can see - but don’t really feel - astonishing. I feel as if I am back with an old friend – although it’s only the road. Second KM 6m58s. I hadn’t noticed I had slightly sped up. I am not overly sweaty or pant-y. I am really encouraged. Not sure why but I’d thought I might have reverted to the start of C25K where 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds in between was a struggle. I realised I am still way ahead of where I’d been in May. Certainly not back to a 10 k level yet but much better than I'd feared as each run-free week racked up. However, I’ve not “come back from injury” before and I made a split-second decision after 2 kms to revert to walking. I’ve convinced myself that I can still run, and better than that, I can still run at the faster end of my typical pace. I don’t think I’ve done anything detrimental to my back, but I didn’t want to over-do it, or take any silly chances. I have my whole life ahead of me – there is absolutely no hurry. I’m just thrilled to have been able to run again. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow and hopefully be out again on Tuesday. Hurrah Hurrah – Onwards!
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
