A corner has been turned!

[EverTheOptimist]

I will freely admit that I haven't found running particularly pleasurable up to this point. I've suffered with a lot of lower leg discomfort and having completed W7R1 on Sunday I found my calves knotted up completely, such that I've had to resort to Ibuprofen gel, stretching and lots of massage just to get them moving again. However, today...

Today was different. Today I set off, just before dawn, timing it perfectly to avoid the showers. Today I was relaxed, not too fast, not too slow. Today I wasn't straining for Laura's next time check, so instead of "is that all?" when she spoke, it was "oh, ok." Today I watched a fantastic sunrise over Brickhill Woods, turning half the sky burnished orange, light dancing among the trees like the soft glow of the embers of a fire. Today, birdsong greeted every step...

Today, I ENJOYED running!!

[Hidden]

Sounds like a very enjoyable run.

I'm also not a great super fan of running, but I like the results and like the way it makes me feel.

Well done on your run today.

[EverTheOptimist Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, Viktor. If memory serves, you're one run ahead of me and about to embark on Week 8? Best of luck and enjoy the extra 3 minutes!

[Hidden in reply to EverTheOptimist]

You're welcome. I completed W8, r2 this morning in the pouring rain. I'm will be going for r3 on Saturday morning.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Hooray - another addict! If only every run felt like that...

[Tinyrun Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Can you send those positive running vibes this way please. Though I am thinking about running all the time now.

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

Sounds absolutely wonderful!

Have you tried the tennis ball trick with your calves?! Get a tennis ball and put it on the floor. Sit on the floor with your legs in front of you and, using your hands behind your bottom to support you, lift and swing a little so that you run your affected calf over the ball and use it to really work on the knots in the muscle. It's a sort of 'exquisite agony' sort of a moment - if you find a really sore bit then work on it. Hope this is useful!!

[EverTheOptimist Graduate in reply to flossieflyblow]

I've used my son's toy foam baseball bat, to much the same effect!

[flossieflyblow Graduate in reply to EverTheOptimist]

Excellent!

[EverTheOptimist Graduate]

And it was all going so well!

Since this morning, my right knee has gradually been getting stiffer, until it is now painful to walk up and down stairs

Hopefully it'll settle down overnight.

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

Hmmm. I wonder if it doesn't settle it might be worth waving your legs/knees/feet in front of a physio? Have you ever had your gait analysed and been equipped with correct trainers? Lots of people find it makes a huge difference.

Hope you feel more comfortable soon.