No park run for me today :( but I have man candy and a spaniel so all is ok with the world. Resting is very important.

[spoonierunning]

So today was the magical day that was meant to be my first park run. I really didn't want to pull out and yesterday I really felt I was going to be ok.

The signs were good, I woke I wanted food, breakfast was consumed. Crippling tummyache a little while later but that was ok and didn't last long and more importantly I still wanted food. No rebelling of my body telling me food was yucky. But alas by the late afternoon the dizzy spell had returned along with feeling sick and like someone was inflating my tummy. Not nice.

Still an evening with Wolverine was rather pleasant... Ummmm man candy.

I still have x men the first class and wolverine movies to go then I will have watched the whole xmen movie collection back to back - now that's dedication. And I've been Stan Lee spotting along the way, which unless you are a marvel fan probably won't make much sense.

Oooh Iron man ....

Anyway before I go off in a man candy dream state. Phwoar wouldn't Hugh Jackman be an awesome training partner? Oh dear off I go again.

Where was I? Oh yes parkrun. Anyway, I felt like I was letting people down by pulling out, afterall they had planned to come along to my local parkrun to support me - but they were of course supportive and said health comes first.

But this enforced break due to my stupid medication mix up has had a positive effect. I have rested and this has meant my blisters are almost healed and my knee is feeling much happier with me, I think I was getting to the point where I wanted to be out running come what may and I was willing to perhaps push myself a little to far, making myself exhausted along the way.

We often see rest time as a sort of defeat and that seems to be especially true as we are progressing through the programme - I'm not out there when I should.

But it isn't the case, rest is integral to our journey, it's not being lazy, it's not falling off the wagon, it's taking charge and ensuring continuing success. I want to be able to continue saying I am a runner, I don't want to say oh yeah I used to run but then I had to stop because I badly injured myself, which let's face it with my broken body is a real possibility.

So to everyone on rest days, injury breaks or taking a few days out because of illness, pat yourselves on the back, reward yourselves and remind yourselves that you are runners not couch potatoes.

Oh and spaniel cuddles a great excuse to stay in bed

[Miles_Yonder Graduate]

Well done, Spoonie, good choice. Far better to stay in and rest than try to run and risk injury or feeling worse. Definitely the right choice. I was going to do a Parkrun today too but didn't as after yesterday's run a had a bit of a twinge in the right shin/calf and with graduation week next week I decided not to risk it. I do feel now like I should have done it, but I'd have been gutted had I put myself out for graduation week!

Instead I plan to do the Parkrun next week, and so can you, when you've fully recovered and graduated yourself!

Enjoy your day of drooling over superheroes!

Excellent photo, by the way!

[Hidden in reply to Miles_Yonder]

You did right not to run today and risk your graduation week. When I was approaching my graduation I wouldn't even try out a new pair of socks in case they caused a problem. Rest is more important in certain circumstances. Cheers.

[misswobble Graduate]

Aw bless that lovely doggy. As for you, you idle so and so! Tee hee only kiddin!!! I used to love Marvel comics, used to swop em with the boys next door for Bunty and Mandy etc. I prefer to read the comics rather than watch the films though. I know, I must be mad right!

My ideal hunk is Gregory Peck or Clint Walker. Not to mention Clint Eastwood. Now you're talkin!

Speaking of dogs. I have one to look after for the next 10 days so I have to get my ankle better QUICCCCCCCCCCCCCCKK.. He gets up dead early so I think five am walkies are on the cards. Oh eck

I hope you feel better real soon Spoons x

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I'm a marvel fan via the cartoons and now the movies, Mr Mouse read some of the comics.

Hope the dog sitting and early walkies are going ok

[AncientMum Graduate]

Wise wise words Spoonie! Sorry you weren't up to your Parkrun today but you've got exactly the right attitude to your enforced rest days. I'm still kicking my heels too but with considerably less grace than you by the sound of it. Perhaps I aught to treat myself to a bit of Ironman to while away the time xx

[Hidden]

I believe you were wise not to run today if you weren't feeling up to it. I'm also on an enforced rest (chest infection) and, like you, far from beating myself up over it, I am actually enjoying not going out to run. We keep trying to tell people how important rest days are and a few extra of them can only be beneficial if not feeling up to par. Enjoy your rest, enjoy your improving health and enjoy running again when you feel up to doing so. Good luck and best wishes.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

There comes a point when we can feel confident that we will get back running when the time is right. My running is taking something of a back seat to swimming and S&F at the moment but I know it will be there waiting for me ('cos it is much nicer than either of those two!)

[spoonierunning Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

I love swimming. I'm doing strength and flex as well as it's pretty much most of my physio exercises anyway, I just need to add a few more in, but seeing how the programme workouts progress first.

[misswobble Graduate]

Speaking of kicking heels AncientMum, I am trying to get my ankle better so have been doing exercises, one of which is to walk twenty steps on the backs of my heels, so I've been doing that across the tiled hall floor in my bare feet. The dog has decided it's a great game and has been helping me by trying to lick and chew my toes, and pull my trouser bottoms as I process across the hall and back. Good game, good game!!!