Rip it up and start again...

[BettysbOps]

Not the Orange Juice song of the same name (youtube.com/watch?v=ESy-Z8v...(Not working as expected?) but the method I’m using to get back on my slightly mangled feet.

As some of you know I graduated over 6 weeks ago now but after ignoring a nagging wee pain for a fortnight or so my Achilles blew up and put me out of the running (literally) for almost the whole of July.

To go from what felt like hero to zero in no time left me feeling deflated and down, and falling back into bad habits which make me feel sluggish and add the pounds. I’d also lost sight of any structure to my future runs and it all felt a bit daunting again.

So now my Achilles is misbehaving no more, I went out today and pounded the pavements to…..WEEK ONE RUN ONE.

That’s right, I’m basically doing a week a day and I hope to be back to my previous 30min swan-like running state* by the August Bank Holiday.

I miss my Parkruns, I miss Laura and I miss having a reason to add to my running tops collection. So I’ve decided to go back to what I know and use it as a platform to get up and at ‘em again before moving onto a HM** program after “week 9”.

My stamina has taken a beating, as has my general fitness but after dragging meself out of bed at 6am to just get ruddy running again I feel the best I’ve felt in weeks. It’s like I’m normal again! Maybe Laura was right….maybe I am a runner after all…

Anyway, this is not a ramble, it’s got a purpose: to anyone who finds themselves crocked for weeks like I’ve been, don’t be afraid to go back to W1R1 to take the baby steps needed to tentatively start running again after injury. It’s not a failure, an undoing of your graduate status (if you’ve graduated) or a failure to ever get out of the C25K loop. The podcasts are a handbook by which to build stamina and get you running. And like any good manual, don’t be afraid to go back to the same pages again and again.

/end of rambling

*I managed to land BANG on my knees this morning after tripping a pavement in my WARM UP WALK jeez

**Miles Yonder’s HM podcast that he used to get to 10k - Miles, can I get the link for this again?

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Oops hope your knees are ok. Great post. Your right its all about how the podcast works for you. If your out there doing it, then its working for you. After Graduation we could just call it the "Couch No More Program." That should cover any eventuality.

[misswobble Graduate]

I tripped yesterday and staggered forward but managed not to fall on my knees. Not the knees I thought! Ha ha

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle! I crocked my ankle and had weeks out and so did Rockette, but she was out the game for a lot longer. Very frustrating time indeed but it's over now. Yay!!!!

Enjoy your running Betty. Have fun out there and may you find a new spring in your step.

I did Sami Murphy Bridge to 10 k podcast which is downloadable from here. It's hard though so some folks are taking 10 weeks to do it rather than the five it's supposed to take. Good music on it! If you like Rip it up and start again you'll enjoy it

[BettysbOps Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Ooooh, I'll check out that Sami Murphy recommendation, seeing as my Achilles hasn't retwanged then obviously I'm looking towards the big 10k already

[emkeenan Graduate]

From one graceful, elegant, swan-like runner to another (pah!) it's nice to see you back.

Really glad that you're off the injury couch and that sounds like a brilliant way to get you back up to full fitness. I'm quite jealous as I miss the warm encouraging tones of Laura *sniff*. I'm not surprised that being run-less has been getting you down, running is most of what I think about somedays (sorry employer!).

Have fun and take care,

Emily

[BettysbOps Graduate in reply to emkeenan]

Ah thanks man!

If it helps I spend most of my day on this forum (not sorry employer )

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Thanks for posting this. I've been out of action for about 9 weeks and expect to start again at week 1, but I'm actually looking forward to it! Well done in getting out there again. I'm jealous!