Week 1 run 3 post shin splint rest... Something weird has happened....

[HanPanStrawberryJam]

Ok, so I didn't rest for the whole10 days as I promised the doctor, but honestly for the first time in my life I was CRAVING a proper heart rate and that full feeling you get in your lungs when you run

When I started on the first 1 minute run I had to hold myself back as much as I could but still ran on a speed 4.7 instead of my usual laughable 3.5, I know I should have been taking it slow but I just couldn't! Truth be told and I know it sounds mad but I wanted to fly, just run and run and run as fast as I could until my body burst. It just felt so unbelievably good to be running, a bit like freedom... I wasnt even out of breath when Laura told me to slow down and I nearly argued with her, I just didn't want to! So I consoled myself by having a little treadmill dance during the 90 second walk

The second run I felt a bit more normal and toned down to a speed 4.0, my chest felt stretched afterwards but I still wasn't breathless or struggling.

The rest of the runs I did on a 3.7 except the last 30 seconds of the final run. I wanted to see how far the 'free' feeling would take me and how fast I could actually run, so I cranked up to 7.8 and bloomin legged it! Ok, so 7.8 isn't ground breaking but for my little legs and all 17st 13lbs of me (now down 16lbs from start weight, I'll just throw that in there) it's pretty fast! The 'I just want to run' feeling came back in spades and I don't even know how long I ran for, I just kept running until my chest hurt and I couldn't catch my breath. Can't have been longer than 40 seconds or so but the feeling of weightlessness and just SPACE was so worth getting fit for.

I had a tough, very head blaggy day today at work where I have to focus on 10 things all at once and it's noisy and busy and stressful, and in the past my 'zen' place was in an empty takeaway box and a food coma... But tonight I found a new place to forget the world and focus my brain on one thing, and it's on a treadmill running as fast as I can until I'm too exhausted to think about anything else but my body.

This is a huge, huge deal for me, I've got a new zen place that makes me feel free and in control and I can go there whenever I like, I just have to run

***Caveat: yep, totally irresponsible and stupid to run like that on my shins right now and I know I'll probably hurt tomorrow... Totally worth it.

[TheHistoricalPresent Graduate]

A long rest did exactly the same for me! I had a tummy problem and had to stop for 2 weeks. My first run back was a game changer and has been so different (good) for me since!

[Peperami66 Graduate]

It puzzles me this rest thing. Laura says to ensure you rest your muscles which can be hard when you have the running bug. Then she tells you to keep going three runs per week. This I have done and made very slow progress in terms of time and am still a very long way off 5k in her thirty minutes. However, I had a ten day rest imposed on me and then beat my personal best by a minute and twenty seconds! Couldn't believe it.

The power of rest?

[Nick_Jae Graduate]

Hi Han...love your post, with an attitude like that you're gonna smash this never thought I'd ever run but I find it the ideal way to escape...rest is good, keep it up!!

[misswobble Graduate]

Don't go mad HanPan please. Rein yourself in as you'll get crocked. You're only just starting out and you've already had shin splints

So, slow it right down now you've had your fling.

Run, slow and steady from here on in. Gently does it. The idea is to finish the sessions. No dramas. Take your rest days too. I know free running is fantastic and the feeling you get from it is like nothing else. Your body has to be strong enough to support your running though and you get that by building up your running legs, lungs, upper body etc etc. Boring but true. So if you do too much too soon you'll end up in trouble

I've been running nearly two years but the wheels have come off my plans due to overdoing things. I can sit on the injury couch and reflect on my recklessness. Lesson learned

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

First off, congrats on the weight loss! Keep it up and you soon will be flying. Secondly, though, listen to Misswobble! I know the temptation, trust me, I've been there too, but you need to give yourself time for your physical self to catch up with your head. I would hate to see you sidelined to the injury couch when running is giving you such a buzz. Apply some of the discipline you clearly have in spades to sticking to the program at a sensible pace. Wait until week 6 - you will be over halfway through the program then and then you can let rip for the last minute of your long runs, if you feel the need. By then maybe you will have moved off the treadmill and run outside, too (try it, it is just the best feeling!). Keep running and keep posting though, we are with you all the way.

[AncientMum Graduate]

Oooo be careful. Listen to MissW and pace yourself. Good to hear your enthusiasm but s l o w down

[HanPanStrawberryJam]

Thanks guys! Yep, lesson learned... Thankfully my shins aren't too bad but you quite rightly smacked my hands on this one! Tomorrows run will be at a saintly sensible pace, scouts honour!