W6R3 - done (yay!) but...

[SunnyMummy]

So yesterday I somehow managed to do the first 25 minute run. Fabulous, right?! I AM proud of myself but my feelings are tainted by the fact I started getting mild chest pains about 8 mins before the end of the run part. They weren't severe but enough for me to then concentrate on them & slow down (even more than I already was) to 'check' myself. They did subside after the cool-down walk & of course I then looked it up to see if I should be worried or not, but got mixed results. I'm now a little concerned about doing tomorrow's run, which obviously is not how I want to feel. So far I have really enjoyed the programme & been really positive all the way through.

So far I've not had so much as a stitch so was quite surprised by this. 😕

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done on the run...

Do you think the pains were stitch related or maybe could you have been holding yourself tensely... sometimes, especially concentrating hard on the run we land heavily and our bodies are tense. Did you heart rate settle when you slowed down, and did the pains go completely? Could it have been indigestion... ? Don't laugh.... I know of folk who have gone to hospital and that is what it was !

Gosh... what a hard call. Unless you have had any kind of issue in the past, I am not sure whether seeing a GP would be of use... ? If everything is normal now?

So.. take the rest of your rest day... and if no recurrence of anything in your day, then maybe head out for your next run and take it slower than a slow snail with a speed allergy Do as Laura says, relax your shoulder, shake out your hands and try to land lightly... if it happens again stop and walk home.

We aren't medical experts, and only you know how you feel??

Horrid... keep us posted?

[SunnyMummy Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss! I don't think it's anything to really worry about else I would've got myself to hospital of course, but just half wondered if it's a common thing? Some of the things I read were much as you said, a kind of cramping, either of the intercostal muscles or the heart muscle itself, or indigestion or dehydration.

Now, I have recently had pneumonia - had to wait til over that before starting the programme - & am apparently asthmatic - diagnosed a 18 months ago - but as said haven't had anything like this in the previous training sessions. And the doc knows I'm running.

It did go but then I had a twinge again later in the evening. All ok today so far though so will indeed do my run as normal tomorrow - it'll be an indoor one at the gym anyway 😌 We'll see how it goes!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SunnyMummy]

That sounds good...you clearly know what is what... I am not sure if it is a common thing, but aches and pains of all kinds appear at different points in the programme...when in doubt, slow down or stop...

You have done really well, I know it took my husband over 6 months to get over pneumonia... anyway, just go steadily... the heat and air quality is not exactly brilliant for chest issues currently... but I am sure it will be fine..

Just to make you smile... a few of the forum family, when they started the programme always ran where there were people, or near a hospital... just in case !!! And I had a giggle a few weeks back... on the wall of the saw mill at the bottom of the lane near me, they have installed a defibrillator... I know I am old, but really!!!!

[SunnyMummy Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Haha! Well no harm in taking precautions! 😂

[Katy2613]

I had pneumonia too. About 7 months ago. It's why I'm doing the couch to 5k (I used to cycle to work and was told my high level of cardio vascular fitness contributed to my recovery. I've since changed jobs and don't cycle anymore so had to start running).Feels fantastic to have those lungs going full pelt again. Weirdly, I did w6r3 today too!

Congrats for getting over the pneumonia and doing so well with your running!

[SunnyMummy Graduate in reply to Katy2613]

You too! Mine was only Feb/March but I'm generally active & wanted to get cracking on this. Weirdly, I used it to help my lungs rehab as well. No way I would've been able to do any running whilst in the throws of flu or the subsequent pneumonia but once I felt stronger it somehow felt like a good way to help. And it ensured I've done It all slowly which I think is why I'm doing so much better than I have ever done or any other programme. Yay us!

[Katy2613 in reply to SunnyMummy]

Yay us indeed!! I ended up in hospital for a couple of days and honestly thought I'd never be able to easily walk anywhere ever again. As I pound along the road lungs going full pelt I sometimes think back to the worst days of it and wish I could have seen myself now (if you see what I mean!)

Well done you for getting stuck into this so quickly!

[SunnyMummy Graduate in reply to Katy2613]

It's horrible isn't it? Mine was the worst illness I've ever had - & I've had cancer surgery so that puts It into perspective - & I really did feel a few times that if this was how terminally ill people felt then I completely understood why they would wish to end their lives. I half wanted to be hospitalised for a rest - I am a single mum to two very small children - but of course didn't really want to leave them so was thankful that the second combination of antibiotics & steroids kick-started my recovery.

I've been a bit coughy again the last few days though so think I may have picked up another bug but it could equally be the weather! If in doubt, blame the weather lol.

[Katy2613 in reply to SunnyMummy]

The pain was just astronomical. Ugh. I've got toddler twins and can say with certainty that the pain giving birth to them was nothing in comparison to the pneumonia. Horrendous. Massive respect to you getting over it and looking after 2 wee ones on your own at the same time.

Keep looking after yourself. I'd say I still felt a bit shabby for at least 3 or 4 months after I had it (can take 6 months, apparently) so do go slow! X

[SunnyMummy Graduate in reply to Katy2613]

Completely relate to that. And thank you! Well done you too, with twin toddlers! Amazing what reserves we manage to survive on. Yes I am literally taking it slowly - as I kept saying to my mum when I started the programme, my body wouldn't let me overdo it even if I tried!

[SunnyMummy Graduate]

Update: I completed W7R1 today, but on a treadmill as it's my gym day, & all ok. I did have a bit of trouble getting my breathing sorted on the previous cardio bits I was doing but was fine by the time I started running. And I did get a bit of chest pain or cramping or whatever it is but only in the last minute of running so just carried on. I think it is a kind of stitch but in my chest!