Well after all this time running solo I have now got myself a run buddy.
Last year a friend of mine ruptured both his quads at a trampoline place and was unable to use his legs at all. After extensive surgery to rejoin his quads to his knee he then underwent a long period of rest and a programme of physiotherapy with his legs in braces, initially unable to bend them at all. Gradually over time he was given 10 degrees to bend and then little by little they allowed his knees to bend further and he got back to being able to walk.
His physiotherapist has now encouraged him to start a little running. He'd been putting it off, so in the end I suggested he come round for home made cake and ice-cream, but only if he was willing to "run" with me first.
So on Wednesday we set off, using a very gentle programme involving 5 minutes walking, then 8 30 second interval runs with 2 minute walks in between, finishing up with a five minute walk. He found it hard going and I just kept at his pace, giving him encouragement. He was struggling with breathing (he had tuberculosis a couple of years ago so his lungs aren't great either), but he made it to the end. Our reward was coconut and lime cake (with home made lime curd in the middle), then homemade strawberry ice cream and nectarine frozen yogurt.
Spurred on he then asked to repeat the run on Thursday, and we did a third one today.
I am doing my own runs on his rest days, as these aren't stretching me at all, but it's really great to see someone who a year ago couldn't walk, giving it a go. I'm away for a few days, so I shall give him a reminder / nag by text and then we're down to run again next Thursday, increasing the run intervals to 45 seconds.
He's really enjoying having a Mrs Motivator to keep hime going, and I'm enjoying having a running buddy to share one of my running routes with.
Mr R. very kindly provided us both with a glass of ice cold water on our return today as we did our stretches.
My run buddy did his milestone 10th Parkrun 
B210K W5R2 Running scared
After the Graduation: First Sessions in a Running Clinic
Running Week 1 - this program works!
