Loving Life right now! Aches and al!l

[MelloMar]

Yesterday was an amazing day of firsts for me.

First 5K, first of many I hope!

First time running with and amongst other runners. Up to now I have been a lone runner like many of us on this journey to 5K/30 minutes.

. . . and now, today is my first post.

Finding and cyber stalking this forum has been so great for tips, encouragement and validation.

After initially losing motivation and getting back on track I came a cropper with the dreaded shins splints! I’d got carried away with the thrill of being able to run further and longer and was so eager to progress to being ready for this 5k that I brought them on by pushing too hard in Wk 3 & 4 with repeated runs – some back to back with no rest day a definite no-no and then compounded by foolishly running less than a minute on pavement (I’d been running on grass and was curious to ‘feel’ what it was like to run on firmer ground. Well we know what curiosity did to the cat don’t we !)

Well, after more cyber stalking, tons of reading up on prevention and cures for shin splints, I was left feeling gutted and realised that I may have to spend up to 2 weeks with no running ahead and it was no-bodies fault but own! I was only on Wk5 R1 and (because of my earlier faffing) looking at just over 3 weeks to go before my BIG 5K!

What to do! I got on the N-IC (naughty injury couch in my case, as my inner Super Nanny had to drag me back from the flats because I couldn’t resist a couple of cheeky try outs and 4 gait analyses !!)

Armed with the encouraging words and advice unashamedly stolen and coveted from reading the posts on this site, new trainers (YAY!) I had two happy failed attempts at running 20 minutes non-stop and was left with one week to go but looking forward to taking part in my first 5k with a giddy excitement of a child at Christmas!

I DID IT! And I’m so glad I did. With the sound of Funk underscored with the advice of all you unsung heroes in my ears – ‘slow and steady’, ‘pick a point in the distance’, ‘walk if you need to, no shame in that, others are doing it’ but most of all ‘smile, enjoy the process’ - I got through AND after the thrill of running past the finish line and forgetting it – I got a medal! Yay Me!

Now I’m looking forward to graduating C25K by following the plan, entering another 5k and seeing my progress. Happy trails everyone and thank you.

[Pc59 Graduate]

Well done👍🏃👍and i bet you are feeling fantastic ! You have achieved so much considering your injuries your running career is well & truly started😊

[MelloMar in reply to Pc59]

Ah, thank you. Yes I am! Can't help but giggle to myself and not too proud to say so!

I've hung my medal in the bathroom as an incentive to get out and running. I haven't got emojis but if I did, it would be grinning insanely.

[Pc59 Graduate in reply to MelloMar]

🏃🎉😊🏃🎉😊smiley faces & Running emojis especially for you! Be proud you deserve to be😊

[hicorrie]

Congrats! Really happy for you. I’m doing my first 5K at the end of November (Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S.). I’m looking forward to running with others, too.

What an awesome medal, btw!