Advice needed...

Hi everyone. I’m pretty new on here but am loving all the support from this group.

I was doing pretty well with everything, reaching the end of week 7 with no real problems and only one ‘practice’ run. Then disaster! I felt some pain in my left ankle so rested up a week. As soon as that felt better, I pulled a muscle in my neck and then when that recovered I came down with a nasty cold and then chest infection that I’m still recovering from - rubbish! I’m asthmatic so colds usually take a little longer to go away properly...

I really want to get back out there to run but it’s been a month now since my last run and I was wondering whether I should go back a few weeks to build up my strength and confidence again. Maybe start week 5 again... any advice gladly received!!

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Hello and welcome!

So sorry to hear you have been under the weather!

I would go back to the start of week 5, and take it from there. If you find it easy, up it to week 6 and then you are back on track. Go easy though as these bugs often linger in our system longer than we think.

[Hidden in reply to Millsie-J]

Thank you so much, that’s great advice. I’ll give it a bit more time first as you say as I’m still coughing but really looking forward to getting back into it, which I never thought I’d ever say!!

[LeeU Graduate]

It's just patience I'm afraid, I know how you feel, I broke a toe and then had a suspected pulled muscle in my groin, I wasn't a happy bunny but I did do a 5k with the broken toe.

As Millsie-J says, just drop back to the beginning of week 5, try run 1 & 2 to see how your ankle, etc, feels, if everything feels ok, skip forward to a 25 minute run, if that's ok then just pick up where you left off.

Hope that helps.

[Hidden in reply to LeeU]

Thank you - sound advice. Sorry to hear you had problems too but that you overcame them.

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Hidden]

The main thing is this, you know your Asthma, etc, better than anyone, listen to your body and don't try to push past any limits, etc, I'm not sure about you but running is now an important part of my life but I'd drop a run in a heartbeat if I thought there was something wrong or I was going to injure myself if I carried on.

Just be sensible and ease back in, most importantly, smile and enjoy it.

[Jenny1970 Graduate]

Poor you, you're really had some bad luck! Hope things improve.

[Hidden in reply to Jenny1970]

Thank you!