Rebecca calling the old faithfuls - and the new and enthusiastic!

[RebeccaSK]

I've been away a long time haven't I? I was prompted to post by Hidden posting on one of my old posts. Things have been a bit crazy. Those of you who remember my last post may recall that my dad was taken into hospital. Fourteen weeks later and he's STILL in hospital. It's been a journey - three different hospitals, nine different wards, no less than FOUR hospital acquired infections and a lot of tears and anxiety. A few weeks ago he even had five days in ICU. Naturally my running had to take a back seat and then I got a chest infection, then I injured myself.......hopefully I'm coming out the other side.

I stopped being able to go to running club and I wasn't able to do Parkrun so ended up volunteering most weeks instead. Now, however, I'm hoping to start pounding those streets again. Toyed with the idea of starting C25K again as I felt my fitness had dropped off so much but was convinced by my experienced running club coaches NOT to do that but to go back to the beginners' session which is generally the place the C25Kers go when they've completed the nine weeks. I guess it's different for everyone but what they told me is that so much of C25K is learning how to run, even if you don't realise it - it's not just about the fitness. They told me I wouldn't have forgotten that and the fitness would return quicker than I realised. They were right! So, I'm doing a little more walking than I would have done at my fittest but, actually, with the support of my amazing running club, I'm getting into it much easier than I thought I would - and I'm enjoying it more too!

My aim is a 10k in late spring/early summer.

I went back to Parkrun yesterday for the first time in a while. It was a glorious - although absolutely FREEZING COLD morning. I've run or volunteered at that parkrun in excess of 20 times now and it's not a big run in terms of numbers so I've got to know quite a few people and it's the "home" parkrun for most of my running club. So, there I was, struggling a little because of the cold but no longer able to hear the encouraging words of the tail walker to the two girls behind me, and really happy to be running. The support and encouragement of those who knew of my recent struggles was AMAZING. It was a wonderful, life affirming, good to be alive type of run. It was way off my PB but that didn't matter at all. One of the running club committee members and all round amazing guy, ran the last 1.5 laps with me even though it meant he ended up doing an extra lap.

Even though I was prevented from running by circumstances, I never lost my motivation and desire and I'm so glad to be back here!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hey you.... I was wondering about you yesterday! here you are!

What a worrying time you have had...I really hope your Dad is making progress and that you are feeling better.

You seem to have a plan in place for moving forward... I have gone back to the start of C25K after five weeks on the IC with a trapped Sciatic nerve... ( small runnier in training related and not running:))

I am just wanting to be sensible and build back to 10K slowly, but you are much younger than me and will probably be fine, starting where you are

Well done for your run and for getting back on track too, it is great to have you back with us

I hope things settle a bit for you and am looking forward to your posts. I did Week 4 Run 1 this morning... it was freezing, but fun

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Oh no - not another injury! My beginners' group is amazing - and I'm lucky in that my running club is so big that you get the choice of different groups to pick one that really is most appropriate for you. They expect you to challenge yourself - but to your own limits and not those of everyone else in the group. If you need to walk for a bit then that's what you do! I'd carried on walking a lot (hospital corridors have really helped my daily step count over the past few months) so I'd not been completely stopped exercising.

Dad has a way to go. We hope that this week he will go into a rehab unit (for the second time) to get some mobility back before he can go home again. The visiting times of the rehab unit will actually make it even harder for me to run but I will work something out.

I think it was even colder this morning than it was yesterday. You know me, I get very hot when I run but it must have been at least 2.5k in before I took my gloves off! I kept my padded gilet on for the whole run - that's a first!

We've just booked a holiday to the lakes in September (wanted to stay in the UK as we just don't know what's going to happen with dad) and I fancy a bit of trail running!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to RebeccaSK]

It all sounds really positive in all fronts

The Lakes will be super Something to focus on ... and you group sounds terrific

[Fishypieface Graduate]

Wow, so sorry that your dad has been so poorly, it sounds like a traumatic and difficult time all round. I hope that things are now starting to look up for him.

Glad you had such a great run. It's a really amazing thing this running lark, so much more than putting one foot in front of another, yet as basic and simple as that too. Your running club sound like the best and just the support you need. I always think that I'm too crap to join one and that they are full of super fast athletes (which isn't me!!) but yours do sound really great. Good luck getting back on track when the time is right

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Fishypieface]

You are absolutely NOT too crap - you just need to find the right club. I tried one before the one I now go to. They were all really nice but I didn't feel the beginners' group was really aimed at beginners and it dented my confidence massively. The friend that got me into C25K in the first place encouraged me to try again with her club and it's a completely different cup of tea! Anyone who joins the beginners' group has to understand that if you are a lot faster than the others you will be expected to run back to join the slowest - so the slowest runner is never actually last! Everyone is encouraged to run at a pace that challenges themself - not necessarily the same pace as everyone else. I find running with a group so much easier than running alone so I'd really encourage you to try and find a running club that suits you - and if you can't, perhaps you could start one up!

[Fishypieface Graduate in reply to RebeccaSK]

It's nice to hear an 'insiders' view rather than what they want you to think! Maybe I will one day.... you've encouraged me!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Best wishes for your Dad and glad you are running again ☺

[ju-ju- Graduate]

So good to see you back, and I’m so sorry life has been so hard..... it sounds like you have a wonderful running group and parkrun too which makes so much difference. Huge well done for getting back in again, and it won’t be long before you nail that PB 😺

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Ironically it was the day I got injured that I got my PB! It was a club outing to a different parkrun but it was really icy and I had new orthotics which are really quite drastic. My sports injury lady did a course on running on ice so she knew as soon as I saw her that it was simply the result of running on ice PLUS the new orthotics PLUS not warming up properly (in really cold weather) because I was running late that caused the injury.

I'm not sure whether I'll get to run at club this week as we're forecast heavy snow - we'll see - but I'm really looking forward to building up my running legs again!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Good to hear that running still features in your life.

Here's hoping your Dad recovers soon.

keep running, keep smiling.

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you! I hope you're doing ok? Running at the moment?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to RebeccaSK]

Yes, thanks, Rebecca. I had my best run in several months yesterday and felt I was actually making progress, rather than going backwards, as I have felt of late. Still slow, but a glimmer of improvement.

Thank god for running.

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank god indeed! This time last year I don't think I'd ever been able to run for longer than five minutes. Now, here I am, frustrated because the snow and ice means I'm going to have to miss running club and perving at new trainers online to console myself!

[Hidden]

So nice to see your post, but so sorry your dad has been through the wars and still on the road to recovery. It's no surprise that your running had to take a back seat to all that.

We know you’ll be back on it, because your fitness and distance running was a hard fought prize. Lovely to see you back here. Happy running, you’ll get the PBs and of course you’ll nail that 10K.

You were and remain one of my running inspirations.

Big hugs

XX

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

For me, as you know, running is very much a mental thing. I have spent the past fourteen weeks emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted. On a couple of occasions I tried running but I didn't have the mental tenacity or strength to run. It's been a horrible, horrible, 14 weeks and we're not out of the woods yet - but, as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and I am desperate to get back to my running again!

As for being an inspiration - thank you, it doesn't sit comfortably with me, accepting compliments, but I'll take it!

Big hugs back!

xxx

[Getfitok Graduate]

Glad you are back running. Sorry to hear your Dad's been poorly. It's so hard when our parents are suffering. Hope he's soon on the mend x