As I am about to hit week 9 full on – I’m reflecting on my journey over the last 10 – 11 weeks (I missed a few weeks due to illness and life stuff!).
To the newbies I hope read this post – to Err is human….. – Just do it, you’ll never look back. (I’m full of stuff like that)
To put it into some perspective (at least for me) - I started this program 2.5yrs ago on Sunday November 2nd 2015 at 7.45pm. I had been putting if off for months, I’m too busy, I’m too tired, I’m……, i’m…… I’m.... I got up of the couch and said to my wife “I’m going out to do it, right now... if not now, then it’s never” she literally started laughing incredulously (this was so unlike me!) and out I went....... I hated it, everything wobbled a lot and I almost threw up, but I did it again and then again.... and I kept doing it until I graduated on Christmas Eve and I eagerly posted in group that I’d done it and could I please have my badge!
Virtual badge in hand, I went out on 26th & 28th December too, but on the 2nd run I twisted my ankle on pot hole I didn’t see.... not that bad at the time, I made it home.
The following morning I couldn’t stand on it. On Dec 29th I managed to find a physio that was open and had a space.... I’d torn a tendon on my inner left ankle - no running for 4 weeks!
4 weeks turned into 8 and I was finally allowed to run again, but on a running machine (1 minute on, 1 minute off) for 20 minutes “just to see how I’d get on”
About half way through I felt as if someone had pinged an elastic on the inside on the knee..... no pain, no discomfort, just a sensation..... I finished the run, feeling slightly tender - but I hadn’t run for 8 weeks...
2 hrs later my left knee was the size of a football - it’s now the end of Feb ‘16.... Doctor just said I’d over done it, rest and try again in 4 weeks. Went to a new physio... can’t do anything while it’s like “that” come back in 4 weeks..... back / forth to a few different physios, limping everyday, can’t kneel down.... can’t turn / rotate the leg... friend of a friend recommended a someone who immediately told me my left foot was “sticking out” more than my right. This meant that when I ran all my weight was on the inside of my leg/knee, hence the “strain” in my knee.
After sorting out all sorts of issues with my tendons & quads she (my physio) said she couldn’t do anything more for me but would write me a letter to my GP to speed things up as “something definitely wasn’t right” My daily ‘limp’ was gone, but as soon as I went faster than a walk I couldn’t go more than 1 step. GP immediately referred me and a steroid injection into the middle of my knee and waiting 6 weeks didn’t work either…. soon an MRI followed and I had torn my meniscus and needed surgery (keyhole) to cut out the damaged section. Que more waiting time…..
I had the operation 3rd June ’17. I’m never ill (apart from almost terminal man flu) and I’d never had anything like this, but it all went smoothly. Forecast was to be running again in 6 – 9 months.
I’ve mentioned a couple of times, in other posts, that I’d tried and failed to get started again around December & Jan on a running machine with a knee support .... but as my 17 yr old would say “I just wasn’t feeling it” and it hurt a lot after.
Fast forward to better weather around mid April. I had another “now or never” moment and I went back to W1R1, outside.
If I’m honest - I have found it harder this time as I’ve done it all outside, come rain, wind, hell or high water...... if it’s a running day, then I run. No argument.
This post is a bit rambling and I really didn’t mean it to be, or to sound in anyway self serving..... I want newbies to read it..... and have some small self-belief that they can get through week 1, you won’t believe it before you start but you will.
If you are a newbie and you are reading this, at the end of week 1 you will look at week2 and you’ll be thinking “I’ll never make week 2” but you will.... keep coming back here to your new virtual running buddies. They understand... some will be ahead, some will be behind, some will have been doing it for years..... but they will ALL be supportive, and they have all been through what you’re going through now.
The guys here are like a virtual family - I said in a previous post that my wife & mates make fun (in a nice way) because I go on about this so much.... they’re supportive in their own way, but they haven’t been through it..... these guys, the guys here, will keep you going, reading about others peoples ups and downs - just like you.
sallenson , _SimonT_ , Jay66UK , Forestgrump , Ripcurlrana71 , Sadie-runs , Julian1970 , DeeRunning , thegirlfrommarz , Bluebirdrunner , Saartjie , SaskAlliecat you are just some of the gang of lunatics that have helped me along the way and I’ve probably missed loads more of you.
From me to you – Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.
To the newbies I hope read this post – Just do it, you’ll never look back
xxx
My C25K journey and beyond 😊
I did it....
Fluff me that was a frosty but flipping fantastic run 🏃🏻♀️❄️
Week 3 Run 1 (again 🙄)
Lost the bug
