Thank you Meatloaf! Starting to believe again. 🎧 😃👍

[owmeknees]

Only 5th run since coming off the IC due to holiday and life getting in the way. I had been really struggling, mentally as much as physically, my last run was one long battle with the gremlins and although they didn’t quite beat me there were a lot of bodies on the floor by the end. I haven’t posted much recently because I’ve been down in the dumps about it all but I have been reading and taking comfort from other posts.

Set out today 6:30am and the gremlins struck up their chorus of disapproval immediately. Two minutes into toxic ten and was ready for quitting. I’d made a new playlist last week and I couldn’t have scripted it better, Meatloaf’s ‘Paradise by the dashboard light’. Oh yes, all 8 minutes 28 seconds of it. Toxic ten flew by after that, I bet I hadn’t heard it all the way through in nearly ten years but I still knew all the words. It still makes me laugh. 😆

I find listening to music makes such a difference to how I run. I also had the The Doors, ‘Break on Through’ helping me through the middle section today and Denise Williams, ‘Let’s hear it for the boy’ seeing me home!! 🏠

Anyway, 4K in 31.40 minutes, longest and fastest run since coming off the IC. I’ll take that! Starting to believe I will get back to 5k and who knows, maybe beyond. I feel so chuffed, it’s unbelievable. I even stopped to admire the view and take a photo at the end. It’s much cooler up north now but still sunny. I was savouring every last drop of the feeling today. 😎

So to anyone out there who’s been struggling or is injured I’d like to say, believe because you will come back! And maybe a little bit of Meatloaf might help you along the way....😁

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Lovely photo there. Well done on beating the gremlins and getting on your way again. It's always hard after being on the IC (I've been on it a lot!) and the first few runs out are always a tad scary 😭 But you've done it.

That's great about the distance and time, getting out and doing what you can even if it's only a few K's all add to your running body. Keep at it and keep taking Meatloaf with you 😄

"Bat Out of Hell" was one of my favourite albums back in the day. I use to know every single word to every song 🙄 Might have to add it to my playlist now you've got me singing .....

[owmeknees in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks Irishprincess! I’m still humming now. It is a great album, I’ve got Bat out of Hell and You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth on my playlist too, they’re all quite motivational 👍😊

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Glad it went well! 😁😁

[owmeknees in reply to Ang33333]

Thanks Ang, I’m still feeling really happy about it 😃

[Equi-geek Graduate]

Great to see you’re back on track - literally 👏🤣 Music helps me enormously too - I’ve always danced and finding that perfect tempo to run to makes the time fly by!

[owmeknees in reply to Equi-geek]

Thanks Equi-geek. I’m so chuffed as had really started to doubt myself. 👍💪👊

[_SimonT_ Graduate]

Great post Owmeknees! So glad you are back on from! 😀

[owmeknees in reply to _SimonT_]

Thanks Simon! Hope you’re doing ok! 😊

[_SimonT_ Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

Yes thanks! Oops - sorry for the typo. Should say back on form! Mostly posting on Strava now. 😀

[owmeknees in reply to _SimonT_]

👍 My Strava went doolaleey weeks ago and I can’t get it back. Using Runkeeper now.

[_SimonT_ Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

I don’t actually think Strava is the best running app anyway - it’s just that it seems to be the app people from the forum go on. Hope you are enjoying Runkeeper.

[LoungeLizaard Graduate]

Great to see you back! Keep on slaying those gremlins, you know you can do this!!

[owmeknees in reply to LoungeLizaard]

Thanks LoungeLizaard! It’s great to be back! 💪😁

[Eiralas Graduate]

I hadn't realised you'd had a spell on the IC too - I'm glad you're back running again and that you squashed those gremlins. If you ease into it I'm sure you'll be back to 5k. Lovely photo too 🙂

[owmeknees in reply to Eiralas]

Thank you! Had another good run this morning, starting to build my pace back up to where it was. You’ll be back where you left off before you know it! 🤞💪😊

[Eiralas Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

That's really good to hear! I'm sure you'll get back there again and then can carry on where you left off.

I hope I'm the same, but this sciatica does seem to be stubborn so it may take a while longer.

[owmeknees in reply to Eiralas]

Aw Eiralas, you’ll get there in time. I know it’s so frustrating though. Good luck! 😊

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Rock on!💪 well done for beating back the gremlins. Little buggers sneak up when we're not looking.

Music is so good to help us through. It will get you back to 5k and beyond! 😉

[owmeknees in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks JoJo! 💪😊