Hey 👋 It’s about a year since I started C25k. I was a non-runner, obese, with arthritis in my hip and ‘mourning’ (as my therapist put it) that I couldn’t even sit on a horse anymore without pain - not that it mattered anyway since my own horse has died suddenly in February. I went back to the pool and started swimming 💤 Then, I watched a daytime tv programme in April showing Angela Rippon doing C25k and thought I had nothing to lose...
In the last year, I not only completed C25k, I did B210k, then ran the whole of the Great South Run (10miles), lost 2st in weight, and started training for a HM. I joined Good Gym to help me keep running through winter and to give running a purpose, and did ParkRun on Saturdays - pacing, volunteering, wearing fancy dress. Quite honestly, I now have an amazing circle of positive thinking and supportive running buddies both in real life and virtually, on here. I’ve had ups and downs, like anyone can.
Through it all my main aim has been to stay off the dreaded ‘injury couch’ but as with any course of learning I made a mistake. Mine was running on consecutive days too hard and after the Stroke Association 10K at the beginning of April my hip said ‘stop’. The next day, I could not walk from one side of the kitchen to the other.
I saw a physio on the Wednesday and thought my running days were over. She was more positive than me. I was given a load of exercises to strengthen my glutes and core and stretch my super-tight quads. And I set about the rehab. Up to 12 weeks, I was told. I knew the two triathlons I had signed up for had been a waste of money. And possibly that subscription to Runner World.... and all the running kit I’d bought 🤦🏼♀️
After 3 weeks I tried a very short 100m jogette with the dog and had to limp back to the car.
In the time I’d been running, I was amazed to find I could ride a horse reasonably comfortably again. And without the running to help with de-stressing, I ended up looking at horses.
Guess what?.... here’s Cyril! He’s an 8 year old Irish Sports Horse and former international show jumper. I’ve had him 2 weeks and he is still settling in.
And my rehab had got to the point where the physio advised I start testing my hip with running again.... hence the point of this post.
And, my goodness, how much was I missing my running???!!!!
So, when Cyril arrived I started back at W1R1 with a totally new way to run. I now have to consciously fire my glute muscles every stride, engage my core, balance my head on my shoulders, ensure my knees bend over my little toe and not my big toe... my cadence has quickened and so my breathing is all over the place. I was absolutely gasping for breath, just like a year ago.
But I can still run (at the moment)! All this biomechanical change means other bits will start complaining as I build back up to running a full 5k. My Saucony shoes have covered over 350 miles and if I make it to W5R3 without further injury I will be back at the shop for a new pair.
So, physio is advising caution, and as a horse person I know tendons take a while to heal and are never as good as they were. The arthritis, cartilage tear, and impingement is still there, of course, and I may still re-injure myself. At that point I’ll be referred to the consultant and an op may be on the cards.
But for now, I am so delighted to be back out there and, in a short while, back at my regular Parkrun to do W2R3 and a walk to the finish.
If you are new to running, new to C25k, I want you to know what a life-changer it can be. There was no big ‘flash’ of everything being different from now on... for me it was a gradual change. And still is. While I started in a place of hopelessness and mourning last year - C25k the last resort - now the programme is my rehab tool. Being a runner is too good a lifestyle to give up on without a fight.
Happy running everyone and if you are off to a rainy Parkrun this morning, think of that wonderful hot shower and feeling of satisfaction afterwards and DFYB!!!
Here we go again
Here we go for the umpteenth time!
I'm new here but never thought I ever would
Here we go again...
Here We Go Again...
