Consolidation run 6 🥵

[MuddledGardener]

Yep, you guessed it. It was hot and hard work.

Yesterday, after hauling sacks of Horticultural grit about, and moving heavy terracotta pots that I had planted up, my back (which is never great at the best of times, having been blessed with scoliosis at birth, which ALWAYS leads to osteoarthritis) decided to go into spasm. I decided to ignore it, as it was fairly mild, and go to bed with my normal Codeine. Bad decision. Ten times worse in the morning, so decided to take a muscle relaxant. Great, except it spaced me out for the rest of the day.

Fast forward to this evening, when RB turned up. I had got changed, which helped to get me in the mood, but I still felt as if I was walking on a giant Dunlopillow.

We walked briskly to our rendezvous with the others, and I felt distinctly less than ready for running. There next followed some extreme faffage, setting up The Doobie Brothers, and my Fitbit, then off I went.

Boy, was it difficult. Despite having kept myself well hydrated, my legs hurt and my trachea burned. BUT, my back didn’t! 🤣 Anyway, I plodded along very slowly, occasionally singing along, and eventually it was time to stop. Nothing else to report, except that I never really found my stride or got settled into my breathing. Maybe it was the medication, the weather, a combination, who knows.

I didn’t perform brilliantly, or break any records, but I am glad that I went out there and did it. RB and I were both discussing how each run builds up muscle memory, plus the muscles themselves. It was another run under my belt, and (when I was saying how I wasn’t as accomplished as I was on Wednesday) as she pointed out, I am a runner. Yes, I am. Just like everyone else on here. Whether you have been running for ages, and are doing 10k, half marathons or marathons, or just starting out. We are all runners. We are making a huge impact on our health and well-being. So, if you are struggling, think you’re feeble because you can just run for 60 seconds before wanting a lie down, don’t feel bad. What you are doing is brilliant. YOU are brilliant. 🙌🙌🙌

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate]

Oh blimey MG! Glad your back is ok, even if you feel that it's the only thing that is!! Well done for pushing through "everything" and yes, you are a runner. An awesome one at that. X

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

Aww 🥰, thank you! I don’t think I score many points in the style department! 🤣

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Who cares?! Make your own style, lady!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Fatgirlslim19]

🤣🤣🤣

[backintime Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Some lead, others follow, you are obviously starting a new style : )

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

You won’t find me on the front of any running magazines! 🤣

[backintime Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

WellI think we should have a C25k running magazine with normal non gazelle like runners on it : )

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

My little group of C25Kers I named the Gazelles! 🤣🤣🤣

[backintime Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

Well there you go : )

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to backintime]

😁

[Debston Graduate]

Aw, that's lovely. I haven't felt like much of a runner this week due to stupid hip so have been vicariously reading about everyone else's. You did bloody brilliant to get out there and do it, given all the circumstances it was probably never going to be a FABULOUS run but you did it and that is fabulous in itself. Well done you! ☺

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Debston]

Thank you so much! I’m sorry your hip’s giving you grief. I hope you can get out again very soon. Xx

[Debston Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

It's feeling much better now, thank you!

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Debston]

That’s good! 😊

[Oddity]

So pleased you are carrying on, I'm following in your footsteps. Planning my graduation run tomorrow although legs are still slightly achey from Tuesday's run and Wednesday's five aside football.

I've finished lots of runs feeling really good for finishing them but I've never had a run I found easy or comfortable. And I am going slowy!

Keep it up and keep inspiring us! X

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Oddity]

Thanks, Oddity. Good luck tomorrow, although if you’ve got this far, you don’t need it! 😊 xx

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Thank you for that post!! seriously considered giving up first had incident at work yesterday and came home late then shopped for the weekend then ate. that was the end of yesterday’s attempt to run. then we had decided to go first thing in the morning so couldn’t sleep and had the closest thing to a row than we ever had. so didn’t wake early and now off to pick up a couple of little ones so that’s that for today will have to find motivation tomorrow after dropping them back but it’s hour and half each way so probably will be shattered when we get back

Having said that your inspirational post just might get us out the door

[Elisabeth3 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Sometimes you cannot squeeze in everything you planned. Then running can be left behind.

But I think that's okay. Depends how long that period is and how much it frustrates you.

Take it easy.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Elisabeth3]

I know i was just feeling a bit fed up when i wrote that. Plans change and now toddlers mums coming with them so we can run in the morning

[Elisabeth3 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

That run eventually does happen then.

Do you feel that you have to find time for a lot of things, giving up your ME time?

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Elisabeth3]

Even older with grown up children life gets in the way of just us time 😀

[Elisabeth3 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I know. But that's life.

I could not run for nearly two weeks now. Hopefully tomorrow.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Elisabeth3]

I shall look for your post tomorrow then . Enjoy 😉

[Elisabeth3 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Oops, don't put me under pressure. 🤣🤣🤣

I said, hopefully tomorrow...

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Elisabeth3]

Lol no

pressure we don’t make it alternate days but still love the progress we have made and reading others progress is inspiring

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Sorry you’re having a difficult time. I know what it’s like when life gets in the way. Maybe just go for a shorter run than usual, just to get out there and blow away the cobwebs? Whatever you do will put more kms under your belt. Chin up. 😀

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to MuddledGardener]

We have toddlers for the weekend but had a bit of luck their mum came with them so week5 run2 our the way

[Hidden]

I am a runner. Yes, I am. Just like everyone else on here. ✊

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Woo hoo! 😃

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻😁 yes, a thousand times yes. We don't do it because it's easy! We do it because we CAN! Not always gracefully or with good form or even performance, but we CAN! 💪🏻👌🏻😁

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Yay for us! 🎉🎉🎉

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate]

Well done - you’ve clearly got grit in abundance! 🙂 and thank you - this post has helped me to not beat myself up over my poor attempt to return to week 4 after a calf injury.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Oh bless you! Every effort is a good one! Just look after that calf. 😊

[DrBunny]

Thank you for posting this! I did need a bit of a pep talk! 👍 hope your back is better.

[MuddledGardener Graduate in reply to DrBunny]

Thank you! 😊 I Hope you feel suitably pepped up! 😁