WK6R3 - Finally complete! Injury gone, kinda....

[f1madman]

My last proper completion of a programmed run was in July 1st -wk6r2, where I completed the run but picked up a bit of calf/achilles/planatar fasciitis. Was demotivated and devastated, didn't think not having the option to run would bum me out so much.

Trying not to get discouraged I tried every recovery excercise, foam/pin roller, ice excercise I could, I finally felt better 2 weeks later, so I attempted wk6r3. Unfortunately this was my first proper fail, an old recurring problem with the back of my left knee surfaced (from wk1r1) meaning I only managed about 15mins of running. I stopped before it got painful. I felt as I hadn't ran for 2 weeks I must've lost some conditioning and my legs just weren't expecting to run.

So after 2 days my legs felt fine and I ran it again. This time managing about 23minutes before the same back of knee niggle stopped me. This was positive and I thought I'll keep at it gradually.

I had another weeks "rest" actually I had been busy gardening and landscaping both the front and rear garden so have been fatigued and aching, hence not having the energy to attempt a run. But I finally had enough of a rest to go out yesterday!

This time I finally completed it, went slow as usual and no left knee pain. Annoyingly I got a new pain on the right knee just above the front in the final 2 minutes, maybe I was subconsciously putting more pressure on my right leg to ease the pressure on my left.... Anyway I continued to the finish and dont have any pains in the right knee after i stopped running. It does kinda feel a bit funny now, so maybe I should've stopped. I'll take some extra rest days and fingers crossed I can manage to run in between my rubbish knees and keep things relatively pain free from now on.

I've generally thought running was never for me with my dodgy knees, but hey I manged to make it to 25 minutes somehow. I just have to remind myself that I am getting stronger, my knees can get stronger and that I am a runner!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

As it says "you're now OFFICIALLY a RUNNER" congratulations on completing run 3 of week 6, you should be very proud of yourself, onwards and upwards to week 7 which are all 3/25 minute runs.

[f1madman Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks dude! Looking forward to the next week... eventually

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to f1madman]

👍

[Jools2020 Graduate]

You certainly get my vote for perseverance! Well done for keeping at it, you will overcome! I don’t know anything about injuries so can’t advise you, but you seem to be doing all the right things by resting it when you feel you need to. Onwards and upwards! I really enjoyed Week 7 and the 25 minute runs. Somewhere during that week I started to increase my (really slow) pace and realised that I could run faster! I was hampered by being away from home and forced to run up slopes, but when I returned to the flat fens of Norfolk it felt like someone had started to take the brakes off! I embraced week 8 and week 9. I’m sure your knees will become stronger if you continue to rest them when you know you should! Maybe try knee supports? Good luck with Week 7!

[f1madman Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks I wish someday I can be as good of a runner as you! I'm looking forward to the uninterupted runs, I find them more enjoyable than the stopping and starting, so lets see how it goes.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to f1madman]

Yes, the uninterrupted runs allow more freedom in planning your runs. The second half of my runs are quite a bit faster, or shall we say, not quite so slow! Haha, I think you will overtake me very quickly in ability and speed. I am slow right now, but I know I can speed up! It might just take a while. I don’t want to push too hard and risk injury.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done ! 👏👍😬

I'm pleased to read this , it's so difficult trying to decide when to run again.

Even though I have the green light I'm still uncertain as the injury is is certainly not 100 % clear

I might just test the water very gently probably on Sunday .

I hope you can now continue onto week 7 🤞

[f1madman Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Good luck man, yeah definitelyu is difficult know, especially as you were fine when running but when you stopped thats when the pain surfaced. Atleast you have an experts opinion to back you up to give you some confidence. Retrospectively I'd start off smaller instead of giong head first into a 25,28,30 minute run after a couple of weeks of rest. I know you'll take it 5 minutes at a time

[Instructor57 Graduate]

To be honest , I. Not expecting to get beyond 10 minutes 😐