W9R1... Jo is almost saying Bye! 👋

[MinnieMoo55]

After a few days of rest on my niggly knee it felt back to normal.

It had felt difficult to sit still as I’m so close to graduation but I summoned up all my patience and sat still. It helped that I had loads of work to do to keep me occupied 😆

I followed the good advice on the forum and picked a pretty flat run in countryside on an old railway line (long since gone).

I’d had my hair cut and dried this morning so I’m sure the bounce helped and my hair weighed less 😂

As this was now the real deal, the first 30min run, I also decided slow and steady was where I needed to be. My pace was slow at 8.23 average, almost Japanese Slow Running at times, but the only aim was to complete 30 minutes with my knee feeling good... and I made it!

I was also jogging on cloud 9 because it was announced today that I’ve been awarded a BEM for services to older people in the Queens Honours List. So humbled and chuffed... 😁

Photo is the slowing point as the cool down walk started. What a lovely way to end an amazing day 😊

CazzaW how are you doing? Are you feeling any better? I’m going to leave a good few rest days until the next 🏃‍♀️

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

WOW Minnie! - On several accounts..!

Delighted to hear your knee is better with rest and you nailed your first session in W9.. but the award..?! 🤩🤩

You must be beyond chuffed, congratulations 👏🏼👏🏼 Multiple achievements today 😃🌟

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you 🙏😘

[LudoLen19]

Wow!! Is that the British Empire Medal? Fantastic!! Well done, how lovely to be nominated and recognised. Have you been told if you receive it “in real life” or is it all virtual at the minute..? Congratulations!!! 🏅

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to LudoLen19]

I was sent a lovely letter from Prince Charles on Saturday morning but due to the rule of 6 I have no idea how anything else is going to be sorted so fairly virtual right now! 😁

[CazzaW Graduate]

Wow 🤩 what amazing news, many congratulations that’s truly fabulous 🥂

hope you’re still smiling today 😊

So glad your knee is better too and it sounds like a great run, pretty pic too 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

I spoke to physio son yesterday and he suggested trying a gentle 15 min jog if it feels ok after the 5 min walk, it’s still not feeling quite right ☹️ So I might try that this afternoon or tomorrow. If it’s ok he said go to 20 mins so 🤞🤞 otherwise it could be Christmas before I graduate and too cold/snowy then to get out at all 🙄 Trying to keep optimistic despite feeling frustrated.

Keep going, only 2 to go 👏👏

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Yes, definitely still smiling 😁

Knee is definitely better than it was but still feels slightly different from the other one and so will keep lots of rest days between future runs. So we’re delayed together 😊

Did you go out today? If so, how was it? If you’ve left it until tomorrow I’ll keep my fingers crossed 🤞

Try to keep positive even if you don’t feel very positive right now 🤗

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Thank you 😊 I did actually make it out, I hummed and hawed (🧐 Collins Eng dictionary 🤣) all day, took Ibuprofen and ice packed this morning whilst watching the tennis. Did a bit of gardening and it felt better altho’ still not quite right. It was cold but beautifully sunny here this afternoon so at 4pm I thought if I didn’t go it would get too cold. Chucked on my clothes, warmed up as usual, chose random Spotify Housework Hits 🤷‍♀️ and decided I’d follow W5R3 but only jog til 15 minutes (if it was still feeling ok by then). I walked carefully for 5 mins then did manage the 15 mins making myself go very slowly 🐌🐢 then walked 8 mins home. I could still feel the ankle but it wasn’t painful and I don’t think I’ve aggravated it 🤞 ice pack on now. Guess I won’t know til tomorrow morning but if it’s ok I’ll do 20 mins on Tuesday as suggested by my son. The heartening thing was that, in myself, I felt good and I could have carried on, breathing was good and I didn’t even break a sweat 👏 I never run at any other time than the morning but quite enjoyed going later, especially as it’s cooler here now in the afternoon so maybe that’ll be a new thing.

Hope your knees both soon feel the same 🤣 and you can get out again in a couple of days 🏃‍♀️💪

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Yes! 👊 I’m keeping everything crossed that when you get up this morning that ankle of yours is still holding up 🙏🤞

It’s bad enough having to dodge the weather without the blooming nuisance of the niggle of ageing muscles! 😂 It’s quite amazing that we get out at all!

Hhhmmm, maybe housework hits 🎧 makes all the difference... acountrycabbage I can feel a new superstition coming on. I’ll check out Spotify now!! 😂

[acountrycabbage Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Ha ha, oh I’m checking out that playlist right now!

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Hi 🙋‍♀️ just checking in to see how you are 😊How are your knees feeling? better I hope 🤞 I did 20 mins this morning, got new insoles for my trainers yesterday so thought I’d give it a go. It’s still not completely right but don’t think it’s making it worse. Will probably have a couple more days off now with ice pack, then do 25 mins. next time. The jogging is fine and I feel I could do 30 mins, which is heartening, it’s just trying not to overdo it and further irritate the tendon 😬

Have you been able to get out at all or has work taken over? Hope you’ve all been able to celebrate your BEM at work 🥂 Are you able to say what charity you work for?.... I spent a lot of my career as an OT working with older people 🙂

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

It’s very odd as my knee only niggles on running which isn’t helpful because before I start, it all feels good. It’s therefore difficult to judge whether to run or not.

I’m so pleased that you have managed 20 minutes and the insoles sound as though they could help. It’s so useful to have a physio son!!

Here’s to a 25 minute run when you feel up to it and at least you’re not going backwards and feel as though you can do 30 minutes. That’s a great way to build confidence to beat the gremlins 😁

Am just about to post that I got out tonight after a few days off to rest the knee but also because of work not stopping until it’s dark. I don’t mind running in the dark but it’s nicer in daylight.

Celebrating the BEM has not really been possible except in a low key way as still working from home and as Covid numbers are rising I think it’s going to be a while yet!

I work for Age UK Isle of Wight 😊

Do you miss your OT work? It’s a great role as you can really see a difference by your intervention 😁

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Yes, I’d guessed celebrations would be virtual... hopefully in person one day 🤞

Ah Age UK... I had wondered 👍 I loved working as an OT and always wanted to remain as clinical as possible as I loved the patient contact and yes, I do miss it. I’d hoped to do some voluntary work out here but with Covid that’s not currently an option. I retired early in 2019 knowing we were being posted out here (I’m 57 now) after just short of 35 years unbroken NHS service! 11yrs in Psychiatry initially, the rest mostly in Southampton then Hampshire/Wiltshire Wheelchair Services but I did 2 years latterly at Southampton General on the Medicine for Older People wards. Small world! My oldest son sails so I know Cowes quite well and he also worked at the UK Sailing Academy for a while. One day we’ll make it to the IOW festival too 🤞

Ankle feeling quite a bit better today with insoles and new slippers. I think part of the problem is that I’ve been slopping around all summer in flip flops or bare feet with no support all. Planning on getting out tomorrow and will just see how long I can last without feeling it 🤞

So glad you got out there, we should be graduating within a day or two of each other 💪🎉

[acountrycabbage Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

It’s all sounded positive Cazza, great news 😃