Week 7 derails because of gout - restarting?

[GoNYGoNYGo]

I played golf last Thursday, my off day. Then I woke up with pretty bad foot pain the next morning, Friday. I deferred my run until Saturday. I woke up and my foot felt much better so I gave it a go. I finished the first run of week 7 - the 27 minute run and all was well. Sunday I woke up with the most excruciating foot pain EVER! A 10 out of 10. I thought it was a stress fracture or a sprain from golf. I couldn't put any weight on it and was crawling - not limping. On Monday morning I woke up feeling only slightly better a 9 out of 10. So I went to my orthopedist, fearing a cast.

"A classic case of gout," he said.

What? It had NOTHING to do with running. I was prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and by Tuesday morning the pain was down to a 2 and by Thursday I was pain-free. Running had nothing to do with it and one of the lifestyle changes recommended is aerobic exercise. So I want to get going again.

But I haven't run since last Saturday - more than a whole week.

Question: How do I restart? I'm leery of trying run #2 of week 7 again. What would be a good way to get started?

Note: One of the "strange" symptoms was that the epicenter of pain was at the top of my foot on Sunday and moved to my big toe on Monday. I wondered, "how can a break move?" It made no sense. I received a lot of bad non-professional advice. See your doctor.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

As stated in the guide to the plan, healthunlocked.com/couchto5... you lose no significant condition in the first two weeks of non running.

After that loss of condition is gradual.

All any of us can do after a lay off is to go out and see what we can comfortably manage, then build back up gently, using C25k or something similar as a guide to weekly increase.

[GoNYGoNYGo Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks. I'm going to give it a go!

[nowster Graduate]

It's only been just over a week. You won't have lost much progress if any. You're on Week 7, so it's 25 minutes. Just go out and see how much of it you can do. Keep it slow and comfortable. If you need to stop running at 20 minutes, count it as a W5R3 run. 😉

Had it been an injury-based break I would have been suggesting taking it easier, but this one's due to uric acid crystals building up in the joints, and exercise is one of the treatments.

I assume your doctor has given advice on foods to avoid and increasing fluid intake.

As ever, if you have discomfort, stop.

[GoNYGoNYGo Graduate in reply to nowster]

Yes. Do aerobic exercises

Avoid red meat and especially organ meat (liver, kidney, etc.), shellfish, alcohol.

Drink a lot of water.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to GoNYGoNYGo]

Your first and last paragraphs in this reply will both benefit your running.

As a runner you need to drink a minimum of 2.5 -3 litres of fluid each and every day, running or not, as mentioned in the guide.

[GoNYGoNYGo Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks.

I just ran 27 minutes. I could've gone longer! After, I drank a lot of water. I'm trying to drink a gallon (3.8l) a day now.

[nowster Graduate in reply to GoNYGoNYGo]

A gallon is probably a little excessive.

It's 3.8 liters in the US but 4.5 litres in the UK.

6 US pints should be enough, unless you're fond of nocturnal bathroom visits. 🚽

[GoNYGoNYGo Graduate in reply to nowster]

LOL At age 62, for men, nocturnal visits is normal.