Nearly there.

[Mjerry]

Hi all,

Just wanted to pen down my journey. Sorry for the long post. From being a lazy walker to someone who loves to just go out and run everyday. I have made a mental- self talk to physical motivation. You are the best as don’t have much people who praise you and didn’t realise it till now that self praising is not arrogant it self appreciation.

Trying to make food changes, not that I needed as I was already good, don’t eat takeaway , don’t like soda. Biggest challenge was to portion control and carbs as my biggest weakness. As when heavy on food my run was very hard and I was not enjoying it. I was just finishing it.

Taking it slowly and then being over-confident preaching everyone that if I can, you can too and coming back to reality that I have fibromyalgia and hyper mobility and would getting numbing pain in my toes all the time, swelling would come and cramps came on my 2nd week and I knew I was about to give up but some reason this time I was looking for a solution asking in this group what might be the solution; it was so obvious still hard to make a habit: water.

I really needed to focus on the rhythm and enjoy but still cautiously optimistic and happy that I went on this journey. I was on adrenaline high preaching anyone if you cannot run repeat the week, if you can’t go out do 10 mins workout video. I was literally going for 3 short runs early morning, walk after work and evening before bed runs.

The biggest challenge this easter half term- the first week hit me with sense of being a loser and not worthy- not classifying myself but sometimes I get my lows which takes me such lows that I drain myself soul out of me. Not worthy or anything, not even going out as an excuse was helping- which affect me last week. I was on my 7th week with dragging feeling, so the run was not a physical challenge it was a mental one. The first run was dragging but still when I looked up in strava realised that’s the best pace I have ran in. This was after 5 days of no run.So this put the seed that was dying a new life in me. I wanted to do better and if I didn’t feel like it I would walk.

Just finished my 8th week on my best performance, not swelling, no numbness, going out in cold with gloves then half way getting fully sweaty. Without trying my steps and distance between runs have become big.

But I have new problem now, I am getting cramps in my ribs, and lower body, my breast feels more saggy and when I finish the 28 minutes run, and I am cooling down I start coughing and sensation of 🤢 comes up with proper breathing and rest for 30 seconds it disappears. But finding it strange as it’s never happened before. It’s definitely getting tougher to run but it’s making me tougher too. So any tip on this last hurdle will be much appreciated. Sorry once again, but was happy I am nearly there. My first ever run to calling myself a runner. So proud. Any help on last hurdles and week 9 I am ready for you.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Good run and post from you Mjerry, congratulations on almost completing C25K, take the last few runs slowly, good luck for your graduation run 🏃🏾 😊

[PlasticUnitedFan Graduate]

Good post Mjerry, I can’t offer advice on wk9 as I am on wk9 run2 but I can say well done in what you have achieved so far. Please keep going and post your progress, it’s nice to see amazing results. You are tough and definitely worthy.

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to PlasticUnitedFan]

Thank you, ohh one more run and you have done it well do you 🥳🥳🥳

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate]

Hi 👋. You are really pushing yourself on those W8 runs so go extra slowly to get the extra time and distance needed. Make sure you are hydrated too as being dehydrated can make you feel wobbly and sick when you push yourself. Just take it easy and good luck 👍🏻

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Will give it a try my only fear is I might need to go toilets while run. I go running as soon as I wake up maybe a bit dehydrated. Thanks 🙏

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate in reply to Mjerry]

Oh I hear you 😂😂. It’s a dilemma isn’t it 🚽! Keep hydrated in the days before your run and you should be ok 👍🏻

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Will try that keep you guys updated. Thanks 🙏

[nowster Graduate]

Possible explanations: dehydration or (rarer) exercise induced asthma. My money's on the first. You need to drink a fair bit more than you'd normally do if you're doing exercise.

I also have hypermobility (but not as much as some in my family do). It's an area that's only recently come under much study. If you have certain types of hypermobility (EDS in particular) you will be warned off doing any exercise which aims to increase your joint mobility (like yoga). Running is great, but you must keep it up now you've started to do it. The improvement it brings in muscle tone and strengthening of ligaments helps counter some of the bad effects of hypermobility.

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to nowster]

Oh thanks to the insight. As I do suffer from acute asthma but never had a pump for survival just huffing and puffing even when I walk 10/20 steps. So I think it was an excuse that I was keeping to avoid exercising and same goes for hyper mobility. Don’t know what and how much I have, physios just told me I have signs which was visible when I was trying to move more and as same as asthma, it was an excuse. And I do yoga too. I was told not to run ever which is proving wrong at the moment but have included yoga, gentle run, walks, change in diet for the last 2 months.

But now, like you mentioned everything seems to be getting better, can be dehydration as I go as soon as I wake upAnd fearing that I might need toilet I don’t drink before run. That can be the reason. Will give that a try. Thanks for the update

[nowster Graduate in reply to Mjerry]

I always take a drink before setting out. Usually just a glass of water (200ml).

If your hypermobility is only slight, and you can't do tricks like putting the tip of your thumb behind the knuckle of the first finger, you're probably not that badly affected. The possibility of flat feet and the consequent overpronation is something you should still be aware of.

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thanks will keep an eye on my feet. Will try that drink before run and my thumb does go behind my knucklesThumbs too short. Maybe just slightly.

[nowster Graduate in reply to Mjerry]

I'm talking about being able to do something like this:

Thumb contortion

[nowster Graduate in reply to nowster]

or this... (little finger is the one at the top of the picture)

Finger contortions

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to nowster]

No that doesn’t happen I tried, the fingers kept slipping and thumbs too small. That’s why I said I can feel it but haven’t been told as if I diagnosed. Physios just asked me to do something don’t remember what but, then they said you have hyper mobility. And it said with me. Thanks for the insight.

[daycartes Graduate]

I always have a tumbler of water before running even if I don’t want it. Like you I run first thing. Get up, get dressed in my running kit, go downstairs get the dogs ready, get my headphones and phone, drink water, lock the door behind me and straight into my 5 min warm up.

[Mjerry Graduate in reply to daycartes]

Will do that from tomorrow. You sound very organised, will try to make that a routine. Thanks 🙏