I'm back! (again!)

[Over60sRunner]

Well, the PVF (post viral fatigue) is subsiding for the second time and I've been doing an odd jogette here and there for the past few weeks.

Yesterday I went to the gym and did an "official let's see where I am" run. I did 5 minute fast walk, 15 minutes jog, 5 minutes fast walk with effort, but not knocking myself out. My thighs are a little stiff today, but there's nothing ouchy going on.

Soooo, I've decided to re-embark for the third time on C25K. I'm going to start back on Week 6, which will be about the right level I think, and see how I go. If it feels too "easy", then I'll stay there for a while, if not then I'll step up another level.

Wish me luck!

[PeggySusi Graduate]

Good luck! I’m at a very similar stage.. again..☺️

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

Thank you. Well, at least we are still giving it our best shot and you can't say fairer than that.

I am post-COVID twice (despite being fully vaccinated) and have now developed PVF/ME 😔 On good days I'm pretty much fine, on bad days I cough like a drain from morning 'til night and can hardly lift my head from my pillow in the morning, so I'm just going to do what I can.

Research says that staying as active as you can may help in the longer term and I am determined to give it as good as I can.....Anyway, I've got far too many pairs of leggings to quit now - I would bring Vinted to a standstill if I listed them all😂😂😂

[PeggySusi Graduate in reply to Over60sRunner]

Covid is such a horrible thing.. like you I have good and bad days.. I had Covid very mildly and no cough, but a very noticeable drop in fitness levels afterwards. Some days I have no energy and I also have far more migraines than before.. I agree that exercise must help, but also think you are right to listen to your body and not force it on the bad days.. It must get better soon so that you can put all those leggings to good use 😊

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully we will both continue to improve and flourish.....one day at a time 🙏

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Over60sRunner]

Oh @Over60sRunner, if it is ME, the research and the NICE guidelines for management say something different (unless you want to believe the folk who tweaked their measures half way through) 'Exercise' can be actively damaging. (there's no need to lie in bed petrified to move a muscle either)

I do not want to discourage you from running though, particularly running outside, for the sheer joy (and using your fabulous collection of gear) and C25K with its strictures against running on consecutive days is a good strategy but the treadmill may not be the safest place for you to do it. It's a bit like doing C25K - adopting a pace that you'll be able to sustain rather than going faster but needing to stop but translated into life overall.

Obviously if you don't have ME things might be different.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Sadly, I can't run outside on hard surfaces, not even on grass, due to my several spinal surgeries and collpasing vetebrae and discs. I tried last year and literally crippled myself for several weeks, so treadmill it must be as it's got built in shock absorbers. I don't mind the mill - I know many revile it, but it works for me and I have mine set up to love out over the amazing Welsh hills that we live in, so it's not all bad. I walk outside daily with the dogs, so I'm not missing out on nature too much.

TBH, I don't listen to the recommendations of medical experts much - according to them I should have been dead years ago (knackered transplant that thankfully just keeps on giving to me😍). I find what works for me and stick to it.

According to the GP and the leaflets/links he gave me I should rest as much as I can, but I am already obese and sitting on my backside or lying in bed every day isn't going to do me any favours! And I have 3 years until I can draw my State Pension at 66, so I can't afford to rest either.

I've had since last October to get used to this chronic fatigue and I'm not convinced at all that I have ME, although I definitely have PVF, a different kettle of fish entirely. I think sometimes the medics just like to label people so they can hand out vast quanities of pharmaceuticals, which I largely refuse to take, and stick you in a corner to hand out more and more drugs as the years pass by. I worked in the NHS for 28 years, and don't have a lot of respect for most doctors!

I agree about using C25K as a general philosophy on life, and one that I definitely follow 😀 I do what I can, when I can, and how I can - which seems to work well for me 👍

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Over60sRunner]

Right, doesn't sound like it's ME at all. As you were.

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Good luck, although I’m sure you don’t need it. We know the drill, and we know it works. Go do it!

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Yep. I have my big girl running pants on, they are hitched up high, and I will just plod through like I always have done. If I get a bad day, then I'll just have to rest, but I hope they are now fewer and further between and will continue to decrease!

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

I hope you have more and more good days, and less and less bad days. Frustrating when health issues slow us down, isn’t it!

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Fingers, toes and everything else crossed! I have just got to the stage where I can't bear to sit on my arse any longer, so I have to give it a go..........................

[CBDB Ambassador]

Oh well done! Doubly well done indeed! Sending you over some bounce-back energy!

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to CBDB]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏 Strength and Flex hopefully back on the agenda soon too!

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

More power to your elbow, and to all the rest of you too 💪🏃‍♀️