Running and Long Covid

[Gthants]

When we went into the first lockdown, I was already ill in bed with Covid. It totally knocked me for six. I was ill for a month. Okay for a few days. Ill for a couple of weeks. Okay for a week. And then it really began. It developed into pneumonia that took some shifting.

When I finally got out of bed I looked out of the window at the chairs a few metres away on our patio and I knew I couldn’t make it that far … 

I did get better, apart from having become almost deaf in my left ear. However, I’ve been experiencing “spoon-life” ever since. I had to measure out what I could do with the amount of energy I had; if I needed things from the fridge or a cupboard, I’d get all I needed in one go, an extra trip across the kitchen would cut down what I was capable of that day. I look after my kids, but they’re teens and they stepped up and did more. When I worked, I’d spend the next day or two in bed. And every 6-8 weeks my energy would vanish and I’d spend a week or so in bed.

So that was two and a half years.

Then I slipped a disc – because my strength had vanished, I couldn’t exercise and I was generally weak. Even at the start of this year I couldn’t walk for half an hour. That absence of energy cannot be pushed through. I saw a physio for my back – and the rotator cuff I’d pinged too. My core is getting stronger. Building up over six months, I walked more and then gently trotted 60 metres down the garden. Next day I repeated this. Within a week or so I was doing very gentle laps of the garden several times a day.

I know this has been the same for so many of you: but that first run – C25K, run 1 was MASSIVE for me. I was literally high, because I had hope again. Today is a birthday rest-day (though I’m working tonight). Tomorrow is Week 6, run 3…

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Quite a story !And very well done on getting back to where you are.

As for the programme, your coming to what I call the fun runs 😁

For week 6 run 3 and for week 7 I had a particular music track that lasted just over 24 minutes, so all I needed to do was start the music within the first 30 seconds and just keep running until the music finished 😁

A bit like musical chairs 🤣

The track was 'Pink Floyd's Echoes' 😁

Enjoy the rest of the program, it really can change lives !

[Jools2020 Graduate]

That’s an inspiring story. You didn’t give up! And look at you now - over halfway through the program and doing really well.

I think one of the best things about this forum is when someone says that you have inspired them. I’m sure that this post will inspire others!

Enjoy the ‘fun runs’ and don’t do what I have a tendency to do and push myself too hard! You’re still building up that core strength.

Oh, happy birthday!

👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍💪

[Gthants in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you!

[backintime Graduate]

Yikes - that sounds horrible, I'm glad things are going better

Kudos for pushing through

[PeggySusi Graduate]

Happy Birthday!

Covid is just dreadful.. my young previously fit nephew and his teenage daughter both have Long Covid, with continuing serious problems, since the very beginning of it all.. I’ll be very interested to follow your journey. I feel it’s very encouraging that you seem to be well on the way back to normal life 🤞

[Gthants in reply to PeggySusi]

It has taken away a huge chunk of my life. Before Covid I was active from 7-7 and walked for over an hour several times a week. Even two years on from Covid I was incapable of half of that walk and able to do a fraction of the work. There's no way of "pushing through" that. But it seems things have changed now. 🤞

[Run46 Graduate]

Oh my goodness, how awful for you!

I'm so pleased that you're finally getting some of your health & fitness back.

Especially well done for getting through the week 5, 20 minute run 👏👌

I'm thrilled that after having a year with a very limited amount of running due to covid 3 times, I'm now getting back to feeling more normal...I imagine you're over the moon at getting back out there 😊

[Gthants in reply to Run46]

I'm trying not to get too excited about it to be honest. Today's run was fine, but my batteries ran out at the end of the day! 😂

[Run46 Graduate in reply to Gthants]

I can totally understand that...taking 1 run at a time & none for granted.

Best of luck 👍

[Fiadh79 Graduate]

That's amazing! So pleased you're doing so well.

I had long covid as well. For a while I thought I was going g to be basically bedbound for the rest of my life. Am now completely recovered. Thank you for sharing your story, and reminding me to be grateful for my own recovery!

[Gthants in reply to Fiadh79]

I was on a course with some other sufferers when I was only a year in. That reminded me others were WAY worse! As you say: I feel very lucky indeed! Hope your recovery continues.

[Phdgranny Graduate]

that is so encouraging to hear. I have just started back, just 9 months for me but it has felt much longer. I hadn’t appreciated how woolly my head was until it cleared. I still have some balance issues but meditation helping and it tends to clear once I’ve been up a few hours, worse when lying down. I don’t care how slow I am, I’m out there in the woods and feeling alive again. Go you and keep getting better.