Flying Slugs!

[Gthants]

As Daisy says in Daisy Jacobs Saves the World - "Artichokes!" "Flying slugs!" Such invented swear words (and other more choice selections) have been running through my head in the last couple of days as I thought I'd have to stop running again.

My legs were very sore after Wednesday's run and still tender at end of yesterday. I still exercised twice, but also took plenty of rest. I was upset at the thought I'd overdone it again. I went to bed with the intention of not running again until Monday and then doing the bare minimum. But it's hard after three lost years to give in to inactivity when corners have been turned...

I woke to the thought - "slow running".

So I did 30 minutes of pilates and some stretching. Went and did the shopping. Then I returned to the country park where I did so many of my C25K runs; this was the first time I've been there in six weeks or more.

I forgot to change my mentor from Jo Whiley, who I don't really get on with, but I set off walking. To be honest there was a barely discernible difference between my walking/running pace, and at one stage I may have walked more quickly. I stopped and did a few stretches in the middle walk too. But the way my back and knees are impacted even by slow running is different to walking - and that's what my back needs; and this slower pace has hopefully prevented the onset of ouch-iness in my legs later (sorry if I'm being too technical).

I did 3.88k in my 32ish minutes on Wednesday, and just 3.04k today.

I really, desperately want to run properly again and I'm trying to find a way to maintain my fitness whilst protecting my back and the muscles from my knees to mid back - where most of my pain is at the moment. Maintaining the level of at least two blocks of exercise/yoga/pilates every single day, with running slowly two or three times a week, I hope the pain in my legs and lower back will gradually diminish, enabling me to run longer, further - and, who knows, maybe even faster!

Another trip to London tomorrow and no running at all until Monday, so we'll see how it goes.

Happy running - and park running!

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Welcome to the slow running club! Having recently done a park run, I know that my slow running pace is slower than some people’s walking pace! However, I can’t walk quickly either 🤣 so it’s faster than mine.

But I do know that running slowly a lot of the time ultimately helps me to reduce the chance of injury when I do run faster. It also prepares me to run longer distances. As I’m not the fastest of runners, I am on my feet for a long time on, say, a 10 mile run!

Good luck with this and I hope it gets you back on the road, so to speak 😊

[Gthants in reply to Jools2020]

🐌of the world unite!🐌

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Good luck staying pain free while running slowly. I've been slowing it down lately too and find it much more enjoyable.

[Frankenfoot23 Graduate]

You are doing great and so much better me right now. I tried week 1 run 1 last night and the pain in my tendon just came right back again. So already at 6 weeks lost and probably 4 to 8 more. So frustrating and disappointing. So take heart, you are doing great being able to run even 3k - just keep going and you will get there

[Gthants in reply to Frankenfoot23]

Ouch! If this hasn't worked - I'll know more as the day goes on, then I will need more time off from running. I did need more than a month, but I'm "lucky" in that with rest and a strict exercise regime I can get better. But the physio made it clear: I cannot run in the way I did before, without all the necessary exercises. To get my calves, hamstrings, glutes, and core anything like they really need to be will take months of work and at least twice daily exercises.

I'm hoping I don't get a reaction to the run later today - but I have already done my second round of exercises (by 1215!) and so will do yoga and stretching as my extra workout later.

I'm so sorry that for you it looks as though rest is the only way through. It's really worth taking that time though.

Is there anything cardio-wise you can do in the meantime? Exercise bike? Rowing machine? Swimming?

[Frankenfoot23 Graduate in reply to Gthants]

I have been doing the NHS flex and strength exercises alternate days. Also some pilates and a little weight lifting, but nothing that compares to running. I can do light exercise bike work, but I get a sore knee when out on the road bike. Feel I can't win right now, but like you say, rest and recovery, and continuing my physio. I think I started running from a poorer base than I thought, so lots of general core strengthening and muscle strengthening to be done. It will help keep my mind off running! I think we both need to be careful not to overdo things, it's so tempting to run before we can walk

[Gthants]

Thank you! It does feel strange - and I didn't run around town at this pace ... I kind hid myself away. But it was a first and I was trying to figure out what I was doing. So far, so good.

[Sax64 Graduate]

There is so much determination and resilience showing through here, not only you, but Frankenfoot23 too. It's a real inspiration to show that you can and will get back to it. Snails unite!🐌 🐌

[Gthants in reply to Sax64]

Thank you! And I feel much better than I did at this time on Wednesday, so I'm hoping this approach worked.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you... listening to the body and taking notice of what it tells you! Snails totally rock and enjoy the journey so much too !

Rest those legs and Monday should be fine

[Gthants in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks!

[ToothPickJafah Graduate]

Well done adopting the 🐌 pace! Slow and steady is the way to go!

[Gthants in reply to ToothPickJafah]

👍