‘You will never run again’, he said! Ha!

[ktsok]

This mountain plateau-esque image represents 20 minutes of slow (Japanese style slow) jogging. Which feels like a real achievement.

I completed C25K about 3 years ago, and a big part of that story was the incredible support of the HU community, and bonding with a few individuals within it. I was never a gazelle and never found that (mythical?!) conversational pace, but also never failed to find it miraculous that I could run and breathe for longer and longer distances.

Sadly, at the 9k distance and shortly before my first 10k ‘race’, my knee packed up. The consultant said I had the left knee of an arthritic 70 year old and would never run again. I waited a long time for surgery, and was a long time recovering from the meniscus repair and microfracture op. There was no padding left - in either knee, actually, and for a long time I was taking stairs one step at a time and I’m not sure I would have been able to speed up to get out of the way of a car if my life depended on it. The muscles above my knee wasted badly. I took up cycling for a while, but didn’t get enough from it to sustain it on wet days on pot hole-ridden roads. I carried on rock climbing throughout. It was easier than walking, in some ways - my arms could help out.

Add to this tale of woe the perimenopause - it was like I had hit the ladder on the snakes and ladders board and been forcibly accelerated into the 80s.

I spent some time mentally wrestling with the fact my body now felt it was constraining me, rather than enabling me. I started taking HRT. I learnt (and am still learning) how to reframe pain, and expectations, and enjoyment.

I walked a fair bit. I bought some walking poles and really went for it. I could see the muscles building back up. Occasionally, I’d try to run, but within a few strides, I’d feel the juddering painful impact and knew I had to stop. Then one day, I stumbled across a Japanese slow running video…

So here I am. Back from the consultants curse. Week 5 run 3, slower than ever, but I don’t give a fig about the times any more.

👋

[Yesletsgo Graduate]

Wow, you've been through a lot! Congratulations on your progress in C25K, the more you run the better you'll feel provided you take it slowly

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thank you! The silver linings of a knee injury are a) I count my blessings I can jog at all and b) any (self-induced) pressure I felt to go faster has dissolved.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏👏We are SO glad you are back & into Chi running like so many of us!! It certainly helped me too. To get to week 5:3 is more than half way though. How very wonderful. Well done!! Stay in touch!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Chi running. Much more succinct - I like it!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Great post - and a real example of never giving up! Well done for slowing it down and carefully returning to your running! 👏🙂

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you ☺️

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Awesome 👍

[ktsok Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Slow and steady rocks...totally. HUGE well done to you! x

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Oldfloss! You are still here!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to ktsok]

I am.... ! Still slow, still steady and still running ! xxx

[linda9389 Graduate]

Wow, welcome back! That's just amazing. YOU are amazing!!!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to linda9389]

😊

[CBDB Graduate]

Wowsa? Congratulations for a solid comeback and run!

And “Yey” for Japanese Slow Runnjng!

I’m also a super slow runner and love it! I run 5ks in the time it takes others to run 10ks, but I love it and have stopped wondering about times I will never achieve.

Enjoy the slow!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to CBDB]

Cheers CBDB. Ditto the releasing of any time-based goals - and hurrah for that. Have you done a Parkrun Chi-speed?

[CBDB Graduate in reply to ktsok]

I’ve done not-parkruns on various parkrun routes but not Sat am ones . Also partly because I like running alone as I’m so slow, and then partly because I more often run on Sundays rather than Saturdays, and then also my nearest parkrun is a 60 min drive away which just seems silly.

So have done quite a few virtual 5k and 10kraces in my Niko Niko speed. And loved them. 😃👏👏

[ktsok Graduate in reply to CBDB]

Well done. That’s a nice image, plodding along peacefully to the beat of your own drum. Yes, I enjoy being solo too. I’m not sure what the point would be in running with a friend (yet) - breathing and jogging is enough to be going on with for now, talking can come later. I do think my slowness impacts how I feel about Parkrun… more recalibration required there…

[GTFC Graduate]

Awesome 👏👏👏 Brilliant you're doing all you can and that in itself is everything 🙌

[ktsok Graduate in reply to GTFC]

😊😊

[Katnap Graduate]

So glad you're okay and out running!

Have a great New Year

🎄🐱 Katnap 🐱🎄

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Katnap! That’s a name I remember. Happy New Year to you too - hope you are well?

[Katnap Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Yes thanks! Kittens are now at university 😯

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Blimey. More time for napping…

[Katnap Graduate in reply to ktsok]

If only the office hadn't moved further away! 😂