Rambling on into W7

[ktsok]

In my dreams, my running feels rhythmical and comfortable, my thoughts come and go and for the most part, I am in the moment. Mindful running.

In reality, my thoughts dart about in bids to distract/motivate/endure. There are moments of being in the moment, because the sun feels good on my face, or the scenery is particularly beautiful, or the run feels hard, or cold, or the wind is buffeting me, but mostly, I think about the shape of the charts in the stats, like mountain ranges… the way pace and elevation mirror one another, one going up, while the other goes down… would a slow motion camera disqualify me from jogging in the way that Olympic walkers get disqualified for both feet being off the ground at the same time - but in my case, for both feet being on the ground… not being able to hop on one leg… writing this post… how silly that I go marginally faster when I am observed… how easy it can feel one moment, and how hard the next… oooh, negative splits...

My mind is a bottomless pit of thoughts, when jogging.

It works insofar as 25 minutes was achieved, but it’s a long way from zen.

The hopping thing is interesting. I probably could hop on one leg, but I have no padding in the knees, so it is jarring and painful, and my mind/body says no and refuses to do it. I felt knee pain today on the cool down walk, when I was tired and trying to walk a little faster, overextending slightly, and felt the possibility of my knee locking. It’s a subtle twinge - I have become expert in deciphering (my) pain, over the past few years. Knowing what is a warning, when to stop, when to accept it will hurt and push through anyway.

One of the puzzles this time around in C25K is working out/separating limits of not just fitness and mind, but joints, too. When is the pace too fast for my knees to cope? Dare I say it, though I am far from fast, I think I’m getting to the point where that question can be answered.

[Katnap Graduate]

Excellent run! 💪🐱👍

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Katnap]

🙏

[E27M14 Graduate]

I love this. It really demonstrates how running has taught us so much! Not just that I CAN run (unlike that very first run 1 week 1! Also that we can do hard things, that we can do a lot more than we think we can do, but also the difference between a slightly achey niggle and actual real pain. When to push it, and when to stop! Good running!!

[ktsok Graduate in reply to E27M14]

Hi Em, yup, lots of learning, and the lessons keep on coming, don’t they? What’s your most recent pearl?

[E27M14 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Just that if you want to - you probably can! Women over 50 can (and should) go to the gym and lift heavy s**t! If you haven’t already, I would recommend everyone reads “Next Level” by Stacy Sims.

Book cover

[ktsok Graduate in reply to E27M14]

That’s a good pearl.

As far as lifting heavy stuff goes… I climb at least once, usually twice a week, so I can crank out a few pull ups. I’m muscle dense, which I then have to heave up the wall. It’s fantastic 🙂

I had a convo with a couple of ladies the other night of a similar age who were saying they were noticing diminishing strength in day to day stuff. Gotta swing some weights around, whether it’s dumbbells in the gym or your own body…

X

[E27M14 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

I think there are lots of women out there who have never really exercised for one reason or another and stepping into a gym alone at this time in your life is terrifying. My son is now 18 and a year ago we struck a deal, that he would teach me to lift and I would teach him to drive. We have had a lot of fun and it has been really good bonding time for us as well as the health benefits.

[ktsok Graduate in reply to E27M14]

That’s so nice 😍

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

🙂 I give my knees lots of TLC these days, including warming them up with a hot water bottle pre run.

In my case increasing pace isn’t the major knee injury issue in itself; the problem comes when I speed up by extending stride length rather than by increasing steps per minute. It has taken a bit of concentration and patience, but I can now feel when I have got things in balance. I always check the Garmin stride length reading post run. 🤞🤞🤞 knees have been quiet for a few years now.🤫

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Beachcomber66]

Stride length as an indicator is a good idea - better than pain. I’ll keep an eye on that, thank you.

I find your care of your knees via hot water bottle heartwarming. No wonder they are quiet - they must be very content! Mine are feeling a bit neglected now…

I find that I start to lean forward as I speed up, and readjusting so I am bolt upright and ‘over’ my foot helps with maintaining low impact running.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Same here with foot landing underneath me, and that happens when I have my stride length right. I also check steps per minute to make sure that increases with pace.

The hot water bottle is not just TLC 🙂. It came from my physio. She says that 10/15 minutes HWB warm up immediately pre run, with legs stretched out together on the floor in front of you and then gentle manipulation of the knee cap, stimulates the production of synovial fluid. Works every time for me. Runners’Knee banished 🤷🏻‍♂️

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Beachcomber66]

It’s osteoarthritis + injury in my case, but I shall give the HWB warmup a go…

[Beachcomber66 Graduate in reply to ktsok]

Not a bad idea in this weather anyway! freezing up here 🥶

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to ktsok]

My poor old knees have never been the same since I took an impromptu flying lesson from a motorbike and landed on them (lucky I wasn't killed/severely disabled) when I was in my early 20s.

When I started running I was really careful about warming up, only running on soft ground and keeping my stride short. The only thing I've changed in the 3 years since I began is I now run on pavement as well.

My knees have actually improved considerably since I started running regularly so keep at it, it's worth it.

[PaulS83]

Ah, deep, brooding and existential. That's how running should be.

My thought train is:

Dood, dood, doodle-loo, dah, deet, dah, dum, bah! Dood, dood, dood-loo, dah, deet, dah, dum, bah! I neeeeeeeeeeeeeed a weeeeeeeeeee. Dood, dood, doddle-loo, dah, deet, dah, dum, bah!

Keeping cracking, if you can hover (if only precariously) above total destruction, I'm sure the strengthening effect on surrounding muscles will produce some benefit (?). If not, have you considered power walking? You could get one of them book-keepers' visors and a papoose to carry an inexplicably pathetic dog, and play your music from a bum-bag because you don't believe in earphones.

Every cloud...

[ktsok Graduate in reply to PaulS83]

Power walking described in those terms keeps me highly motivated to continue jogging.

[Rustyhoumous Graduate]

Interesting to read- I have similar thoughts.

My knees have started to be painful so I’m reading up on it all.

What app is it that shows all those stats?

I’ve seen people use them but I think I might find them a two edged sword !

Well done for keeping at it. 😀

[ktsok Graduate in reply to Rustyhoumous]

I’m sorry to hear your knees are hurting. Do look after them…

The stats are indeed a blessing and a curse! Actually, I do like them. They keep me interested and motivated. I like seeing the improvement and they serve as a record of this and that. The charts in this post are from the Garmin Connect App - which needs to connect to a Garmin watch…

[Rustyhoumous Graduate]

I will, thank you

I can see that the stats can make it more interesting and I think I would be endlessly comparing different runs . Also I imagine, very good for showing one’s doctor what’s been going on, should the need arise. (Although I don’t like to think like that as I feel I’m being too negative!)

Keep on keeping on 😀