A difficult journey

[Num29]

Hi people.

I’d like to thank all the contributors here, all posts, whether the particular run/walk was successful or not so much, invoke positive and inspiring replies, and it is this that has prompted me to also drop a post.

Back in October I had my second heart attack which, again, compounded my systolic heart failure, resulting in fatigue and shortness of breath. Normally Cardiac Rehabilitation is offered to help and advise but due to a clerical error I escaped the system ( I have since been in touch and I’m joining the programme later in the year) so decided to start Couch to 5k in an effort to help get a little fitter, maybe.

So my C to 5k starts with a bit of trepidation and an awareness of not to overdo things and make matters worse and not confident I’d complete the programme. With This in mind, I started week one on the 30th of November last. Ambitiously, I started on week 3, but at the same time, I fully intended to take the programme slow and my intentions were to repeat each week three times building up slowly and steadily achieving my goal of 30 minutes ( pretty sure it won’t be 5k in that time) by my 71st birthday at the end of April, a period of 21 weeks. I feel really happy with my progress as, despite missing a few runs due to being back in hospital for two days on three occasions and missing a couple of runs due to gout, by the 7th Jan I’d progressed to week seven. I managed the first two 25min runs, something I didn’t think possible, but was finding it really difficult both physically and mentally. Then on the third run of 25 mins last week I aborted after 9 mins. Not sure if it was the physical side, the temperature was minus five and my breathing more laboured than usual, or the mental side, probably a combination of both. I do know that, later, I was really annoyed with myself for not persevering but think, in retrospect, that I was listening to my body and made the right decision. However the failure, as I saw it, really knocked me back and I didn’t do any runs till yesterday when I went out and did a full 25 mins. I’m still struggling with it, but I did complete it, and that feels good. My journey will hit another block now, I am scheduled to have a pacemaker fitted on Thursday and I’m not sure when I can run again, and, in view of the previous struggle, if I can restart at 25 mins, I may step back a couple of weeks and build my way up again. However, until then I’m planning to do my first Parkrun (at a walk) this coming Saturday and I’ll continue doing brisk 5k walks till I’m able to resume running.

I’m really sorry, this post has turned out to be more of a novel, but I hope it may inspire others, as I’ve been inspired here, and show that with a little determination the C to 5k can be attempted. There’s no need to stick religiously to the timescale, take it at a realistic pace for your abilities but do progress as soon as your body feels fit, don’t get stuck in a rut mentally.I’m sure the mental side is a bigger hurdle than the physical in a lot of instances

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, which, I feel sure will be of interest to so many forum friends.

You have had and are still having an eventful running journey. You have done incredibly and we wish you well for the next hurdle and the onwards journey after that.

The point you make of, "..I was really annoyed with myself for not persevering but think, in retrospect, that I was listening to my body and made the right decision." is one we try to put over to our runners, so so many times. Not just because of illness or injury, but all the time. Our body is our best guide.

Running whilst the temperatures are so low, ( for the UK anyway), is hard for all of us. I know that I cut a run short , simply because the cold it makes us over- breathe and everything is requiring more effort.

Maybe some strength and stamina work on those days would be useful; I know many of us, including myself have found them really helpful.

When you do have the go ahead to run again after Thursday's op'... maybe start back a tad further... just use it as a real gentle and familiar, warm up?

Have you seen any of  -David-G 's post,,, they will be of interest to you, I am sure... he posted a reply yesterday, on Catch up Corner too, which was useful!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Hem like you has had quite a time of it, since his cardiac arrest. Like you an inspiration to so many of us.

Thank you for this and do, please keep us posted... you can always pop in here, maybe on Catch up Corner too and keep us up to date with your progress, x

[misswobble Graduate]

Good luck with the procedure on Thursday. I hope all goes well and you’ll soon be back out there

Parkrun is great! There are all kinds of folks there, all moving forward en masse - some running fast, slow, walking, folks with zimmers etc, some on crutches and all sorts. Kids, dogs etc. Great fun 😀

[GoogleMe Graduate]

'Week' can be a bit of an unhelpful term in this context can't it? As can 5k! Perhaps it should be C230.

The thing that really makes runners of us is not the success but dealing with setbacks, disagreeable runs and the like.