first 5k since July 2023!!

[limberlou]

I set off today with no great expectations!! I’ve been lying low since Wednesday when I’d spent 5+ hours digging,weeding and chopping down/ digging out old rose and fuchsia bushes from my friend’s garden. She is unable to do it for herself so she made tea and brought out several glasses of water. Then I spent another hour laying weed membrane down and then helped carry the 16 bags of debris to my sons van and then to the dump and unloaded it all. By the time I got home I knew I’d overdone it and since then the back of my thighs, my shoulders and wrists have kept reminding me. I could barely get up from sitting and then re-sitting was agony too. I couldn’t even knit!!! Had to sit under a few cats and a blanket to recuperate. So I thought it was wise to wait a few days before running again.

I did do a bit of light pottering in the greenhouse and the strawberry bed yesterday but I wasn’t expecting much from today. I decided to run for 10 mins, then walk for 1 and see how I felt. I put the Bridgeto10k podcast on for a bit of encouragement …. And it worked.

I did my warmup walk and headed towards the river, if nothing else the scenery is good. And off I went. The first 10 mins went by in a flash and glancing at my watch while I walked I realised I’d been quite nippy. Probably due to thinking it might only be a short run. And then I was off again. There were a lot of runners about today - all very cheery and greeting me, which I returned with a smile. There was one quite fit looking guy of around my age who overtook me once, then ran back again and then overtook me again while I was plodding along. I consoled myself by thinking he wasn’t necessarily a lot faster than me - he probably just wanted to catch sight of my sexy bum in my pink lizard leggings a second time 🤣🤣. And then I was going along again. That 2nd 10 mins was harder but then as I turned and took off again I seemed to get a second wind and then last 2 x 10 mins were a lot easier and all of a sudden he was telling me “ workout complete”. And I realised I was almost at 5k so I battled on for a further 2 mins and did my first 5k since my op last August.

No gold medals for speed or technique but I feel like a real runner again now . 🤣now to build on this ….SLOWLY of course and I might get to 10K again one day.

[Gthants]

Outstanding! That's my favourite sort of run: no pressure, do 10/20/30/40 minutes or 2/4/5k - it really doesn't matter. Personally I find an ease comes with that notion.

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Gthants]

Yes exactly!!!

[GTFC Graduate]

That's great limberlou and you will get that 10k in the future 😊

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏🎶🙌So well done! A great run without pressure often gives us better results! What a fab outcome! Yes bring on the 10k in due course! 💪

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Yup. I’m looking forward to the summer running now

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done to you! Great stuff!

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate]

Gardening uses every muscle in our bodies!! Glad you had such a great run but go easy 🌸

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Wavy-chick28]

Yes, my main trouble is I don’t know when to stop!! I can never just do an hour and stop.. I just keep going until I have overdone it

I go out in the garden in the summer to relax, then think oh I’ll just deadhead these couple of flowers…. And then I get the secateurs out and prune a bit, then a a bit more and then I look round and there is a 6’ high mound of greenery behind me and I still have to bag it up and get rid of it 🤣🤣

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to limberlou]

🤣 love it! I used to be much the same until we downsized to a flat with a teeny front garden and back patio. Mainly pots!

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate in reply to limberlou]

Yes the same! Until I’ve injured my shoulder and I’m out of action need to do some strength training 🥴

[Over60sRunner Graduate]

Yes, yes, YES,!!!! Well done 😁 I'm sure the cat-energised recuperating and pink lizard leggings had a part to play alongside running with a 'just do it' attitude 😸😻😺 🦎🦎🦎

Keep on trucking 🏃🏃🏃

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Over60sRunner]

Oh yes my cats are extremely good at “healing”.

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to limberlou]

😻😻😻😻

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Well done! That first 5K after a break feels so good. Of course you’ll get back to 10K again. There a a number of us getting our fitness back after a break (me included) - you are not alone 😊

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Yes I’ve noticed there are a few of us revisiting C25k.

[Gottamakechanges Graduate]

Brilliant. Always a good plan to snuggle down under the cats 🐈🐈‍⬛. Well done!!

[PeggySusi Graduate]

The trouble with gardening is, it draws you in, and there’s always a bit more until you just can’t do any more.. and then you realise you’ve done too much! And there’s always an ache from something..

How lovely of you to help your friend like that.. I guess your reward was that it must have improved your strength and stamina, ready for that great run! Well done 👏🏃🏻‍♀️