Back on the road again!

[Languid_Lil]

Hi there all. After a fractured patella, torn calf muscle and Covid, I'm finally up to 5k again! I've been going to the gym throughout (except for Covid, obvs) so at 61 I'm stronger than I've been for years and my Garmin is finally admitting that according to my VO2Max I actually *am* only 61 and not 87 or 79 or whatever.

I've been going to the gym to do circuits 3-4x per week and running 1-2x but I realise that this is knackering me & I'm not enjoying it. I've decided to cut out 1 gym class & just do circuits Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. My plan is to run Monday (today), Wednesday and Saturday and have Sunday as a rest day.

For the first time in ages I did 5k on Saturday - it took 49 minutes which is about right for me given that the outward run is up a long, fairly knackering hill. What I need now is a realistic running plan that will keep me fit, help me in my perpetual weight-loss struggle (5'2" & 82kg atm) and avoid injury while maintaining my enjoyment and enthusiasm. In lieu of an actual plan I'm going to go for 3k on Mondays and 4k on Wednesdays, building up to 5k on Saturdays (possible triumphant return to being ~ #280/300 at Parkrun?)

I would appreciate thoughts / advice.

Nice to be back,

Lil

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

yay…welcome back Languid_Lil …I love your attitude & determination…I smashed my patella when I was 15 so I don’t have one in my left leg so I know the pain that you will have gone through…so massive kudos to you for pulling through and getting back to it …

Have you looked on the NRC app or run keeper? There are some really good plans out there for you to follow x

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Welcome back Lil 🥰

That's quite a fitness program, it puts me to shame! But I'm quite glad you've reined it in a bit - it shouldn't be leaving you knackered!

Can't help with a running plan, I still haven't made it back to 5k🙄 (I'm on yet another enforced break) Best of luck and happy running x

[linda9389 Graduate]

Hello and welcome back! You have come through such a lot, you clearly have masses of determination; well done on getting back to 5k after all that.

Are you still in the area? At the end of the month I am finally hoping to do your parkrun! So many things have stopped me doing it on previous visits, but I have it firmly built into my schedule this time. Might you be there too?

[Languid_Lil Graduate in reply to linda9389]

Ooh yes what date? I'll warn you now that my time will be 45 minutes plus.

[linda9389 Graduate in reply to Languid_Lil]

All being well, I'll be there on 31st August! I have a 10k in Altrincham on the Sunday so I'll be running parkrun for the view not speed!

[Languid_Lil Graduate in reply to linda9389]

I used to live in Altrincham! Where's the 10k?Not 100% sure we're here on 31st - will check with The Management.

[linda9389 Graduate in reply to Languid_Lil]

It starts in Altrincham town centre runthrough.co.uk/event/altr... let me know if you'll be at the parkrun - it would be great to say hello of you are. It seems like years since we first talked about that parkrun ... and we're both still running, can't be bad 😊

[NorwegianWood Graduate]

Congratulations on your perseverance. You've given yourself a hard schedule each week and you may not have allowed enough time for recovery between the runs. If the enjoyment drops you may have to lighten the load. Other forms of exercise may best be added on the running days to allow recovery time.

[Languid_Lil Graduate in reply to NorwegianWood]

That's a good point. Maybe I'll run tomorrow after circuits rather than today. I do feel tired and my Garmin insists that I'm overreaching. Thanks for the suggestion!