On yer bike!

[linda9389]

This photo was taken two weeks ago. I haven't been able to run since 😥 It's a happy photo with happy memories - a HM I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I keep looking at it to remind myself just how great life was. Moments after that finish line photo I developed a nasty pain in my left foot which is (oh so) slowly improving, but is not gone. I have been fairly philosophical for two weeks, but this weekend my mood took a downward turn. A couple of things over the weekend upset my equilibrium; add to that my frustration every time my foot twinges and my inability to run off my issues, and by Sunday evening a dark cloud had well and truly settled on me. In the last two weeks I have eaten and drunk and done very little exercise of any sort. The start of the next HM training plan is only a couple of weeks away. Something had to change and fast!

So tonight, after work, I took out my bike 😮 Hubbie very kindly pumped up the tyres (seems they tend to go down after 8 years resting in the shed), I donned my rain jacket and wobbled off down the road. Long story short I feel SO much better right now. The fresh air, the rain, the breathlessness, the familiar routes, the aching legs .... I had missed them so much! I now have a whole new set of Strava stats to play with and a distance and time to challenge. My foot doesn't seem to have been affected so hopefully cycling will keep me going til I can run again, and who knows it might just be my new cross training activity.

Oh, and I got home to discover it's world bicycle day today - it was clearly meant to be,

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon]

Oh Linda, so sorry to hear of your foot woes. 😢 Have you had anyone look at it? I completely understand how downcast you must have been feeling; I am just the same when out with injury. But! Brilliant thinking getting out on the bike and I am so glad it made you feel better! You can keep your cardio fitness up with cycling, and get the endorphin rush you now need. Keep it up! And I do hope the foot feels much, much better soon.

Sadie-runs xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks Sadie. I saw a paramedic (in lieu of a GP), had an xray and then saw an NHS physio! Basically I need to rest it. Depending on what the problem is, the period of rest may be from 3 weeks to ..... ? They didn't seem keen to discover exactly what the cause was The bike solution is looking like a very promising alternative while I wait until ....? You're right - I did get an endorphin rush today

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ah well, rest seems to be the answer to most running related injuries it seems. But that doesn’t mean being inactive, so good for you for getting out on the bike! I pulled a ligament in my foot a few months back, and it did take some time to heal fully (but gentle running on it after a couple of weeks rest was fine. You’ll know when the time is right to test it out again - and don’t despair, it might be sooner than you think. I love the NHS with all my heart, but they mostly only seem to deal with symptoms, and not the cause these days. Sigh. xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sadie-runs]

Am hoping the cause is nothing more sinister than over use, maybe with a tight calf thrown into the mix. Stretching and rolling for England!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

It was indeed meant to be! Well done for getting back out there, albeit on the wheels!

I've been feeling guilty for neglecting my bikes.

So glad it helped turn the frown upside down 😁🤗🌻

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Frown is certainly gone (for now at least). Nothing has changed with respect to how long I must wait before I can run, but I can now see a way to fill that time in a really positive way

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

And that is more than half the battle! 💪👍😉

When I broke my toe days after graduating I was sure I'd go nuts but with the help of seated workouts and my bike later I managed to keep relatively level.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Oh my! That sounds awful (for the mind apart from the obvious). Once you're out the other side it's easy to see the perspective, but it's the uncertainty I hate. Hopefully not sitting around waiting will help keep me level too

[Biddy62 Half Marathon]

Oh well done you!!! I was sad for you reading your first paragraph but so happy to read the second one! 🤗

Great news! Maybe you’ll start triathlons next??? 🤪

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Biddy62]

The thought had never occurred to me, although my mind has very recently been playing with the thought of a marathon for my 60th!!! Anyone would think I was on strong medication, but I think it's just the booze addling my brain I'm pretty sure it won't happen and nor will the triathlon

[Biddy62 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Never say never 😜

I’m sure a marathon for your birthday would be doable ! You’ve thought about it and in my world once you’ve thought about it you have to do it - or you’ll regret it later 😜

Keep us posted!! 👍🏻😊

And get well soon 😊

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Hurrah for bike!!! 💗💗💗

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

Let's do a Homer Simpson here and say 'ignore the problem and it will go away'. Well, only partially, but in situations like this anything helps. The problem being your concern in regards to how long it will take before you return to running. My knee injury sidelined me for just over 2 months. I recovered but then injured my ankle (3 months plus a week off running). Either time there was no point in feeling sorry for myself. I worked on my body, exercised different muscle groups and bounced back. You've done well with cycling, that's the right attitude. Ignore the dark clouds and plough on. You will be back in no time and the injury will be a memory but do find a specialist to check that 'nasty pain' if it gets stubborn. Any good physio (or osteopath) will do.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I think Homer has a valid point! I definitely needed a distraction (besides booze and food) and definitely needed to find a better attitude. Onwards. All will be well in good time I'm sure - and if that good time isn't soon, I'll be off to look for another physio

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

You'll be fine, we are all fully fixable. Any good specialist will put you together but don't forget to find out the real cause of your injury. I failed to do that after the knee bit so the ankle simply followed suit and went bust. Once they pointed at real causes (and l had a few), and l addressed them/changed my ways, l started to run like an adolescent gazelle. Well....sort of....

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

Ahhh no. Sorry to hear this. Wishing u a speedy recovery. Well done in the 🚲 bike tho!! 😊 And your mind change.

Happy cycling and it will soon be happy running again

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Deals1]

Honestly can't wait to run again - but pretty excited for my next ride too 😀

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Well done Linda! I'm just getting into cycling too and enjoying it! Glad you have found something to move on that dark cloud xxx ps lovely photo you'll be back out there soon !

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Ali. Hope you enjoy cycling too. You'll be able to cover lots of your scenic routes in extra quick time 🙂

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon]

That's brilliant you've found a stand-in! I can just see you whizzing along with a big cheesy grin! Go girl! 😁🚵👍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Haha. Maybe one day. More wobbling than whizzing! So much traffic and everytime I turned a corner or hit a bump I was convinced I was going to fall off 😂😂😂.

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

I can only signal in one direction on my bike or I fall off. I don't cycle on roads for this reason 😂 But I do a reasonable amount on the cycle network, little and often seems to keep me ticking over fitness wise and also gets me to work a bit less late. Don't think my commuting bike would be much use in the woods though. The baguettes would all fall out of the basket 🤔

I'm sure your foot will be strong again soon! And how super to be in a position where you find you're missing running ☺️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

Likewise! I couldn't signal left - but figured that was the better way round to have the problem!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Happy the wheels are filling the gap for you. You’ll be that much stronger when you are back!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

Not to mention happy to be standing up!

[misswobble Marathon]

Oh how fab! I didn’t know that 🚴‍♀️

Well done for getting out! Keep doing what you can til your foot heals as it will help you stay positive 💪👍🙂. Get some good grub in store and eat healthily, so you’ll be in ship shape shape for when you can run again 😃

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

My second day of not snacking on rubbish at every opportunity, along with another bike ride today Early days, but a corner has been turned, climbing back out of my pit with renewed determination

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

That is such a great picture Linda - and one to help you 'keep the faith' whilst your foot heals! I know that I struggle too when I can't run and I think the cycling is a great idea. I was just thinking at the weekend that we have not had our bikes out for ages - it is such a good form of cross-training.

Take care - you will soon be running again, I am sure.🙂x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you

Just do it (as they say) - get the bike out - I thoroughly enjoyed my ride today (a cheeky pedal-assisted HM on wheels 😂 )