Four Weeks In...

So four weeks ago my surgeon told me that I could start running again. Woohoo I thought...this is it...so as soon as I got home, on went my running shoes, Max, my dog was super excited as I popped his running harness on, and out we went.

'One minute on, one minute off' I had suggested to the surgeon. 'Yes that sounds good' he said...but my goodness, despite 40 years of running, I have never suffered a major injury, and I had such a lot to learn! In my earlier blog, I convinced myself that I understood the importance of being patient....hmmm...it didn't last long!

1) Listen to the professionals!

I was having regular physio with the hospital physio team and I had been given lots of exercises to help strengthen my new tendon. I had progressed through different strength resistance bands, increased my repertoire of exercises; added more gym work into my routine...but running wasn't suggested at my last appointment ...and now I know why!

2) Less is more

Just because I had been told I could start to run....I now know that this didn't exactly mean that! What it meant was that I should stick to my suggestion and build things up really gradually. Working my way up to a 5 mile run in less than three weeks from 'running go ahead' was not a good plan! Tightness in my calves, pain in my foot and general uncomfortableness whilst trying to run meant that I had to stop and have a big re-think!

3) Be patient

Having done exactly the opposite in the first three weeks (!) I sought the advice of a local physio (who I knew personally through our running club) and we put a plan together.

So here I am at the start of week four...being very sensible and listening to the advice that I have been given!

I have gone back to basics and I am running one minute on / one minute off (or thereabouts) on alternate days (with my dog!), mixing this with gym workouts and Wattbike 'rehab' sessions. Resistance band work is ongoing both on my operated foot and also ensuring that everything else is strong enough to support my return to running. A short daily kettlebell routine helps to strengthen my core and I am walking 8-10 miles a day.

My 30th road marathon will have to wait until 2026 but I'll get there if I remember the 1-2-3 above!

I'll keep you posted!

Max and I, post run/walk!