A blog about living, playing, running one day at a time
Read here about my successful week 1 of C25k training. Now for week 2… I did workout 1 of week 2 Saturday, June 1 and it went well. I felt good after…no pain! Couch to 5k (C25k) week 2 workouts consist of: The following Monday …
If you haven’t yet, please check out my previous post here, where I discuss my 3 months of PT and finally getting cleared to run! 🥳 Last Saturday (5/25) I started week 1 of the couch to 5k (C25k) training. Each week consists of 3 …
13 weeks.
It’s been 13 weeks of physical therapy (PT), doing my PT exercises multiple times daily, and patience …
And I finally have the green light to run!!!!!
I started the Couch to 5k (C25k) running plan this morning, Saturday, May 25, and so far all is well, no foot pain 🥳
Let’s go back …
Last fall I ran a half marathon, City of Oaks, in Raleigh, NC. I finished. During training I did have some right foot pain. Of course, plantar fasciitis is a common foot injury/issue runners deal with and I dealt with it. Sometimes it was pretty bad, other times, manageable.
After the race, I took two weeks off – no running at all. I tried to run, and the foot pain returned. Alright then, body. I listened, and took 8 weeks off from running. I attempted a short, easy run at the end of January and during felt fine, however later in the day, the right foot pain was there.
Damn. This is not plantar fasciitis. It was quite severe. Time for a new game plan. I sought out a PT, Jen, with BreakThrough Physical Therapy. I saw her February 22 for the first appointment. During her evaluation, she basically said the foot pain is due to my pelvis being rotated.
I knew the foot pain was “just” the symptom and there was more at play here, so no surprise to me. I was excited to get going with the plan.
As anyone who’s been to PT knows, much of it is exercises you have to do on your own at home. I was, and am, motivated to get back to running so no problem there.
However, about 6-7 weeks into PT every week, I was just not feeling like I was improving and it was difficult to continue. I shared this with Jen and she was so great about it – empathetic – and also blunt that I have to believe that this is going to have an end, will work, and have patience to stay the course.
It was about 10 weeks I could feel it in my body, my lower back bothering me less, and doing my exercises, that there was a change. At my 11 week appointment she tested me and then I had the strength and she said technically could be given the green light to run. And she preferred I waited till I saw her again to be sure I was at least maintaining things.
At this point, no problem. I had worked on my patience and self-talk around all of this.
I had had a talk with myself somewhere mid-way to 8 weeks where I just didn’t feel like I was improving. I recall sitting out in our backyard, a beautiful, sunny Sunday and wondering if this was the end…it’s just time to throw in the towel with my running career.
However, I still could envision these running dreams I have and I refuse to believe at 44 “this is just it” and “this is just the way it is” and “it’s only going to get worse from here.”
So PT on I did – going every week, doing my exercises, and believing.
Due to vacation in there, I saw her yesterday, at 13 weeks from starting, and re-tested, maybe even a little stronger than the last time, and was officially, officially, given the go-ahead to start running.
It’s been quite a journey …and really, it’s only beginning.
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Vincent Van Gogh
I realize for many, this seems like maybe even a “silly” worry and issue and most people claim they “can’t run” or “hate running.”
Yet running for me, I’ve realized is a part of who I am.
Earlier this year, I probably had the worse mental health I’ve ever had. Feeling very depressed and hopeless, about many areas of my life. I believe not running contributed to that for me. I do believe though I learned a lot – about myself, my brain, and other ways to manage things.
And, I’m going to stay on this journey of running. I hope you’ll follow along with me.
I’m feeling that it’s time. It’s time to share a very personal part of my story. Of what I’ve been going through And I share, not to gain status or reputation. I share to help others. Even impacting one woman will be worth it. I …
This morning I was trying to stuff all my containers into my lunch bag. I had my lunch all packed, but then realized I had another to add. I tried putting it on top of the container that was in there. No go. Tried sideways. …
I am feeling uninspired this week.
Anyone else?
I also have been feeling tired and rundown from just trying to keep up with all the things.
It’s hard finding that balance between working towards your goals and taking time for rest and fun.
I often find when I do take some downtime, for example, watch a tv show I enjoy, I’ll feel like I should be being productive or working on my goals.
I have gotten better about this but it still happens and it’s been very noticeable recently.
For example, I am sitting here trying to write this blog and my mind is all over the place and then I drift off, zoning out. That’s when I really know I am tired and forcing myself to work or “do something” is futile.
But it’s so hard. There are so many things I want to do and want to accomplish.
I know from experience and what others say that if I take that break, I’ll come back more recharged, refreshed and more productive.
I also think there’s a question in there too though if there’s so much resistance to doing something – is it more than just being tired?
Certainly there’s the concept of doing the hard thing first. “Eat the frog.” That sometimes there are things that just are not “fun” to do or maybe we need to just get started, get some inertia going and once we do it gets a little easier.
But sometimes maybe it’s something we should reconsider if we really even want to do or taking it off the to-do list all together!
I think another point in this is that things – life– are constantly changing and evolving and what we once thought was important may no longer be.
I also am working on trusting the process, trusting the universe, rather than forcing things so much. Not that that means I can just sit around, Netflix binge and things will “just happen” for me, but maybe I don’t need to work so hard.
I remember hearing that on a podcast as well. That sometimes we want to sit down and figure a problem out or get a task done, but rather it’s better to take a break, get outside, change our environment, move our bodies, and suddenly the answer comes to us.
And, it’s often quite ironic how I do get signs where I see, hear, or read something that resonates completely with all of this!
For example, in my Goddess Academy journal, today’s note spoke to the idea of wanting to rush the results, not enjoying the journey, being impatient, all of which can make us unhappy.
By staying patient, focusing on each day at a time along with the daily habits, the results will come, and we will be happier along the way!
We want to be present, focus on today not tomorrow, otherwise we miss out on the beauty of the present!
How true!
And along with that as we are focusing on the present, we want to have patience with ourselves, and give ourselves some love and grace.
That sounds so much better, doesn’t it?! Enjoying the process, giving ourselves patience, love and grace versus being impatient, rushing to the result and hating ourselves along the way or burning ourselves out!
We can enjoy the process, enjoy the journey, and not beat ourselves up, while still accomplishing our goals, whatever our goals may be!