Learning to run again!

Well......so far so good, my first couple of runs have been quite succesful!

I ran on Sunday for 20 mins and then again on Tuesday for 30 mins, i should have only done 25mins, but i did more!!

It feels very strange that my last run was 26.2 at race pace and i got a PB and now im doing 20/30mins at a very slow pace. It feels like im learning to run again.

I felt good on the runs i have done, i thought i would really struggle, become breathless, everything hurting, but none of that happened. I have kept up my gym work and cardio whilst ive not been running, so i guess thats helped - none of it feels the same as running though!

Its made me realise how much i take "just going out for a run" for granted. Its always the way though, like with most things in life - you dont really appreciate what you have or what you can do until its taken away from you.

At the moment, im running, well, jogging, every other day for 30 mins. I have to be aware how my heel feels first thing in the morning, as thats a key part of how an achilles injury is repairing.

Im going to get myslef some compression socks or tights - have heard positive things about them, so it cant hurt to try them and they look quite funky !!

Emotional Times!!

Well, im still not running, not just yet anyway, but i know my achilles has improved during my month off. I saw my physio on Tues and he said there is improvment but cant go rushing in. There's me thinking "oh, yes my first run will be a nice easy 6 miler" - Oh No!! Keith said my first run is 20 minutes!! Oh good grief, i thought! Its like im learning to run again. Then if it feels ok when i wake up the next morning i can then run 48 hours later for 22 minutes!! A whole 2 mins more!

The best guage for knowing if there is improvment on an achilles injury is by how it feels first thing in the morning and how it affects the way you walk. The last month ive been walking normally first thing and not even feeling it (running really is quite bad for your body!!, as soon as ive stopped running, its soooooooo much better!!).

So, if i wake up the next morning after my 20 minutes (whoohoo) i can go again 48 hours later.

If i can feel it, - no go - and we are back to non impact exercise again.

Im finding that not running is affect my whole life and how i feel about everything. For example - My exercise in the gym, my work life, social life , food and motivation in general. Im quite a motivated person with most things in my life, but the last 2 weeks especially while ive not been running, ive noticed my mood has been very low.

When im down i tend to eat more, but i need to be aware of my food as im not running - as im not running i want to comfort eat and my comfort food of choice is chocolate, but i need to eat less chocolate, but im actaully eating more and so it goes on.

Its very interesting just how much running affects my mood and well being in all areas of my life.

So, my first day back is this sunday (11th May), 4 weeks from the marathon. I will do my 20 minutes and it must be slow pace and on grass and then wait for Monday morning to get the verdict - well, see how my heel reacts to it. What with all the other worries and emotional insecuritites ive got, im also thinking - will i even know how to run!!

So, will report back with the outcome!!