Dream big, work hard, achieve your goals - My DCM '19 Journey

So after 10 days of isolation I was finally free to run on Sat. As someone who hasn't been sick in a good few years(thank god) Covid knocked me for six! The 1st few days were pretty bad so lying in bed seemed like the best option anyway. Then I started to feel better but the isolation was horrible. I really just wanted to get out to run at this stage. I could literally tell you what NOT to watch on Netflix!! Some films & series i'd be thinking WTF am I watching, would keep watching hoping it would get better & most of the time it didn't!! I then started watching Team Ingebrigtsen as recommended on here & I really enjoyed it, quite a fascinating program. Got to watch the program called Anne about a mother losing her 14 year old son at Hillsborough, such a moving story, a mothers love is endless in the search for justice, would highly recommend it. Unfortunately I started to feel bad again so was really worried it would affect my ability to run again once my isolation was over, my appetite wasn't great either & my love for chocolate seems to have disappeared(not a bad thing really I suppose) I feel like I have lost weight, I don't own a scales so not 100% sure but from looking in the mirror i'd say so, anyway goal now is to build back up my nutrition and hopefully keep the chocolate away!

Sat - 8th Jan 2022 - Easy Miles - 4.47 miles

Didn't get out for this till the afternoon due to a lot of procrastination & well a little fear of how it would go. Started off very steady then just went at around my usual pace. It felt a lot better than I was expecting tbh but I could feel the effects of the last 10 days not running & being ill. I never really looked at the watch but only had pace, distance & time on it so it was only when I got home I realised my HR was too high for an easy run, ah well knew I would keep a better eye on it tomorrow.

Sun - 9th Jan - Easy Miles - 4.37 miles

Again it was the afternoon before I got out. Nice day for a run. Have missed running so so much! There's so much we take for granted, just simple everyday tasks. I felt a better today & kept an eye on my HR, a very enjoyable easy run listening to my 12 year old son's playlist, kept it on shuffle & was happy with each song, like me he has quite a varied taste in music!

2022:

I don't have any real goals just yet. My main goal right now is to build back up to where I was & even at that I'm not really sure where I was if that makes sense! The end of 2021 hasn't been ideal running wise but i'm willing to work hard on getting myself back. I think there are a few factors I need to work on like dealing with hurt again in a race & not letting my mind dictate to me that I just can't do it. I've always thought of myself as a determined runner & good with talking myself around to finishing out a race well so that is what I plan to work on for this year. I have a few races booked but the main race for me is Bohermeen half marathon in March, hopefully I can run this race well.

One thing that I can say for sure is that I am just so happy to be back running😊

Thanks D, will look forward to it 😊

Thank you.

I bought the book as it explains everything you need to know & has different plans to follow for each distance, it's called Easy Interval Method by Klaas Lok.

Here are a couple of links that might help you just with general information about the way of training, hope it helps!

Yep my hips were mentioned also! Thanks a mill D.

Thanks A, yep it is quite frustrating but these things happen! Yes having my main target a good few months away is most definitely a positive. Lucky you!!! I was & still am in agony when I touch my quad & the foam rolling is so sore but obviously I will persevere... maybe yours just aren't as tight as mine are so taking that as a blessing also!

Cheers @Rossi7 & @Bluesquare

Cheers J, hopefully I'll be back waffling soon enough!

Mon 28th - 40mins easy with strides

Set out for this run on my lunch break as I was working from home today. The rain started just as I headed out but I didn't mind as it was a lot milder than it has been - even got to wear my shorts for the 1st time in forever, absolutely loved the feeling of running in the shorts again. This run felt great from the start, I decided on the speeds for this & actually I have found myself reaching for them a lot, they are a great overall runner & even with over 500 miles on them they still feel great. I am going to use the endorphin pro's now for my training as they are just sitting in the box & I have a few choices now for a race runner so I might as well get my use out of them. Delighted to be able to do some strides today with no ill effects. As I eased into the 1st one Eye of the Tiger came on so the mood was set, it felt great to feel some speed again, there's just something about your form when you run faster, I honestly felt like Kipchoge😂

Tues 01st March - Rest Day

Weds 2nd - S & C class

My daughter isn't well so I had to put on my big girl pants & go to the class on my own! On the plus side I was able to book the 6:55 class which felt like a way more acceptable time to get up😉 Really enjoyed the class again & I do feel like they are helping.

3*1k

Another wfh day so got out at lunchtime. A very wet & windy day but again happy to be progressing slowly. The shorts & speeds on again today. The 1st 2nd 1km felt good just stayed within the HR zone, the 3rd is always the one that slows me down because of the terrain & the strong winds didn't help but I was happy to go as slow as needed to finish this out as I was supposed to. Happy to have this done!

Thurs 3rd - Rest day

Fri 4th - 40mins easy with strides

In the office today so wasn't able to get this done till after work, great to see the brighter evenings coming in & this was a beautiful evening to run. Noticed my HR going quite erratic so checked my watch & it wasn't connecting properly, decided to just ignore it & run by feel. The strides again were really enjoyable. Changed the battery in my HR strap & my watch is still not picking it up, have tried a few different things & nothings working so sent an email to Garmin to see what they say!

Sat 5th - S & C class

A beautiful sunny morning, class went really well, getting the hang of stuff I had gotten a bit rusty on.

Sun 6th - 70mins easy

Set off to the PP for this early. Was another beautiful morning out there but quite chilly if the sun went in but now that the shorts are out they will stay out! Parked at the papal cross carpark & set off on my run. Lots of runners out which was great to see, lots of hellos, smiles & waves but not all 3😉 Passed by C out running with his crew & he got a good morning(just cause I know him haha) I was running nice & easy, was happy with the consistency of each mile & so happy to just feel injury free! I passed by C again on the S bends but was in a world of my own( not like me at all) but did manage a hello as I coped him! As I was running through the park with the sun shining I felt so grateful to be able to do this, with all the things that can get us down it's hard to sometimes realise all we have to be grateful for❤️

22.6 miles for the week, I'll take that! Some might think I'm being too cautious coming back from my injury but I feel it's whats best for me. The main priority for me is not to get injured again, now I know nothing guarantees us not getting injured but I don't want to do anything that might increase my risk. Getting out to run is the most important thing to me, I was not in a good place at all when I wasn't running so I am so happy to be able to get out slowly but consistently for now.