This week’s runs have been quite hard, but rewarding. Now these health issues are being resolved I am hopefully bouncing back more!!! The running is a modest start and in numbers:
Number of runs: 4
Total miles: 16.5
Minutes/mile: 9.34, 9.20, 8.59 and 8.43
These have been the first few runs after what seems a break lasting forever but in reality the last run was on 20 October, so eight weeks. I do remember that particular run as it is always a mistake to run after a meal. You see we’d been for a little birthday celebration with some friends and I ate far too much rich food. I felt absolutely stuffed and regretted having some many nibbles – but they were so nice!
It was after that 20 October run when I went down with a urinary tract infection which absolutely knocked me for six. I was aching all over and felt very ill. No sooner had I recovered from that I had my surgery and I was left feeling very sore for several weeks, far more than I expected.
My weight, thankfully, has remained fairly static and my BMI is about 23, so all good.
Through being able to take up running again, I am hoping my blood pressure will start coming down. The kidney specialist expressed some concern over my blood pressure as excessive pressure can have a negative effect on my kidneys and, almost like a vicious circle, my kidneys have a role in regulating my blood pressure. He has increased the dose of my medication because of this and has warned me that, as a side effect, my ankles will become swollen (and indeed they do but it’s hardly noticeable).
Being outside running again does feel good, even though it is mid winter and cold. Running definitely helps me to think things through and look at things from different angles. Naturally there is the Runner’s High giving me a little reward from my efforts, though it has to be said this has been only very mild of late.
Although mid winter, I do love the hazy, watering sun we have been blessed with on a few days this week. Twice I have run over Dunstable Downs and once again some of the canal towpath. I think it’s fine to jump in the car and drive somewhere pleasant for a run.
I am feeling so pleased I have been able to rid myself of the plastic tube inside my body. It was there for a little over seven months. I am just so thankful and it means I can really start building up my fitness and derive all of the immense benefits which come from that.
The only negative side, is my own impatience. I have been breaking so many rules through going from 0 miles to 16.5 this week alone. I must discipline myself to:
- Not do too many miles without gradually building them up over the course of a couple of months
- Allowing my body, especially ankles and leg muscles, a chance to recover between runs
- Stretch once I’ve had a run. I do feel so stiff.
- Start doing the plank again. When I last did it, all I could manage was 80 seconds. If I did it now it would be even less. A good time is 120 seconds to have a chance of building up my core muscles a bit more
- Look at dusting off my bike, possibly setting up my turbo trainer so I don’t have to worry about weather conditions, faffing around with lights and so on.