I know I know, it's almost February already.....time is racing so fast this year!
I picked up a nasty cold/virus type thing over the Christmas break, so had a little while off everything. I managed a run of a couple of miles on New Years Day, however a week later, still struggling with the chesty bit of the cold and a general lack of energy, I almost did myself a mischief trying to run the same distance again. In fact, I didn't make it! I thought I was going to be sick several times, and when I got home I literally made it through the front door before collapsing in the hall. Pete had to help me up as my world was spinning, I couldn't focus, and I just didn't have the strength to stand up. Bit scary actually! Definitely a case of too much too soon.
Happily, with a bit of a rest and a few changes in diet, I seem to be back on the right track again. I'm still doing Pilates once a week, and finding it enjoyable, and also a bit of an eye-opener as to how much muscle strength I have lost. It's nice to see it slowly coming back though, and I do love the classes, which are just the right mix of hard work and relaxation!
As for running, well, last week I managed to up my distance to just over 5k for the first time since the marathon back in 2013! I had been hovering around the 2 mile mark, and then I went for a run with my brother, who took me up to just under 3 miles. I think it really helped to have someone to push me to that extra distance, as I was struggling to have the confidence in myself. Since then, I have run 3.3 miles a couple of times. It has felt good, if tough, but then it has been icy cold, which has not been an easy re-introduction for my chest. When I first started running I had to use an inhaler, and there have been a few occasions recently where I reckon I should probably have used one again! Also, Hermitage is a tad more undulating than I had first thought!
When I was out running on Saturday, I did have a moment where I thought to myself, how feckin amazing is my body?! I have put it through so much, and yet here I am, out running again. I think folk would have forgiven me for deciding that distance running wasn't my sport....and yet here I am, out training for another half marathon. I think I might be slightly unhinged! When I look back, I literally have no idea how I ever managed to drag myself around the marathon, but I did it. In this (albeit slightly flawed) body, that is plainly not designed for running but that is getting on with it anyway.
I have decided this week to get my marathon vest and medal framed so that I can hang them in the hall and show them off. I've had them hidden away; perhaps subconsciously I didn't want to look at them and be reminded that I could once do that, at a time when I struggled with simply walking around a supermarket. Now, I want to look at them every day and be reminded that I could once do that!
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| The most proud of myself I have ever been |
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| You don't get one of these without a lot of hard work...... |
