melissatwa's Journal, 19 Jun 20

There it goes! 

Thanks, tatauu. ❤️ I ran on super sore legs last night. Let's just say I didn't manage any speed records. 😁 I know it will get better once my body gets used to the "torture" of weights again! 

How is your foot, love? Hope you’re feeling better 💖 

Thanks for asking! ❤️ It is doing surprisingly well! There is pretty deep brusing still, but I can run! I keep the shoe loose so there is little pressure as possible across the top. I'm so glad it wasn't serious or structural! From how it hurt at first, I was not sure what to expect! 😁  

Melissa, I’m so glad you’re feeling better and that you’re able to run again already. Thank goodness there wasn’t more damage. 💖 

Great loss. Running can be so fun. I am glad you are able to run with a sore foot. I want to get back into running again. It is on the list! 

i miss you Melissatwa ... where are you? 

Thank you, whodis! I am so very grateful! Carol, I am not a great runner... The furthest I have ever gone is five miles, but I'm hoping at least for a 10k soon! I am so happy I can run again after many many years of being too heavy and afraid of hurting myself! I've been back at it since last fall, and I feel stronger and less worried about injuries now! It is a wonderful freedom to just run and feel I can go on and on sometimes!!!! 😁  

I'm right here, osama! Every darn day recording my weigh in! Where are you? 😁  

i am available melissatwa .. 🌷 still fighting to lose weight and reach the goal 😁 

I did quite a bit of slow and steady running a few years ago. I actually ended up going from not knowing if I was still capable of running to running half marathons! That was over a number of years, of course. So far I have run 6 half marathons. The training was the best. The slow build up over 4 months to get ready. I ran in all weather including -40F! If you dress for it, it is actually quite lovely. I found that it really made me feel physically powerful. 

That is really wonderful, Carol! I ran when I was going to college up in Three Hills, AB, a million years ago. I remember running on the praire when it was mighty mighty cold, but I bet I didn't go out in - 40 temps! That is crazy cold! That is run from the dorm to the dining room kind of cold!!!! You are super woman! And half marathons? I am so impressed! I would dearly love to be that strong and fit... Maybe in time! I am encouraged to be able to run again. I have run over the years but had some problems with an injury. My achilles tendon was damaged, but it is doing really well now! I'm trying to increase both my speed and my mileage, but mostly I'm just so glad I can run and feel that strength to keep going! It is a very euphoric feeling at times. At others, it is just a hard slog!! 😁  

That is interesting... I too have an Achilles tendon injury that I have to really protect when I run. That actually sidelined me for over a year in the middle of my running. Today I do a lot of balance exercises to strengthen my ankles and it seems to really make a difference with the Achilles. There for awhile (almost 2 years) I could hardly walk for the pain in the Achilles. Now I am good to go with a few minor twinges now and again. The half marathons sound impressive however I know the slow and steady following of the program (Hal Higdon?) was really the rock star. I was so sure I couldn't possibly be able to make that kind of distance. My mantra was 'trust the program'. In the end I did it slow and steady around 3 hours each time with a run 10 min walk 1 min way of approaching it.  

I'm so glad your tendon healed. I know they sometime continue to create trouble life long. And a slow half marathon is still absolutely amazing! I hurt mine stepping off a curb when I was running about 20 years ago. Yikes... How could it have been so long ago. I remember because I was getting back into running after my third was born. I was so discouraged, disappointed, and depressed! I didn't run again for many many years and only really got serious about it last fall. As long as I warm up and stretch well, I don't have too much trouble. I'm always concerned to not hurt something, since so, so often something has gone wrong... Back, K knees, it just takes a little slip! Thankfully, I feel stronger and fitter and less likely to get injured!  

Injury is not good! I tend to be very picky about where I run. I pick even smooth ground where possible. If I can manage a dirt smooth path that is best as it is easier on the joints. All this talk of running is going to get me back out there again! I will be starting at 1 min run and 1 min walk when I do. 

Well, Miss Snowshoeing Lady, I bet it wouldn't be a big jump for you to be jogging a bit! I too try to be so cautious running. My biggest challenges are hard surfaces and steep hills. It isn't the going up that is a problem... If I can breathe! 😁 I refuse to run down hill unless it is gradual. For instance, on the five mile route I take from my house, there is almost 400 ft elevation gain 130 meters for the Canadian. 😁 I also have a mile loop I go when I want to have a quicker run and I just loop around to stay where it is more flat.  

Running is one thing I would like to improve. All this talk about running is encouraging me to do better. I incorporate some running in my walks but not nearly enough. I'm happy you are healing well and building up your stamina. I need to do the same... 

Have you ever heard of the 'fartluk'? You run in bursts. You run hard until you are starting to feel the 'burn' then you walk until you regain your breath however long that takes and do it all over again. It builds up stamina and it also is a type of interval training. When I don't want to be tied to a watch that is what I would do. I am eyeing up my behind the barn area as a running location. I want to take the lawn mower out there and make some trails. It has been extremely wet here and I have only as of yesterday been able to mow the front of the barnyard so the back is now almost waist high. And this morning??? It is raining! It was on the list of things to do for today.