Diary of a fun-runner - Week 2 and 3

The week started of with determination… oh, ok guilt; from eating too much on the weekend.
I started with double sessions in the gym, once at lunch and once after work.

Speaking to the gym instructor I found out that the pain and stitches were coming because I had pushed myself too fast too soon. He wasn't sure why I had thought it was a good idea to try and go from walking to 7mph. I did because I wanted to be able to run and get myself to Paula Radcliffe speed in days!

Listing to the logic, I decided to be a bit more practical and tried to do 2 minute interval sessions; 2 mins walking, 2 mins joking and 2 mins running. And, to my delight it was going well!

Yes! I felt like I was achieving something, I walked out of the gym on Tuesday night proud of myself for using this method and staying on the treadmill for 25 mins!

Then… disaster struck, crossing the road outside work to the carpark I fell over. My ankle went left and my whole body went forward. The sound of the snap was so great that people stopped around me.

Still on the floor, I didn’t actually feel that much pain, a few of the bystanders helped me up and took me on a brief walk to see how damaged I was. It was ok, I wasn’t in too much pain – I got in my car and drove home, feeling a little sorry for myself but glad that it was nothing serious.

I got home and iced my ankle anyway, as it was starting to become a little sore, and then went to bed.

Sleeping was a nightmare and I awoke at 5am in complete agony. I patiently waited until 7am to call my mum (such a kid, but isn’t she always the first one you go to!) and asked if she could take me to hospital. Where, after 3 hours of waiting, two xrays and way too much prodding, it was discovered that I had torn two ligaments in my ankle, front and side!

What upset me most was that the doctors had the audacity to just call it a sprain!! A sprain sounds ok, a sprain sounds like a bruise, a sprain is not indicative of what it really is… a crumpled, chewed up mess inside your foot.

So… I have now been on crutches and painkillers and off work for nearly 2 weeks! My dreams of running the fun run in 2 weeks are shattered! But, that doesn’t stop me from putting my efforts into helping out.

I have contacted the organisers and offered my services at the drinks table, to hand out medals or any other menial tasks they have.

I am still awaiting the response but I have already set my sites on the next fun run – on the 13th December …which gives me plenty of time to get to the physio and begin working out again. Luckily this one is only 2km so I think even I, with my week and a half of training, can do it!

Watch this space!!