u/borassus

Hey all! Just finished W7D1 after a long break on a very slow track (for reference, did W6D3 4 days ago…). I’m 39F, 18 months post partum of 2 under 2 (ooof) and bigger (190lbs but short). Obviously the general answer will be to get in better shape (I guess why we are all here?) but my legs have been hurting so much after all of the more recent longer runs! It’s the calves that hurt, and I guess I could stand to stretch more.

Being out of breath etc has improved a TON since I started, but this leg pain is kind of new. It’s more of an enduring brutal soreness than real pain, and nothing is medically wrong.. but any advice on how you recover from your runs?

Theragun? Specific stretches? Magnesium? Just running more and it gets better with time?

For reference, I run on flat concrete outside, have some medium janky new balance running shoes that aren’t fully worn out (I checked) but have no fancy padding, and it’s both legs that hurt.

Pictured is my running friend who seems to be able to go forever!!!

I had posted a while back about what to do if you need to take 2 weeks off because we were on an un-runnable rural vacation - turns out it was the worst vacation I’ve ever been on in my life 🫠 Both toddlers got injured/ill, I got pneumonia again for the 2nd time in 6 weeks, and literally broke my toe (like 4th toe but still) on my last day.
And then came back to wildfire smoke and insane heat wave.
So I’ve been feeling unmotivated, sad, in literal pain, and just like a total failure -

But today I decided on a whim (first “okay” air day in a while) after an unintentional 3 week break, to do w5d1 again (I left on w6d2).

I DID IT!!! It sucked a bit and I’m sure I’ll be hobbling tomorrow but I’ve STARTED AGAIN !!!!!!!

TL;DR without sounding like a piece of shit, I think running has sort of taught me some resilience/persistence? But also ventolin is magical

Hi team! Finished w6d2 and am now on a 2 week cabin vacation (woot!!!) in Newfoundland ! The cabin has gravel roads and is basically on the side of a small mountain - it is fully fully uphill to get to the main road, and also ++++ black flies, mosquitoes etc.

I’m also on “vacation” with two toddlers, so my main usual time of running is late night, but not the most keen to run up a slippery hill in darkness in a forest..

Day 1-3 here I was like “maybe I can make this work” but I’ve given up on doing this here. Will be going on many hikes toting a 33lb toddler on my back, so I won’t be doing *nothing* I guess.

So:
-when I get back home, so I start all over again? Start at week 5 maybe?
-has anyone else interrupted x 2 weeks?
-cool pitcher plant picture (theyre native here!) and ecstatic child for reference

I truly can’t even believe I ran for 20 minutes but I did!!! 6-7 weeks ago (I’m on a slow track - like I take 2 days off between runs bc I’m so out of shape but also bc I’m a physician and frequently on call etc whatever) I could not run 30 seconds in a row. Like I nearly threw up doing week 2.

2 pregnancies in 2 years, 50 lb weight gain, no iron, recent pneumonia - I am a hot mess.

But today… I ran 20 minutes AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

It really does work!!!!!!!

I did it! Stopped waiting for the perfect moment, getting over pneumonia so took ALLLLL the puffers before I went out, ran so slowly it was like going backwards! But I did it!!! Didn’t actually believe at all that I could run for 5 whole minutes.. really missing an app that says stuff like “half way there” 😝

Also: only ran like 2.8 km. Will this improve? I get that it’s only week 4, and running sooo slowly

Started all over again after 15 years and 2 kids in 2 years. So profoundly out of shape - just finished week 2 (had to slow down so much that I feel like I could walk faster than I’m running) and realized week 3 is double the time of running (like 1.5 min to 3 min). Currently just so far in my own head about my inability to run for 3 min straight.

So out of breath, so eager to get to the “walk” part. When does this get easier? Should I repeat week 2 until I am better at it?

Pictures me and my (very handsome, very fit) running partner

5 years ago I picked up a broken piece of an orchid cactus off the ground in an Airbnb, took it home, and planted it. I didn’t know what it was but just it was a leaf, and I liked it.

Now it was BLOOMED!!

Just thought I’d share, it is so beautiful!!!