Gosh, the run last night was exhausting! At the very start my hamstrings felt tight and so I knew it was going to be a tough one – I hung back from running with George as I seem to get carried away when I am with him. I thought that by taking it easy and not pushing it that it would be a comfortable run but I never seemed to get into my pace and I found it hard going all the way round.

Now that the clocks have gone forward by one hour it meant that Tuesday evening's run was in daylight – and what a joy that was! It was a lovely run, through the woods and down by the rowing lake and then back up through the woods – it’s just a shame I wasn’t able to enjoy it.

On reflection, I think that I have gone back to the running club too soon. I am always worried that I am pushing it too much and that I still may do some damage to my stomach. I try not to run hard but don’t seem to be able to stop myself from going off with my old running partners.

With that in mind, I have decided to give the running group a miss for the time being and just take things a bit easier on my own. I am still aiming to run 2-3 times a week, but limit myself to about ½ hour and gradually build up my strength and speed.

That’s the plan!

Time: 55:59
Distance: 5.8

Initially I had thought about doing my old 8 mile run on Saturday morning but after giving it a lot of thought I decided that it was probably a bit too soon to be covering that distance. I was disappointed but knew it wouldn't be too long before I would be able to run that far.

I set out from the Health Club with a route in mind, not exactly sure how far it would be. In fact, it is part of my 8 mile run as on that circuit I run past the Health Club probably just about over half way round the course. It was tempting to add on little loops ie round the rowing lake or up past the railway line to the bridge but I stuck to my planned run and just looked out for extra loops I could add on when I was a bit fitter.

I came in back round the big lake and, boy, was it windy! I was running head into the wind and it was real good when I turned up and had the wind behind me!

On getting back to the Health Club I got changed into my swimming gear and had a 15 min swim to stretch out my leg muscles. It seems to work as my legs don't seem to ache so much after having the swim.

Distance: 4+
Time: 49:05

Big turn out on Thursday at the running club and it was decided to do efforts. I thought it best to opt out as I think it is a bit too soon after my op.

Mandy and I decided to do a steady run and set off, along with everybody else but not joining in the efforts! After about 3 miles the main group turned off to run back a different way but Mandy and myself carried on. Just a bit further on we could see George and a couple of other runners, so speeding up slightly we eventually managed to catch them up. By now, I was warmed up and decided to push it for a bit longer, George came with me and the two of us pulled away from the others.

We stayed in front coming in a minute or so before Mandy, Alan and Sheelagh.

I'm not entirely sure it was sensible to be pushing myself like that, but I felt ok so went along with my body and how it was feeling.

I went home and had a nice warm bath to ease my leg muscles and slept very well that night!

Time: 53.42
Distance: 5+

Tuesday night saw me back up at the running club. The weather had been pretty poor all day and I had been giving it second thoughts but decided that it really didn't matter what the weather was doing.

As it happened it was a great night, the rain stayed away and although it was a bit cold, I soon got warm and discarded the running gloves a couple of miles into the run.

I had two new running companions, Mandy and Sharon. Mandy is training for the London Marathon and had run a half marathon at the weekend, so didn't want to push it too much and Sharon had had three weeks off with illness, so we were evenly paced.

It was a nice route, about 4'ish miles and a steady pace.

Time: 42:10
Distance: 4+

An early morning run - aahh, nothing quite like it!

The stillness, the peace, the sun rising, the birds twittering.... just me and my thoughts to keep me company.

Bliss.

Time: 33:03
Distance: 3.7

I went to the running club on Thursday evening and had a fab time... I had promised myself to take it easy and stick to the back runners but yes, you've guessed, I got a bit carried away and forged ahead!

It felt so good to be back there along with my running chums and there were a couple of new faces as well. We set off at a fair pace and I thought I would go with it for as long as I could and it was only the last 1/2 mile or so that I really began to feel the lack of fitness. I was also getting very hot and finished with quite a red face.

We ran about 5 miles I think which I am really pleased with. It wasn't a great time and I really felt every mile in my legs by the end but, all in all, a good evening's work.

Distance: 5
Time: 50:06

OK, so it's Monday now and I managed to get out for a run again. I went to the Health Club when I finished work at 4.00 pm and did the run that I did on Saturday but going the other way round.

It's so hard, starting again. My legs just don't feel like they have any strength in them, they are pounding away but with no push off. I guess it was like this before and I will get better again, I'm not going to get despondent, that won't get me anywhere, it's just time and patience and lots more runs........

After my run I went for a swim to stretch out, it feels so good. Next run on Thursday at the running club - I hope they babysit me and treat me carefully!

Time: 31:06
Distance 3?

After my run last week I suffered a bit with a sore stomach - I don't think it was due to the run but more to the coughing! I decided to play safe and leave the running until I felt a bit better and my cough had cleared up.

A week later.....

Feeling slightly better, well stomach not aching now but still coughing a little, I thought I had better have another run. I went to the Health Club and got changed there and went for a run from there. It was pretty much my usual run but just starting and ending at a different destination. The pathways were still flooded and there was a bit of wading! I did a loop which took my 30:48 so I'm guessing it is about 3 miles.

I then went into the Health Club and had a 20 minute swim. I love ending the run with a swim as I'm sure it is a really good stretching workout as I never seem to ache nowhere near as much after I have been swimming.

I feel I'm ready now to really get back into running. I'm trying for 3 times this week starting with tomorrow, Monday, again driving to the Health Club on my way home from work, doing the run from there and ending with a swim.

After running two consecutive days, I didn't have time to run again until today.

The weather was glorious, sunny and just a little breeze. However, I had not realised how much rain we had had in the past couple of days and some of the paths were flooded with water up to my ankles!

I waded through and carried on - it could have been worse!

I ran round the big lake and through the nature reserve. It was hard going, it is as if my legs have forgotten how to run! My stride length has completely shortened. I have had a bit of a chest and sore throat for a couple of days and, in ideal circumstances I wouldn't have run today, but I am so desperate to get back out there. I was Ok, just about managing to get round without puffing and wheezing. I've a lot of hard work ahead of me. My stomach muscles seemed to be alright, I could feel I had worked them but they weren't painful so I'm guessing everything is in order.

On looking as past times I am surprised to see that I wasn't that much slower than when I used to run this route. The difference being that I was cruising through in this time whereas today it was hard work!

Distance: 3.7
Time: 36.10