I’m Not Invincible

…Sadly, I have been brought back into reality.  Having been in remission for at least 2 months (disregarding the odd nip of pain and swelling here and there) where I have managed to live as a normal life as possible.  The pain in my entire body that has actually now rendered me immobile has reminded me that I have a horrible disease.  And its moments like this I really hate hate having this illness, I hate what it is doing to me, and most of all I hate that it tries to take away what is important in my life and that is my sports, my fitness.

I know that I most likely get told of by my fellow ‘spoonies’  as I did push myself out on a cycle ride this morning.  I felt sore in and around my neck and shoulders but thought, ‘what the hell, my legs feel ok’

I was delighted that I managed to get in, just under 10 miles, and for me, without my illness, that is something, as I HATE cycling with a passion! But surprisingly, I did actually enjoy the bike ride, it was a gorgeous day, and I picked a route to cycle that is very historical to my area (herm…Culloden) I even managed to get over my fear of coaches, which there was a lot of as they ferried tourists into the battlefield, to look at, well a big field (Never truly got the whole thing, if the tourist board put something fun up there then yes, but it is literally a field, a big heathery field at that…I digress!)

So, I don’t know whether it was my bike ride that set me over the edge, or, if I have just been lucky with the state of remission I have been in and I should count my lucky stars.  But the selfish side in me is really hoping this is a ‘blip’

It just makes me more determined than ever to get this marathon done, and help Lupus UK raise as much money as possible to research Lupus, and find that cure.  So please consider supporting my quest by donating

And Its Back to Rain

I hadn’t abandoned my blog again.  In fact I ended up with a sickness bug that was going around.  When I got home after my run on Tuesday I started to feel unwell.  The bug has been going around for a couple of weeks and I actually thought I managed to avoid it.  Thankfully (*touches wood*) the kids have been fine especially as it was their first week back at school.

This morning I felt a bit better.  I decided to go out for a run as soon as the kids left for school, that way I could get home start housework and then chillax the rest of the afternoon.

The rain has been pouring down, and its been a nice change (surprisingly for the North of Scotland!) its been too hot and humid and its made running some mornings unbearable.  The problem with Scotland though, particularly the Highlands, is, when it rains…it rains HARD! No happy medium.

I did my favourite run this morning, but I changed it up a bit by running in the opposite direction and even though it was pretty miserable, I enjoyed the run, even my achilles was playing ball too.

 

I actually knocked 46 seconds off my last run round the Ness Islands, so absolutely delighted, even though, contradictory running is not about time for me anymore, today I ran faster, and I ran faster with Lupus, so it can be done!

I am now feeling confident again to try and increase my mileage now…as someone said to me, it’s all about the baby steps.  I could run 10k non stop once and I know, with time, I will get there again

Training Day 5

I was so tired this morning, I know its fatigue from my lupus and not burning the candle at both ends.  The kids started back at school today so I really wanted to get a run in this morning, one of my friends also wanted to come with me.  We decided on the Ness Islands again, its my favourite run and I always seem to do better on that run.

 

I have a confession, the time is good as is the distance, but I was so busy chatting away to my friend, when I looked down at my watch about 3 mins into our run, I realised I forgot to press ‘start’ on the watch *doh*

I am also thinking I need to go and see a sports therapist.  I seem to have a tightening on my achilles, and I am wondering if I have any scar tissue there that has adhered itself when I broke my ankle…

(quick recap, I broke my foot in 2 places 2yrs ago on a run, but I actually thought it was a sprain!!! I was still trying to run on it, albeit badly, I went for an x-ray about 5 months after and discovered the fractures but they have been healing, so too late to plaster it, bur had physio to strengthen the foot again…..)  

I dont think physio will help it, but the sport therapist I see does a fantastic, albeit painful massage! so maybe I am needing some knots removed.

Anyway…debating about a kickboxing session tonight!

Training day 4..

It was on Saturday but I never got a chance to post.  In hindsight I should have taken a rest day since I had done intense workouts all week, Monday, Kickboxing…Tues, kickbox class.  Wed, run, Thursday run, Friday, Run, Saturday run.  And I think by that point my legs, particularly my ankle (where I have had an injury) was starting to protest.  Not to mention it was really hot even at 10am!

 

I just did a run around our street, which in some parts are really hilly, really steep hills at that, and as per usual, brain sees hill, legs come to a halt! I really need to work on the hills. Try and figure a way to get over this fear (which is causing injury to my ankle).

My other problem is stamina, I can run 5K no problem, 10K at a push but after 10k my body is telling me enough.  So my running partner (who is running London with me) has suggested that I stick with small miles just now.  Hence why my Garmin pictures are really nothing to shout home about! Then with each run increase the mileage in small doses and hopefully this will help with my stamina issues.  I have a 10k Sept 30th so hopefully I will notice a big difference.

Last year I ran it was just after my  Lupus diagnosis.  My PB for a 10k is 58 mins.  Last year I struggled in at 1:17 (I had only just started medications, which had not yet ‘kicked’ into the blood stream) I am hopeful that this year I will finish in around 1:07.

Just got to keep running

 

Day for being naughty..

You ever get that feeling where you know you need to train, but want to take a sneaky rest day? Yeah?…well that was me today.  After yesterday’s awful run, I was still feeling deflated and I so wanted to take a day off.  I came out with every excuse, was arguing with myself as I was putting on my running shorts, it’s too sunny and hot….my legs still hurt from the weeks exercise, I still have a lupus flare in my left wrist, think I am a bit fatigued, Oh, I am sure I am coming down with the vomiting bug my mam got 3wks ago.

I huffed into the car to take me to the River Ness Islands, a small run, under 2 miles, a ‘nice’ run, and a favourite place for many runners.  When I got out the car I just told myself to man up and get on with it.

Bizarrely I enjoyed the run!! There are a couple of little bridges over the River Ness, known to the locals as ‘The wobbly bridge’ I saw a couple of tourists standing on one of the bridges taking pictures of the river and the urge took over reader.  Normally, my sensible self would stop running and walk over the bridge….common courtesy, unfortunately, for the poor tourists they experienced my devilish side as I bounded over the bridge, them holding on for dear life, I am sure lady tourist went a shade of green….I know, I bad, but, I did apologise as I ran off!

I was so pleased with my time today, considering I was in a bad mood before I set off, and it was really humid.  It pays to be naughty sometimes