ok 12

I wanted to push myself to more than 10, so I set my sights on 12km for today's run.

After starting out with my normal route, instead of adding more distance by running on Hayarden to Dolev and back, I decided to run out on Road 10 to the 375 and back. In my head I calculated that this would give me about 12km without trying to then calculate where and how much to extend to get 12, as I would if I ran on hayarden and back.

It worked out well, and I got my 12km in a pretty good run. I did notice that int he later kms I started to have some pain that has been cropping up recently. I am not even sure how to describe it, but I will figure it out. I think in the later kilometers my body has been getting tired and begins to slouch and lose posture and by then I am paying attention less. It was much harder to fix myself in those later kilometers. So my first 6 or 7 kilometers were at a reasonable pace, but the last few were at a very slow pace.

But I got my 12km in!

better 6.5

I have been conscious of the fact that my running gait and form have been messed up recently. I believe that is a lot of the cause of my continued pains and discomforts. It may well be because of my recent tendinitis and when I started running again I altered my form subconsciously to avoid potential pains, causing me others. I am watching videos on running form - not to learn running form so much but more to remind myself to be aware and pay attention and focus on my own form.

In this morning's 6.5km run I tried to focus much more no my form and I had a really good run. Even my pace was significantly better. Everything was more intentional. I have to continue to pay attention more and it will become more natural again..

ok 6

was going to run 5, but decided on the fly that I had enough time for another km, so did 6. slow but steady. still feel like my legs just have little strength . I dont know why that is, but I guess that is my new reality.

very slow 10

My goal was 10km today and I got it, but it was a very slow run. It was already a very slow run form the beginning, but after my knee started to feel wonky at 6.4km, the rest of the way was much slower, too ensure I wouldnt strain my knee. Haha, as if I could have run faster had I wanted to. I couldn't.

Overall the run was hot and humid and fine. I felt good, if slow

ok 5

I wasn't planning on running today, but was secretly hoping I would wake up early enough to run before this morning's planned early start. And I did, so I decided to run.

5km at average pace. Felt good, no stopping - ran through the entire time. Pace improved a little bit, closer to average now. I hope that is a trend moving upward and not just a particularly good day or two.

ok 5

5km early morning run. slow pace. No stopping at all, so that was good.

Sometimes after runs like this especially a bunch in a row, where I just feel weak and slow and that the best I can do is not even close to what I recently was able to do, let alone thinking farther back, I feel like it might be time to hang it up and find something else to do. Or at least to get resigned to the fact that those days are behind me and the little I can do is the little I will be able to do from now on.

And then I will get a moment of inspiration where I will say I am determined to make my comeback. I know building up will be hard, and I know being slow does not matter. And I know that with determination and perseverance and consistency I will be able to build it back up little by little.

And if not, not. If I can only run short distances slowly, and that's all I can do for my health and fitness, so be it, and that is what it will be. And that is also fine.

good 9

My pace was slow again. I seem to have lost much of my leg strength. But that's ok. I made up for my pace today with distance. For the first time in a while I went for decent distance. I ran 9km, starting with my usual across Kishon, across the first leg of the bridge to Gimmel, up Hayarqon and through Yarmuth Park and across the first leg of Hayarden, then back down Hayarqon to home. Slow pace, as mentioned, but I did not need to stop for extar breaks as I have recently. I did stop for a regular water break in the park ont he way up the hill, and I need to stop momentarily a couple of times to reset my focus because my knee suddenly felt wonkey - resetting my focus helped me get my gait back to what it should be and get rid of the wonkiness.

not bad 5

After almost a week of no running, mostly due to rough schedule, along with some inertia and laziness, I finally went out this morning for a run. It was slow but it felt good to be out running and I felt good. 5km at a slow pace

ok 6

still struggling to find my rhythm. I ran 6km at average pace. I felt fine, but it felt like a struggle the whole way. I had to stop a few times.

good 5

Had a good 5km run this morning. Felt good. The run is still somewhat of a struggle and doesn't seem smooth. I still have to stop every now and then to catch my breath and it feels like I am working hard, whether I am running a fast or slow pace.

slow 5

Against my better judgement I went out for another run today. I really need to not overdo it, but I really wanted to go. I am just happy to be out running, it matters less if it is a good run or not. Today's run was not particularly good. I was ambitious in my head before I went out. I thought maybe to run 8 or 9 kilometers, probably at a fast pace.

Uch. It was so hot and my legs felt so heavy. I barely made it to 5km. Had to stop a few times to rest along the way. I guess I am still getting back into shape. Still, I was happy to be out there feeling good.

nice 6

was going for more than 3 today. Was thinking 5 for a start, but was flexible, both to possibly less if it felt like I shouldnt be going more and also to more if everything seemed great. Up to 4.5 I was thinking 5, but then decided I still felt great so I'll go 6.

The run was fine, nothing exciting. My pace was good, but slightly slower than I expected. That's fine - trying to avoid straining anything or overdoing it quickly...

fast 3

went out for another 3km run. Felt like I could do more but I had promised myself to stop at 3 and I forced myself to keep to it.

I ran it very fast, though it was strange. In my legs it felt like a slow run due to sore leg muscles from Wednesday's fast run, but when I hit my km markers, I saw my speed was fast. It was so much faster than normal for me that I had to stop for a moment in the middle to catch my breath. My final pace was significantly faster than what my normal fast pace has become.

I felt good and my foot felt fine, but I am being cautious. I have learned that with post tibial tendinitis, if it is not hurting already, it could still hurt later. I was in some pain yesterday, but I am also being careful about doing the exercises I was given for this issue, so hopefully it should be nothing more than mild soreness.

another 3

I am limiting myself to a maximum of 3km runs, at least until Friday, maybe until Sunday. So, today I ran another 3km, but this time I just ran without an attempt of keeping it slow. I surprised myself and ran back at my full top speed. I thought I would be somewhat slower and would need to build my strength back up, but it seems that doesnt drop off so quickly. The run was better than yesterday's but still not quite back to normal yet. The important thing is that everything felt good, no pain, and I am happily getting back to the routine of regular running.

back to 3

it has been nearly a month since I ran, and the 2 or 3 weeks before that I only ran a small amount because of some hamstring pain. At the time I suspected my shoes as being the source of the problem. I stopped completely when suddenly I noticed that my normal foot pains had increased tremendously, with new sources of pain as well, and had become unbearable. I could not run. At some point I realized that the hamstring pain was almost definitely from my various foot pains, as I had subconsciously been adjusting my gait to minimize pain and it was messing up my running. That is why all those runs had been struggles and I needed a lot of rest stops as well.

In the meantime I went to the Orthopedist, Podiatrist, had anti-inflammatories, dealt with some PT and orthotics issues and tried to get my foot better. I was diagnosed with Post Tibial Tendon Dysfunction. My feet (mainly right foot, but somewhat on the left a swell) needed to rest, some medication and some TLC via exercises focusing on that part of the body - strengthening the calf and feet.

I feel better now, I think. The pain is pretty much gone, even much of the "normal" pain I had prior to the recent flare up.

I went out today for my first run back. I went planning a short distance of maximum 3km, and no hopes for any specific pace. I just felt it was time to start getting back out there and also to start bringing down the weight I picked up over the past few weeks. My body felt good but the run felt completely off. No rhythm, nothing in sync. It was somewhat difficult but that is to be expected after a significant break. I'll go for a few more short runs and then start building up again, assuming everything continues to feel fine.