Ouch, ouch, ouch

After having not run since coming back from Dublin and being pretty much inactive all week I knew tonight’s outing was always going to be difficult.

It’s not that I didn’t want to do nothing all week, it’s just been very busy workwise, it always is at the start of the season and even when I wasn’t working I felt physically and mentally tired.

However, I knew I had to do something soon so decided that after finishing work early tonight that I’d go out for a while to a) remind my legs how to run and b) blow off a little steam.

I didn’t really have a plan in mine re: time or distance, I just thought I’d see how I felt.

I don’t seem to benefit too much from rest. Indeed, my legs need to keep quite active to prevent the build up of fluid in them so after having done precious little for five days it was no surprise that they objected in the strongest possible terms tonight.

They *really* hurt. Not muscle or bone hurt, just a burning type pain caused by the fluid swilling around. It’s a condition I have in my legs – Lymphoedema – which is localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. I have been prescribed the wonderfully named ‘Gentleman’s Compression Garments’ – tights, basically – which helps stop the fluid building up but I haven’t worn them for a while, although I’ll take tonight as a little warning and start wearing them again.

Anyway, what of the run? Pretty good actually. Yes, it hurt a lot (especially at the start) and, yes, I clomped for large parts of it. I also stopped a few times during the early stages due to the pain but, ultimately, speed wise I did alright and it felt good to get back out there again. I ended up doing 5k over my normal route to the industrial estate and back. Nice and simple, if not somewhat boring.

I *always* worry after a few days of inactivity that I won’t be able to run again so it’s always reassuring when I discover I can. The first run after a break is always harder, so I’m looking forward to things becoming more comfortable again.

Relive my run