4 Feb -
Circuit training this week - I managed one-handed press-ups against the wall, one-handed plank (not for very long) and side plank, raising knee to chest! I was over the moon about all this! For the first time since injuring my arm, I got home and felt like I'd had a real workout! It wasn't that I was slacking before, but it meant that I was less focussed on my arm, and more on the exercises - I'm guessing it's because my arm isn't as sore now.
5 Feb -
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It's the second-to-last Fireman's run, I'm still not allowed to run it, but will be walking it as fast as I can.
I've just done it in 27.36!!! Only had to cradle my arm a few times (sadly one of those times was for the camera!) and not sore when I got home. Will have to wait for tomorrow to see how it is then.
6 Feb -
Arm was fine this morning, went for a walk into town, bit sore on the way back, perfect timing for a coffee!
I went to the pool later and did 45 minutes of the rehab exercises and also managed 6 lengths of the pool - 2 full lengths, 4 were about 3/4 lengths. I feel like that's an improvement already!
I also managed to make some focaccia bread - 10 minutes kneading, so I'm feeling like today (and February) is a great success!
7 Feb -
Went to the rehab swimming again today, I managed 14x half lengths of the pool (not allowed to do full lengths in this group) and the instructor commented that there was an obvious improvement in my arm movement! I had bought some of those swim shoe/sock things (whatever you want to call them) and they did give me more confidence, I wasn't worried about possibly slipping, so I was doing more legwork as well.
I also walked into the shops twice today and did over 10,500 steps (according to the pedometer) so by 7pm, I was shattered! Early night for me, but it's been worth it, feels so good being back in the water!
9 Feb -
Physio appointment did not go as well as I'd hoped. Only a 10 degree movement improvement and another month off work. Apparently it's going as well as she'd expected. I was hoping to have been able to go to work for a few hours a week, but had to settle for new exercises with the resistance bands and being allowed to attempt running at the interval training tonight, but was warned it could ache - my theory was, it aches sometimes anyway, I might as well do the running and know why!
So today was not a happy day, but I did do my new exercises - not very well, but it was Day 1.
I did manage to do some running, more than I expected and I didn't die before I got to the end. I went home and rested up with a hot water bottle on my shoulder (just in case), and my shoulder hasn't been too sore.
I also managed to get both hands on my hips for the warm down exercises - first time I've been able to do that - but it is funny, I lean to the right until my hand can get on my hip, then straighten up and then put the right hand on my hip like normal. At least I'll see an improvement when I don't have to lean to do it!
10 Feb -
Just started noticing that I'm trying to do the morning stretch again. I hadn't noticed that I wasn't doing before, but now that I've started to try stretching with both arms, it's obvious! Lost 5lb at weight watchers this week, so that cheered me up!
11 Feb -
We went on a 2-bus ride all the way down south and had a walk through a glen along the towpath and then met friends. Had a fab afternoon painting plates then went for a walk round The Sound before heading home. Nice & relaxing, but with a lot of walking in the mix.
13 Feb -
I had my first attempt since my accident, for my sub-9min lap of the lake - I'd got it to 9.10mins last time I tried. I started at above 12 mins, so I'm doing well.
This morning I walked round in 10.51 as a warm-up, then had to do a run-walk-run-walk-run-walk (because my arm ached) and managed it in 9.03!
I was both gutted and impressed at the same time!
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| 0.80 mile = 1 lap |
So glad I kept up going to the Monday night group (walking only) and the circuit training and walking the last 2 Fireman's Runs. Just goes to show that it all adds up. I really expected to be slower again and have to start all over.
14 Feb -
Happy Valentine's Day!
We went for a hill walk today, it was about 8.50 miles and stunning views when we got to the top! Had a celebratory beer on the way home - the pub has a fireplace, it'd be rude not to make use of it! Also, I didn't need my sling at all (it was in the bag, just in case).
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| one handed descent |
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| two handed descent |
16 Feb -
Goals of today:
1) Smash the 9min time of the lake-lap. DONE! 8.55 mins!
2) Run all of the Monday night interval running. Mostly. Better than last Monday.
3) First night of aquarobics - don't embarrass yourself! DONE! Didn't fall or slip over!
18 Feb -
Circuits tonight - I managed to do more of the exercises! I asked the coach if I could try 3 more (he's a physio, so I knew he'd know) and it turns out there are only 4 exercises I can't do!
1) Burpees (but I'd only just been able to do them anyway)
2) Dips (obviously, but I was quite good at those)
3 & 4) 2 variations of press ups, with feet moving in random directions (wasn't ever good at them anyway)
Very pleased with myself tonight!
19 Feb -
I drove further today with a friend and even though I've been keeping up the running, walking, lunges and squats..... my thighs killed every time I stood up tonight!
20 Feb -
I went swimming with a friend and managed to do 20 lengths! Two weeks ago I did 4x 3/4 lengths and 2x full lengths, so that was a big WOW! I'll soon be back up to the 56!
21 Feb -
I got up early this morning to have a go at the 5k route, which is 4 times round the lake. I was focussed on distance, not speed, to see how my arm coped with the movement. The last timed run was 1 July 2014 at 44.51 mins. I did manage to do the whole 5k non-stop and in a very pleasing 43.09 mins! My next goals are to do the 1-lap and 3-lap routes non-stop, which include a hill run through the trees.
23 Feb -
Physio visit didn't go well (in my opinion). There are two tests they do that measure the improvement. 1) Raise arm in front, as high as you can. 2) Raise are out the side, as high as you can. There was no improvement on either of these two. There was improvement when assisted with the right arm, and with many other exercises. Just not the two that matter. Not happy.
I then went to my running group, in the howling wind, but forgot to take my painkillers, and struggled. I went to aquarobics, it was fun, we got to play with the noodles and I found out I'm not very good with balancing on them!
25 Feb -
2.5 hours at the allotment - I got 3 gooseberries planted, 3 raspberry canes transplanted and weeded most of the fruit cage (fork needed) and around the rhubarb. I had 3 coffee breaks in that time, but I think both arms did pretty much equal work. The physio suggested that I do things that I can do instinctively, as well as her exercises, because I need to build up the muscles. Housework just isn't instinctive, but gardening is!
26 Feb -
I was going to go running with a friend, but she has sprained her ankle. It was our first attempt at road running, and we were going to have a go at the 5k road race route, which includes 3 hills.
I decided to go anyway and really surprised myself ....... I actually managed to do it non-stop!! In 48.08 mins!
28 Feb -
Busy day today (exercise-wise) - I went to rehab swimming, managed 10 lengths in 15 mins. If I could keep up that pace, it would be 40 in an hour and 60 in 1.5 hours. My fastest is up to 75 in 1.5 hours, but I'm happy with 64 in 1.5 hours (because that's a mile). Then I had to do arm exercises, underwater, working my biceps and triceps. It was hard work, but fun. When I was resting, I work my shoulders (it helps to keep moving to stay warm).
Then I drove my friend to our hill-run session. It's about 20 mins drive and it was chucking it down, but we went anyway. I haven't been since 6 December, and wasn't sure how I'd do, but you have to re-start somewhere! Normally we do 8x 1min runs up the hill, and take 2mins to get back down. Because of the weather, we only did 6. I did 5, but managed to run 665 metres up hill, so I was happy with that.
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