29 Jul My journey back to running!

In 2023, I decided to start entering Trail Races. I’ve run half marathons on the road before but never really entered the world of trail running. The first race I entered was the RAT, or the Roseland August Trail Festival, with an 11-mile coastal run. This was followed by an entry in the December half marathon coastal run called the Fairytale of Newquay. However, I’ve not been well, and my running and my health was getting worse and worse. Since getting Covid in 2021 and collapsing at the end of the Barnstaple half marathon. my health was in decline. First I pulled out of the RAT and deferred my place until 2024. For the Newquay half, I sold my place to another runner. (Which on the day I was secretly pleased I had, as the weather was particularly disgusting on race day.)

Over the past 18 months, I’ve been struggling with energy levels, fatigue and brain fog. I’ve not been sleeping well, and as a result, I’ve done less and less running. My last half marathon was in 2021, and my energy levels for exercise and long distance running have been in decline ever since.

Several months ago, I started HRT. Yup, I’m 39 and have been diagnosed with going through early menopause. Everything made sense. After a few weeks on the HRT, the brain fog and fatigue started to lift, and I started back at my local running club walk/running once a week. I SUCKED!!! I was slow, I couldn’t breathe, my legs hurt, I don’t even think I enjoyed it. I loved being back at the club, seeing friendly faces and feeling glad I was back lacing up after so many months. but I was seriously unfit!

After a couple of weeks, I emailed the team behind the RAT and asked if I could defer again, as there was no way I would be fit enough in just a few weeks to run 11 miles on one of the hardest sections of gruelling terrain on the south west coast path. Unfortunately, you can only defer once.

As if juggling running a business, bringing up a 5-year-old and dealing with perimenopausal fatigue wasn’t enough, I am never one to quit anything! Whether that’s in business or just in life, I’m like a dog with a bone and when chatting to a friend at the running club, she suggested I do it. Or at least walk/run it. So I thought, what do I have to lose? So, I started walking the coast path each week. I’ve been through hell the past 18 months, believing I have long-term COVID and that I would never really exercise again. But I’ve been on a journey supported by both the NHS LONG COVID team and menopause specialists and finally I’m on a treatment plan that has given me some of my energy for running back.

Walk 1 – Mevagissey To Pentewan Return

My first walk was for 2 and a half hours, where I walked from Mevagissey to Pentewan and back. it was just under 7 miles and was AMAZING. The coast looked breathtaking, it felt amazing to just have the energy to be out. I popped on a podcast and plodded along the coast taking in the raceday route. It wasn’t too bad, I suddenly had a glimmer of hope. I will 100% come last, but what If I didn’t bale out, but instead walked it? I will 100% come last, but coming last is better than not taking part at all.

Walk 2 – Mevagissey To Gorran Haven Return

The next walk I picked was an evening, dashing out after work. This might have been a bit of a mistake, as I didn’t eat before I left and was struggling towards the end. The views coming into Gorran were incredible. I’ve been to Gorran beach so many times, but I’ve never seen the village from this angle. It was breath taking and I felt so lucky to be back out on the trail and enjoying Cornwall after having so little energy for so many months.

I racked up another 8 miles on the coast path and was starting to enjoy walking rather than running.

Walk 3 – Porthpean to Pentewan

This was it; this walk was the only bit of the coast path within the race that I hadn’t yet covered… and there was a very good reason for this. It was SUPER hilly, well, actually, no, it was super step crazy! The steps on this stretch were never-ending. Just constant V shapes carved into a valley with a steep decline and incline on either side. It felt never-ending; as soon as I got to the top of one hill, it was straight back down to the bottom to do it all over again. The views were amazing, and the rain didn’t take away the spectacular scenery. But the 9-mile walk with over 2.5 km of just uphill took its toll, and I was left with really tight calves for a few days after.

Walk/Run 4 – Porthpean out and back

Now that I have covered each section of the race, I know what to expect on race day. I know where to reserve some energy for the hills and where the flats are. It’s pretty much all hills other than the flat areas through Mevagissey and Pentewan. As I’ve only been running once a week up to this point, it was now time to up my walk-run game. This week, I decided to try running some of the coast path to see how brutal it would be.

I tried an out-and-back route. Mainly walking but adding in a bit of running on the downhill and flat sections. I was slow, but I was happy to mix in a bit of running and walking and pleased to be getting the miles under my belt.

Walk 6 – Trenarren to Mevagissey Out and Back

This was it. This was the longest walk by far. My mum and Sister joined me, and we headed out for a full day of walking. Although this was a very different walk to what I will experience on race day…. we stopped for a pasty, a rest, a bit of shopping in Meva. We covered just under ten miles.

I now know that with just walking alone, I can cover the distance on the day. The only slight issue…. it’s a running race not a walking race and there is a time limit to finish the distance in. Minor details 🤣

It would be a lie to say that I’ve only been walking the last 8 weeks. I have been doing weekly runs at club night but these are around 45 minutes with walk, run and regroup breaks. But it’s a long way off the three runs a week that my body used to be able to handle.

Walk Run 7 – Junior Park Run into coast path

My last run was a happy accident. I’ve been doing a few junior park runs with my 5-year-old. It’s been just enough to get me back into running and not too strenuous. This week being the last week before the big day I wanted to try running a bit further. I was completely blown away with how strong and positive I was feeling. We ran junior parkrun together, he got a PB! and I decided to run the coast path. I had planned to stop at Charlestown, but I was feeling so good I carried on into St Austell. I accidentally covered 7.5 miles and felt fabulous.

That’s it now! I’ve done as much training as possible. I’ve gone from 2 years of energy decline and not knowing why my body wasn’t allowing me to enjoy the main hobby in my life. But I’m back! I’m not going to be running the full 11 miles, but I am going to attempt to finish at least. I don’t care if I finish last, as long as I finish.

Wish me luck as I take part in the RAT 11 mile trail race. 😬