Still training

So, my knee's been playing up a bit since my fall. Not so nice. My back finally gets better (thank goodness it wasn't aggrevated by the fall!) and my knee goes. So, right when physio decides I can return to leg work (squats, lunges etc) - my knee decides otherwise! I MISS that stuff! I NEED to do that stuff to get ready for the Eureka Climb later in the year!

I'm trying my best to be patient... but my patience is running out with my body! I had physio on Saturday and he wants me to strap my knee for the next week when I'm training. No biggie, I can handle that. I haven't tested it since my appointment because now my back is hurting. So not happy! But, considering he found some decent knots in my hips, I'm assuming it's just because we've dealt with the knots. And I'm bruised. I have so many bruises from physio!!!!

BUT, last week I needed to train. For my sanity, I needed to train. But the idea of the gym just did not appeal to me. So I went to Westerfold's park. They have some really nice walking tracks. So I chose my old fav and headed off. I struggled because I felt like I wasn't really working. I didn't feel like I was walking fast enough. I couldn't feel my heart rate increase (although my newly repaired HRM tells me it was climbing - maybe not as much as normal but it was climbing!). I just didn't feel like I was working. So I pushed myself. Soon enough I got to the hill I used to dread on my bike. Off I climbed. It didn't seem as steep when walking...

By the time I got back to my car, my thighs were beginning to burn. I felt a little tired. I stopped my HRM and unlocked the car. Then I noticed the sign. I had just walked 4Km. Hmmmm I normally only do 3 on my treadmill and since my Nov (when I did my back again) that takes me around 35 min. I looked at the stats on my watch and saw I'd done it (4Km) in 39.25 min! And that was with two stops (one to adjust music and the other to take a quick call from DH). WOOT!

Spurred on, I returned after work the next day. The weather was great - not as warm as I'd thought it would be. I trotted off along the same route. Hat on, sunscreen on (got badly burnt the other weekend!), water bottle in hand, music on - off I went!

This time I tried not to push myself to hard but was secretly hoping to knock 5 min off my time. Silly, I know! But I still didn't feel like I was walking as fast as on the treadmill (FYI, this is because when you're on a treadmill, the belt pulls your leg back for you which makes you have to move it forward quicker). I kept going and when I got to the top of the hill, I did a quick time check to see if I was at least on track to do the same time as the day before. I was a little ahead! WOOT! I hightailed it back to the car, resisting the urge for a jog. When I got back to the car, a time check revealed that I had done it in 37.09 min! Not 5 min but I'll take any reduction thanks! I did a few stretches and got in my car to go home.

The next day, I was sore. Very sore. Wanting to go home from work sore. I don't really know WHY I was sore but I think I needed to do more back stretches - a bit hard in the park. But that's ok. I'm feeling better today . I haven't trained since Fri but am hoping to get a (gentle) walk in later today. PT has been canceled for tomorrow (Dale's made a boo boo in his diary) and so I'll prob do some training at home tomorrow as well. But all in all, things are looking good!