Back on the plan after injury (W6D1)

Hi everyone! Just wanted to share a little update to encourage anyone who has had to pause their c25k journey and hopes to return. I had been really enjoying the program and had completed week 6, but then I developed ankle pain that turned out to be peroneal tendonitis. I had to take time off from running and felt pretty depressed after making what I felt was good progress through the program. I was scared that I wouldn’t return, or wouldn’t be able to return, and I didn’t want to quit.

In the meantime, I got new shoes at a running store where they evaluated my feet and gait, and I started doing stretches and exercises for peroneal tendonitis (and also plantar fasciitis, which I’ve battled on and off for years and which seems likely to be related). It took about 3 weeks to be pain-free, and now I am easing slowly back into running, doing run-walk intervals on gentler flat surfaces like the treadmill and the athletic track.

Today I decided to try w6d1 again—its intervals felt manageable for me—and I was able to complete it pain-free and stronger than the first time around. I went MUCH MORE SLOWLY than I had before. Like, I had already thought I was going slow, but that slow was NOTHING compared to this. I was infinitely more proud, though! I plan to do these intervals for a while longer since I don’t think my ankle is quite ready to tackle the 25-minute running stints yet, but wow does it feel nice to be back.

(I’m also hoping to get in to the PT for some general advice about keeping these foot and leg conditions at bay and avoiding developing new ones!)

Tl;dr: Go REALLY SLOW, get shoes at the running store from people who know what they’re doing, don’t neglect your stretches, and don’t give up!