First Run of the Year

Can I get a big woot for my first run of the year? I joined the Hogwarts Running Club this year and it’s been awesome! It’s been a crazy hard and stressful 2016 for me, but that’s OK.  Winter is generally hard on me, and this group has kept me sane!

I should put a disclaimer out: I walk, not run.  The good people at HRC don’t care that much, though.  They say any movement is movement and I agree!

5k or Bust

The first HRC Virtual Run for 2016 was the Molly Weasley Ugly Jumper Run 5k.  I wasn’t sure how I’d do, but I kept moving and built up my stamina.  Generally, I feel like anything I do in the winter is bonus as there are days when I can hardly get out of bed due to the pain levels.  I hate this Raynaud’s as well as my still undiagnosed auto-immune disorder as well as my osteoarthritis.

I hate it, but I refuse to let it win.  If I need to crawl, I will do so because I’m far too young to be this crippled. So there.  Ozma 1 – Body 0.

How I did

In the greater scheme of things, a time of 62 minutes 53 seconds for 3.55 miles sounds pretty terrible.  In the land where my leg hurts after 2 miles, I’m impressed.  I used my Gazelle elliptical for this virtual run and I think that helped.  The super low impact nature of this machine means my knee can go further distances before I’m ready to call it quits. Did I want to call it quits? Sure. Yet, on I went.

I aim to do better for my next run.  It’s going to be hard, but if I can do 5k, I can succeed!  I’ll never be a marathoner, but I’m OK with that.  I want to be healthier and I want my joints to stop hurting.  It’s a fine balance between what I must do in order to keep my joints functioning and what I can’t do because it ends up backfiring and making me worse.

 What I learned

It’s hard, but if I can do it, anyone can! We’re all in this together.  If you need a buddy, I’m here for you.  Having a support team made all the difference.  I don’t think I could have kept going if it wasn’t for my buddies in the club cheering me on each day.  I love that we’re here to support one another and share our love of Harry Potter. To the entire HRC as well as my buddies in the 🐍💚🐍 Slytherin House 🐍💚🐍, thanks!

Goals for next time

A better speed.  I would love to get back down to my 50 minute 5k.  I do think that I go faster on the road than on my machine.  Maybe not, I don’t know.  It sure feels like it.  I sacrifice the race day excitement doing the virtual runs on my own, but the crowds set off my anxiety.  I would love to be able to do a race in person, but between the need to get up early and the dealing with crowds, I don’t know how to make that happen.  I wish my anxiety levels were better.  They’ve gotten worse again, but the HRC work outs actually help calm me.  Endorphins.  It’s all about the endorphins!

Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins makes you happy. Happy people don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t! –Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

That’s right, anytime I can quote Elle Woods, I do. Because… Elle Woods.

What will you do next?  Me? I’m working on Perfect Prefect with the HRC! There will be more posts, hopefully in a more timely fashion!

–Lady O