As I wake up on what is the anniversary of going into lockdown, I feel compelled to personally reflect on my experiences of the past 12 months. Next week the third lockdown will be coming to an end and restrictions will gradually ease. At some point when life has some semblance of pre 2020, we will no doubt want to look back on this strange period in history. This for me is a reminder that when the outlook may be overwhelmingly negative that you can choose how you view the situation.
Firstly I want to acknowledge what a struggle it has been for some. I in no way want belittle anyone's experience, no matter what your feelings and experience, they are valid. As said before, this is my personal reflection of the past 12 months. I also want to make it very clear that I have personally been in very fortunate position. I have my health, I live with my husband who is my best friend, we have both been able to work from home throughout lockdown and we have been able to continue doing the hobby we enjoy the most. I am also an introvert so in some respects, lockdown has very much suited me. That being said I have still struggled with the uncertainty, worried about the health and welfare of my family and friends.
Just a couple of weeks before we entered into a national lockdown I was lining up at the start of the Cambridge Half Marathon. There was an unease in the air, hand sanitiser was at a premium and was chained down at sanitising stations around the event village. Toilet rolls at this time were also in shortage but I am pleased to say that they hadn't been rationed in the port-a-loo's! I was unwell at the time, supposedly sinusitis which the antibiotics I'd been prescribed were doing nothing for. I had a head full of snot and I'd never felt more awkward pulling out a tissue and blowing my nose in public before. I'd barely run since the 28 miles of the Arc of Attrition over a month before. I had been 50/50 as to whether I should run however I am in some respects pleased that I did as at the time I didn't know it'd be the last race of 2020 for me. It was a struggle to get around, old injuries reminded me of their presence and there was next to no chance of getting close to a personal best, I was relived to cross the finish line. Post race we paid a visit to Brewdog, sampled their beers and had a Temple of Seitan burger (if you're vegan you know). This was the last normal thing I did!
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| The first and last event of 2020 - Cambridge Half Marathon |
With all future races either cancelled or on hold I had nothing to train for at the time. This presented me with an opportunity to press reset. I was still carrying the symptoms of a torn plantar fascia which I'd been living with for 12 months. I'd received physiotherapy through the NHS but no amount of massage, dry needling, ultrasound or shockwave therapy was helping it. Physiotherapists had closed their doors, however in the new world of Zoom, some were offering online services. I'd met Tom Goom 'The Running Physio' on a course a couple of months before. Tom is based near Brighton and ordinarily it'd be a little prohibitive to travel that distance to see a physio. However, through an online consultation Tom was able to offer what all other physiotherapist had missed. We looked at my training, stripped it right back and started at a base level before gradually building the distance. I was also given some strengthening exercises for the plantar fascia and in combination I started finding consistency in my training and most importantly no foot pain.
My work as a soft tissue therapist (sports massage) also stopped with going into lockdown. Before I'd been juggling a full-time job with 2 nights of massage a week. This meant Monday and Tuesday's were more often than not 14 hour days which at times was exhausting. Whilst I do look forward to getting back to helping people, I am also grateful for the additional time it has given me back. I have used this time to study and develop my knowledge of running injuries and biomechanics. It has also been nice to sit down to a meal with Paul at a normal time rather than reheated and eating at 10pm before crawling exhausted into bed.
Being able to work from home in my day job has been a blessing. I have been a full-time homeworker for for the past 3 years so it wasn't really a change for me. However, it has forced a cultural change amongst my colleagues whom in the past would often bypass me as it wasn't practical to bring me into meetings and include me in discussions that were happening face to face. With everyone home working it has levelled the playing field and we've had no choice other than to hold virtual meetings. I have always enjoyed the flexibility of home working but now so more than ever. During the winter lockdowns I have been able to get out during my lunch breaks and fit in runs during daylight hours. It has also helped hugely with my mental health and on stressful days escape my desk and computer screen for an hour. With Paul working from home too it has been nice to have the company at home and on occasions we've headed out for a lunchtime run together which in the past rarely happened.
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| A rare lunchtime run with Paul |
I will be the first to admit that I am a bit of a kit monster! I have a whole draw dedicated to just running kit and goodness knows how many pairs of running trainers. With manufacturers struggling with production due to Covid and running being one of the things we are permitted to do, there was an emerging market for used running kit. It gave me the opportunity to have a bit of a clear out and consolidate my kit collection to just the items I really love and use regularly. I sold a lot of kit through Facebook Marketplace and was shocked at how quickly much of it sold. It gave me a huge sense of satisfaction that my kit was going to a new owner and getting a new lease of life whereas in normal circumstances it would have headed to a recycling centre. Not to mention that I made a little extra money (which I did invest in new trainers!).
Lockdown has meant that lots of people have taken to walking and exercising outdoors and my usual routes became very crowded. Wanting a little more space I started exploring public footpaths that I had often seen and wondered where they led to. I discovered a whole new network of footpaths and bridleways thanks to OS maps and have subscribed to their premium service which has enabled me to plan routes and send to my GPS watch and navigate. This has been great as I have discovered all sorts of wonders throughout the changing seasons such a woodland full of bluebells, various patches of wild garlic and where to find the juiciest blackberries that other people have not found! It's been great to have OS maps at my fingertips whenever out and about and look forward to exploring beyond my doorstep as travel restrictions ease.
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| Woodland bluebells |
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| Foraging blackberries |
Not having the administration of a business and social arrangements I have found myself with a lot more spare time. I do love a running book and had quite a collection which I had acquired from several Christmas' and birthday's but rarely the time to read. I could quite easily make a book last a year and would only read if on holiday. This has changed during lockdown, after rinsing all the online TV streaming services I thought it would be a good opportunity to pick up some of those unread books. I also was put in touch by a friend with the editor of Ultrarunning World Magazine and have had the opportunity to read and write a review for several books which have been published in the magazine. Reading has also provided the perfect escape in a world where we have been unable travel and run races.
Pre Covid I was an injured runner with the aspirations of one day being in shape to run ultramarathons. I don't think I will ever be injury free (let's face it how many runners do you know without a niggle) but I have been able to train like an ultra runner. My long runs on a weekend will often see me out for 3-4 hours on a Saturday and 1-2 hours on a Sunday. Having zero social engagements in the calendar (apart from when the food shopping is being delivered) has meant that I can head out, do my long run and still have the afternoon to catch up on chores around the house or just simply slob and excel at my recovery strategy. I don't ever want to be as busy as I was pre pandemic!
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| Wild garlic picking |
