The Week I Lost My Voice, But Found My Strength

Last week was personally one to forget, and this week I was determined to try and make things better. The challenges in my personal life have not really gone away, but I didn't want them to affect me as badly as they did last week. I can't control what is going on, believe me I have tried, but I can try and control how I deal with it. This week I also wanted to have another relatively easy/care free running week doing what I wanted. Although it seems a lifetime ago now, it is still only a couple of weeks since the Liverpool Marathon, and next week my new goal commences - which will be revealed soon!

MONDAY: on a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday I started the day with a Body Pump class and ended with an 11 mile cycle ride - yes, not even running! I had been given a free bike a few months back and had never really had the time (read - have been prioritising running) to take it for a spin. It was relaxing to do something different and definitely helped clear my mind.

TUESDAY: a friend has recently got into Body Pump classes and although I did the class yesterday I wanted to go along with her again today and keep the encouragement going. I therefore ran an easy 4 mile loop to the gym and back, with a Pump session in the middle. Running felt purposeful, but without any pressure. 

WEDNESDAY: a run I absolutely loved. I headed out the door with the aim of running 5 miles but with no focus on pace. The weather was a delight; cool and drizzly, which although might sound horrible, after weeks of running and racing in intense heats, it was heavenly. I ran just over 5 miles in an average pace of 7.47 min/mile - it felt great.

THURSDAY: today I took another turn at revisiting my old football roots and spent a day at work coaching a half term holiday club for children. It is always tiring, but I prepped well and as soon as worked finished rushed and made it to the gym just in time for another Body Pump class with my friend. Three Body Pump classes in one week - I am expecting to be 'hench' soon! Today I also started to notice I was losing my voice. I knew I was a little run down after the stress of last week, and just put it down to that combined with shouting at children all day!

FRIDAY: Rest Day - I woke today with absolutely no ability to speak. My day was unbelievably frustrating, and made me realise just how much you rely on your voice to not only communicate but also to feel a part of things.

SATURDAY: I returned to my home Lincoln parkrun today after two weeks away. Two weeks may not sound like a lot, but for me it is! It was so good to be back among familiar faces, although I still had no voice (suspected laryngitis) which meant again I was frustrated not to be able to chat to friends. Although my lack of verbal communication was an obvious factor, I was not really sure how else laryngitis would affect my running, if it would at all. I had a 10k race on Sunday, and I wanted to test myself at parkrun today to give me some confidence. As I ran my legs felt the strongest they had been for a while, not the best, but better. Breathing wise it was strange, I could tell things were not right, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly how. I cannot complain with a 20:56 finish though; even if I had a voice I am not sure I would have been able to use it at the end, I was spent!

SUNDAY: Woodhall Spa 10k - a relatively local race for me set in small village a short drive from Lincoln. I had never taken part in the event before and wanted to finally give it a try. Still without a voice it was difficult for me at the start as I kept seeing so many faces I knew, but I did not feel able to go and 'speak' to them as I would only have been able to struggle through a couple of words if I was lucky. Have I said how frustrating this has been?! Race day was hot yet again (that is now four events in a row for me!) and as soon as the race started I could feel just how muggy and dense the air was. I will write a full blog soon, but it was a real physical and mental battle; my head kept telling me to stop and walk/give up, but after recent life challenges my heart wasn't willing and I wanted to run. I could feel my body did not have its full energy, I think said challenges have taken a bigger toll on me than maybe I even realise, and my breathing was slightly strange feeling still, but I kept at it. Exhausted I crossed the line in 43:57 - a new PB, only by a few seconds, but a PB nevertheless and my first time going under 44 minutes. I also placed 10th female overall and 4th for my age category. If only I had a voice to say how happy I was!