Again - back on the hills, post-injury

It didn't take very long for me to get back to running after busting my knee. But only on the road. Or if not the road, then at least very smooth terrain. I had went to the top of Penrhyn Quarry twice; that is a gravel road. That was okay.

I had managed to successfully run a 10k race. Would I be ready to resume my off-road running? I decided to chance it the next day. I don’t always judge it well. 

It was a beautiful evening, and there were a lot of dogs. So far it booked auspicious. And then we set off into Dinorwic Quarry. That was okay; that is similar to Penrhyn quarry. When we ran out on the other side I got a bit slow, but then we started to head uphill. Then it's basically your heart and lungs that limit you; not so much the terrain. And we were heading to the top of Elidir Fawr! That's a bit of a beast of a hill. But as long as we went uphill, I was no slower than the next person. There was barely any running involved! 

Running out of the quarry

When we got to the top we admired the amazing view. I had only recently been there with Henco and Maaike! Then I had pulled it off as well. But I hadn't been expected to run.

Scrambling to the top

When we set off downhill, I knew I was going to be very slow, and I was. I could still feel my knee was vulnerable. One runner very kindly stayed with me when we saw everybody else vanish into the distance, to Elidir Fach. Between Elidir Fach and the asphalt road to the surge pond is also knee breaking territory, so again I was lagging way behind. I suggested to Dyfed I just make my own way. I was so slow! And I know the way. But he pointed out that they would be cutting through to the road that zigzags down the quarry; one can also get there via the asphalt road. So I did that! And three people and one dog even followed me. 

From there on, the terrain wasn't treacherous. It was still going downhill, so I was still the slowest, but they didn't have to wait for me very long. And once we were back on the flat, I was back to being a perfectly average Thursday runner again.

Dinorwic sunset

It hadn't been entirely straightforward, but I had managed a Thursday night again without making my knee problem worse! Mission accomplished. Hopefully, next week my knee will be again one week closer to perfect recovery, and we won't do anything as silly as scale something of the calibre of Elidir Fawr. I hope I can keep doing these runs as they are really enjoyable! But then without being the slow one everybody else has to wait for…