Yep, I ran.

Yesterday was a great day for 3 reasons.

1. I did my first 2km run
2. I started my new diet from Rick Kattouf
3. I wore my HR monitor.

Okay, so first things first. Today was my welcome back to running day. Need I tell you how excited I was? Okay, you twisted my arm - I will tell. I could hardly contain myself. All I wanted to do was go like a bat out of hell and run like the wind - but you will all be proud, that's not what I did. The pace at which I started is the pace at which I finished, nice and slow with very small strides to match. Nothing about it resembled the stride and form I was teaching myself to keep before I got injured. It was all about just feeling every inch of this run and seeing if my body was ready to start making the progression forward. And I am happy to report that apart from the usual tightness that creeps around your calf muscles nothing hurt and to this very minute still doesn't.

My back, which was really tender in the morning - after the run felt all nice and loose and the sharp stitch that gets me in my lower back had abated. That's not to say it didn't return after I had cooled down but the intensity was far less. Now, some 24hrs post run my back is back to it's usual twingy self but I think I just have to ride it out and continue doing everything I am doing in terms of strength exercises. I was meant to go back today for more injections but can't afford this lot this time around. It'll be right.

So before starting my run I thought I would test out my new HR monitor. My resting HR before jumping out of bed was 59bpm but I had already been awake for some time before I remembered so not sure if it was truly accurate. By the time I hit the end of my 50m driveway my HR was already at 84bpm - I think it was the excitement that was making it do a little jig. Within a minute I of running I was somewhere near the 110bpm mark and remained around the 118-129bpm mark for the majority of the run. That was until I got to the last 200m and it was then my HR quickly shot up to 147bpm on the slow incline up to home. I didn't know what all of that meant until Eoin told me to jump on his blog to figure out my MHR and Recovery ceiling. So that's what I did:

• MHR: 187bpm
• Recovery Ceiling: 154bpm

So the good thing was I am well within my limits. I haven't tested my MHR threshold properly but this was a guesstimate till I gathered the courage to test it running up a hill or some other crazy way. I must admit though even though I was running at a fairly slow pace 6:07min/km I was totally spent lung wise. My lungs were feeling the pinch for much needed oxygen but I guess that's what happens when you have been out of running action for a while - the body forgets how to redistribute the vital air it is sucking in. Nevermind, I know the more I run the better it will get.

I also started my new meal plan through Training Peaks by Rick Kattouf. I really enjoyed the variety of Day 1's meal plan. The only glitch and it's not really a glitch is that I had to substitute certain foods as it is an American Meal plan. No biggey, the meal plans have a detailed description of what is in them, and just so I had an even better idea so when I go food shopping I looked up the ingredients on the internet and tried to find a suitable substitute.

I was really full after each meal and wasn't looking for anything else to top up the stores. I also had to drink a protein shake which I am generally not too keen on. However my husband found me one that I don't mind. Body Shape by Nutralife in a yummy Strawberry flavour.
It has similar constituents as MuscleMilk, maybe a few extra but in differing quantities. I really like the flavour but I have to have it in icey water. I don't like milk at all so this was the only way I could drink it. I think I am on a winner with this one.

Yesterday was a great day, and today is looking set to be another.