It’s been a few weeks since I returned from Chennai, and I’m finally getting back into my pre-India training routine. The transition hasn’t been easy, but I’m thrilled to be back on track!
After those intense weeks battling the heat and chaotic streets of Chennai, it took me a further two weeks to build back up to my regular routine of three days running and three days strength training each week. But persistence pays off, and now I’m pleased to say I’m back on course.
Current Training Progress: My long run has gradually increased back up to 10 miles, with a recovery week of 8 miles in between. And this week, I’m gearing up to take on 11 miles! It feels great to push myself again, step-by-step, and feel my strength and endurance returning.
Birthday PT Session: A Unique Celebration! One significant change I’ve made to my routine is adding a personal training (PT) session once a week specifically for heavy weight-lifting exercises. Funny enough, my first session coincided with my birthday! 🎂
It was quite a way to celebrate—after 4 weeks of being off a structured routine, jumping straight into a PT session felt daunting! But I decided there’s no better way to mark a new year in my life than by getting back on track with my fitness goals.
The first week was all about testing my strength and endurance. To my surprise (and relief), my PT gave me a “tick in the box” for being quite strong and handling the exercises well. He even said he was surprised at how much I could do after three weeks of inactivity. I think that was more of an encouragement than a true assessment, but it still felt good to hear!
I especially found the Supine Pulls challenging—they sapped the energy out of my shoulders and arms the next day. But on the bright side, the Romanian Deadlifts felt fantastic, and I’m excited to continue improving on them.
Adjusting My Running Routine For now, I’m still taking my runs slow and steady, but I’m considering adding some hill intervals to my routine in October. Hill work always adds an extra challenge and helps build the strength I’ll need to tackle the marathon distance—especially since I’ll be running in a saree!
Managing Setbacks It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, though. I’ve been dealing with some side effects from antibiotics I’m taking for a bacterial growth related to IBS—mostly headaches and fatigue. But I’m determined not to let that disrupt my routine any more than it already has.
So, here’s to rolling into October with a solid plan and lots of optimism. The marathon is just a few months away, and I’m more focused than ever on making this journey count. If you want to read more about my progress and the highs and lows of training, be sure to check out my blog and follow along.
Thanks for being a part of my journey! Together, let’s raise awareness for Diabetes UK and show what resilience really looks like.
