@Cathleen
This is long, sorry!
I recently ran my first 5K after PKR and TKR in late 2015. I was slow, slow, slow - but it felt great. (The 30 pounds I've gained has more to do with the slowness than anything.) Mostly, I wanted to know I could do it again if I wanted to. I've pondered training for a 1/2 marathon, but I found the drive is no longer there to do any more distance than a 5K. 5Ks keep me in the game. The only thing that bothers me is that I love medals. It's rare to get a medal for a 5K!
I'm in the process of trying to figure out what my passion is these days. I had completed a few hard, distance mountain hikes before my first knee gave up the ghost. I loved it! So, I'm going to start hitting the trails soon and focus on flat ones for a while as I'm gaining more strength and endurance. My legs are pretty strong, but my endurance is horrible. A couple of friends who are currently training for marathons want to give distance running a break for while and are game for hiking...I hope it works out. Trekking poles will be with me.
All of this is to say that it takes a while. When they say a full year, believe it. But running again is possible
if you wait for everything to heal and take it easy starting out. I tried running too soon in my recovery (seven months in) and it felt like my lower legs were totally detached from the upper legs. It felt odd and I decided my knees needed a little more time so I ditched the running and became more purposeful with my walking. When I could easily do a five mile walk, I started working on getting faster. Then I started doing run/walk intervals and did a C25K program with my running club and ran a 5K in March. The good news is that the muscle memory is strong and running felt wonderful. The first time I ran for 15 minutes solid, I felt like I was living my life in full color again.
I ignored all of those who said I shouldn't run. I had a little pain along the way, but nothing a couple of Tylenol and ice didn't mend by the next day. Now I'm to the point that if I don't get in a daily walk mixed with a little running, I end up with stiff knees. It took me a long time to get to this point, but life is finally back to normal. I'm not sure if I'll ever get to the point where I don't think about my knees, but I do think of them less.
United States
) last Monday. I am a nurse and I've have a variety of different positions throughout my career. Being an RN with experience really can put you in the drivers seat. For the last year and a half I've been working at an outpatient dialysis clinic for a large international company. I work 10 to 12 hours a day but I always ask to not work more than two days in a row. I'm fortunate in that full time is only 30 hours a week to qualify for all full time benefits. I was something new for me. They taught me everything I needed to know and I had an extensive 6 month training period. This might be the perfect time to delve into a new area of nursing. That way when you are going back to work you will have some time to orient to that new position and not tight back to running around in an ER.
so I was next to last, but still competitive.
