Time for an update on the running front!
Things are good. I no longer feel like I’m grasping at straws and I’m more at peace with my running than I’ve been in awhile. I slept 9 hours last night, had a great workout this morning and am generally just loving life. Oh, and I’m not going to run the Cal International Marathon next weekend like I originally planned.
I had a hiccup in my training when I tweaked my back/glute/hamstring while moving from Colorado Springs to Boulder that forced me to take ANOTHER couple weeks off. The decision to move was great for my general health. I LOVE living in one spot. A lot less driving, a lot less stress, and only one place to clean! But doing it on a whim in basically one day by myself wasn’t my best decision ever. Note to self: sometimes its ok to ask for help. Oh, and Rome wasn’t built in a day.
The weird back thing caused me to miss my rust buster race and I was really hesitant in my training for awhile after that. After an injury plauged couple of years I’m a little paranoid. Do I think I could patch together a decent marathon right now? You bet! But would I be satisfied with a “decent” marathon? Not. Even. Close. And would it be worth the risk of getting hurt again?
In the past I would have gone for it. I ran my marathon PR on a torn plantar plate and went straight into a boot for 6 weeks. A few months later I partially dislocated my second toe around the 5 mile mark during the Houston half marathon. It will go down as the second most painful race I’ve ever run right behind the 88 degree Chicago Marathon in 2007. I didn’t even enjoy the PR because I was in a world of hurt and knew I really messed up my foot.
I’m not willing to go there after having to sit out for so long. I am finally feeling good and having more fun than ever. Recently I jumped into a couple of last minute races with no watch and zero expectation and came away more fulfilled than some of my PR days. There will be lots of marathons in the future but I only get one body and if I’m going to participate in them I better listen to it.
Best of luck to everyone running Cal. Look for me in a low key event in December and a marathon in Jan or Feb. Happy running to all!
Definitely a reasonable decision. Getting back into it and putting together a complete race is much better than scrapping a decent one together! Hope things continue to get better. Was looking forward to running with you out at CIM but good luck in your next races!
Thanks Lucas! I hope you have a great race!
I know this may seem odd but I can see why sometimes you’re achy. Like myself and a couple of my running buddies, although at a much different lesser level, we’re usually achy ourselves and that’s cause we “push it” as much as we love to run, train and race, “we push it”.
Yep I hear ya. It’s tough to find that balance between enough training and too much.
Looks the weather at CIM is going to blow projectile chunks anyway, if that offers the slightest consolation.
Glad you’re both gearing up to throw down again and being smart about it — an athlete at your level is forever going to feel pressured to race when there’s even a 20 percent chance of escaping without worsening an existing physical issue.