I can talk all day about the why’s….. I could make up a thousand excuses… I can ponder reasons and doubts and probably come up with a very long list. Plain and simple, the Summer of 2016 has been a tough running season for me.
Normally, every year my racing season ends with a short race, typically early in June. The Summer is then spent rebuilding sore muscles, recovering from marathons and halves, taking some time off, and then building back for a Fall racing season packed with great races.
This, in part, is very true for the last few months with one exception. I’ve been on the verge of injury, the brink, since starting back. I’ve never felt quite right. I’ve had PF in the past, a bout with it that lasted about 9 months. A painful injury, but one I ran through causing it to linger way longer than necessary. I learned my lesson. Back then, I took a month off from running. No running at all. It seemed to do the trick, and when I returned to running slowly, the problem never came back. The summer of 2016 has been a reminder to me of that pain, that desire to fun free and feel good. I just haven’t been feeling right all summer.
What running I have done has been short, agonizing at times, and most certainly slow. I feel like I’ve aged ten years the past four months. I see all these people posting mileage for the summer, long runs, race prep, etc… It has been painful just to see that. I want that! My feet tell me no. Not yet.
So? What to do? I’ve barely even been reading blogs this summer, much less write my own. I haven’t had really any running news to share, so I just haven’t. I’ve missed it for sure, but needed to focus on other aspects of my life that needed attention. But here we are, heading into Fall, so what is my plan?
I didn’t enter the Chicago Marathon lottery this past Spring, so for the first time in three years I will not be heading to the Windy City in October. I did enter the Berlin Marathon lottery, and I guess fortunately considering my injury status, didn’t get picked because that race is days away. Marine Corps though, that’s another story. I did enter the lottery, DID get chosen, so I have one marathon this Fall at the end of October. I’ve debated over and over again if I should defer, but haven’t decided yet. Why? I think I’ve decided to give at least one race a shot and see what kind of condition it leaves me in. Once that’s over, I’ll know. I’ll know for sure.
So, without further ado, I AM RACING this weekend. My body has been in preservation mode, and now needs to quickly flip to racing mode. A half marathon this weekend should let me know once and for all, if indeed I am either in or out this Fall. Why you ask, am I racing? I just need to know. I need to have a clear direction for this running passion I have for the next several months.
With a pacing gig lined up for mid October, and Marine Corps a few weeks later, and one last Half locally a couple weeks after that, I just need to know if I am back on track or not. If the race goes ok this weekend, and recovery isn’t bad, I’ll know. If the race is an epic failure, I’ll know.
So, wish me luck! I promise to post a recap with all the details, good or bad, next week. I’m either going to stare injury in the face and beat it, or I’ll be down for the count until 2017. Should be an epic race either way. ;). Here goes nothing!
Running Wild 