Two half marathons later

I’ve done a lousy job keeping up with writing here, haven’t I?

What’s happened since?

I ran a half-marathon at the end of May with my cousin in Hawaii. It was her first half and we clocked in at 2:13. But, most importantly we ran the entire 13.1 miles together. I’m so proud of her.

It was painful, but it was a lot of fun. It made me want to buckle down and train for another half more vigorously.

So, I did.

I trained through the summer and ran SeaWheeze in Vancouver, Canada in August. My goal was to run sub-2 hours … and, I did. I ran it in 1:55 and I couldn’t have been happier.

I really pushed myself during this race. I didn’t hold back. My knee got through it, but definitely felt it.

After that race, I didn’t go on a single run for two months.

I needed time to rest — and I just didn’t feel like running either.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to start doing my PT exercises again. (Not only did I just stop running, I completely stopped working out or doing PT).

And in the last week or two, I started running again.

I have also been thinking about racing another half next spring. But, my heart really wants to go after a full marathon. I think being able to run a full would prove to myself that I am no longer injured.

It’s been more than three years since my last full marathon — the one where I got injured and have had this running “set-back” for quite some time. Prior to this, I had been training and racing a full marathon yearly. My goal always being to train smarter, get faster and break four hours.

I want to get back to being that runner.

Maybe it’ll happen this spring. We’ll see.

 

I forget what comeback I am on

This afternoon on my run along South Lake Union, I started racing the man on the other side of the street.

You see, he was running ahead of me, just a bit ahead. I needed to cross the street so that I could make my turn back to my office. (I run right after work near my office from time to time because I get so tired of walking and running in my neighborhood!)

Once I crossed the street and we were on opposite sides of the road, I realized that he was still not that far ahead of me.

I’m going to beat him.

Yes, I have a taped up knee and my longest run is only at 35 minutes, yet, I was determined to sprint down the street so I could “beat” this other runner.

And, I won.

It’s a small victory.

I also acknowledge that my “competitor” had no idea we were racing.

Maybe I’m making another comeback. Only time will tell.

I do have to say that I have that fire in my belly and I’m ready to eventually race for real again some day.

“My face is so cold, my face is so cold.”

I’m back and running again … sort of.

I’m starting up a return-to-running program for the second time.

I’m currently doing intervals of 2 minutes walking, 2 minutes running. I’ve gotten up to 20 minutes of running.

This is all with the mindset and heart that I will do a half marathon in May. 

I’ve registered for a half on Oahu Memorial Day weekend. My cousin signed up, too. This will be her first half marathon. This will be my more-than-10th half marathon.  (Note: We registered for this race before I started doing PT and before I was in the “no running” mode).

I’m not looking to PR. I’m not looking to even run the whole thing. I mean, running the entire 13.1 miles would be lovely! But, I also do not want to digress in “all the work” I’ve been putting into getting healthy again.

My hope and plan is that I am at a point where I can complete the race, even if that means walking half of it.

It’s been really cold in Seattle the past few weeks. Every time I go out for my run/walk, I kind of don’t want to because it’s just so cold during the walking part.

I’ve even caught myself saying aloud to no one but myself: My face is so cold, my face is so cold …

My face is really cold. But, I’ll do whatever it takes to be running again. And, to get back to 100 percent healthy-knee status.

New year, new me?

I know I last wrote that I am going dark. But, I just wanted to pop by here to say that I am going to try to keep writing here at least once a month.

For 2019, I obviously don’t have any running resolutions.

I just want to be able to run without pain this year.

I’m still going to PT and when I returned from a week away — in Colombia visiting my Bryce’s family for Christmas — I told my physical therapist that my knee had actually felt better in the last week.

“Just keep doing what you did in Colombia!” he said.

Sleep in and eat huge avocados every day?

I’m participating in a trail race at the end of this month. Yes, participating, not running. Bryce and I signed up for this race a while ago, before I stopped running again. We plan to hike the race together. Since this will be in New Zealand, I guess I’ll want to take a lot of photos along the way, so maybe it won’t be too bad to walk the whole thing.

Hope you’ve been able to stick with your new resolutions and goals. Cheers to 2019!

Time to pause and switch gears

Hello, friends —

I haven’t been running for five weeks now. I’ve been going to PT for like three weeks or so.

And, well, what I’m trying to say is, it’s really hard to go through all of this again. So, I’ve started a new blog.

www.ottertravelmore.com

Why a new blog?

Because I want to focus my time and energy on another subject that is near and dear to my heart: travel

What does this mean for this blog?

I won’t be posting as often here … but, you already knew that if you’re a frequent reader.

To be honest, writing about how I can’t run and how I am doing PT again makes me feel even worse. I started this running blog to share the highs and lows of running and training for long-distance races … but for someone who hasn’t been able to run knee pain free for more than two years, well, it just really hurts.

I’m not giving up on running.

You better believe that I am diligently doing all my PT exercises at home. You better believe I am not running until I am given the green light.

I’m just tired of writing about PT appointments. I’m just tired of people asking me how running is going, and me replying that I can’t run again.

Thank you all for your virtual support, well wishes, comments and IRL encouragement. I know I’m not the first person to go through a running injury. I just won’t be documenting it all as closely as I would have liked to. Right now, it just makes me feel worse about the whole situation.

If you want to see what I’m up to non-running-injury-wise, please follow along on otter travel more. I have two exciting trips coming up in the next few months: Colombia and New Zealand! It’ll make for a better, more up-beat time, then here for now 🙂