This also is an unusual post-it post.
This is taken exactly, word for word from one of my written to-self notes.
I used to be a runner.
Well, I say a runner.
I was more of a shuffler.
But I participated! And completed 1 full marathon, 12 or so half marathons, one 12-K, several 10Ks, and innumerable 5Ks. A sprint triathlon and I was aiming for a half Ironman in the next year.
And then school beckoned and I fell out of like with the sport.
*** will indicate my current thoughts.
Denied.
7 miles into the half marathon my knees started to lock. The IT band tightening with every footfall. Each time my foot hit the ground the word “denied” sounded in my head.
Not the marathon one wants.
Up until then it had been a great race. 7 miles down in an hour and 10 minutes.
*** see, I told you I was a shuffler.
All my training, hours on the trail, and sweat had me on a great PR (personal record) pace.
Then I was effectively hobbled by knee pain. It took me 1 hour to do the last 3 miles.
*** for those playing along, this is half the pace I had been on.
*** also, this is not a marathon story, this is supposed to be a half marathon story.
Denied.
I wasn’t even supposed to be doing the half. I had an actual 26.2 marathon planned in five weeks. But if you did the half and the full in the same calendar year, you were promised a THIRD medal. And I love race swag. All the medals
Hubris brought me down. No matter that this run was supposed to be the week’s long run.
I limped back to the car and contemplated my lot.
I could still attempt the full marathon in 5 weeks. My training had been going so well. Miles were stacking up and I did not have any warning from my body that it had had enough. My long run was up to 19 miles. I was slow but I endured.
If I tried the marathon on legs that would still be recovering from today I would probably be swept into the DNF (did not finish) pack. I’ve never had a DNF. But 5 weeks is not enough time to rest my legs and rehab from this fresh hell. I could really injure myself if I continued
My car was the last in the parking lot. I don’t know what that says, but it was then that I decided that this year’s marathon was not for me.
I withdrew.
Present day me again. I did a full marathon 9 months after this. I ran in the debut All-American Marathon in Fayetteville, NC at the Army base. That was thrilling.
After I fell in the operating room in September 2019 and had a deep bone bruise to my left knee I have never run another race. We all know what happened in 2020.
Running doesn’t miss me, but sometimes I miss it.
Not really but I will get back out there sometime. Currently, I prefer to box or bike anyway.
You know, solitary endeavors.
Dispatches from the Evening Shift 