It's 95 degrees on a Wednesday afternoon. I am at home in my apartment in Washington DC. I am wearing a neck brace and running shorts. I just watched a video about a 13-year-old girl who ran the JFK 50-miler, and I cried.
I cannot run. I spent the last two weekends at family functions, and both weekends I pulled the same upper back muscle playing air guitar on the ground of the dance floor with my eight year old nephew. Go figure. I'm a one trick pony.
What more auspicious time to revive my running blog?
Quick recap: I came back to the US from Malawi late last fall, moving to Washington DC. Jimmy joined me on Thanksgiving day, flying in on an all-nighter from South Africa. Later that morning, ran together down Connecticut Avenue, in shorts and gloves, the wind blowing and red leaves blowing all around the sidewalks. It was delicious.
I really enjoyed running this winter back in the US. I enjoyed the running paths and the clean, smooth sidewalks, and not being the center of attention to anyone but me. I didn't run the Houston Marathon, since my brother Danny and friends talked me into the Rocky Raccoon 50k near San Antonio in late January. I think I sooth-sayed that this might happen, and abracadabra, it did. The 50k was fantastic, if brutal. It was the first time I had run real trails in two years, and I paid for it with a number of crash and burns; luckily a lot of the trail was lined with these nice soft brush bushes that were like a big baby buggy when I fell.
Danny, Matt and Dave ran the 100k, which was more than twice as brutal. I must say that watching them snuffed out any desire I had kindling to run 50 miles.
In March, I ran the Nation's Half Marathon in Washington DC. I trained alone, with a 9-week plan from the internet. Because it is winter and I am a baby, I did most of my speedwork on the treadmill. But I did speedwork, which is a big step for me. And it paid off. I ran my second best half marathon time (1:37) on a much hillier course than my previous PR of 1:36. This is a long way from where I want to be (sub-1:30), but it is a start.
In April I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon and joined the Pacer's Miles Ahead program. Pacers is the Austin running groups on steroids. Twice the Type-A personalities, twice the intensity, twice the distance. But some nice people, and good reason to head to the track once a week and put some muscle behind my long runs. I am looking for a marathon personal best at Marine Corps, a sub-3:30.
After that is, I get back from this problem with...well, my back.
