I hope you’re doing well! It’s been so long since I’ve been able to share some runfessions, and it’s not for a lack of material! Life has just been so busy that I haven’t been able to blog as consistently as I wanted, but I’m still here! Let’s get into it!
I’m joining Marcia for Runfessions and Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday!
Back in early July, I noticed some pain/sensitivity in my left knee…it just didn’t feel right. So I took a short break from running and made an appointment with a physical therapist as soon as possible. Sure enough, Runner’s Knee. This is something I dealt with many years ago, so it did surprise me to have a resurgence at this seemingly random time. But I got to work almost immediately, working on strengthening my hips and hamstrings. The frustrating part of it right now is that my recovery is taking longer than I anticipated, and I’ve recently had to “pivot” my treatment to more strength training work to stabilize my hypermobile knees. Unlike my past bouts with PT, I have been really doing my homework and giving it my all, so I just want that hard work to pay off, you know? I’ll just keep doing the best I can and listen to the professionals as I get myself ready for my two half marathons this fall!
While most of you know how much I love running in the winter, running in the fall is a very close second! I am so over the high humidity and 90+ degree temps! I don’t necessarily want all of the pumpkin spiced-things yet, but can I at least get some 70-degree weather? Football season is almost here, which Bret loves, and the fall vibes are what I live for! I can’t wait to see little E picking apples and running around the pumpkin patch this fall!
I SO love being back with the Running Club for our Saturday morning runs, but I have to runfess that I’ve felt guilty about going out with them! Last summer, my weekends were wide open due to the lack of fall races and the fact that I was newly postpartum, so Bret, Baby E, and I would go out every weekend for a long hike someplace new. It was truly a great bonding time for us all! This year we’ve hardly done that and I feel so guilty about it! Since my running is on a brief hiatus, now will be the perfect opportunity to have more hiking/exploring time with my family. Plus, I think it’s okay if I don’t run with the club every weekend when I am healthy – we have a solid group now that I don’t feel the need to always be there!
It has been a really long time since I’ve had a consistent yoga practice. At the start of the year, I challenged myself to 15-minute sessions each night. When I was on a roll, it was really nice! Now, with all of the stress that I’ve been experiencing at home and at work, I really feel like I need yoga as an outlet. I also think that it can help me continue to build strength, which isn’t a bad thing. I just need to get started.
Races are getting modified left and right as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Philly area, races like the Broad Stree Run and Philly 10K are starting to require proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID tests in order to participate. Others, like the Love Run Half Marathon and New Jersey Marathon, are simply being canceled. So far, my fall races (the Philly Trail Half Marathon and Philly Half Marathon) seem to be moving forward with no conditions, but things are changing so quickly. I am fully vaccinated, but I am still very fearful of getting COVID and bringing it home to my family. It’s safer to be outside on all accounts, but being so close to other people, especially when many refuse to wear masks in corrals, is very uncomfortable for me. Time will tell, as it’s completely out of my control!
What runfessions do you have to share?