I’ll Bring Thunder

Running without a plan can be difficult. I think that’s true for most people and I find myself generally wandering, trying to keep up miles, but not sure in what way. Is there are reason to strength train? Sure. Always. But it’s harder to motivate yourself if there isn’t a reason right there that you can cross off a day of work done and look at what’s next.

That being said, I’m doing okay this winter. I had a very exciting and successful go at frisbee in LA. I brought back so many warm memories and desires. I reminded me of who I once was and offered me a look at who I could be once again. Frisbee was Me for a very long time. I was (am?) good st it fairly naturally although with the younger players starting so much sooner if I began now it may have been different. But for when I played, I was good and brought talent to a team. With my two ACL replacements, five years apart, how I played changed and eventually stopped. There is a part of me that will always wonder what if and a part of me that will always be a little incompleteness at having that torn (yes pun intended) away from me without my consent. But stuff happens and you move on. Having played this beach tournament and been fairly competent on our team (I did get almost all the spirit awards/player awards) after not touching a frisbee for a year reminded me that maybe I could do this again.

But then I think and remember. The pain. The recovery. The loss of freedom. The lingering issues I still have and know that it’s never going to be the same and who knows what could happen. So I try to take that fire I had on a beach in LA that was born of so many other games, throws, victories and losses and bring it to my running. 

This may be who I am now. I will not be as good of a runner as I was a frisbee player but I can be good at this to my liking. I can win some things and I can win things for myself. I am finding satisfaction in this and trying to find more. It is lonelier than frisbee but there is a community and there is support. So, as winter drags and I wonder about motivation and what’s next, I try to think that EVERYTHING is next and that is something to work towards.

And if, once or twice a year, I get to play a game of frisbee and remember my youth and my love of that sport and be reminded who I was at a time and who I still am, that’s still something.  

Top of the World

And now we enter a new year and, with it, new goals. In closing out last year, I managed to hit many of my goals which is rewarding. The first was obviously running a marathon, even if I didn’t BQ. At times I get such a warm feeling knowing that I did that and that I am a marathoner. It was a lot of work, but there is a lot of joy that came from it.

The new goal, as quickly posted, was running over a thousand miles (I ended at 1039.9 - how much do I wish that was 1040 now...). This is something I’ve had wanted to do in the past, but injuries always held me back. It’s not surprising I managed to do it this year and, one goal for 2018, is to do it again.

And my last goal that wasn’t a goal until I thought about it was placing in races. Post-marathon I realized I could probably do well at a local 5 miler and I did. Then the husband and I signed up for a 5K shindig at my parent’s house and I realized I could probably do well there... and I did! First in my age group (2nd overall for females) in the last race of 2017! It was such a rush and I really enjoyed the 5K race. It was a fun mental game of when do I push, when do I breathe, when do I follow and when do I pass. It hurt but because you can think the whole time I found I really liked it. I don’t think the 5K will be a race I focus on but I like the idea of adding a few small ones in. I will add my first race of 2018 was 12:10 had my finish second overall for the females (no age groups) and I lost to someone I beat in the prior race. It was a good run and I needed to try a move sooner, but now I know and liked the mental and physical thought process I took from in.

So, in 2018 here are some of my running related goals:
Run Baystate again and BQ
1:45 or under half marathon. I think I can go faster but I’ll start with this time.
Focus on leg strength and agility at least one a week to improve flexibility and strength.
Try a local race (besides my turkey trot) and look for a place in age group.
Run 1,000 miles plus.
And enjoy! Keep having running be that thing you love that is an identity and a positive impact on your life.