Wow. Well. Yeah. I haven’t blogged in a while. It’s a confluence of things. But mostly I’m blaming winter. I become the worst kind of runner in winter. Meaning I don’t run. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned; the best way to be a runner is consistency. Case in point, I ran about 3 times in February and then showed up for a little 3 miler in my home city. The race was awesome and I bombed into the finish chute passing a woman to do it. (I also passed about 40 people running up a hill!) My Facebook post to my running group was all sunshine and rainbows and I was pumped for the next race in the series. Fast forward 48 hours and I’m getting ready in the morning. I shower, dry my hair (which involves bending over), and then putting on a little make-up. Suddenly and without warning my back seized and I was right back to where I was last summer. On the DL “until the pain went away”. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to heal faster.

I still went to the gym a couple times a week for the bike, but not nearly as much as I should have. And I basically hid under heated blankets. Because it just wouldn’t get warmer. But then 5 weeks had passed. And my back was feeling sort of ok. And a co-worker who is also coming back from an injury offered to go run at a 1:30min run 1 min walk interval. And I thought that sounded like a good way to restart running. So I said “sure!” And we ran. And then I waited. I could have probably gone running but some part of me wasn’t ready to get all gung ho back into yet. I think I was probably a little afraid that I’d get excited, go for a 2nd run in a week and then reinjure myself and be 76 kinds of sad and stir crazy. ESPECIALLY now that the sun is up after work, temperatures are rising, and there is green along the Charles instead of dirty white.

Fast forward a week and I’ve gone on two runs this week and one gym session. It should be 3 and 2, but let’s use baby steps, okay? Of course I got up on this Sunday morning, dog sitting for Charlotte, and headed out on my run along the Charles. And damn if it wasn’t gorgeous and soul soothing and hells yes, someone find me a manatee to hug perfect.

I mean, the water was flowing (no ice!), I could run right down by the water (no ice!), the sun felt warm (Earth tilt!), crew teams were out (no ice!), and people were everywhere. Of course it’s early April so as I sit here 6 hours later my face is on fire with wind burn. And I was in long sleeves and a winter hat. But it was outside and not a pile of death. I’d like to say I’m someone who got out there all winter, but my half marathon sort of killed my running spirit and it was so brutally cold that I just couldn’t find the motivation. Continued amazing weather by the Charles is just the right kind of motivation.

I think I’m back and will be here to entertain you with tails from my trails (both concrete and dirt). I’m still trying to decide what kind of goals I want for myself. Right now it’s a 5 miler in May. After that, who knows. I’m moving in September. And then immediately leaving for Peru. And then going to a wedding in Kansas City. And then October. Do I really want to long run the day I get back from Peru? Or during the wedding weekend? I don’t know. But I have a while to decide. For now I’m going to enjoy lacing up and watching Spring burst out around the Charles and this fabulous city I call home! And also cheering for my beloved Sox (while mourning the loss of College Basketball [the Cyclones are basically the only reason I didn’t go completely bat shit crazy this winter])

Hearts and red tinged trees!!

PS If you’re not from a place where trees lose leaves, some time in early spring the buds on the trees start to appear and give the trees a red tint around the edges which is then followed by bright green baby leaves and then finally green leaves for daaaaaays!