Amy Lu's View

Today was the third day in a row that I ran a mile. I think these runs were successful–super slow and a little uncomfortable, but apparently not exacerbating whatever leg issue I have, or causing a new one.

I’m afraid to publicly state this, in case I jinx myself. I’m scared to get my hopes up that I may be back on the road to running, as I feel like several times this year I’ve started making progress only to have a sudden major setback.

I just apprehensively consulted my running stats recorded by my Garmin watch, and was shocked to see that I actually ran 50 miles in February. Normally I run at least 100 miles a month, so 50 isn’t that much, but I didn’t think I was even close to that. I actually had a day where I did a 5 mile run. The fact that my memory was so off may suggest that 1) I have a really bad memory and 2) I have a flair for drama and exaggeration so I made my running story more tragic than it is.

My Garmin also helped me verify that my last real run before my latest woes started was on March 6. (Yes, just after turning 50 but I don’t think there was a direct causal link). I do remember (I think accurately) that I was going along just fine on that run when about halfway through, around mile 2, my thigh just started to hurt out of the blue. I did stop and walk but I ended up running again because it was a rather chilly night and I wanted to get inside. That may have been a bad idea. That was the beginning of this latest chapter of the Debacle of Amy’s Running.

Earlier this week one of the Memories that popped up for me on Facebook was from when I did a 21.4 mile training run for MedCity Marathon (which got cancelled because of extreme heat but the training lead to a really awesome MedCity Half Marathon and Grandma’s Marathon showing). At first, I almost cried. Damn you, Facebook, for mocking me, and throwing it in my face how far my running prowess has plummeted.

Then I recalculated. I remembered the advice that I gave myself and my blog readers (if any) about focusing on Personal Victories that are flexible and adapt to the current environment. I can take pride in past achievements without indulging in comparisons that make me depressed. I can appreciate a mile (or half or quater mile) for its own sake on its terms and be open to what it has to teach me.

(I definitely need this attitude or I won’t be able to wear half of my casual wardrobe–perfect for quarantine–because it’s race related. My Grandma’s Marathon pink track jacket that I just recently found in my closest is too awesome to stop wearing because it bums me out).

So I am hopeful that I’m at the beginning of my running comeback, but if that road is long and winding and never actually goes anywhere, I’ll be able to deal. That’s one of the main life lessons running’s taught me: to persevere.

And to rock running-themed attire.