Finding My Footing...

In the last 10 years I have transformed from a dedicated, casual runner into more of a devoted, disciplined runner.  

I have enjoyed growth, change, improvement, racing, new disciplines and a whole new level of performance for me.

This season has been full of change and I feel so 'off'.

I have struggled to feel like myself, to feel strong and consistent.

I find myself missing the 'steady' that I have known.

Running has had to take the back seat to big things in life.  

And while I try to tell myself that it is ok, I feel as though I can't really let go and let that be ok!  

So I continue with an inner struggle of where I am right now and the desire to be my best. 

I ran a half marathon in May and have only the Ragnar on my 'up and coming' races.  

Does that even count as a 'race'? 

I am usually racing and training through the year... summer and fall especially.  

This year is different.

Certainly I don't have to race to run.  We can just run because we love it right?

But when we love it, and we aren't doing it... sad face here :(

I ran a total of 5 times in June!   

I was working so hard every day moving us and unpacking and cleaning... my body was so tired!

That was enough.

For July I have made greater effort to get back to regularly scheduled running.

I need that consistency!

So much of life has felt different and unsettled.  

This is a building block I can put back in to help life feel normal again.

But, now I am in a new place with new routes, new hills, new times... it all feels 'off'!

I have been running the same routes for the last 10 years.  10 years!

I know all of my routes, the time that I usually arrive at each mile, on all of my routes!!!

Partly it's exciting to run in a new place, but there is a peace that comes from running the same route over and over again!  

Add hills to all this change... I feel off!

Most of my times are slower... I feel off!

My Achilles hurt like the dickens... I feel off!

But what can you do?

Run!  I'll just have to keep running.  

One foot in front of the other, I'll find my footing again.

Here is a look at July for me.

Most things have been 'off' for me, including blogging!

I have to catch up on where I have been.

I have had some serious Achilles pain since June.  

The last week of July I cycled and swam to stay off of it.