The Broad Running Broad

I would love to be one of those lean, mean, asphalt-stopping machines year ’round, who can jump back into running immediately after the holidays or any period of time off. But with getting a little older and now having almost eight years of running under my belt, I know that is not me and the first week is always a little clunky.

Although as a first, the clunkiness wasn’t related to running.

My job is hybrid, and I had plans to go into the office three of the four days this week to be super productive. But then it was Monday night and I couldn’t find my key fob to get into the office. I last sat it on my dresser, then put it in the top drawer to do some cleaning. On Monday and again on Tuesday I was cleaning out the entire thing to find that fob and found nothing. So I had to admit to my manager and then the facilities coordinator that I need a replacement.

Thankfully the facilities coordinator was able to get a replacement activated and I can pick it up on Monday. So this was an easy fix, although I am still irked with myself for misplacing it in the first place.

I also had my annual eye exam yesterday. Since I had been going to my old one for at least six years, I forgot all the steps you have to go through when you’re a new patient at a new office. Thankfully I found a great place. I need to get my contacts updated, but since I didn’t have the box with the prescription numbers (admittedly, I’ve never really paid attention to the box so I had no idea what the doctor was talking about), getting fitted for a brand new pair would have cost an arm and a leg with vision insurance. So we decided I’d find those numbers first, come back for the contact fitting, and use insurance to order a new pair of glasses that will be here in about two weeks.

I’m still not thrilled about having to go back to the doctor. Granted, the office is close to my home and I can schedule it after work so it’s not the end of the world, but I was hoping everything eye-related could be done in one shot.

Now that’s not to say this week was all crummy. Even with the hiccup of working from home this past week, I was able to hit the productivity goals I set for myself that I usually hit when I’m in office. So I’m proud of myself.

The items I ordered for my kitchen and bedroom were delivered Thursday and Friday. Now I’m only waiting for my kitchen floor mat to come in so I can have my turquoise-and-tasteful-rainbow dreams come true.

And now the important news: I’m back to marathon training and will be running a full in April.

It’s been five years since I last ran a Spring full. My mind, my heart and my body have been telling me it’s time. So on New Year’s Day, I registered for the Carmel Marathon. I ran Carmel back in 2017 and 2019 as a half, and it’s been long enough that there’s a lot I have forgotten about the course. I’m excited, I’m nervous and at the same, I’m feeling like I’m finally getting back to me and who I used to be before 2020 hit.

This week I ran 10 miles – four on Monday afternoon, three on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The two morning runs were on the treadmill, and I remembered again why runners seem to have a special animosity towards that thing. Thankfully, it didn’t take much time for my body to snap back into the motions and feeling of running.

Then this afternoon, after waiting out the massive winter weather storm that was supposed to roll through this morning, I laced up the dirty Brooks and went on the first long run of 2024.

I haven’t been on a weekend long run in about a month. My pace was pretty conservative – 12:07 min/mile – which I expected and wasn’t surprised by. My run took me through the neighborhoods of Westerville, re-discovering part of my morning commute on foot and picking up all the little details of houses and streets that I don’t notice when driving (okay, speeding to work.) I felt alive and at ease, even when I got turned around and couldn’t figure out where the sidewalk picked up from Walnut Street towards Hoover.

So Reader-friends, this week had its hiccups, but I was able to get back in the saddle. I’m considering the 10 miles this week and 10 miles today a win. 20 miles done on my way to my spring full. Not bad.

I hope you all are able to enjoy a relaxing, happy first weekend of 2024.

Until next time,

Allison