The first step (to running again)

Well, here we go.

I've taken two months off since the last marathon on November 5, 2022. I seriously hope that is enough time for my right foot to have healed from... whatever it was that was ailing me.

Honestly, I don't know if I had a stress fracture, it was the mid-foot arthritis, or something else... but I figured the first thing any doctor was going to tell me I needed to do was stay off of it. So I did (other than normal walking at work). It also allowed some gnarly blisters to heal.

I started the long road back last week by simply walking 30-45 minutes several days. This week I intended to start some light jogging at 1/4 or 1/2 mile intervals along with the walking. I was sick Monday, but... YESTERDAY WAS MY FIRST RUN. I walked a mile, jogged 1/2 mile, walked 1/2 mile, jogged another 1/2, and walked another mile. It wasn't bad.

The last thing I want to do is start back with too much too soon. That's a recipe for disaster regardless of what's happened. I plan to take it slow and easy.

I may not be able to do a spring half-marathon this year, and that's okay. The goal is still at least a fall marathon. I think there's a 5k in a month, and it would be nice to be able to do that, but who knows.

As with most years, I'd really like to do some weight work right now and build up some muscle. I'd also like to drop 15-20 pounds. That's probably the most important thing. I got up to 170 and that's just too unhealthy for me. 150 is my goal, though 150-something is probably more likely. Last year I think 157 was as low as I got.

So, here we go. We'll see.