An Update....

Ok. I havent been doing too well with keeping this blog updated. Sorry. The holidays really took over this year as far as my time was concerned. Anyway, after I ran that 5k in November I was extremely motivated and itching to really start running seriously. It took me a week or 2 to actually recover from that race because I really pushed myself. During that time I agreed to join a team running a relay race in June of this year. Its called the Wasatch Back.....it sounded like so much fun and a real challenge. At the time, there was no question I would be able to run it. I was taking someones place on the team who had become pregnant and couldnt run it. I found out after signing on that her particular legs (its a relay race) were the hardest ones to run. That was discouraging for me but I was still determined. Then early in December I woke up with severe sciatic nerve pain in my lower back. I could barely stand and it lasted pretty much all of December. I hardly ran at all during that month....and when it wasnt my back it was my knee or my shoulder. I was a mess physically. So, toward the end of the month I decided not to worry about it until the first of January and just start over. That still gave me 6 months to train for this big race. I went to the gym Monday and tried to run.....it was as if I had never run a step. I could barely last a half of a mile! I went home very upset and discouraged. Ive had butterflies in my stomache ever since and as a result (because my back is already acting up again) I have chosen to pull out of the relay race in June. I am still going to train as if I am running in it, but Im not about to push myself to the point of injury again. It just isnt worth it. Also, if I am going to be so stressed out about it, I wont enjoy it and I want to enjoy running..... Im struggling with feeling like a whimp but I know I did the right thing. The moment I sent the email exlpaining the situation it was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

In the meantime, Im still running and now I am aiming to run the Deseret News 10k in July. I think that is a more reasonable goal for me. There is always next year for the Wasatch Back. I will do it one day......