I’m still not better.

It still sucks.

It seems like my hip is improving, but then my shin decided to light up.

I have no idea why. I’m hardly running. I’m mostly doing what I’m told to do by medical professionals. It’s frustrating and demoralizing. I know there’s a lesson here about working with what is sent your way and accepting what you can’t control, but fuck that right now. I want to be better. I want to run again. I want to work towards a goal that isn’t “Not injured anymore.”

Clearly, this attitude isn’t helping.

So let’s talk about the positive things I’ve done.

I hired a running coach. I’m really excited. I think having an actual human assessing my progress and giving me feedback and working with me on goal setting is going to be great for my next step, running wise. I had a coach for my first marathon and it was hugely helpful. I’ve been winging it for a few years now, and while I’ve made great progress with a combination of joining a running crew and using the NYRR training program, it’s time to step it up even more. Plus I think a human will be better at helping me navigate injury recovery and comeback better than a digital plan. She’s young and a new coach, but I did some research and she hit all the things that mattered to me: she was responsive, she was very invested in the WHY and explaining the WHY of stuff and she didn’t have a lot of clients. She’s not based in Toronto, which I am disappointed in, but that’s not a deal breaker. It has made me realize there aren’t a ton of one-on-one options for people in Toronto. So that has gotten me thinking about maybe getting my own running coach certification, but that’s a thought for another day…

I signed up for the Chicago marathon lottery. We find out if we get in on Dec. 12. The ultimate, A+ goal of 2018 (after getting over this injury, of course) is to run the fastest marathon I can. I’m on the cusp of needing a 3:40 to qualify for Boston. I really, truly believe I can do it. It’ll take a lot of hard work and it might take a few marathons and a few years, but I believe that I am physically capable of it. So if I get into Chicago, Chicago is the goal marathon. If I don’t, it will either be Toronto or Philadelphia, depending on my fall work schedule.

I’m seeing a physio/chiro guy once a week and an RMT regularly. The hip is definitely improving. It’s not 100% yet, but it’s getting there. It’s just a question of when, and of not being stupid. Not being stupid is harder than it seems. But I’m trying.

So 2017: get over with already.

2018: the year I get better, blog more and go for a BQ.

I’m ready.

Let’s just hope my body is.