I got injured. No knee issues in over 40 year of running so I guess I was due. A combination of a lot of running and dealing with the broken frame of shoving my foot in a lawn mower 50 years ago. Yes, that is why it is Hang Nine. Injuries are a part of running but a knee one will irritate me because people will have to say, "see what that running did to his knees?" I don't think it was the running as much as the mess I created all that time ago, but who is to know?
So, in typical fashion, I fought the injury. Took some time off. Then try to run again. Said fuck it and thought I could just run through it. And I did for a bit. But then I got jacked up and had to take more time off. Gott pissed off and bummed out. Tried again. And again. Got back to 50 miles a week for a couple weeks but my knee was visibly swollen and I couldn't walk down the stairs without looking like I was about to fall. Gave up on any race objectives for the summer, including Pikes. Told folks I wouldn't couldn't pace them. Would feel like I was conquering the world when I ran three miles a day for three days pain free. And then start the cycle again. So I quit running. And started again. And then quit again. Realized I missed it but also didn't miss it. Wash, rinse repeat.
I also sort of quit my old job. It was my own business so that was not hard, but unraveling from it some was a thing. Still is a thing If I need to go back to it. But I quit it because I got offered a different job. And I took it. I didn't think I'd go back to the corporate world but it was an incredible opportunity. The new gig is kicking my ass but in a good way. I am learning a ton. It is like getting thrown into the next level of training group - you have been told you belong but you are fighting a bit to keep up.
I quit the band I was a part of. I couldn't regularly commit to practices or gigs because of travel, hanging out in the mountains or living in the desert. They starting bringing in another guy to guitar. I just thought it best to let them move on and left on positive terms. But then another band picked me up as a project. Play a gig here and now, completely different vibe of music as it is not a cover band. Bought a Les Paul desert burst from a guy in a parking lot and it is a sweet axe.
I quit on a some relationships that were just not healthy either. Some of that I let go quietly, but some went with some fireworks. But I recommitted to a smaller handful that are core and important to me
And I quit the blog for a couple of months I guess. Partly because I felt there was nothing to report that was positive about running. Partly because I feel like I said everything I need to say here for a while. Partly because I recognize that hearing from a middle aged washed up runner who was not much of a story in the first place is a story we already know, so maybe its better to focus on making it my story versus writing about it. A couple of folks (no, literally, TWO) reached out and asked about the blog. Most of the posts are to IG at this point - and those are just pix. But it was nice hear from those couple of folks.
I see the Mark P this week for the knee. Will see what comes of it.
Other than the running part, it has been a good summer.
