So obviously my 50 mile race for March was cancelled and the upcoming races on the schedule are in question. I decided that with no upcoming race in sight, I would take two weeks off of running to let some old injuries heal. As most runners know, the thought of taking any time off of running is terrifying. How would I cope with the stress in my life, especially considering everything that is happening in the world currently?

I honestly don’t know how I could have achieved all of my goals this year, if I hadn’t given my knee the time it so desperately needed, to rest and let the inflammation go down. That worry was in the back of my mind during every long run and every hard workout. It was exhausting.

I realized that I could let this get me down or I could choose to look at it differently. Instead of getting up to run every morning, I started doing Pure Barre and yoga from home and getting out for walks as often as I could. Im strengthening my mind and body from the ground up.

I started running again 3 weeks ago and am building my mileage gradually. This time, pain free. I’ve kept up with the added yoga and strength training and I feel stronger than I have in a long time. It’s not easy to get up every day and work out when you don’t have a race on the schedule. It’s as much a mental challenge as it is physical. Despite this, getting out for a run adds some much needed normalcy to the day.

During my runs lately, I let my mind wander to the possibilities of the future. I plan what I can do today to ensure that 2020 ends on a strong note. My one big goal race of the year is the Rim to River 100 on November 7th. I don’t know if it will happen or not. But I can make sure that if it does, I will be at the starting line more prepared than I ever have been. And if it doesn’t happen, there will always be another race. I will have lost nothing by putting myself out there every day, pushing to see what I am capable of.

The unknown is always scary and there has been plenty of unknown lately. If you can take it one hour at a time, one day at a time, one mile at a time, eventually you will get to the finish line.