Guess who's back?!?!?!

 I'm back!

Well I've been back but I've not been doing any writing.  This is usually how things go for me with writing.  I'll really be on it and then nothing...for months...even a year plus in this case.  And honestly there's no excuse for it!

So my last post was from the middle of October 2024.  After I did my sub 2 hour half marathon. I'll try and catch you up.   

At the end of 2024 I did a little bit of running trying to keep up with my fitness from the half marathon but I had lost the desire.  I still did a few bits of running here and there but just was not into it as much.  It could have been because I was no longer being coached or it might have been that my thyroid was super stressed at this point.  I'm not sure but I was definitely not running as much as I had been previously. 

Enter 2025.  

The first few months were a continuation of the last part of 2024 and then April came.  It was at this point that my blood pressure had gone skyrocketing!  I ended up going to an emergency clinic because I almost passed out at work. This was a giant waste of money cause all they really did was tell me to see my main Dr or go to the emergency room.  I did get the blood pressure taken care of and I did end up doing some more running.  

In August I did my annual trail race that I've been doing for close to 10 years now I believe.  My oldest son ran it and he beat me.  But it was not by that much.  I nearly caught him towards the end and was able to keep him in sight for probably the last couple of miles.  Not my best effort but our streak continues.  

After that I did some walking and did some treadmill running.  Nothing structured however.  Just getting things done.  

And then in early November we started doing some "training".  I'm still slow as fuck, and as one would guess, have gone backwards.  But with the help of ChatGPT I've been building. 

I'm lifting weights 2 times a week and running 3 times a week currently.  The runs are just on the treadmill and are anywhere from 4.0 MPH up to 5.0 MPH (this weekends time trial).  The time trial I just did was a 5K at 38:37.  A far cry from where my current PB is (25:30ish).  So a long ways to go! But I don't think my thyroid is out of wack because of this.  And I'm feeling pretty good about my running.  I can actually see the progress I'm making with my aerobic system.  I know in the past I've made progress with my aerobic system but this is the time that I'm noticing it.  As much as I want to get out there more or go faster I'm trying to take a more long term approach of how low can I get my aerobic running.  Yes I want to break 25 minutes in the 5K.  I'm not sure about a half marathon or a marathon but maybe.  

This week I plan on taking my easy run, Tuesday, outside and starting to transition to doing some work outside.  I know this seems late but I know how running in the dark all the time effects me so I've put it off.  Next year, or in the fall, I might push it a bit further but for now this is what I'm doing.  

Goals for this year are to get the aerobic pace down!  I'll do a couple of 5K's here and there.  I'm undecided on the annual trail race but if I can make the time work I'll do it!

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