Sad to say, I missed my biggest family party race — the 10K. It’s the one we all look forward to (I even bought new running shoes), not just for the run itself, but for the energy, tradition, and the feeling of moving together as a tribe. Missing it stung, but I was extremely sick — still not entirely sure what hit me — and I’m honestly still on the road to recovery.
It’s been a humbling reminder that no matter how strong, how committed, or how determined we are, our bodies will always have the final say. And when they speak, we have to listen. What I’ve come to realize during this down time is something I think a lot of runners struggle with: missed races don’t define us. A pause isn’t a setback unless we treat it like one.
This past week, I’ve shifted my focus from performance to preparation. I’m setting my sights on the marathon training in June, and that means building the foundation now — not just in mileage, but in mindset and in how I treat my body. Recovery, fueling, hydration — they’re not optional anymore. They’re the buildiing blocks that everything else rests on.
I’ve started taking creatine to support my training and recovery, and today I finally picked up collagen and an organic, dairy-free protein. (Yeah… after that 10-miler earlier this month, I think I can finally admit: dairy just isn’t my friend.) The Fool Fest 10-Miler on the Cap Trail was my first real race in heat, and it hit me hard — not just physically, but with the realization that hydration has to be taken seriously. We know it. But now it’s time to live it.
As I slowly ease back into training, my goal this week is to get in at least 6.2 miles. Not just because it’s a distance I love, but because it’s a promise to myself that I’m not stopping — just shifting. There’s still so much ahead, and it all starts with how I take care of myself today.
So, no race? No problem. The real work is just beginning — and it’s work that fuels the future.