For a long time, whenever I was in a conversation about how everyone was feeling, I would say that "I feel 28." My health has been good and my body has held up very well over the years. Frankly, my measuring stick has been the ability to go out and run a 10K with a couple of miles in the 8 minute mile range.
About eighteen months ago, I started to struggle to carry as much speed as I have in the past. My left heel started to brother me after the 2021 Run to Feed the Hungry and I twisted my knee playing golf in December of 2021. Working to get myself back into shape after our three week Greece and Turkey trip, my shin and ankle on my right leg started to have issues.
While I still logged more than 1,300 miles last year, it is a little deceiving. I am being more liberal than I was fifteen years ago about how I count my miles. For example, in 2008, I logged more than 1,900 miles. I averaged 36 miles a week; I was running 6 miles a day on 6 days a week.
I realize that I just can't do what I used to be able to do; it has been sobering. I have had to rethink and recalibrate my running workouts. Instead of topping 25 miles a week, I am reaching for 20 miles a week. I have started to feel stronger and recover a little speed on the treadmill over the last three months. One of my goals for this spring is to get off the treadmill and run more outside.
While I can't say I feel 28 anymore, I still feel pretty good!
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