The returning runner…
Act 55 – I’m back in the doldrums…what to do???
I was trudging along my usual route. It was a chore. Although the mid-40s temps were mild for early December, a gloom of low clouds hung over the trail. My legs had no zip and I felt totally unmotivated. I let just about anyone who wanted to pass me without challenge. Beau (our good-natured White Labrador) looked back at me as if to say “hey…what’s going on back there buddy??”. I had little reason to be down in the dumps. Being a geeky engineer, I calc’d it out – ballparking it, I’ve been running at a level of the top 0.00004% of US males 65 or over (top ten plus or minus out of 25.9M). Overall, my health is good. I’ve got my hair. I’m consistently winning my division in local/regional races and occasionally grabbing an overall 5-10k win in races where the field is small. I’ve gotten to run in beautiful locations and have met some awesome people. So, what do I have to be down in the dumps about? Here’s my list:
1. I blogged about the doldrums before and realized I spelled it “dulldrums” (idiot).
2. While I’ve been running well consistently, I haven’t “popped” a really good one to boost me up closer to the leaders in the world.
3. On Thanksgiving morning I managed a 1st place “adult” in a 5k but got beat by an 11-year old and a half dozen of his teenage posse.
4. Pilates has been increasing my strength and flexibility but irritating my right knee. I’m not positive it has been a net benefit. By taking ibuprofen, my knee hasn’t bothered me during races but definitely impeded working out.
5. I’ve been doing pretty much the same workouts but expecting a different result (see number 2).
6. Our White Lab, Beau, is a great running buddy and does awesome off-leash. But, on-leash, he tends to pull and that makes my ankles and knees achy.
7. Thanksgiving break I ran on the beach and the sun was shining gloriously and there was hardly anyone on the beach and Beau was having a great time, but, it was under 60 degrees and that certainly was a hardship.
Whine, whine, whine! What a ridiculous list!! Ok, but absurd or not, I still seemed to be dragging. I know, I’ll buy some new shoes (or shirt, or hat, or headlamp or something). Yeah, that’s the ticket – some gizmo or something. But then, a weird thing happened. My knee seems to be getting a lot better and the Pilates isn’t bothering it as much. Hallelujah!! What an amazing world!!! I’m all better! Rainbows and butterflies everywhere!
But, I think I will still get some new shoes ;O)…
Photo: November 27, 2025 cooling down with Beau on Carmel Beach after a 5k Turkey Trot.