I’ve run and participated occasionally in races on and off in my life, and on three different continents. In middle school in Zambia, I ran track and cross country, once finishing third in my school in what I remember as a thrilling race down to the wire (for third place, not first or second). I quit running shortly after that, for personal reasons. When I moved back to Norway for a few brief years, I ran for fun, unaware of local races or events, even though I lived half an hour away from the famous Knarvikmila 10K.
After moving to the US, it took a decade before I thought about running again. I ran my first ever event in 1997, the Capitol 10K, in Austin, Texas. I thought (in my naiveté) that I might run it in 45 minutes, but ended up 10 minutes slower after struggling up the long hill along 15th street. If I remember correctly, the then governor, George W. Bush, was the MC who tried to fire up the crowd before the start. “Dub” was an avid runner, though far from a popular person, in Austin at least.
It took another 10 years before I picked up running again, as after the Capitol 10K I had knee surgery to clean out some scar tissue that caused my knee to lock up if I stood in one place for more than a few minutes (a great conversation starter). By then I’d moved to San Antonio. One day, after walking to the local Blockbuster (RIP), I decided to run home. It took a mix of running and walking, but after that first evening, I started trying to run again. In 2009 I ran my second 10K with almost no training, along a local hilly course, and struggled to finish. The next year, I chopped 10 minutes off my time, and was hooked.
Since then, I’ve run four marathons, a dozen half-marathons, over 20 5Ks, some 10Ks and 10 milers, and a few distances in-between and beyond. In that time I’ve also dealt with multiple injuries and distractions. After my last half-marathon, back in 2018, I took six years off running altogether, due to other commitments that left zero time for running. Then, in 2023 those commitments ended, and I started running seriously again. Of course, I picked up an injury, and had to cancel two half-marathons scheduled for January/February in 2024.
This year, post injury, I’ve tried to find a balance in my running to avoid injury. This meant dialing back intensity and distance, and seeing past running paces only in the rear view mirror. I ran a 15K trail run in March, where I learned that the hip injury had not completely gone away, and taking off two months meant my fitness level had returned to near zero. During the Summer I ran two Parkruns, one in England, the other in Ireland. This Fall I’ve run a handful of races/events, ranging from 5Ks to 10K, with a 10 miler looming in a few days. Although I’ve placed in the top three (or first) in my age group, I tend to look mainly at my finish time. Looking at that time, I then bemoan how far away it is from just a few years ago. All my personal bests are behind me, it seems.
Yes, I’m nothing but a “hobby jogger.” Running, to me, is a way to clear my mind. Races aren’t so much a way to measure myself against others, but myself. I set new goals now, since I’m older, slower, and with six lost years, almost starting back at “level zero.”
Where I live, summers are hot. I’m also not a morning person, so I tend to run in the evenings. In the Fall, with night falling faster, the long runs usually mean wearing a headlamp to avoid cars and rocks. Winter, however, are usually mild, so the next few months may mean cooler weather, which is always better for runners. So far though, it’s been 90s and 80s all the way, even into late October. Plus, when the sun beats down on you, it feels like the weight of the world.
Will I run another marathon? I don’t know. I’m planning to run some half-marathons in 2025, so we’ll see how that goes. I’d love to do the FjordViking, in Knarvik, Norway. Here you run a half-marathon, 10K, and 5K in the same day. I’ve always wanted to run Knarvikmila, the 10K there, but if I’m going to make the trip, I almost have to try for that trifecta. As far as marathons, I’ve entered some lotteries, failed them all, and so I’ll only run another one if I get in. Maybe, at that point, I’ll take my training seriously.
So, here’s to all the runners out there, from the speedy ones to the social ones.
