'25, The Year that was

 '25 is just about over. Just a few more days are left in what was otherwise an up and down year for me. I had some decent highs but struggled at other points. Seems like this has been the case for the last few years. I have good stretches, and I push across the edge to hurt something. 

Anyway, let's talk about '25. 

I turned 60, and I hitting some pretty good races until I ran 1/2 marathon at the end of March. A few days later, I attempted my expected speed work session and pulled a muscle in my glute. While I could still run, let's just say that it hurt. I didn't do any races for the next 3 months. Then, the comeback so slow. My foot speed was all but gone. 

I didn't waste the easy runs, thou. I headed for the Grand Canyon with a few goals in mind: 1) running rim to rim to rim, hitting Bright Angel, South Kabab, Tonto, and North Kabab trails, visit Ribbon Falls, and lastly send my family post cards from Phantom Ranch. 

I checked the first 2 items on my first day on the trails. I started at Bright Angel trail head, went down to the Tonto Trail, over to South Kabab, and down by Phantom Ranch, and to the top of North Kabab. On my return trip, I headed back down North Kabab and followed South Kabab out of the canyon. When I think back, I don't think that I truly appreciated how amazing this experience really was. I want to go back but go slower. Just take in the experience. 

Over the next couple of days, I did a lot of running. Ribbon Falls was worth the trek. I look back and watch my video that I have of it. I just smile. The last day, I stopped at Phantom Ranch, and I sent everyone in my family post cards. The reason my behind this is the following. I don't know of any other place where mail is still carried by mule trail, so I put some dollars in my pocket and stamps. I bought the cards at Phantom Ranch. 

After getting back from the Grand Canyon, I spent the next couple of months running. 

I raced about once a month. I struggled with getting any type of leg turnover. My legs felt like I was stuck in mud. 

October looked promising, but then first weekend in November, I was in an ugly bike accident. I was going through a series of switch backs. On the last one, I had my bike leaned over. Way over. So much so, that the front wheel gave way. I banged up my left knee pretty good and my hands took it hard. My helmet took a pretty good beating as well. 

I finished the two races that I had signed up for November, and I just called it a year. 

I only ran 13 races in '25. This was well down from my normal 38 to 40 races from the last couple of years. When I get banged up, seems like the last thing that I want to do is race. 

Here's hoping '26 offers more opportunities and good ones. 

See you in '26

The Cool Down Runner