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Bye Bye

May 5, 2025 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: 60's; Breezy

Comments:
Well, today was my last run in Ann Arbor. Ran past a few iconic landmarks from my time here, through old west side and Washtenaw dairy and past east quad and all over the place. Now feels like as appropriate a time as ever to reflect on my time running in college.

Regrettably, I made my initial choice of higher ed for the purpose of being able to run on a proper college team. COVID totally slashed that dream, but the Goats were still an incredible group of guys and I feel incredibly grateful to have had that opportunity, albeit for a short time. Of course, the broken leg test (by way of Mononucleosis) showed me that I had to make a change if I wanted my academic experience to be worthwhile, and the following winter I began at UM. A persistent knee injury totally sidelined me until the next fall, when I could actually run for real with the team.

Still, I am remiss to say that I never found my people with club running at UM. I got along with everyone, but not being able to make practice times and thus training completely on my own cut me out of that social circle. I think that in the end, this was fate because I made some awesome friends in the RC, in various classes, in the co-ops, etc., and running became my much-needed “me time.”

After additional injuries and my studying abroad kept me out of the MRun orbit for almost two years, I came back this past fall in decent shape and a plan to keep aches and pains at bay. Over the course of the XC season, I had some races with which I was really happy, sneaking under 29 and finishing well at the upperclassmen race at Nats. Winter track went well, with some more PRs and higher mileage, then spring nats was perhaps the greatest running weekend I’ve ever had in my entire life. Half marathon PR + first for Michigan, then PR in the 5k the next day. I was through the moon. I lament that I was unable to follow up on these performances with the next meet being a shit show and being sick for Concordia, and now with my hip in such Knick I’m going to take some time off in a week or two. Either way, I’ll build starting in late May/early June, then I’ll keep mileage low and injuries out of the equation over the summer, and hopefully get some coaching and racing in during the fall season.