I haven't posted in a long time (due to injuries, physical therapy, and a huge life transition)
Injury
Since July of last year, I was extremely busy at work, flying two or three times per week and putting in a lot of hours... Last December after a flight, I slipped and fell on the ice, injuring my hip... After recovery (early this spring), I began experiencing right foot pains (plantar fasciitis, which later turned out to be a slight plantar fascia tear). I was in and out of physical therapy most of the year. After many months of physical therapy and treatment (to include iontophoresis, sonophoresis, dry needling [blah], deep tissue therapy, and stretching exercises), I was finally able to get out on an exploratory run and was quite pleased with the results: 1 casual mile at 8:32 pace (not bad considering that it was my first run in over six months). I miss running. I failed to enter in any of my routine events this year: Austin, Dallas, Ft Worth (new), Oklahoma City, USAF Marathon, and Tulsa. I also let myself go by gaining nearly 15 pounds, and of course, regressing out of condition (endurance, pace, etc). It'll get better (I've been there before).
Life Transition
I was recently approved early retirement from the military. Additionally, I was offered a once in a lifetime position with the folks at Starbucks as a Store Manager (yay!). This is a huge transition from my current role as a flight instructor - I'm ready for the challenge! Frequent world travels enabled me to experience and enjoy many cultures, most memorable were of food and drink, notably coffee... MY life blood. Flying 16-20 hours missions would have been impossible without it. This week, I began the next chapter of my life in hopes to learn more about the coffee industry in an effort to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.
Running
I'm hopping back in the saddle slowly, and physical therapy revealed that my gait and form have shifted - "time to buy new running shoes!" :-) I am grateful for the physical therapists and technicians for bringing me back to form - thanks! As a long term goal, I would love to enter next year's Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon (I PR'd 2013's half marathon). I am not expecting a record, I'm just hoping to get back into shape for the half distance (again). I would love to run the USAF Marathon too, but I am done with fall events (no more summer training). So, I'm hoping to be back on the road in 2016 at my routine events [crossing fingers]...
Well, I'd like to thank my family and close friends for all of the support this year. Thanks to the USAF for a wonderful 15 years... And, thanks to Starbucks for investing in me - I have big shoes to fill...
Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7
