Another Bump in the Dopey Road

In mid-June we embarked on a 2-week road trip to New England. In the two weeks leading up to that road trip, I ran 30+ miles each week, culminating in a slow and steady 10 mile run the day before we left.  I was feeling very positive.  Although I as experiencing some pain and fatigue, I was managing hip discomfort and muscle tightness fairly well.  I was looking forward to an excuse to take two weeks off from running and strength training.

Our road trip was great.  Our first stop was near Glens Falls, NY, just north of Albany, to visit Cat’s brother and sister-in-law.  Next, we traveled to Kennebunk, Maine, by way of Vermont and New Hampshire.  The ride from Glens Falls to Kennebunk was awesome as we traversed the mountains in Vermont and New Hampshire.  We visited my brother and his family in Kennebunk for three days, consuming a couple of Maine Lobster Rolls and a few cups of Clam Chowder along the way. From there we headed to the Boston Area for three days.  We saw my sister and her family along with a couple of high school friends of mine.  Our last three days in New England were visiting friends of ours in Westport, CT.  Then it was time to start the two-day journey to get home. 


Here is a video I created from a walk along the Maine coast.  The Maine coast line has so much natural beauty. 



We arrived back in the Midwest to the worst days of the smoke from the Canadian forest fires.  The air quality was so poor, we were advised to limit time outside.  We had to leave our windows closed with the air conditioning on to keep the air quality inside the house at a healthy level.  Needless to say, I was not able to get outside and run upon returning home.

 

Something happened to me on that road trip.  Perhaps it was the hours upon hours of sitting in a car, the lack of running and strength training.  Perhaps it was not paying attention to what I was putting in my body.  Whatever it was, I was in a new funk when we got back.  The first day out I struggled through 5K.  The next day I ran 10K but struggled with hip discomfort.  The next few days after that I had moments where I could barely walk on my right hip.  I was befuddled.  I was back to September 2022.

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