Okay . . . Okay . . .

Okay . . . stop it already!  Hundreds and hundreds of comments and e-mail coming in begging for another "Hurry Slowly . . . but Hurry" post.  Stop the madness . . . here it goes!

"Hurry Slowly . . . but Hurry" is, and always will be, a running blog.  That's just the way it is.  Okay . . . I admit that from time to time I lose my focus and go 'off-topic' but for the most part I've stayed true.  Thus, no recent posts.  If I don't run much, there is just nothing to say.

Okay . . . I could 'brag' on my personal-worst 5k . . . 31:41 or so.  Sorry, that is just sad.  And actually I was pretty pleased because I ran all but 15 steps (I counted them!).  My recent running has been humbling compared to my past running.

Don't get me wrong . . . I'm still running and glad to be able to run.  But 9-10 miles seems to me my absolute limit . . . and it's just not getting better.  (For those of you that have known me for a long time remember that I had a 13 year period were I didn't run at all!  Bad medical advice made me quit for years until I found a magic solution.)  But there doesn't seem to be a magic solution to my hip right now.  Maybe in a few more months things will get better.  That would be nice.  But not necessary.

Honestly, I'm just sooooo glad I can run at all.  Seriously.  If I can only run 9 miles or less . . . well . . . I'll be 100% fine with that.  If I do heal up and I find I can go further . . . well . . . that's great too.  But a few realities need to be acknowledged . . .

• I'm 99% sure I'll never finish a 100 miler.  Sad . . . but likely true.  What the hell am I going to do with this belt I purchased?
• If I ever finish another 50 miler, it will be walking the vast majority of the way.  And that may not ever happen.
• No more races with cutoffs . . . ever.
• And that likely means marathons too. I have signed up for the Baby Boogie Marathon this year (ample cut-off time!)  Likely my last marathon.  I'll finish if I have to crawl . . . pretty much like last year!!

In my mind I'm an ultra runner and I don't think that will ever change.  I've earned that.  In my mind . . . once an ultra runner, always an ultra runner. But now I'm think my ultras will be 24 hour walks for the most part.  And I'm okay with that.

My long-distance running may possibly be coming to an end and I may need to turn the page to new, and different challenges.

• I've always loved backpacking.   Maybe an AT thru-hike is in my future.
• I've GOT to get my 5k time to sub 30 . . . that's just frickin' embarrassing!
• Maybe some sort of a marathon of 5ks . . . I need ideas here.  I seem to need to run every other day.

Any other ideas or suggestions?