Hi Cleanish Squad!

This past weekend was a big one for our family. Dustin ran the 25K Desert Wolf trail run, and Savannah, my 14-year-old, stepped up and ran the 12K. I was so proud watching them both race and cross their finish lines.

I had been training for the 25K myself before finding out I had a sprained hip joint, so, of course, I wished I could’ve been out there, too. But being on the sidelines, cheering them on, was still a highlight.

The good news is I’m slowly getting better. I can mostly walk with just a slight limp now, though every step still hurts. I’m going to PT, working on mobility, and I’ll be doing a running assessment once I’m healed to figure out what bad form or imbalance may have caused all this in the first place. Dustin’s already planning a 50K in November, and I’m keeping my eyes on the Austin Marathon in February 2026.

Injuries and setbacks aren’t fun. Watching other people do the thing you wish you could be doing also stings. But I’ve been really resonating with the notion that I get to recover.

This thinking came to me last week on a bike ride. I had just dropped out of the 25K, and felt pretty bummed. Midway through my ride, I saw a man with no legs in a wheelchair, slowly pushing himself along the sidewalk. It was hard for him, but he was still moving forward. And it hit me: my situation could be so much worse, and I should be so much more thankful. My body will heal. I’ll be able to run again. I get to recover.

Right now, I’m focusing on the things I can control. For me, that’s my nutrition -- making sure I’m getting enough protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats, plus staying on top of hydration with electrolytes. I’ve also been leaning on collagen and protein powder daily, because I know they’re helping support my joints and muscle recovery while I can’t train the way I want to.

And I’ve also been leaning into what I can do physically, which is riding my bike and swimming. Honestly, it’s got me a little curious about the idea of a triathlon down the road. One step at a time, though!

So yeah -- this week I’m choosing gratitude. Gratitude for a body that’s healing, for the chance to move in different ways, for my family and their goals, and for the future that’s still ahead.