I am waiting for the “New Normal” but nothing seems normal yet.

I know what I want:

• Feel strong – able to train like I did in 2019/2020. RECERTIFY
• Eliminate hip pain
• Build community through gardening and music
• Be consistent – training, reading, music
• Become more knowledgeable to start my landscape ecology career

I know what I’ve accomplished:

• Regularly playing with clarinet and woodwind trio – joining Hollis band after Maldives
• Consistent at Crossfit to build strength, working hip PT
• Improved my friends and activities with Amherst Garden Club
• Supported my old teams by working with LG which also helped us do critical home improvements and added the big Indonesia scuba trip this year
• Working put landscape ecology on hold – but I have signed up for classes in Oct/Nov 2025 at Native Plant Trust and designed/started my own native garden this year

I’ve been reflective on last six years and the good lessons learned:

• Consistency in anything is key (music, training)
• The daily hour work is more important than the long runs.
• Running-walking is key to hip health
• Always have spare headlamp battery
• Lube up! I’ve been having issues with even 40″ runs without the right clothing to prevent chafing. And lube everywhere for long runs/races.
• Poles are important for mountain work
• Crossfit/leg strength is key – Russian split squats, lunges. I’ve been focused on this this year
• Warmup/warmdown is important
• I thought I had more LL than this!! Will have to come back and add more.

Issues still to solve:

• Hips still hurt
• Need to lose weight
• Evaluating hormones and issues related to this as I have lost stamina. Last year, the daily one hour workouts crushed me for the rest of the day every day and I couldn’t keep it up.
• Be more careful planning time away as we have been gone too much this year.

Is there a normal?