Surf City Half - Reality Check

Those who identify as a runner, myself included, tend to be pretty narrow-minded about their sport. We’re not gym rats, health gurus, or weight lifters. We’re definitely not - and don’t want to be associated with - cyclists, swimmers, or boxers (that might just be me…). We’re runners. We run. That’s it. Miles, miles, and more miles.

That can change though. When it does, it’s more often than not because of something out of our control… like an injury.

I’m a runner, but have found myself not running much. My goal of 2,025 miles in 2025 is starting to seem unachievable, and it’s only January. My knee has been killing me. I can’t do my typical back-to-back days of running, or push the pace, or weirdly even sit down without being uncomfortable. Counterintuitively, I can occasionally get a medium/long run in (8-10 miles) at an easy/moderate pace without much pain. But then hours later, my knee just gives up and I can go days without running at all.

I’ve had knee issues running before, but I think this is the worst it’s been. It’s forcing me to rethink how I structure my week. I’m no longer running - instead I’m forced to “exercise.” I’m doing strength work, stretching, plyometrics, and other things that I avoided like the plague (which I guess says a lot about why I’m injured). Even then, it’s hard to develop a consistent routine with knee rehab because I keep trying to get back to running, only to have another setback.

I probably should have started Physical Therapy earlier. The problem is that all the PTs with a running speciality are booked out for months. So I’m resorting to YouTube for some basic exercises and protocols that other runners have used when dealing with similar pain. I think overall it works, but it’s not the quick fix I was hoping for.

To top it all off, I have a race that I’ve been looking forward to this coming weekend. The Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach, CA will be my first race since the SV Turkey Trot 10k, and my first half marathon since the Monterey Half in November. My friends and I signed up for the race months ago, and I was really hoping to go for a PR attempt. Now, I’m hoping to just get through it.

Of course, it’s hard for me to let go of a goal even if I’m injured, so I still have in my head that I’m going to attempt a PR. But realistically, that might be unwise. If I’m able to do it, it might set me back even longer…. but maybe it’s worth it? I don’t know.

That being said, I’m still excited about the race this weekend. I love races. I love getting my bib from the race expo, laying out my kit meticulously, carb loading, waking up earlier than I need to, fueling pre-race, and setting off. There’s nothing quite like it, and I’m taking Surf City as an opportunity to participate in a sport I really enjoy. If that means no PR, limping across the finish line, even getting a DNF, it’s all worth it.

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1/18 Progress Report

• Sub 3 Hour Marathon @ CIM: December 7, 2025

  • Status: Yellow

  • Notes: I have enough time to rehab and get back to serious training… I think

• 2,025 Miles in 2025

  • Status: Red

  • Notes: Seeing my “average daily miles needed” climb as I rehab my knee is daunting. We’ll see how long the knee issues last and if I can start clocking some serious mileage soon.