"Hi!" from the couch, where I have spent most of my week. I have a lot to share about this experience, but not in the way you might think.

This period of time has been the greatest blessing in disguise.

If you had asked me two weeks ago, I couldn't have told you the last time I slept 9+ hours. The last 12 days, I have probably had eight or nine hours of sleep every night.

I have found it really tough to eat good, nourishing foods for the past few years, instead reaching for the easy-to-grab, easy-to-eat foods (which is why my AG1 is so critical to me!). The last 12 days I have not only eaten a lot of recovery foods, but I've enjoyed doing so.

I haven't stayed still like this in....well, probably ever.

And I have had layers of depth to understanding the (very real) struggles my girls are working through that I hadn't really known.

I even let my mum help me shower, something my ego would have absolutely never allowed until now.

It sounds weird to say this, but I really think my body needed this time, my mind needed this time, my spirit needed this time.

To be taken care of, to learn how to accept help, to truly rest and heal, not just my Achilles, but my body and mind too.

And for that, I feel really good.

I am able to calmly navigate my way through small things that normally take me from normal to annoyed - or even to angry -in a few seconds.

I am so proud of my body and in awe of the way it has healed and recovered from something so traumatic in a matter of days.

Most of all, I am grateful for the people in my life for showing up for me in all the ways they have. Steve, my parents, and my mother-in-law, Mary, have dropped everything to answer all my requests for help over the past 12 days, as well as taking me to the few events I wanted to go to (or watching the girls, so that Steve and I could go).

The love I have felt from people coming to visit and help, checking in, or finding ways to show support, has been just beautiful.

I thought I would find this time hard; in fact, I have found it, dare I say....easy. Again, a lot of that is due to Steve and my parents taking on so much extra to allow me to do that.

In a few days, my stitches come out, and hopefully, I get cleared to begin putting weight on my left leg. I suspect that is where the real challenge begins. When I come face-to-face with how much muscle loss there has been in my left leg, when the intense and difficult rehab begins, when I have to add back in my responsibilities and get back to my life.

Who knows what that will bring. For now though, I am in a much better place than I anticipated I would be, and it feels good.

A little fun to end with:

One of my highlights of the week: my training partner, Lane, took me to the store to have a bit of silly fun with the electric shopping carts.

This week on the Running For Real podcast...

Here's the official description:

Tiffany K. Martin believes that “health” is about much more than the traditional elements of healthcare. She recognized that the existing system doesn’t adequately address the needs of many people, and so she founded Elevated Health and Community to provide resources for those who need them the most. Elevated’s “Not Just for Runners” event includes a 5K and one-mile run/walk/roll that are designed to ensure that everyone finishes with a sense of accomplishment.

Here's the real deal:

There are certain people we meet who challenge us from day one to push our own comfort zone, to have conversations with others, but mostly with ourselves, about what we can do to grow into the important part of our community (whatever that word means to us) that we were born to be. Tiffany is one of those people.

I watched peoples' eyes light up with curiosity and wonder as she expertly moderated a panel at the Running USA conference earlier this year. We had a fascinating and engaging conversation at the CIM expo. And I am in awe of the way she has organized a race that is truly not just for runners (and yes, that’s the name!), so everyone can feel a part of it.

I joined Meb Keflezighi and the CEO of NYRR, Rob Simmelkjaer, on the Set the Pace podcast for the second time, this time for a solo episode with them for Earth Week. They asked me many questions that I have never been asked before, and I enjoyed this conversation.

I wrote a 7-Day Guide to Becoming a More Sustainable Traveler for Aire Libre, which is a different article to others like this that I have shared in the past. I think it may give you some confidence in traveling consciously.

Speaking of Aire Libre...

If going to Costa Rica has been on your lifetime bucket list (or going back there, if you have already been), I would love to have you come join me for a seven-day running experience with Aire Libre at the end of November (yes, for US friends, it is THAT week!).

Don't say "I'm not fast enough" or "I run too slow for this," because I intentionally chose this trip because I wanted to go on a running experience with Aire Libre where every runner feels welcome. I will still be coming back from my surgery at this point, so I can promise you I will not leave you behind (nor will you feel like you are holding everyone up).

Have a local race you work with, volunteer at, or love? We created the Becoming a Sustainable Race Tool Kit for small races to begin their journey. Send this link to your local race director (or get it yourself). We have done all the work for you/them to make it as easy as possible; this tool kit will truly give you what you need.

“Real rest feels like every cell is thanking you for taking care of you. It’s calm, not full of checklists and chores. It’s simple: not multitasking; not fixing broken things.” — Jennifer Williamson

Thanks to our partner, Tracksmith.

I have lived in Tracksmith the last two weeks. Literally. The shorts I am wearing right now, I have been wearing day and night for three days straight (yes, underwear has been changed daily!!), because I already knew Tracksmith could handle multiple days of wear, just as it handles three days of runs the rest of the time. The quality level of Tracksmith's clothing is unmatched; the comfort is like a cozy hug. Post-surgery, I immediately reached for my six-year-old Brighton Base long sleeve to keep me comfortable as I struggled with the post-surgery pain (which was intense).

Environmentally, it is always better to purchase fewer items that are better quality and long-lasting, than lots of cheaply made items that break down quickly. You are better off saying, "No, thank you" to multiple race shirts that can handle one run before requiring a wash, and that break down within a few uses, and instead, getting the quality of Tracksmith to handle multiple runs and last for hundreds of wears without losing quality.

(or use code TINAGIVE if you are a previous customer).

--

Be kind to one another, yourself, and this beautiful planet of ours.

​

Enjoying these? Why not forward to a friend who may enjoy. Encourage them to sign up and get these emails on a Monday too.

​

​