It’s easy to write about a race when everything clicks—but this year’s road to the World Masters Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Florida, came with a few potholes.
Back in February, I ran a strong indoor mile at UH, clocking a Masters PR of 5:01—a full 2.5 seconds faster than the year before. I was feeling confident and fired up.
But the very next week, things took a turn. I strained my calf, and in classic runner fashion, I pushed too quickly to get back to training. That decision backfired—what started as a minor strain became a deeper setback, and I knew I had to hit the brakes.
I started seeing Dr. Jaime Aparicio for physical therapy and rehab. Over the next four weeks, I traded intervals and long runs for:
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Aqua jogging sessions (yes, it’s humbling but it works),
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PT weight training, and
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A renewed focus on mobility and mechanics.
During that time, I shifted my mindset. Instead of panicking about lost fitness, I leaned into the process:
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Ran data analysis on past races to fine-tune pacing strategy,
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Revisited training plan to allow for endurance and strength,
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Focused on Calf strength and durability.
It wasn’t glamorous. No finish lines. No medals. Just slow, consistent work in the pool, the gym, and the PT table.
But the comeback was building.
With one week out to go, I felt healthy, sharp, and grateful—and I knew I’d done everything I could to show up in Gainesville ready to race. I knew I would not have the top end anaerobic capacity. I did feel like I could race 1500m without doing damage.
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