A Race and a Brace

2025: Kind of a doozy already!

This newsletter starts with me running a race and being excited about it, and it ends with me in a brace. Buckle up, baby!

I was excited to sit down this week and write about my first race of 2025.

I ran a small local 5K (the Hopkinton Winter Series 5K #2, officially), because I recently decided it would be “fun” to run a 5K PR this year. (Mine is 21:21 from the 2021 Abbott Dash to the Finish in New York City.)

So this race — on a cold, very icy Sunday morning in Contoocook, NH — was a test. A “let’s see where my fitness is at right now so I know what I’m working with” kind of test.

I ran 24:14 (7:49/mile), and was the fifth woman overall. (There were fewer than 100 participants, but still! I won a gift card!)

That finish is several minutes off my best time, and it’s exactly where I expected to be right now. Also: It was super fun!

And then: the rest of the week.

Monday was Inauguration Day. I spent the day with a friend and spent the evening skiing. (I am still one of the slowest racers, but I confidently score very high in the nonexistent Team Spirit category. Still can’t seem to beat my dad, but I’m slowly closing the gap!) I was online as little as possible. Highly recommend.

By Tuesday, I was back to scrolling, and I could write 100 newsletters about my thoughts on the current state of the country and how I’m feeling and what I’m afraid of and the people I’m so angry with…but I also couldn’t write 100 newsletters about any of that, because I’m already exhausted. We’re a handful of business days into this new administration, and I’m exhausted. So: less scrolling. On the political front, I’m deep in dissociation, for better or worse.

On Wednesday, my therapist made me cry. It was a rough session. One of those “I’ve made so much progress and I’m so proud of myself and healing is so powerful and necessary but also why isn’t it linear and why is so much still so hard for me, and why am I even crying right now?” She gave me tougher love than I was in a place to receive, and it was draining but also, ultimately, helpful. Hard to explain. She hugged me on my way out.

Then, after putting Annie to bed and giving Ellie her nighttime Greenie, I spent some time working in my office. For whatever reason, I decided to bring my laptop onto the floor and work from a modified Child’s Pose. (I love sitting on the floor and will almost always choose the floor over any other seating arrangement.)

After hitting send on one final email for the night, I stood up.

And I went down.

I stepped onto my right foot without realizing my entire right side was in a deep, numb sleep. And if you’ve ever done that, you know: It’s awful. It’s a strange out-of-body experience, and if you can save yourself, great! But if not? Down you go.

I put all of my weight on my right side, and it was like my foot, ankle, and entire leg crumbled beneath me.

My right foot rolled in as my ankle rolled out. I heard a loud snapping, crackling, and popping. I keep re-hearing those noises in my head. Shudder.

I had nothing to grab onto, and I think I slammed into the wall on my way down.

It probably looked hilarious. I almost wish I had video evidence of the debacle.

Within 10 minutes, the top and outside of my foot hurt to touch. It felt hot, and felt immediately bruised. A few minutes after that, I was completely immobile. I couldn’t walk or put any weight on my right foot.

I iced my foot in bed, but I could never get into a good sleep. I was in pain and I was uncomfortable, and I was Googling well into the 3 AM hour, which is around when I diagnosed myself with a broken foot.

Of course, motherhood doesn’t stop, so on Thursday morning I got up, crawled to the bathroom (literally), took some Extra Strength Tylenol, and took Annie to the local mountain for her weekly ski lesson.

And then, like I’ve had to do so many times over the past two years, I asked for help.

Normally on Ski Day, I’m walking and running up and down the bunny hill a few dozen times with Annie, both during her lesson and during the afternoon free ski period. It’s fun and I love it, and she’s doing amazing on the mountain. I’m so proud, and am eagerly anticipating our first real ski trip together.

But I knew I wouldn’t be able to shuffle around in the snow, and knew I needed to find time to get to a doctor ASAP.

So my dad joined us at the mountain and accompanied Annie during free ski, and no fewer than 10 moms and teachers made sure Annie was supported on the slopes.

Then, my mom met us at my house to hang with Annie while I took myself to the “acute injury walk-in” division at the local orthopedist.

My foot isn’t broken and my ankle didn’t snap. I have a straightforward sprain and I’m in a brace for two weeks. It was incredibly painful for 24 hours, but I’ll be fine.

This thing is dying to be bedazzled.

I’m admittedly annoyed that I ran my first race of the year and finally found this great motivation and excitement, and now I’m sidelined.

I’m frustrated that I’m still having to ask for help. I want to be the helper, not the one who constantly seems to need rescuing of some kind.

I’m sad that I still feel emotionally and physically fragile, often.

And I’m aware that no kind of healing is ever totally linear.

So I’ll keep moving forward. Even if at times it means quite literally crawling to get where I want to go.

This week on the Ali on the Run Show:

• Erika Kemp, 2:22 Marathoner: In her third appearance on the Ali on the Run Show, Brooks-sponsored Erika Kemp talks about her huge breakthrough performance at last weekend’s Houston Marathon. She finished second, ran an 11-minute personal best, and hit the world standard with room to spare.

What I’m watching:

• I finished seasons one and two of Shrinking. I love this show. Big Ted Lasso energy (obviously, with Brett “Roy Kent” Goldstein’s involvement), and a total feel-good watch that also hits on plenty of serious issues.

• Everyone is telling me to watch Severance next, but I’m not sure it’s for me? I love a feel-good watch. I love a love story. I love laughing.

• I think I should read a book before I start my next series or movie.

Listening to: This song.

Craving: Hot yoga.

SPONSOR SHOUT OUTS

I am so eternally grateful for the wonderful brands and partners I get to work with on the Ali on the Run Show. You can always find the offers and discount codes in the show notes for each podcast episode (rate, review, and share while you’re there!). And now they’re here as well:

• UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), including the new Mocha + Caffeine gel and the Chocolate gel. (My dream!) Then, use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

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• goodr: Click here and use code ALI for $5 off your next order.

• Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon’s 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. Use code ALI at checkout for $25 off your next Lagoon order.

• Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

• The Eugene Marathon: Register for the Eugene Marathon (April 27, 2025) and save $10 with code ONTHERUN.

• St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville: Sign up today for the races happening April 26–27, 2025, and use code ONTHERUN for $10 off.

And so…

Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Tell someone you love them today. And whatever you’re going through, keep going.

(You’ve got this. You’re doing great.)

Love,

Ali