Kiprunning Return: Run after the Women 5K

I have written elsewhere about the two ankle surgeries that I have undergone to repair a talar dome osteochondral defect in my right foot. I went down with this injury in July of 2018, and just as I started to make a comeback last fall, after my first (extensive) surgery, my foot exploded in pain once again, and I soon discovered that I required a second procedure, which I had in December 2021.

The recovery for the second procedure was nowhere near as lengthy as my first one, and thankfully, I was able to start running again in early March 2022.

It remains to be seen what the future will be for me. This is a major injury that has permanently reduced the range of motion in my right ankle, and I haven't run more than ten consecutive miles since the early summer of 2018, because my right leg has a lot of difficulty sustaining itself, it seems.

Today, though, I tested things out at the DC Road Runners Run after the Women 5K, the first race in their summer Bunion Derby Series.

I did okay!

Joseph P. Fisher finishing the 2022 Run after the Women 5K

20:13 for a 6:31 average pace.

To date, my longest run has only been six miles, and I have only run that distance twice, the second time being this morning.

I guess we will see how this goes.

Congratulations to all of the finishers.

Wilson Komen Places Third in 5K

Wilson Komen placed third overall in the 2022 ScopeItOut 5K. Today's 5K represents the first racing event for Coach Kiprunning in over two years.

Coach Komen is planning to race in next week's Cherry Blossom Ten Miler, which will be his first time participating in that event since the spring of 2019.

It was an unseasonably cold and windy morning in Washington, DC, but with over 1,000 participants in today's 5K, perhaps a return to usual training and competition is on the horizon for runners here and elsewhere.

Coach Kiprunning Online Store Launch

Coach Kiprunning has launched an online store where runners can purchase and download training plans that they can implement independently and on their own schedules.

Each plan was personally designed by Wilson Komen.

Runners can purchase plans at the beginner and intermediate levels for the following distances: 5KM, 10KM, half marathon, and full marathon.

Runners who are seeking a more personalized coaching experience can consider Coach Komen's additional services.

Brief Race Recap: Jingle All the Way 5K

It went okay.  Better than okay, by many measures.  This was my first race of any kind--my first workout, truly--in about 18 months.  And even though I would have liked to have run a little faster--I always want to run faster--that pacing was much better than I would have expected.

Things remain tentative, but I do feel like I am, in a manner of speaking, back.

In other Kiprunning news, Wilson Komen has spent a few weeks at his home in Kenya.  He has been chronicling the trip with gorgeous pictures on Instagram.  Check them out.

Coach Kiprunning at Jingle All the Way 5K

There will be more about this soon, but for now, the brief announcement: I will be representing Coach Kiprunning at this coming Sunday's Jingle All the Way 5K.  This will be my first race (of sorts) since my ankle surgery in November 2018.

I suppose a disclaimer is in order for any and all of my medical professionals who might be reading this post: I am not racing this race.  I've merely reached the point in my rehab where it is a good idea to get out and to be around other running enthusiasts.  I'm merely trying to see if I can hold down a pace that's about ten to twenty seconds faster on average than what I have been running during my training.

This is a low-stakes just-for-fun kind of thing, and I am looking forward to it.

More to come!

A Good Race for a Good Cause

Wilson Komen competed in the 2018 Trot for Hunger 5K, organized by So Others Might Eat.

Some others might eat 5k in DC run done! Do you have any plans to get a run in today? Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. pic.twitter.com/YtlFUZLQRi

— Wilson Komen (@kiprunning) November 22, 2018

Komen finished in tenth place overall with a time of 17:18.

It was an unusually cold day in DC, but it was a great race nevertheless.  Congratulations to all of the finishers.

Kip Accomplishments, July 2018 Edition

Vacation always goes by far too quickly.

Anyway, we're back now, and we've got some accomplishments to share.

This past weekend, Tanya Senanayake, who just rocked the Vermont City Marathon, finished the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon as a training run for this fall's Chicago Marathon.

Cheers!

Tanya Senanayke

In other accomplishment news, I just competed in the Bluemont 5K, hosted by DC Road Runners.

I've talked about the benefits of joining a running club before, and I'll just reiterate that point here.  These races are free for club members (this is a perk specifically for DC Road Runners; I can't speak for other clubs), and they offer great training structure and easy ways to enhance weekly speed workouts by, you know, sponsoring some 5K races.  As always, the competition is strong enough to make these races worthwhile for runners of all ability levels and at all ages.

Look at these times!

Joseph P. Fisher

For my part, I'm still eyeing a December marathon, and in the meantime, I'm hoping to climb off of this six-minute plateau that I've inhabited for the first part of this year.  Still, I was pleased with last night's run.

Onto the next one!

Another Racing Dual: Lawyers Have Heart 10K and DC Road Runners 5K Festival

I know that it has been quiet on this blog. I apologize. Ironically, my summer teaching duties almost seem to take more time than my academic year teaching duties. No matter. It is all good work.

(However, I will take this opportunity to remind all of you that we remain very active on Instagram and Facebook, so please feel free to follow along in those places as well.)

This past weekend represented another racing dual for Coach Kiprunning.  Wilson Komen participated in the Lawyers Have Heart 10K on Saturday, and I was happy to run, along with my wife, in the DC Road Runners Women's Distance Festival 5K and Run After the Women 5K on Sunday.

Wilson Komen at the finish of the 2018 Lawyers Have Heart 10K

As is so often the case in Washington, DC in the summer, this weekend offered rather soupy humid conditions that weren't quite ideal for running.  The Lawyers Have Heart 10K is always a competitive race, and its long hilly and exposed stretches make it a particularly challenging event.

Coach Komen finished 41st overall, with a 5th place performance in the masters division.  He was pleased with his performance, and he continues to plan his next marathon race, now that he is focusing more intently on competing as a masters runner.

I was similarly pleased with my performance in the DC Road Runners Run after the Women 5K.  This race begins in Arlington's Bluemont Park, where the course heads northwest to intersect with, and ultimately to run along, the W&OD Trail.  There are some modest bumps along the way, but for the most part, the out-and-back course is flat and fast, and it too fosters some high-level competition.

I am officially a Dunkin' Donuts man, but I will happy take a Starbucks gift card whenever I can

My performance was just a little slower than what I turned in at the Mentoring Matters 5K, but I was still pleased with how things went.  I finished first in my age group (not counting, of course, the overall finishers, who were really, really fast), and given the heavy, thick air, I couldn't have given it much more than what I did.  It was a good way to start a Sunday.

Likewise, my wife was pleased with her race, which she used mostly as a training run.  All of us are looking to target some longer distances later this year, so we will definitely see all of you out there over the next few months.

Just remember to get out early and to hydrate!

Mentoring Matters 5K: A Great Race for a Great Cause

Thank you to Teens Run DC and DC Road Runners for last Saturday's Mentoring Matters 5K.  It was a fun morning on a beautiful day, and we had a great time at the race.

Tim Hughes (center) first place, Matthew Lewis (left) second place, Joe Fisher (right) third place

Coach Kiprunning at the 2018 Mentoring Matters 5K

Coach Kiprunning will be participating in this year's Mentoring Matters 5K, sponsored by Teens Run DC and organized by DC Road Runners.


Saturday's forecast is currently looking a little warm, but it still seems like it should be a great morning for a run.

We hope to see you in Anacostia this Saturday in support of a great organization.