Hi there! Well, here we are on the last day of the year. Thanks to Marcia for hosting the last “runfessions” of 2021- let’s get right to it.
I only have one big thing to confess, and it’s this: I’m REALLY glad to see the end of 2021. Of course it had its shining moments like any other year:
But other than that, to put it as eloquently as possible, 2021 kind of sucked.
I dealt with my foot issue (plantar fasciitis and peroneal tendinitis) literally the entire year. I alternated between running, kind of running, not running, and pool running while I tried all sorts of remedies. Let’s not forget the bonus hip injury where I ended up in PT, and the mysterious aching knees after that.
By November I was receiving shockwave treatments and running short distances, but running just felt hard. The week before Christmas I had a mysterious digestive issue and my running took a further hit, and THEN, as the icing on the cake, I got Covid on Christmas Eve. At that point is was almost a relief to give up on the whole thing and rest.
In a post on Christmas Eve, Elisabeth shared a line from Oh Holy Night: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” That line ran through my head all day long. “A thrill of hope.” I felt it! Not just for me, but for the whole weary world. I actually had Covid- the thing we’ve all been trying so hard to avoid for the past 20 months- and it really wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t fun, but I was vaccinated so the omicron variant wasn’t dangerous to me. The next variant will be weaker, and the next one after that weaker still. I can see our way out of this whole mess.
And for some reason, on Christmas Day I started to walk a little easier.. Something turned a switch in my brain that day, and now instead of expecting pain when I step down, I expect it to feel good. It might have been the ibuprofen I was living on- or maybe it was a Christmas Miracle. Whatever-I’m looking ahead with true optimism to the new year. I’ll be fine. We’ll all be fine!
Goodbye 2021! Hello 2022- I’m ready for you.
Would you say 2021 was a good year for you? Are you ready for 2022?
33 Responses
I’m glad that you’re feeling more optimistic Jenny!
Unfortunately 2021 wasn’t a great year for me, as you know. The whole sage with my mom only ends one way. I was going there today, only I’ve decided not to at the last minute because they’re getting quite a few cases and my husband is at higher risk (although vaccinated & boosted). I feel badly, but I also feel that it’s the right decision at this time. Hopefully this surge will subside soon and I’ll be visiting again.
Ok, enough with the downer stuff! Although Winter is always a difficult time in the Northeast, Spring & Summer will come and I look forward to that — and perhaps a short trip when things have settled down somewhat again. I know that Summer is your harder season — but hopefully you’ll go into that running again.
Happy New Year!
Thank you Judy! You made the right decision- I know a couple people who were vaxxed and boosted and still got omicron. Better safe than sorry for now.
Yes, I’m going to try and appreciate our beautiful winter weather, and remind myself that by summer it may be hot, but I’ll be running.
2021 was a slog — is it over yet? — but I can’t deny the highlight of my son’s wedding and at least we got to be with family this Christmas vs. last.
Yes, your son’s wedding was one of those bright spots! Actually it’s a bright spot you’ll remember forever, so 2021 will always be special.
That shirt is perfect.
2021 was not perfect but it was better than 2020.
I got vaccinated. That meant for me racing and social events. I refused to let COVID control me.
Happily I stayed healthy, ran 1000 miles and 22 races because I also stay uninjured.
It looks like 2022 for me is more of the same – races, trips, seeing friends and family.
For you, I hope in 2022, you are able to get out and run more and meet me in Feb!!
Yes, I’m planning on it Darlene!
Yes, while there have been some bright spots, this was a long year!
I hope that you’ve turned the corner on your foot issues and that you have many pain-free running days ahead.
Happy New Year!
Thanks Michelle! Happy New Year to you too!
You have definitely had your share of injuries and challenges this year, I really always appreciate your ability to see the bright side of things. And yes, it will all be okay. Happy new year
Thank you Deborah! It’s been a challenging year, which means I’m due for an amazing one! Right?
For me personally, 2021 was a good year. Even though I broke my ankle and foot, I didn’t really miss much except running. I got to waterski as I healed and I stayed fit. Professionally, 2021 sucked. I am so burned out I can’t even tell you. I’m glad you can see your way out of the pandemic because from where I sit, I cannot. Cases numbers are climbing, places are closing, and people are lashing out. Please keep the optimism coming. I need someone to keep reassuring me that it will get better!
Happy New Year!
I so LOVE your attitude! I agree…we all will be better and we will be fine. We may not be perfect, but we will persevere. I strongly believe we get to choose our attitude, and things usually play out in accordance to how we view them. Happy 2022!!
Happy New Year Kim! I think we’re going to make it a good year 🙂
So happy to hear that your Covid infection wasn’t too bad. I have a friend who had Covid right at the very beginning, is currently vaccinated and boosted, and just got Covid again. She said the experiences with Covid were night and day – first time she couldn’t even walk across the room (and she’s a Boston qualifying marathon runner) and this time she had a mild cough. Gives me hope that the vaccines and the change in variants will eventually lead us out of this mess.
2021 wasn’t bad for me, but I’m definitely ready for 2022. Happy New Year!
I would say your friend has had some bad luck- she got Covid, was vaxxed and boosted and then got it AGAIN??? But, good to know there’s been so much improvement. Happy New Year to you too!
Love your shirt! You totally took some lumps in 2021 but I’m so glad to hear that you’re feeling optimistic and I love the Christmas miracle that occurred with your foot. Many times it’s difficult to see the silver linings, but I do believe we find what we look for and that the universe ultimately is working FOR us rather than against. Happy New Year Jenny!
I agree Marcia! When it feels like the universe is against us, it’s more that we’re out of alignment. Sometimes we need a reset!
I like your positive attitude and your optimist way of thinking.
2021 was not a good year for me for many reasons, I hope in a better 2022.
I agree, sometimes it is almost a relief to give up. It happened to me when I didn’t want to take some days off and a seasonal illness forced me to rest.
Happy New Year!
Thank you and Happy New Year to you as well! It’s our chance to start over.
I’ve written a few times that my summary of 2021 was “heavy.” It just all felt “heavy.” Politics, climate change, the pandemic.
The week or so leading up to Christmas I just felt a sense of dread about the New Year because I know that nothing fundamental is going to change now that I’ve turned the page on my calendar.
But over the last few days I’ve started to feel…hopeful. It DOES feel like a fresh start, and that feels good. I’m trying to remain optimistic that COVID will slowly dissipate and next mutations will be less and less serious.
2022 will undoubtedly have many tough moments, but some great ones too and I’m going to try to embrace them as much as possible (undoubtedly with mixed degrees of success)!
I’m glad you feel hopeful, since you were the one that put the idea in my mind! I agree it’s not going to be all smooth sailing… but things have to get better at some point, and I feel like we’re at that point.
It HAS been such a long year and I’m trying to convince myself that some of the bright spots (reading more! spending more time with my husband! discovering new blogs!) outweigh some of the negatives, but I’m still struggling. However, it’s 2022 now and I need to embrace the idea that this will not be forever. Fingers crossed, by this time in 2023, we won’t be thinking about COVID in every other thought!!
It won’t be forever! It has to end sometime, and there are people who think omicron is the last big surge. Yes, fingers crossed- this time next year we’ll be in a completely different place.
I am sorry to hear that Civid found you on Christmas Eve. But also glad to read that it wasn’t as bad and that you managed.
Here is to hoping 2022 will be a kinder year for all of us, that hope remains and we find some sort of normalcy in this changed world we live in. Have a great 2022
Thank you Tobia! Happy New Year to you as well!
Lots of ups and downs for me this past year. I’m so sorry you had to deal with so much pain. Injuries suck. May 2022 bring health and happiness!
Thank you Nicole! I hope it’s a good year for you as well.
I had no idea you had covid. Glad to see it wasn’t that bad. I know it affects people in different ways. I know this year was rough for you with all of the injuries. Here to hoping 2022 is better. Sending hugs your way!!
Thank you Zenaida! Yes, we had Covid for Christmas (making it extra-special!). But things can only go up from here!
Dealing with injuries all year long and then getting Covid on Christmas Eve – no wonder you’re ready to say goodbye to 2021.
Hopefully we’re off to a good start!
Yes, I was more than ready for 2022! So far so good.
I love the optimism in this post! Even though 2021 has been a crappy year (especially getting Covid on Christmas Eve!), I love the optimism you have for 2022. Here’s to variants that keep lessening in intensity and a healthy body to run, run, run in 2022!
Thank you Stephany! I think I’m just hardwired for optimism- I take after my mom that way (lucky for me I didn’t take after my dad!) Yes to the variants that keep lessening- I really think that’s the direction we’re going.