You know what I love? I love running. You know what I have stopped talking about for the most part on this blog…running. I have about 8 million topics just waiting in the wings that I am so excited to talk about, which means my running has been relegated to a little weekly post of my workouts. For something that is so central to my life this doesn’t seem right.
The last few weeks my legs have felt like lead and my runs have been difficult, but I've still enjoyed each step and so I wanted to take a moment today just for running.
Can I admit that when I see these shirts this is how I feel…stop stomping on my heart! I don’t knock your cross fit, you leave my running alone.
I started RTTF in 2007 as an outlet for my passion, but the truth is over time that single passion morphed in to a total interest in healthy living, being active and always striving to improve every area of my life. What didn’t change is that I still lace up most days of the week to hit the streets.
Here are some of the most frequent questions I get about running:
How do you stay motivated?
I love it…really how do you not do something you love. It’s definitely not easy for me, especially when I am fighting my body, but I’m happy to go a mile or 20 depending on what I feel like.
Why do you love it?
Why is a hard question to answer for many things in life, but with running I really think it comes down to a pride factor. As a kid everyone told me I was an awful runner…maybe I simply grew too fast and wasn’t coordinated enough to work my limbs. So no running does not come naturally to me and I have to work at it…something about getting out there each day by choice is empowering.
Sometimes I run to release frustration
Sometimes I run instead of crying
Sometimes I run to eat a cookie
Sometimes I run just to feel a good sweat
Sometimes I run because I need to for training
Usually I run because it’s a path to joy
How do you not get bored?
I like to think. It’s a good and a bad thing to be honest, but I really love to think. I use my runs to sort through work, blog ideas and life. After that I love listening to the Top 40 countdown and audiobooks. Plus when you are constantly dodging dog poo and strollers it’s very hard to have time to be bored.
How do you not get injured?
I do, but have decreased that dramatically in the last few years. I’ve written before about ITB Syndrome exercises and David will tell you I am religious about it. I warm up dynamically and I do hip strengthening exercises or foam rolling every night.
Do I take breaks?
I will admit that recent discussions with certain trainers made me feel that running was actually taking me away from my body goals..so I dropped it back…but it’s not an either or. Instead it’s about a new balance and remembering that just because I LOVE running doesn’t mean it should crowd out so many other things.
Breaks in the past only occurred because I got injured…I got injured because I wanted to run and therefore refused to spend my energy cross training or strengthening my muscles in other ways. I’m changing that now so I can continue to run.
Goals?
Right…this is the one that often trips me up. I don’t race very often and I haven’t BQ’ed and sometimes this makes me hesitant to talk as much about running here. Sure part of me wants to be a stud on the podium or to reach new peaks, it is part of why I’m following a plan right now. On the converse side, mentally I still feel it’s more important to love each step and run until I’m old and gray and wrinkled from all that time outdoors.
I may not always run marathons, maybe I’ll switch to 5ks, maybe I’ll run an ultra…who knows! But what I’ve learned is that the distance is not what makes you a runner. Lacing up because you CHOOSE to makes you a runner.
So today running I pause to say I love you and thank you for all that you have given me. To all my running peers who have trotted along beside, in front of or behind me at running clubs or races thank you…thank you Kara Goucher and Shalane Flannagan for inspiring more women to run…thank you bloggers for giving me crazy race envy that keeps me signing up and challenging myself…thank you David for putting up with a marathon runners schedule…thank you body for agreeing to do this sport.
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Gratitude Journal
Aug 8
I am grateful for finding an activity that I can do anywhere and love for it’s pure simplicity.
