Deep Thoughts on Running
The time has come to announce to the world that I'm running a half marathon! That's 13.1 miles for those of you keeping score at home.
While I was still expecting Leah, one of my best friends in the ward asked me to run one with her and I was pretty stoked. In the painfully long last weeks of pregnancy the thought of starting my training for this race was about the only exciting thing my miserable, mopey, gargantuan self could think of. Getting started running again was rough, but I grabbed another friend and we forced ourselves to get out and walk/run three times a week until we built up some stamina. I've been good about running three times a week for several months now, and I'm at the point in my training where I'm doing two short runs during the week and a long one on Saturday morning.
The race is in a month and I'm right where I want to be. I told myself toward the beginning, when running for ninety seconds straight seemed impossible, that if I could work up to eight miles, I could really do this. And that would be the point that I could blog about the upcoming race with confidence that it was actually going to happen. Eight miles seemed so unbelievably far and long and impossible. And I did it last Saturday!
I wanted to get a few of my thoughts on running out there. There are lots of reasons to run - health, an excuse for a break from the kids, an inexpensive form of exercise, the list goes on. There are also lots of legitimate reasons not to run. It's tough on the joints, weather is a factor for those of us without treadmills, and I know lots of people who find it boring. As for me, I can't say that when I think about an upcoming run I get giddy on the scale of, say, thinking about an upcoming trip to Disneyland. But generally speaking I do look forward to my runs. I groan when the alarm goes off and it's for me and not for Nate. Especially now that it's pitch black and nippy in the morning. But once I'm out the door it's not bad. It's actually pleasant to have my tunes going, get my legs on autopilot, and just have time to myself to think about (or avoid thinking about) the upcoming day.
The thing I really enjoy about running is the mental struggle. It's hard. Especially when you're just starting out. And when it's not physically so hard anymore, it's still inconvenient. But I love setting a tough goal and following through with it. I initially wanted to run this half to get back in shape post-baby. I told myself that doing that was worth sacrificing for. And now I get to follow through, and that's the part that is tough, but so rewarding. Do extra sleep and cookies whenever I want sound nice? Why yes, yes they do. But I relish the feeling I get when I turn them down because there are things that are more important to me. I think that might be why running doesn't bore me. It never stops requiring me to make decisions and push myself a little harder.
And occasionally I'll be surprised by something that makes a run a little extra interesting. For example, about a month ago I almost ran into a pig. It must've been up to mid-thigh level on me. Unsure whether pigs are friendly or not (there was no fence or anything) I decided to just treat it like a dog and cross the street before it could eat me. A few weeks before that I was running on a trail close to our house and hit a stretch of it that was lined with sunflowers on either side. We're talking thousands. It was so pretty! I had to take Nate and the kids back to see.I've run with too much in my stomach and too little in my stomach. I've gotten the run-induced runs (ha - you really don't want to know about that one). And just last week I fell flat on my face on the sidewalk right in front of a lady pushing three dogs in a stroller. It was at an intersection too and there were two cars there to witness my moment of glory. And then on the way back I fell again. And I've got scabs and bruises that are more impressive than my kids', along with whiplash, and I've been hobbling around since. But boring? That's gonna be a negative. And did I make it the whole four and a half miles? Why yes. Because I'm a little bit awesome, I think.
Anyway, a month left until the race! Stay tuned!
While I was still expecting Leah, one of my best friends in the ward asked me to run one with her and I was pretty stoked. In the painfully long last weeks of pregnancy the thought of starting my training for this race was about the only exciting thing my miserable, mopey, gargantuan self could think of. Getting started running again was rough, but I grabbed another friend and we forced ourselves to get out and walk/run three times a week until we built up some stamina. I've been good about running three times a week for several months now, and I'm at the point in my training where I'm doing two short runs during the week and a long one on Saturday morning.
The race is in a month and I'm right where I want to be. I told myself toward the beginning, when running for ninety seconds straight seemed impossible, that if I could work up to eight miles, I could really do this. And that would be the point that I could blog about the upcoming race with confidence that it was actually going to happen. Eight miles seemed so unbelievably far and long and impossible. And I did it last Saturday!
I wanted to get a few of my thoughts on running out there. There are lots of reasons to run - health, an excuse for a break from the kids, an inexpensive form of exercise, the list goes on. There are also lots of legitimate reasons not to run. It's tough on the joints, weather is a factor for those of us without treadmills, and I know lots of people who find it boring. As for me, I can't say that when I think about an upcoming run I get giddy on the scale of, say, thinking about an upcoming trip to Disneyland. But generally speaking I do look forward to my runs. I groan when the alarm goes off and it's for me and not for Nate. Especially now that it's pitch black and nippy in the morning. But once I'm out the door it's not bad. It's actually pleasant to have my tunes going, get my legs on autopilot, and just have time to myself to think about (or avoid thinking about) the upcoming day.
The thing I really enjoy about running is the mental struggle. It's hard. Especially when you're just starting out. And when it's not physically so hard anymore, it's still inconvenient. But I love setting a tough goal and following through with it. I initially wanted to run this half to get back in shape post-baby. I told myself that doing that was worth sacrificing for. And now I get to follow through, and that's the part that is tough, but so rewarding. Do extra sleep and cookies whenever I want sound nice? Why yes, yes they do. But I relish the feeling I get when I turn them down because there are things that are more important to me. I think that might be why running doesn't bore me. It never stops requiring me to make decisions and push myself a little harder.
And occasionally I'll be surprised by something that makes a run a little extra interesting. For example, about a month ago I almost ran into a pig. It must've been up to mid-thigh level on me. Unsure whether pigs are friendly or not (there was no fence or anything) I decided to just treat it like a dog and cross the street before it could eat me. A few weeks before that I was running on a trail close to our house and hit a stretch of it that was lined with sunflowers on either side. We're talking thousands. It was so pretty! I had to take Nate and the kids back to see.I've run with too much in my stomach and too little in my stomach. I've gotten the run-induced runs (ha - you really don't want to know about that one). And just last week I fell flat on my face on the sidewalk right in front of a lady pushing three dogs in a stroller. It was at an intersection too and there were two cars there to witness my moment of glory. And then on the way back I fell again. And I've got scabs and bruises that are more impressive than my kids', along with whiplash, and I've been hobbling around since. But boring? That's gonna be a negative. And did I make it the whole four and a half miles? Why yes. Because I'm a little bit awesome, I think.
Anyway, a month left until the race! Stay tuned!
Way to go! You're awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou can run 8 miles?!?! In my freshman year I could barely run 1! You are now officially the coolest person I know.
ReplyDeleteMichelle you are awesome. I wish we lived closer so that we could run together. I also have had some pretty interesting things happen on my runs. Lets just say I have had multiple encounters with opossums. A little scary,but interesting! Keep up the good work with running!
ReplyDeleteI, for one, have known of your awesomeness since the day you were born! You go girl!
ReplyDeleteThis is pure inspiration. I've been thinking about running for months... yep, it's that sad. But, Megan is great at consistency with that type of stuff so it pushes me. I have found that saying "I'll do it tomorrow" is the worst. Because when tomorrow comes, you'll just say it again. You just got to do it. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteI am so proud to know you! You go girl!
ReplyDeleteYou are my hero.
ReplyDeleteThis post was awesome! I just picked up running too a couple months ago when a girl in our ward (who is super fit and athletic) talked a handful of us into signing up for a 10k! I had never run far distances before but it's amazing what you can do when you stick with it! Our 10 k is this Saturday and I'm so stoked! Excited to hear about your half marathon, you're amazing! GOOD LUCK!!
ReplyDelete