Anyway, last night was my last of 3 days running in a row and it was also a night run. I was dragging before it even started. By the time I got out it was almost 9:00 and I had 4 miles to do AND it was still 97 degrees here in St. Louis so I knew it wasn't going to be pleasant but I went.
I always seem to do some of my best thinking when I run. Last night I started to think about why it is that I actually like running. Scientifically speaking, I'm not "fast" never have been never will be. I don't have great form, and sometimes it's downright painful. Since we normally gravitate towards things we are good at, it just doesn't make sense. "Scientifically".
Then I started to think about the "Art" of running. I think the thing I like about running is that it's everything I need in my life right now...
consistent yet spontaneous meaning it's always there when I'm ready and I don't have to prepare much to go for a run.
humbling and rewarding..like I said up above, I'm not a good runner. I run and most of the time, it puts me in my place. Most of the time it challenges me and forces me to dig deep and find a place I didn't know existed
solitary and collective..I almost always run alone, mainly because it's too tough to time it with someone else's schedule but I enjoy the alone time. I spend all day talking, explaining and planning..running allows me to just be quiet (sometimes I talk to my dad) but mostly just quiet. But then I get an opportunity to run with someone new and all of a sudden it's like a completely different activity.
I can't imagine a time when I'll ever stop running completely. I may take a break, I may slow down but it is a part of my life as much as anything else is. I keeps me fit, it keeps me happy.
So maybe I'm rambling but I do wonder, if you're a runner or if there's something you're truly passionate about, what is it? And more importantly what is about that activity that you love?
I wish I had a better answer than I don't know. It's all the above things you already stated. It's my me time. It's my talk to my nephew and grandpa time. Sometimes I need to clear my head and my emotions. Sometimes I need to run off stress and sometimes the deep breaths to calm down just don't work, but hitting the pavement does.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a runner per se, but I understand what you're saying. My gym time is my me time, without a doubt. I love going (I'm not very social at the gym) and I focus on pushing myself farther than I thought possible. There may be times when I don't feel like going initially, but when I'm there I'm on fire. I light up. I become the me I strive for. Love that feeling.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I don't love running itself, but, like you, I enjoy it for the challenge of always trying to improve, the ease with which I can just hit the road and run, and the time to myself. I also like the variety of ways in which running can be done: steady, intervals, outside, inside, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you--running is truly my passion. People talk about having trouble motivating to run and I can't relate. It's always a gift to be out there, for so many reasons!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why I love running, even after all these years. I know it defines me. After adding cycling a few years back just to save my aging knees a little, I'm back to mostly running and loving it.
ReplyDeleteRunning...ENDORPHINS! It's like that I've seen floating around on Pinterest that says, "You're only work out away from a good mood." So freakin' true and that's why I love it!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Katie. Like you, I'm not the greatest runner or the fastest and I don't always love it. But what I think that I love the most is just the movement and finding out what my body is capable of doing. I like lots of different activities for lots of different reasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I totally agree with you.
DeleteRunning for me is my ME time! I cannot imagine a time that I will not be running...hopefully that time is FAR away!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I love the ME time!
DeleteI love running. It gives me a time to think about nothing. To clear my head and focus on my fitness. It offers a distraction from the hecticness of life.
ReplyDeleteI love running too. It's something I thought I was too old for. 3 year in, I'm even more dedicated and I've signed up for my first full marathon. In fact, I've signed up for the Dopey Challenge.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I always run alone. I'd have no idea how to run with someone.
Running is not about speed or winning, so keep doing what you love.