My Return to Running — Unleashing The Runner Within
The only bad run is the one that didn’t happen. When you’re having a crappy run, it’s difficult to believe that.
Recently, I ran in 90* heat, with my dog Kalley and Dane riding his bike. I was planning on running 7 miles, but the traffic on the road was heavy, Kalley was really off and Dane was miserable, so we turned around at 2.75. Right after the turn around something spooked Kalley and she tripped me. On my knees, hit the pavement, eat dust in a big way kind of trip. I instantly felt embarrassed, humiliated, angry, and hurt. Deflated and defeated. Of course, I had to finish the 5.5 miles, all the while mentally berating myself for not doing 7 while blood was running down my legs.
On another recent run at 5:20 am with about ten women and a couple of dogs I just felt off. My breathing wasn’t good and that was giving me pain in my left shoulder/collar bone area. Kalley was distracted and when I looked at my watch at 2.25 miles and realized I was only at the halfway mark, I wondered what in the world I was doing. Fortunately, I know I get to run. It’s a privilege that others don’t have the ability to complain about. I had to take 6 months off and all I wanted during that entire time was a crappy run. I get to be with these amazing women, watch the sunrise, attempt to train my dog, get in shape, be out in nature. I started to relax and enjoy my crappy run and I swear 30 seconds after I had checked my watch at 2.25 it read 3.25. Even in the middle of the toughest, crappiest run, attitude can make it better.
Somewhere sandwiched between those two crappy runs was a Sunday run. Peggy and I decided on the 6.5-mile distance. A bit shorter than we wanted, but not the commitment of the 8-mile run which we weren’t slated for in our half marathon training. I had the honor of not only running with Peggy but my great friends Pete and Frank. We gave Frank the go-ahead to alter the route a bit so we could run on more bike paths and fewer roads. History should have taught us that Frank always gets us back to our starting point, but not always with the planned mileage. IT WAS AWESOME! Kalley did an amazing job, it rained, there were puddles and mud, we all chatted and giggled and the mileage just ticked away. It was one of those runs that stands out among dozens of runs as one of the best. We ran 9 miles. NINE! (If you’re adding, that’s quite a bit more than 6.5!) With the distraction of the paths, the mud, the puddles, the rain, the company, and mostly the great attitude, it was fantastic.
Peggy and I were thrilled to have so “easily” completed more mileage than we needed. It’s euphoric when you full-on unleash the runner within. When you experience the runs that make you feel like you can conquer the world, that a half marathon is a piece of cake, that anything is possible. Those are the moments we runners cling to during the crappy runs when it’s hard and nothing seems to be clicking. That is the feeling we strive for.
When I returned home and walked in the door dirty, sweaty, and wet, Dane looked at me, smiled, hugged me, and said, “It looks like you found your run again.”.
Originally published at https://www.momof18.com.
Jenn is Mom of 18, Transformational Coach for Christian women, host of At A Crossroads with The Naked Podcaster, Author, Runner, Minimalist, & Healthy Lifestyle Advocate
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