Running: A Love Affair

Recently, I’ve received a few questions about how I got into running and racing and, more importantly, how I grew to love it. It’s been a rocky road full of twists and turns as my relationship with running has evolved. I’ve progressed over time. From running one mile…to 5k’s…to Dualthalons…to 10k’s…and then 10 milers.

The relationship began as pure hatred…then a respect…then complete infatuation…then head-over-heels love……then there were rough patches…then admiration….then, finally, a mutual respect with boundaries.

I’ll start from the beginning…

Towards the beginning of high school I had to get my mile time under 8 minutes for Varsity Field Hockey. At this point, I only exercised a little outside of team sports. And I hated running. HATED it. I always said I would rather do sprints than force myself to run long distance. Long distance was a mile to me at that point.

I worked really hard that summer and finished well under that 8 minute mark come preseason. I started to respect the power of my body more, and how proper training could result in faster times, stronger shots, and more endurance. It was later on that season after practice one day that I can truly mark as a pivotal point in my relationship with running. I was worked up or frustrated over something that day and really just needed to clear my mind. This was the first time I ever chose to run for pleasure and not to gain anything from it. I ran a decent distance and got a chance to really get my thoughts sorted out. When I run it allows me to think clearly or sometimes not even think at all. I just get into a calming kind of rhythm and before I know it, it’s over.

I don’t think I considered myself a runner until I began racing. That’s when I fell absolutely head over heels with the sport. There’s something about race day atmosphere, the unavoidable race day nerves, and being around tons of other people at some ungodly hour just to go run. It’s a celebration of health, fitness, and charity. And some races are pretty unforgettable. Think on-course entertainment or costumes. There’s a whole racing community out there. If anyone wants to really get into running, I always suggest signing up and training for a 5k. I’m also extremely competitive, which is why I loved being in competition with myself to better my time, my pace, or my distance.

After that first 5k I got bit by the racing bug, signing up for 5k’s, 5 milers, 10k’s. But nothing my body couldn’t handle, I would just sprinkle the races throughout the year.

In 2008, I completed a dualthlon. This was when I began to diverge from only running and delved into other sports. Running was starting to take a backseat to biking. The atmosphere at multi-sport events is entirely different. I cannot describe how cool it was to see a 70-year-old pass me on a steep hill, or how a complete stranger can say something to motivate you to push harder.

I’ve really been itching to train for a triathlon since then, but I haven’t had enough time to devote to training for the swim. So this past summer I decided to do a challenge I knew I could train for: a ten miler.

During my training for the ten miler I did something I thought I would never do: I just went out to the park and ran 8 miles. No race, no reason, just to do it. I didn’t set out to run that long either, I just challenged myself to push further after mile 5. One of the things I love about running is that when in doubt you always have an outlet for a workout. All you need is you, no equipment required. (Well except maybe some sneakers and a sports bra!) I can’t think of a better way to explore a city than by running in it.

I’m terribly afraid of injuring myself and I know how hard running is on your joints. I’ve begun reading Born to Run and am going to attempt to join the Vibram Five Fingers movement once I’m back in the states. A favorite quote from Born to Run thus far…..

“Running seemed to be the fitness version of drunk driving: you could get away with it for a while . . . but catastrophe was waiting right around the corner.”

I think that accurately sums it up for me. I still love running, but we’ve come to an agreement. I pepper running into my exercise routine, trying to run no more than two times a week. In return, I am able to enjoy running for the long haul. I want to be that 70 year old that passes people on a hill. I want to be the person that motivates some young girl to finish strong.

I listen to my body, if it’s hurting I’ll rest. I respect my body and I don’t think it would like it very much if I trained for a marathon. But sometimes, when I have a lot of pent-up energy or if I’m tired and it’s a problem coffee just won’t cure: a run can be the perfect thing.