The Joy of Running (for me)

Running has always been a release for me, even if I did not know it at the time. Early on, I ran hard and fast to keep up with my older brothers. A feat that was not always easy and definitely not always a celebratory finish. But the continual shrugging off of their little sister did not slow me down, only increased my strength and determination.
Later, I ran in Field Day races, up and down a soccer field, a basketball court, a field hockey field, and around the black tar track that circled a down trodden football field. Eventually, I would find my way down paved and dirt roads, hilly trails, through beautiful campuses and bustling cities, along East Coast beaches, and sometimes, on a detour from reality.

Running, like many interests, is not for everyone and rarely will I try to entice someone to join me on the trail. But if you decide to pull those dusty exercise shoes out of your closet, I will be one of your biggest cheerleaders. I am not interested in your pace, your distance or your stamina. I am just happy you are making a positive health change in your life. There are numerous articles exclaiming the many health benefits of running: improves cardiovascular fitness, strengthens your bones and muscles, helps your mental state by fighting depression and anxiety, and will help you maintain a healthy weight. There are more extensive articles that delve into the chemical make up of our bodies and the positive effects of running but science and math were never my strong suits, so I will leave those interpretations up to your individual research. But here is one thing I do know through my own experience: running makes me happy. When I complete a long run, not only do I leave my sweat and footprints on the trail, but I leave  behind my frustrations, my worries, my anger and my problems. Once upon a time, I was a girl who focused on setting Personal Records (PR's), attempting to get my name in a record book or finish in the top three of my age group. But now, I look at a woman who has dug deep into inner strength to consistently put one foot in front of the other, not only in running, but in life. Yes, I still wear a Garmin. But I don't set my pace timer, I set my peace timer. I click on my GPS and know that the next 30 - 90 minutes are mine, all mine. I rarely take my iPod these days. Instead, I tend to talk to God, look at the nature surrounding me, listen to the gurgling brook, the chirping birds, the squawking squirrels, the laughter of neighborhood children, the happy panting of dogs unleashed and the soft pounding of my feet moving me forward. And I never turn my head to see if anyone is gaining ground.
This year I decided to sign up as a Mentor for our local Fleet Feet Half-Marathon Running Program (shameless plug for Fleet Feet - amazing store, amazing people, amazing products). I had never mentored through a program before so I was a little nervous and anxious about my decision. What did I know about running other than I loved it? I wasn't going to be able to tell someone how to correctly hydrate, how to replace electrolytes through food, how to figure out your correct race pace, or how to eat those liquid goo things that cause their own level of personal frustration for me during a race? Egads! What have I done? What if I become the Charlie Brown of running mentors? What if Lucy keeps moving the finish line? My inner voice is screaming, "You BLOCKHEAD!".
But here is the other thing running has taught me - don't ever settle. Don't become comfortable. And these two gems found on an inspirational quote site: "Running teaches me that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined." and "We started out as runners. We ended up as friends.". Running groups are aWEsome. Now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my solo runs, better known as Mommy's Little Helper. But the group runs are mentally fantastic. The conversations and comraderie that flourish out of these brief evening runs or long Saturday morning excursions are truly a gift in life. When we lived in Austin, I ran with an amazing group of women who had a goal of completing a half marathon. We met three times a week in the wee hours of the morning, long before coffee began brewing or the sun raised her rays to welcome the day. I am not a morning person but I loved these morning jaunts. We laughed. We commiserated. We encouraged. We swore. We competed. We were thoughtful, honest, brutal, loving, sweaty, doubtful, and running our way into friendships that go way past the finish line. And are more meaningful than any medal that sits in a drawer covered by socks and underthings.
This mentoring thing has provided me with another great memory created by my joy of running. This Sunday, my mentee will run her first half marathon EVER and the longest mileage she has ever logged in her lifetime. That kind of kicks ass. We come from completely different worlds even though we live just a few miles from each other. Without the running program, I don't think our paths would have ever crossed, but I am so grateful for our intersection. She is insightful. Hilarious. Blatantly honest. Kind hearted. Real. Thankful. Brilliant. Worldly. Determined. And she has taught me to be a better Mom. She doesn't know this aspect and probably would not believe me if I told her, but our conversations made me look at things differently and at times, forced me to look through a child's eyes and not my own. I may have cheered her on to crossing a line she thought was impossible. But she guided me toward a different life terrain that will challenge me, but make me stronger and happier. All that from a pair of shoes and a trail on which I joyfully run. 

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 PS: My Mentee never called me Blockhead, out loud.