Whatever Works

Not why I run

There are plenty of reasons why I run. In fact, I already wrote about them here if you want to read them.  But today I'm going to tell you the reasons that don't even come CLOSE in my mind when I run:

I don't run to get a PR or a Personal Best.

Nope, I run to FEEL my personal best every time.  Running itself is what does it.

I don't run to be competitive.

There's enough competition in my life.  No need to make one of my favorite things into a competition, too.

I don't run to be fast.

I only really need to be fast enough to keep up with my kids and not feel like I'm going to have a heart attack during a game of tag.

I don't run to look "hot".

That ship has sailed, my friends.  I am happy to just not GET too hot when I run.

I don't run to torture myself.

Yep, it hurts sometimes.  But I have never ever come home from a run and said, "Gee, I wish I didn't do that."

I don't run to lose weight.

But if it happens, I wouldn't be disappointed, I'll tell ya that much.

I don't run to feel good about myself.

Oh wait...yes I do.  And guess what?  It works.   

It's funny, but after having taken such a HUGE break in running, I never thought I'd get back into it.  And now I feel like I never stopped.  I am very happy to be back.

Out for a run

There are so many bad things out there that have no resolution.  No closure.  No happy ending.

I don't like to write about those bad things.  I would rather write about how problems are resolved and what could be learned and gained from the experience.    So here on my own tiny piece of the internet, I choose to keep it happy.  So here's my happy experience today:

Today, I ran.

It might not seem like a big deal.  A lot of people run. It's a beautiful day and why shouldn't I go for a run?

But here's why it is a big deal for me.  The truth is I haven't really run in quite some time.  My last race was in March of 2012.  It was a 5K leprechaun run for St. Patrick's Day.  I remember feeling pretty good that day.  I could have run the 5 miles home from the race, I felt so good.  

But then for some reason, I just stopped running.  I don't know why.  I really don't.  Life got the better of my time and I just couldn't seem to fit in that thing I absolutely loved to do.   I gained weight.  I sat around.  Everything was more important than me.  I just let it all go.

And because I became such a slouch, I hurt my back.  My muscles became weaker and my body became softer.  Things didn't work right.  I got out of bed one night and suddenly couldn't move.  My poor husband had to carry me back across the bedroom to get me situated back in bed where I stayed for what felt like weeks.  

Now, I like to think that God was talking to me at that point.  I know not everyone thinks that way, but I do.  He was looking at my life and knew I needed a little kick to get back into business.  So I obliged.

I went to the doctor as soon as I was able to walk on my own.  She prescribed me 12 sessions of physical therapy which I have been going to regularly.  I've been soaking in all the knowledge my physical therapists have given me and thank God for putting them in my life every day.  

This morning I woke up feeling like a million bucks.  So today, I ran.  It was only 1 mile.  But hey, I'm  a runner again.  And I'm grateful for the experience...the whole thing.