Today I thought I would talk a little bit about running. Do you like to run?
It seems like everyone has a different stance on it:
“I love running.”
(More often) “I hate running.”
“I would like to call myself a runner, but I am not that good at it.”
“I am better at long distances.”
“I am really more of a sprinter.”
And (worst of all) “Running is no big deal to me.”
I have a so-so relationship with running. Awhile back, my sisters decided (without my input, let me add) that we were going to train for an iron man triathlon, and that I would be responsible for the marathon. Thanks girls. Somehow, I think (and believe me, I am not tooting my own horn here) that I got the wrap as the sister that is the best at running long distances.
The truth is I have had some glorious running moments. There was that time that I won a running contest with my fractured heel clad in a fluorescent green walking cast. There was the time a bunch of family members decided to run up and down the long farm lane at my Aunt Shelley’s house and I got back the fastest because I was 1)cold 2)hungry and 3)a little afraid that I was being chased by a coyote. There was the time that I was punished at field hockey practice for being ten minutes late (because I was at marching band practice) and my coach made me run suicides AND barred me from playing in my last game of the season. I ran them in the blink of an eye and then looked at her as if to say “WHAT?! That’s all you got bi-otch?”
But sadly, if you look at those situations there was some impetus that was making me great: competition, food, anger, fear. On a typical day, none of those things are in play and instead it is just one thought that comes between me and my great running: “I do not want to be running right now.”
A few years back I was struggling with this problem, along with some general nervousness and anxiety. I knew that exercise was supposed to be good for the latter, but running was proving difficult because I couldn't seem to outrun my worries or the thought that, gosh, I just did not want to be running. In fact, the combination of the two was so intense that I ended up literally blasting Eminem through my headphones as I forced myself to run one or two miles just so that I could say I had exercised.
Then one day, I heard something that made me stop and think. Have you seen the movie Bride Wars with Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson? Well, there is a line in that movie where Anne Hathaway says to Kate Hudson, "We can't run with iPods because iPods are for people who can't be alone with their own thoughts." I remember thinking distinctly, "that is me!" That very day, I decided that the only way to get through the running barrier and the anxiety barrier was to be alone with my thoughts.
It wasn't easy at first. I typically spent the first ten minutes of every run thinking that I just needed to get back in my car and drive home. But after awhile, I was able to concentrate on the rhythm of running while sort of watching my thoughts from a distance. And from a distance, it was a lot easier to see that what I was worrying about wasn't actually so worrisome. Suddenly, those thoughts that had been barring my ability to run were spurring it - the more I ran, the less anxiety I felt; the less anxiety I felt, the more I wanted to run.
This is not to say that I wake up every morning ready to run six miles. When it comes to exercise, most days I would prefer an hour of zumba to an hour of running. So then, perhaps I don't fit neatly into one of the stances above. I don't love or hate running. I'm not great at it (hey ten+ minute mile!). I don't love to run overly long distances or sprint in short spurts. And in fact, running is sort of a big deal to me. It is an extended period of time that is just for me, my health (and my thoughts!).
Just for fun, here is a picture of Chelsey and I before WeThree ran the Turkey Trot two (or so) years ago (Dani is the photographer). This was just moments before I ran the fastest 3.1 miles of my life (Mary Prendergast, I'm looking at you!)
A few years back I was struggling with this problem, along with some general nervousness and anxiety. I knew that exercise was supposed to be good for the latter, but running was proving difficult because I couldn't seem to outrun my worries or the thought that, gosh, I just did not want to be running. In fact, the combination of the two was so intense that I ended up literally blasting Eminem through my headphones as I forced myself to run one or two miles just so that I could say I had exercised.
Then one day, I heard something that made me stop and think. Have you seen the movie Bride Wars with Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson? Well, there is a line in that movie where Anne Hathaway says to Kate Hudson, "We can't run with iPods because iPods are for people who can't be alone with their own thoughts." I remember thinking distinctly, "that is me!" That very day, I decided that the only way to get through the running barrier and the anxiety barrier was to be alone with my thoughts.
It wasn't easy at first. I typically spent the first ten minutes of every run thinking that I just needed to get back in my car and drive home. But after awhile, I was able to concentrate on the rhythm of running while sort of watching my thoughts from a distance. And from a distance, it was a lot easier to see that what I was worrying about wasn't actually so worrisome. Suddenly, those thoughts that had been barring my ability to run were spurring it - the more I ran, the less anxiety I felt; the less anxiety I felt, the more I wanted to run.
This is not to say that I wake up every morning ready to run six miles. When it comes to exercise, most days I would prefer an hour of zumba to an hour of running. So then, perhaps I don't fit neatly into one of the stances above. I don't love or hate running. I'm not great at it (hey ten+ minute mile!). I don't love to run overly long distances or sprint in short spurts. And in fact, running is sort of a big deal to me. It is an extended period of time that is just for me, my health (and my thoughts!).
How do you feel about running?
Happy Running!
& P.S. tomorrow is Friday!
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