RunEatBeHappy

I LOVE RUNNING

The 2017 Fall race season has come and gone for me.  The last four weekends completely wiped my body out.  Not to mention, it did a number on my running mentality.  There were many ups and downs that came along with my four consecutive Fall races: Crossroads We Run 10K, Queen Bee Half Marathon, Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, and Chick-fil-A Get Moovin’ 5K.

After the Detroit half, I ran three miles the following Tuesday (ONLY because my girls made me).  I did NOT want to run.  Then, I struggled to run a PR at the Chick-fil-A Get Moovin’ 5K and knew it was time for me to take a break from running.  A mini break, that is.  I did not run for FIVE days!  Making this mini break the longest I have gone without running since April 2015, when I really started getting serious about my running.  I may have gone a little crazy during the five day break.  Running keeps me sane and functioning as a full time boy mom.  My husband even tried to get me out the door one of the days, but I just did not want to run.  Pretty sure I snapped back, “I DON’T WANT TO RUN”!

My body was worn down.  Every part of me felt heavy.  Walking up the steps felt like climbing a mountain.  Plus, I was still mopey about not getting a sub 1:50:00 or even a PR during either half marathon.  I was disappointed that all of my training, the miles, the 4:15am alarms, the smart eating, the long runs, the track workouts, and the dedication did not produce the result I had been dreaming about.  I began to question my running abilities.  “Did I dream TOO big?   Maybe I was over confident. Maybe I am not THAT kind of runner.  Maybe I should accept that I am more of a two hour half marathon runner.  Did I already reached my peak running performance?”  All week, I was a mess.  Then, came Friday.

With both boys at school and PERFECT 52 degree weather, I finally laced up my running shoes again.  I walked out the door with no training plan to follow, no time goals, and no expectations.  I simply hit the pavement for the love of:

• the wind against my skin
• the air in my lungs
• the burn in my legs
• the sport that has captured my heart

I brought along my ipod full of music for the run.  It had been a long time since I had ran with my headphones.  I found myself getting lost in the songs.  Each song reminded me of a special memory or person that filled my heart and made me smile.  There was Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance” that took me back to running my very first 13.1 miles at the 2016 Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans half marathon.  I saw the trolley tracks in the Garden District, the cobblestone streets, the sun shining down on the French Quarter, the spectators cheering, and me crossing that finish line woozy, yet filled with pride.  Then came, “How Far I’ll Go” by Auli’i Cravalho from the Moana Soundtrack.  N and C’s smiling faces popped into my head.  Those two are my world!  I know I have shown them how to push themselves and always do their absolute personal best.  Another Walk the Moon song, “Work this Body”, came on and had me thinking about the 2017 Run the Bluegrass half marathon back in April.  Those hills.  Oh, those hills!  Oddly, I loved running up and down those beasts, looking out and seeing all the beauty that Lexington had to offer on that cool morning.  I could feel the burn in my legs from that final hill that brought me into another finish line and my current PR!  The exuberating feeling that overcame me, I remembered it all.  Next, a couple Taylor Swift tunes came on, “Shake It Off” and “Welcome to NY”, and I could not help but see bright orange shorts on my running friend, Clutch.  He will be so happy to find out that I have some of her songs on my playlist.  Although we have never met in person, through Run, Eat, Be Happy, I have made so many new running buddies who understand the desire to go for one more mile and push ten seconds faster.  Different people from different states all in love with running who encourage each other.  I am so incredibly lucky!

As for my run, it was wonderful!  I ignored my watch, even missing some splits.  I did not worry about stopping at mile 2.76 to ditch my long sleeved shirt and tie it around my waste.  Up at mile 3.65, I was pleasantly surprised with some Comet Kindness.  In front of the Mason Middle School, I ran up to a long line of uplifting signs that really spoke to me.  It was no coincidence that a fellow MRTT momma was driving by and yelled out to me in that moment.  I had to backtrack and snap a few photos.  Here are a few that really stood out to me:

By this time in my run, a smile was permanently planted across my face!  Following the signs of positivity, I ran all the way up Mason-Montgomery Road hitting EVERY SINGLE WALK signal!!!  (Those of you who run in Mason know how incredibly lucky this is to do in front of the High School).  I could not believe it.  I knew it had been a good morning.  But man, now I knew it was going to be an incredible day!  My arms started doing some dancing as I sang along to my music.  I finally had the wind at my back and was heading downhill.  I felt like I was flying.

While I was simply putting one foot in front of the other, I found myself reflecting, “I am so incredibly lucky that I get to run.  I GET TO RUN!!!  No matter what is going on in the world or around me, I get to escape for a little bit and turn it all off.  I relish in the freedom that comes with some good miles and a clear mind.  I am thankful to have people surrounding me (near and far) who inspire, challenge, console, celebrate with, and share the love of running with me!  I am very proud to have new personal records for the 10K and 5K distances.  I am astounded that I have completed my first EIGHT half marathons in the last 20 months.  Those fall half marathons do NOT define me as a runner.  I know running and I have many more adventures that await us.  I absolutely love running!  Running is my happy place!  I am a runner!!!”

BAM!  Real life hit me as soon as I returned home.  As I opened my Spibelt, I realized my license (which I always carry for long runs) must have fallen out when I took my phone out to take pictures.  I immediately drove back to that spot on the path and searched.  No luck.  I refused to let this mishap keep me from enjoying my runner’s high though.  I could only hope someone had picked it up and would turn it in.  Think positive!

Within two hours, I had been contacted and my license was back in my possession.  Thank you, kind gentleman, for picking up my license on your morning walk.  And thank you to your wife for finding me on Facebook.  I passed the Comet Kindness along by rolling up my neighbor’s trash barrels as I waited for the lunchtime Kindergarten bus to arrive.

My mini break from running was very much needed.  However, I am glad to be back in my running shoes with a whole new level of appreciation for what they bring to my life!  Runners, we are the lucky ones!!!