Confession: there is a word file on my computer, a blog post that was never posted, titled “The Last Running Post.” I haven’t even opened it in months, so I’m not sure what I was thinking at the time. Was I thinking that I would stop running all together? Was I thinking that I would just stop writing about running? What was I doing?
Honestly, except for some running, borne of necessity, last fall I hadn’t really run very much since we finished our marathon in December of 2012. I was still working out, but not running. In part because our new house doesn’t allow for safe running from the front door (meaning you have to drive before you can run, one more barrier to overcome and make excuses not to) and in part because Spencer had stated that he was done running. (Listen, I’ve never hurt myself like he did during our marathon so I don’t judge him.)
Anyway, I hate being trapped inside. This works out surprisingly well in our new state where we can get outside comfortably, with proper gear, all year round without risking out lives. (What’s that? Yes, I’m still pretty thrilled that I don’t see temperatures of 117 on a regular basis.) About a month ago we missed our usual Saturday hike for some reason or another and on Sunday morning, instead of mounting the elliptical for an hour of Hulu infused cardio, I decided I drive and go for a walk myself. About a mile in I thought, “Huh, I think I’d like to run.” And I did. And when I got back to the car I felt AMAZING. I felt accomplished and energetic and better than I had in months.
By Wednesday I had decided that I wanted to start running three days a week, and told Spencer as much. I would run on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, we could keep our hikes on Saturdays and on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays I would hit the elliptical or do something else. Spencer gave me the side eye and didn’t say anything for a few minutes… and then said, “I might be willing to run with you – on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”
Starting back from zero after you’ve trained to run 26.2 miles is humbling, but progress is steady and, except for a couple of missed runs last week after I took a tumble down the stairs, we’re keeping at it. There’s something great about training without the pressure of a big race at the end of it, I enjoy running much more when it’s just an activity that I’m doing to be outside, to keep fit, and to spend time with Spencer.
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