Remember Why You Do It
I have always considered myself a little strange when it comes to running. This is because I really love running. I know a lot of committed runners who do it for one reason or another, but they do not enjoy themselves while they run. I do.
The last 5 months of running have been hard. 6 days a week 50-60 miles a week. I have run through scorching heat, with a broken hand, in the cold rain, through dense fog. I ticked off miles over bridges, around parks, down busy avenues and cobbled side streets. I have dodged children, jumped over dog shit and seen a bum masturbate. I laced up when I was so hungover I did not think I could walk straight, so tired I contemplated sleep running and so sick each step seemed to bring a little closer to some end.
Through it all I started to tire of running. Not only was my body breaking down but I stopped wanting to run. I dreaded it every night and my runs started suffering. Yesterday I took some time before my run to think about why I love it. I has changed by body, brought me closer to people I love and taken places I never knew existed. I tried to remember that I have stumbled upon some talent I never thought I had. I tried to remember to smile.
So I took a sparsely populated F train to Central Park and left my Nike+ at home and I went for a run, smiling and enjoying myself the whole time. All of the nagging pains I felt over the last few weeks were gone.
Marathon T-Minus 3 Days
Running can be hard. Especially when your training and knocking off the 50 to 60 miles a week. The hardness is good. It tempers and distinguishes you. Knowing you have the discipline to do hard things tends to come in handy in later life. You are lucky to be able to run, but the commitment to exercise that gift demonstrates grit and spirit. Smile about that.
