This weekend I will run in my first half-marathon (that’s 13.1 miles, by the way). I never thought I would be able to call myself a runner.
Recently, I’ve realized how running has changed me.
Let me start by admitting I hated running, all of my life. In fact, I thought runners were idiots. Why, oh why, would you run unless you were running from an ax murderer or a wild bear?
In high school, I played tennis. I think we had to run a mile in our warm-ups. I think I galloped. Or skipped. I don’t think I even made the connection as to why running and sprinting might help us play better tennis. In gym, my sarcastic and lazy friends and I would slightly jog when the teacher was looking, and walk or skip when he turned his head. (Sorry, Mr. McCollum).
What made me start running at 38, you may ask? I really don’t know. I had been walking for years, and had been walking 5 times a week – maybe 2-3 miles a session. I just felt like I wasn’t being challenged, and I know my heart rate wasn’t going up. So I started running a little bit, until I was winded. Then I walked. Run as much as I could, then walk. That simple.
Running literally crept up on me.
Before I knew it, I was running a full mile. A full mile!!! Amazing. Then 2 miles.
At that point, my neighbor, who has been a fitness instructor and crazy fit for years, said she wanted to start running together before she went to work – just something to make sure she was still getting aerobic workouts. I warned her I was new to running – definitely not at her physical level. I told her I was a slow runner.
The best thing any beginning runner can do is to run with a better runner. An understanding but tough, better runner.
So for about 6 months now, we have run together AT 5 A.M. twice a week. Yes, before birds even sing. When raccoons are still rambling through yards. When the Dayton Daily delivery man is delivering papers and being blamed (by us) for being a stalker. (Well-he didn’t have a sign on his creepy van!! What else were we supposed to think?) (Oh, and by the way, I carry mace and I’m really mean in the morning. Oh, and did I mention Julie, my co-runner, is insanely tough? She actually tried to run after the ‘stalker’s’ van to confront him. Poor newspaper man.)
I also fit in a long run on Saturday (5-10 miles), and cycling or toning in between (Thanks John and Julie!)
I never thought I would make myself get up at 4:45 to go running 4 miles twice a week. And I love it. I can’t explain that feeling of knowing I just worked my butt off, dripping sweat, done with my workout before the sun even rises. The – and this is one of the best parts – one hour of peace I have to myself in the morning before the household arises with their dear demands.
My husband and I both started running this spring. (He has been a runner in the past and has run half marathons, etc.) On the weekend, we take turns doing our long runs while the other watches the kids. Grandma has watched the kids a couple times on Saturday so we can run together. We are extremely supportive of each other, and very competitive – but that’s the fun part. It’s so helpful to have someone in your household who is also a runner. We compare notes, times, use each other’s equipment, try different running methods (go Jeff Galloway!) grab ice packs and ibuprofen for each other, and sympathize over the other’s injuries and aches.
Our kids are proud of us. Kids don’t say it, but you can see it in their faces when one of us returns home, sweaty and nasty.
“Wow! How many miles did you go today? Did you go to the marina and back?” We both hope that we are setting a positive example for them.
The biggest and best lesson I have learned from running is priceless to me. I have learned that I can do anything I want. When you’re running 12 miles, there comes a point when even the smallest increments of staying vertical equate major success. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by our “to do” lists or any other challenge that lies before us. Whether it’s a mound of housework, office work, teaching our babies to sleep through the night, dealing with a sick relative, completing a long-term project, hosting an event, or baking 300 cookies for a bake sale. Whatever the insurmountable task, if we take it a part in little section and tackle it piece by piece – it gets done before we know it.
We’ve all hear the “day by day” mantra. But until you tackle something you NEVER thought you’d tackle – by literally accomplishing it step by step, your brain doesn’t register what that truly means. I think your brain’s chemistry literally changes after you surmount what you thought before was the insurmountable. The next time you are faced with a challenge – whether large or small, your noggin says, “I can do this. No big deal.” And you do it. No negative self-talk, no self-defeating behaviors. And as you keep facing more and more challenges it becomes clear that if you want it, and if you stay dedicated to it, you will do it. It’s not even a question that you won’t finish.
Running has shown me I am up to the challenge, physically and mentally. While my body is in the Middle Ages, and I’m starting to ache in places I didn’t know existed (ever heard of the Psoas muscle? I hadn’t either – but MAN, mine hurts). I had to shuffle geriatrically for 6 weeks while a strained calf muscle healed. But after rest (yes, rest is important!) I get back on the horse and ride.
There are runs where I walk a lot. There are runs where I almost cry because I feel like I will pass out and die in a ditch. There are runs where I feel like I’m flying. There are runs where feel a spiritual connection to the universe. There are runs where I can barely make it through the first mile. There are runs where I don’t even feel good or find my rhythm until mile 4. Every run is different, just like every day is different. And I’ve proven to myself, I can handle them all. It may hurt, but I can handle it.
Last but not least, running has helped me manage stress, anxiety and depression. I may have suffered from A & D since childhood. But it definitely came to the forefront during a bout of postpartum after the birth of my son almost 10 years ago. Since I have started running, I have noticed a huge decrease in anxiety. I sleep better. If I don’t run or cycle on any given day, I can feel anxiety rise. As far as my individual bod and brain is concerned, I think I have high levels of cortisol (stress hormone) which are easily dissipated and controlled after a good run. I’m sure this can happen for anybody after any aerobic or anaerobic activity that makes you break a sweat. BTW, yoga is great for runners – learning to relax and breathe deep, stretch and elongate muscles, and focus.
Will I run forever? Probably not. I know it’s not the best thing for certain joints, and I’m sure at some point I’ll have to switch to lower impact (cycling, swimming, yoga, etc.) and that’s fine. But for now, I am loving it. I’m so grateful it has taught me that I am strong and capable. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that.
