To my fellow runners out there: I salute you! Having dabbled in the running scene for a number of years, I have a newfound respect for those who hit the trails and pavement. I see you out there in the freezing cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer. Your dedication is awe inspiring.
I am late to the party when it comes to running. My first foray came in 2009. The previous fall, I began my new position as a service coordinator for Aging Excellence, which provides in-home care services for senior residents. Our company president, Beth Lawrence, at the employee appreciation banquet that November presented me with a daunting challenge. Beth has a way of selling opportunities in a way that you just can’t say no. As a sponsor of the Beach to Beacon 10K road race, held every August in Cape Elizabeth, she asked, no strongly suggested, I join the Aging Excellence team in running the race. Come again? I think the last time I had run any distance was during physical fitness testing in school. At the time, this would have been over twenty years.
Come March, I was signed up and committed. That spring, I had no clue how I was supposed to train for this upcoming event. I’d start out, run as far as I could, while trying to increase mileage as I went along. On a hot, humid August morning, much like today, I plodded through the course, running some, walking more, but made it through.
Over the years I’ve tried different training apps to build stamina. I basically start from scratch each year. From mid-November through the end of the high school basketball tournament, my physical fitness is non-existent. Sure, many of the Couch to 5K apps in existence claim to turn those who sit on the couch eating potato chips and Little Debbie cakes all winter into 5K runners in 8-9 weeks by running three times a week. To borrow a phrase from comedian Bob Marley, “ain’t likely”. Starting out the new running season I’m not built like Adonis, nor am I now or ever have been. At the same time, I’m far from looking like Bob’s cousin Wayne. You know, cousin Wayne, 5’4″, 372 from Westbrook, not a fan of salad.
I’ve come to learn a lot about running and still have much more to learn. I realize running is as much, if not more, a mental pursuit than a physical one. Running is a constant battle of the mind and will. Maybe, that’s why I have this love/hate relationship with it. Sometimes that first hurdle is just getting out of bed in the morning, putting on your workout gear, and heading out the door. For me, I like to run early in the morning, starting out about six, before jumping into the shower and heading to the office. Even on the weekends, especially during the hot summer months, I like to get my run completed before eight. For me, the ideal running weather is anywhere between 35 and 55 degrees with no wind.
I love the feeling of euphoria when I get through a workout program that halfway through I didn’t think I could complete. It’s the feeling of accomplishment, battling through the soreness, knowing you are doing something positive for your body. You are one step closer to a healthier you. I am in awe of those, who achieve great heights in this sport, those who are able to push their minds and bodies to the limit. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to be a distance runner. I have no proof of this, but I suspect if you look at most school cross country teams, a very high majority are also top students in their schools. The mental will and focus needed for running carries over into other aspects of life.
Sometimes my best runs come on the days when I am the least motivated. Conversely, some of my worst running days have happened on the days when I am most motivated. I’ve come to learn I can’t rely on motivation but rather mental will and discipline. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I hear the female voice in my ear on the running app telling me it’s time to cool down. My mind and body has won the day. On those days, that confidence often carries me through the entire day.
Even on those days when for whatever reason I am not able to get past the next barrier, I pause, reflecting on where I started and where I am now. I have to train my mind and will to get tougher. Many days it really is simply a matter of toughness. When I am on the road running, it’s as if two separate individuals are competing within the same body and mind. Who is going to win the day? Is your tired mind and flesh going to win or is the strong you going to win?
Yes, running is a love/hate relationship. I hate when my legs start to cramp and I still have another eight minutes to run. Do I battle through, or do I succumb to the pain? I hate the games my mind plays before heading out, coming up with every excuse under the sun not to run that day. I’m sore…I’m 48 years old, why am I doing this to myself? I didn’t sleep well last night and need the extra rest this morning. It’s raining outside….it’s snowing out. Admittedly, sometimes those negative voices win.
On good days, I love that extra little bit of adrenaline I feel when I have 2-3 minutes left in the workout. I breathe a little better and seem to find that extra gear. I love walking back into the house, in a puddle of sweat, knowing I accomplished something that I could not have done, even just a week ago. I love the extra boost of energy running provides to start the day.
I think all of my running friends can relate, running is indeed a love/hate relationship. Despite the physical, and yes mental anguish, the feeling of accomplishment you get from completing a long run is worth the sacrifice.
