I sometimes ponder the question of why I like to run so much. I have been asked occasionally and I never have a succinct answer. I guess it depends on what's happening in my life at the time. I have been running regularly since college. I have run through my single days, early marriage, pregnancies, post pregnancies, a death, toddlers, kids old enough to babysit, teenagers, and now almost empty nest (not quite!). Although I have never competed seriously, as my kids have gotten older, my running habit has become more serious with more focused training for marathons. Eventually I would like to progress to the ultra marathon.
When I'm not running, I'm often thinking about, reading about, and watching running. As I was driving home from Ely today, even though I had already gone on a trail run with my husband, I found myself wishing I was out on the trail. Having lived here for over 20 years, I know that road like the back of my hand. My first indelible memories of that trip to and from Ely involved pregnancy doctor visits. The first warm days of spring always remind me of those trips as the warm sun shines on me with views of the spring high desert out my car windows. I am instantly transported back to 1990. Now so long ago but yet as if it were just yesterday. My mind wanders to the countless runs through so many varied life experiences in our little desert town. Will I lose the past if I stop running? Will it become even more distant? Probably not, but I"m not going to stop any time soon. For now, it's just who I am. Ask me tomorrow why I run and I might have a different answer.
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| Hard to believe school was cancelled on Tuesday and we were up in the hills running on fairly dry roads by Saturday! |
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| Enjoying a city run on the beautiful Linden trail |
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| One of our favorite runs on the deer trail |
Mom. You should do a podcast about running. I'd definitely say you're an expert and have a lifetime of experience. And you know everything there is to know about shoes and feet. :) You're so inspiring to me because you've stuck with running for so long and you still find great joy in it. That deserves to be celebrated.
ReplyDeleteKeep running mom!! You inspire me too. I always think of you when I need motivation to exercise. WWMD? What would mom do? Running has definitely brought you through some tough times. It's been good for me in that way, too. It's funny to me that you didn't really get into racing until fairly recently. I remember asking you why you didn't race a long time ago and you didn't really give me a satisfactory answer. Something about how it would take the joy out of running. And I couldn't fathom that because racing was what put joy into running for me. It's funny to think of that now that you are a racing machine and I am not. I guess we get each other now. :)
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