This morning I headed to the hills for an easy run on sore legs. The ache I felt was a good ache. The ache that you know you ran a good training run the day before (it hurts so good kind of ache!). The ache that tells you that you’re alive a well and you don’t regret a thing! It seems like a messed up self-love, but run love has shown me this is one of my favorite days to be a runner, the good ache days!
As I reflect on my years of running, something came to the surface on Saturday’s long run. I think back on my social media posts about my personal running journey over the years. I remember posting and people telling me...
“In the big picture, my running really doesn’t matter.”
I totally bought into that, but also continued my journey to become a better runner for the mental clarity it gave me. For the RX it became for managing chronic headaches. How it made me personally feel about myself and the health benefits that are a side effect. For the people I meet and got to know. For the time alone for self-reflection. For the athlete this average working mother of 3 was becoming.
As I ran down the road with friends Saturday, I realized something I had gotten wrong, that a lot of people have gotten wrong...
“in the big picture, my running really DOES matter!”
Maybe my running doesn’t matter to you personally, but that’s not what I’m talking about…
Running over that last 15.5 years has given me a healthy balanced life, making me a better wife, mother and co-worker. My kids have been watching, I have friends and acquaintances who have been watching. Some who have gotten up off the couch and walked or ran around the block today just because they saw I ran this morning (I know because sometimes they tell me). I have learned to be consistent, not just with running/training, but I’ve taken my mind to a new level while putting my body to the test. This has made its way into my everyday life, making it better for me and the people I am around. Running over the years has helped me love myself better. I love my running for that.
"Loving yourself is so important."
Because of running, I’ve lived a greater quality of life. One day I won’t be able to run anymore but I will as long as possible. Being a runner and reaping the side effects really is worth all the sacrifices, there are sacrifices to be made to get the runs in.
My newest excitement in the running world is the birth of my first Grandchild. She might not be interested in running, but she might love running! Either way, she will grow up knowing her grandma was a fighter. She fought her way to better health and fought her way to be a better runner, qualifying and going to Boston (at least once!). If she ends up liking running, we will buy tutu’s and run. Then we will laugh and laugh together while enjoying life.
"I believe my running matters!"
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