Running Babble
I have been running for almost nine weeks now. I thought I would hate it when I first started, but as it turns out I love running. I like the feel of my feet hitting the pavement, my breath moving in and out of my chest. My awareness of my body heightens for the first part of the run. I am acutely aware of my breathing, the stiffness in my hips, twinges in my legs, the fact that I clench my butt when I run (my butt is going to be so amazing at the end of the summer!). By about ten minutes in I have forgotten all about my body and I am simply aware of my surroundings: the owl perched on the top of a building, the coyote slinking off into the bushes around the lake, the children walking home from school, the crunch of gravel under my feet, the light breeze or lately gale force winds buffeting me :), the wonderful sounds of silence. I am addicted to running. Why has this running fever never grabbed a hold of me before? I started running all those weeks ago with a running app that started me out nice and easy. I still pushed my limits, but I didn't kill myself on the first run and then refuse to ever go again. I get anxious on run days that I am not going to get my run in. I don't like running while pushing a stroller, running is for me, it is what I am selfish with, I get to go out without children, without a weight on my shoulders, leaving everything behind and I get to run. In order to get my run in I have to have someone here to watch Tobin. Today is run day. I hope Jello gets home before it is dark, but it doesn't really matter. I will run in the dark if he doesn't. I won't miss my run. This fall Tobin will be in preschool and I will be able to get my runs in when he is at school. What bliss that will be! I am losing weight, but that seems to pale in comparison to the sanity and peace that running gives me. On March 17th I will run my first 5K. I am excited and nervous. When I started running I said I was visiting the natives and I found them to be insane. Now I am hoping the natives will accept me as one of their own! I am so lucky to be surrounded by friends who are running as well. I find incredible encouragement in knowing that I am not alone in my passion for running. One of my closest friends is a coach and has practically hand held me through my running growing pains. He has gone running with me, encouraged me, and answered all of my questions, and happily listened to me babble on about running. Without these people in my life I am not entirely sure I would be enjoying this process as much. And thank you for reading my running babble. :)