On the Road Again!

It's finally happened.

What was supposed to be a six-week hiatus from running, to recover from an injury, turned into nearly five months. First, the injury just didn't heal in six weeks or even 12. THEN, we got a cow, and greenhouse season started, and goats had babies, and my days were fuller than full, and the leg still hurt anyway. FINALLY, at the insistence of a precious friend (who also watched my whole brood so I could go - you know who you are and I love you!), I went to see my miracle-worker-sports medicine-guy, who fixed me right up and gave me the green light I'd been waiting for.

Then I waited about a month because I couldn't find the time to go. It wasn't like I was sitting around - quite the opposite - but I just couldn't find a time to load up all the kids and find somewhere to run, and Mark is even busier than I, so I couldn't very well leave them here.

Monday of this week, I made an impulse decision that I wasn't waiting anymore. I joined my dear friend Rina at her house where our children played and she & I ran/walked. That day, I ran 3 minutes, walked one and a half, then ran 5 minutes, walked two and a half (too much to think about). I was surprised by how long five minutes felt! I was also surprised how slow I'd gotten! Still, it felt GREAT to be back out there! I was hoping that just going one time would get me back on track, no pun intended.

Wednesday, I got up and donned my running clothes, forgetting how fat I look in them. Oh well, it had to be done. I knew if I were dressed in running clothes, I could find and take the opportunity to run; I was committed. So, after an early orthodontist appointment and a quick trip to the allergist, I went to the park where my kids could play and I could use the small track and still keep them in sight.

Not long after the run began, I realized that the adrenaline of "getting back out there" was gone. I felt like I was lumbering, nay, THUNDERING down the track. Picture some large, awkward animal. Picture the opposite of graceful. It was as if my feet had weights attached. Huffing and puffing, I thought how the other folks at the track were probably thinking, "Awww, the big girl is trying to run. Good for her!" It wasn't pretty, but I did it. Thirty-five minutes of run three/walk one. Feeling large, but satisfied, I came home, vowing to get at least one more run in this week.

This morning, I decided to go early to the walking track/playground less than a quarter of a mile from the house. I'd learned there was new playground equipment, and I thought if I went early enough, I could beat both the crowd and the heat, and be home in time to have a normal day. I even made Kim come with me (she did great)!

I decided to stick with my run three/walk one intervals. It was shady and cool and it felt wonderful! My music motivated me, I found myself remembering correct posture, and I realized that I was consistently faster than Wednesday, with less effort. I even ran through one walk interval because I didn't hear the beep on my Garmin (I was getting my groove on w/ Kanye, and I like the music loud).

I remembered that I loved running because it literally shakes the fat of your sides and belly, so I didn't even get mad that there was a whole lot of shakin' going on. I realized at some point during the run that I was smiling like an idiot at the little ladies walking at the track, but DANG I was happy to be running! I did a last interval of five minutes just to prove I could, and called it a day. Sweaty and happy, I'd run three times this week!

So happy to be on the road again, though it's different this time around. For one thing, it's harder to find time now than it used to be because of all the extra work that comes along with the goats and cows and chickens (oh my). Also, I don't care at all right now about my time or pace, but rather, I really do just want to be out there running, taking care of my body and clearing my head. I don't have the time in my life or the space in my head right now to be all obsessed with running, but instead, I want to be sure fitness is a consistent part of my busy life.

I'll most likely never be a 25 minute 5K kind of girl. I'll probably never be tiny and cute and runner-girl-ish, like some other folks I know and love. BUT, I can still BE a runner, and that's enough for me.

I'll leave you with the quote that I turned into a mantra about this same time last year, when I first began running in earnest:

If you hear a voice inside you saying "you are not a runner", then by all means RUN, and that voice will be silenced.

Blessings,
Em