I have been a quasi-runner for about the last 10 years or so. It all started when my sister, Heather, thought it was a great idea to run a marathon. I didn’t disagree with her just didn’t know if I was really in a place to commit to the training. Regardless, I said “what the heck” and started on the path to training. Through all those runs, my sister, who was always very close to me, not only became my training partner but my best friend.
I use the word quasi because although I have run a handful of marathons, one half-marathon, some 10 milers, and a bunch of 10k, I am not dedicated to running all the time. I more decide to run a race, train for a race, run the race, and then take a short and sometimes long hiatus from running. All of this running more or less hinged on whether my running partner and best friend was going to run. That is not to say that I didn’t go out and do an occasional run on my own but more or less the daily grind of running involved Heather and the time we spent together. Funny thing, I was going through and old training log last night and there in my notes was "Ran by myself, I haven't done that for as long as I can remember."
I use the word quasi because although I have run a handful of marathons, one half-marathon, some 10 milers, and a bunch of 10k, I am not dedicated to running all the time. I more decide to run a race, train for a race, run the race, and then take a short and sometimes long hiatus from running. All of this running more or less hinged on whether my running partner and best friend was going to run. That is not to say that I didn’t go out and do an occasional run on my own but more or less the daily grind of running involved Heather and the time we spent together. Funny thing, I was going through and old training log last night and there in my notes was "Ran by myself, I haven't done that for as long as I can remember."
Then the move to Seattle.
Eventually, I found a new running buddy in Seattle. Coincidentally, we met on the trail running, she had a dog and I had a dog, we were the same age, and we were getting married in a month of each other. I asked her out on a running date and it was a match made in heaven and our dogs still think so. Now we try to meet early morning on Monday and Wednesday, depending on who is in and out of town.
As with all early morning runs, getting up at 5:30 am is difficult especially on Monday morning. And since it is difficult, there is the occasional over sleeping or being sick. As was the case this past Monday, Ditka and I were standing in the field waiting for our good buddies to come through the clearing. As I waited the obligatory 10 minutes (a promise we made to each other), I thought to myself, "I am so tired (after a long weekend of partying too much) and if she doesn't show I think I am going to crawl back into bed next to Pearson and enjoy one more hour of blissful sleep."
Back in the day I would have never thought to go for a run in my tired state by myself. I would have called it a day, went back home and laid back down. If Heather wasn't with me or pushing me to go I probably wasn't going to go running. At 6:10 am, I stood alone and started to move my feet and instead of my feet carrying me home to my wonderful bed, they went up the road to the trail. I ran, enjoying the beautiful summer morning, the birds chirping, the crew teams rowing at "my half way point" where I stop and stretch, and then the feeling of doing something good for myself that morning.
On my way home, I reflected on how proud I was of myself and how moving to Seattle has forced me to do things out of what I would have ever done. One of them being...I have become a solo runner, who runs because I know that it is good for me both physically, spiritually, and mentally (Now, I hope one day to drop the quasi).
Eventually, I found a new running buddy in Seattle. Coincidentally, we met on the trail running, she had a dog and I had a dog, we were the same age, and we were getting married in a month of each other. I asked her out on a running date and it was a match made in heaven and our dogs still think so. Now we try to meet early morning on Monday and Wednesday, depending on who is in and out of town.
As with all early morning runs, getting up at 5:30 am is difficult especially on Monday morning. And since it is difficult, there is the occasional over sleeping or being sick. As was the case this past Monday, Ditka and I were standing in the field waiting for our good buddies to come through the clearing. As I waited the obligatory 10 minutes (a promise we made to each other), I thought to myself, "I am so tired (after a long weekend of partying too much) and if she doesn't show I think I am going to crawl back into bed next to Pearson and enjoy one more hour of blissful sleep."
Back in the day I would have never thought to go for a run in my tired state by myself. I would have called it a day, went back home and laid back down. If Heather wasn't with me or pushing me to go I probably wasn't going to go running. At 6:10 am, I stood alone and started to move my feet and instead of my feet carrying me home to my wonderful bed, they went up the road to the trail. I ran, enjoying the beautiful summer morning, the birds chirping, the crew teams rowing at "my half way point" where I stop and stretch, and then the feeling of doing something good for myself that morning.
On my way home, I reflected on how proud I was of myself and how moving to Seattle has forced me to do things out of what I would have ever done. One of them being...I have become a solo runner, who runs because I know that it is good for me both physically, spiritually, and mentally (Now, I hope one day to drop the quasi).
1 comment:
Hope you had a good run this morning! Went for a short one. Wish I could be there to run with you. Always more fun with someone else :)
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