So a friend recently started a new blog and it reminded me that I needed to update this one :) I started this blog as a way to outwardly process the internal thoughts that come to me on my training runs. It's been great so far--unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, my next big race isn't until next Spring...and I haven't been running nearly as much. I mean, I run each week--but I also spend time spinning, pilates-ing, and have a new affinity for the gym's rowing machine. As I told her, running makes for a much more interesting blog post than any of these things!
So, I've decided that while the title of this blog is what it is, it doesn't just have to be about running. It can, in fact, be about a variety of of things as I live my life as a young professional constantly moving from commitment to commitment all the while juggling the 9-5, husband, friends, gym, etc.
In fact, this is what I have been dealing with the most lately--"running" in the figurative sense. This quote has spoken to me amidst all the running: "Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." ~Lao Tzu
Sometimes, I think all the juggling and the running around is my way of constantly wanting to have more, be more, do more. As a friend and I were discussing today--our society teaches us that "go go go" is what makes you important, gives you significance, makes you stand out in the crowd. Taking a day just for yourself, to curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee, pajama-clad, catching up on the latest TV show you haven't had time to watch in real time (because of all the go go go aforementioned) is frowned upon. You feel horribly guilty and find yourself adding more to the calendar that next week to somehow make up for it.
And sometimes that me time comes in the form of going out--just for fun. Hanging out with friends, grabbing dinner, drinks, a movie. It can be a stroll through the bookstore, a round of golf, a hike in the woods--activities that have no other purpose than to just be fun.
Today was a day for others, but it was also a day for me. I volunteered with a large group of others at a day of service, and I ended the afternoon reminded of how much getting together with like-minded people who may have nothing more in common than a desire to serve is an amazing thing. It's amazing because I began the day knowing a handful of people and ended it knowing a handful (plus!) more--and what brought us together was a desire to make an impact--TOGETHER.
Our service project really got me thinking. We worked to beautify a community garden in a neighborhood where the neighborhood association is very active and residents regularly invest time in this garden together. The houses built here are on such small lots that several plots of undeveloped land in the neighborhood were transformed into this community space for everyone to share. Heading to lunch with everyone after our project was done, a friend and I began discussing the beauty of community and the community garden concept and how it seemed like such a non-suburban idea.
I mean, I'm not knocking suburbia--I live there. And I love where I live. I really do. But I am keenly aware where I live that this sense of community is so very different. We seem to stick to ourselves, building and earning so that we can get more, be more, have more "stuff." I wonder if that is what drives me to constantly be "on the run" from commitment to commitment without stopping to really think about what I am committing to--like I am in this unspoken competition with myself and the world around me.
So, lately, I am evaluating who I am and what I do--really yearning to make commitments that have meaning, that I can commitment myself wholly to (and not just because I have a hard time saying no). I want to find contentment in just being--in being me and nothing more. I want to find contentment in doing things that help others while also being passionate about those things--again, not just doing them because they fall into the "should" category. That seems to be where true contentment lies--in doing things to experience them, not just because society dictates that they beef up our "life" resume.
And I really feel that community affords us this opportunity--because community brings us beyond ourselves to work together, be together, earn together, live, laugh and love...together.
10.09.2010
9.18.2010
i'm.working.on.it
Ah... I am an INFJ to a tee. I embrace my INFJ-ness. An introvert. An intuitive. A feeler. A judger (blah, hate that word! It doesn't mean what it seems--it means I'm a planner...I love a good schedule :)). Oh, and if you have no idea what I am talking about, INFJ is my Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. If you have never taken this test, it's fun and a great way to learn a little more about yourself. Check out more information here: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/.
I love learning these kinds of things about myself, about my tendencies, about why I do the things I do. Friday was the second time I have taken this inventory, and I am always surprised by one letter in this combo--the letter F. It means I am Feeler (versus Thinker) and yet...some days I feel like I can never turn my brain off--I can never stop thinking!
Yes, while I tend to make decisions with my "heart leading my head," I am still very much a THINKER as well. I think, I analyze, I look at situations from every darn angle until I make my head hurt. Molly Barker's recent Girls on the Run blog talks about how much we think and how all that thinking can hinder us from just "being" who we truly are...and embracing our true beauty and "magnificence." Instead of paraphrasing her amazing words, I'll just let you read it here.
Even though I whole heartedly believe in the mission of Girls on the Run (to educate and prepare girls for lifetimes of self-respect and healthy living) and I can wax poetically about how we are bringing this great organization to Hamilton County because we want every girl to know what it's like to live OUTSIDE of the girl box (that suffocating place where girls are valued more for their outward appearances than who they are inside)--I STILL struggle from time to time with girl box issues. I STILL belittle myself when I look in the mirror some mornings(though I am less inclined to do this when I have just finished a long run or pilates class--exercise really does have power over our brains!) and I STILL compare my body with that of the other women in my group fitness classes.
Ugh. Darn thinking.
This is why I also love Operation Beautiful...and if you get nothing more from this post, I hope that this website at least makes it into your favorites: OperationBeautiful.com. Operation Beautiful seeks to "end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.” If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically."
Women like Caitlin(Operation Beautiful)and Molly inspire me. They help me, at 29 years old, continue to work on how I think about myself. And how I, in turn, think about and treat others. I am working on how I think--the words I use when I see myself in the mirror or stand next to a woman whose body fits that day's definition of beauty to me. I am working on not regretting eating a pumpkin donut for breakfast rather than oatmeal (hey, it's Saturday!!). I am working on glancing in the mirror and not finding a single thing to stress over that day. I am working on feeling just as beautiful in a t-shirt and sneakers as I do in a skirt and heels. I am working on not feeling the need to hop on the scale every time I go to the gym.
I am working on just being, living, and loving without THINKING so much.
The ironic thing about running is that it gives me more time to think (ha!). But as I run, I often find clarity in my thoughts, and my thoughts are usually more positive and empowering.
Running is my operation beautiful. When I am in the groove of a great run, I feel strong, I feel beautiful, I feel worthy of love.
What gives you clarity when all of the crazy thoughts of the day start attacking? What is your operation beautiful?
I love learning these kinds of things about myself, about my tendencies, about why I do the things I do. Friday was the second time I have taken this inventory, and I am always surprised by one letter in this combo--the letter F. It means I am Feeler (versus Thinker) and yet...some days I feel like I can never turn my brain off--I can never stop thinking!
Yes, while I tend to make decisions with my "heart leading my head," I am still very much a THINKER as well. I think, I analyze, I look at situations from every darn angle until I make my head hurt. Molly Barker's recent Girls on the Run blog talks about how much we think and how all that thinking can hinder us from just "being" who we truly are...and embracing our true beauty and "magnificence." Instead of paraphrasing her amazing words, I'll just let you read it here.
Even though I whole heartedly believe in the mission of Girls on the Run (to educate and prepare girls for lifetimes of self-respect and healthy living) and I can wax poetically about how we are bringing this great organization to Hamilton County because we want every girl to know what it's like to live OUTSIDE of the girl box (that suffocating place where girls are valued more for their outward appearances than who they are inside)--I STILL struggle from time to time with girl box issues. I STILL belittle myself when I look in the mirror some mornings(though I am less inclined to do this when I have just finished a long run or pilates class--exercise really does have power over our brains!) and I STILL compare my body with that of the other women in my group fitness classes.
Ugh. Darn thinking.
This is why I also love Operation Beautiful...and if you get nothing more from this post, I hope that this website at least makes it into your favorites: OperationBeautiful.com. Operation Beautiful seeks to "end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.” If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically."
Women like Caitlin(Operation Beautiful)and Molly inspire me. They help me, at 29 years old, continue to work on how I think about myself. And how I, in turn, think about and treat others. I am working on how I think--the words I use when I see myself in the mirror or stand next to a woman whose body fits that day's definition of beauty to me. I am working on not regretting eating a pumpkin donut for breakfast rather than oatmeal (hey, it's Saturday!!). I am working on glancing in the mirror and not finding a single thing to stress over that day. I am working on feeling just as beautiful in a t-shirt and sneakers as I do in a skirt and heels. I am working on not feeling the need to hop on the scale every time I go to the gym.
I am working on just being, living, and loving without THINKING so much.
The ironic thing about running is that it gives me more time to think (ha!). But as I run, I often find clarity in my thoughts, and my thoughts are usually more positive and empowering.
Running is my operation beautiful. When I am in the groove of a great run, I feel strong, I feel beautiful, I feel worthy of love.
What gives you clarity when all of the crazy thoughts of the day start attacking? What is your operation beautiful?
8.28.2010
i.did.it
I did it.
I just ran my first triathlon.
Now, I am prone to second guessing myself after races. What if I hadn't gone out so fast on the swim? What if my goggles hadn't fogged up? What if I had been better prepared for the hills?
What if...
But all the "what ifs" only discount the "actually happeneds." What actually happened is that I competed in my first every multi-sport event. What happened is for the first time I swam 500 meters without stopping. What happened is I biked 10 miles with a purpose. What happened is that even when I felt like walking, I kept running. What happened is that I finished...and I actually feel great.
The morning was full of anxiety and lots of energy and excitement. As an all women event, it was awesome to be among so many motivated women--and to see so many shapes and sizes out there competing not against one another (well, some were), but against (and for) their very selves. So many women feeling strong enough and confident enough to wear swimsuits in front of one another with no makeup and not caring how their hair looked bulging under their swim caps--that's an amazing and inspiring picture.
I love events like this not just for the sport but for the energy and spirit of it all. This is why I run. This is why I bike. This is why I swim. There's a journey in all of this--these sports aren't just a way to stay in shape or earn a finisher's medal--they're a way to connect, to feel empowered, to build confidence, to feel strong. In a world where so many mixed messages about what it means to be strong and beautiful bombard us, especially women and girls, it's events like these that remind me that those messages are only as potent as we allow them to be.
I did it. I swam. I biked. I ran.
And now... I'm ready for some chocolate chip pancakes... :)
I just ran my first triathlon.
Now, I am prone to second guessing myself after races. What if I hadn't gone out so fast on the swim? What if my goggles hadn't fogged up? What if I had been better prepared for the hills?
What if...
But all the "what ifs" only discount the "actually happeneds." What actually happened is that I competed in my first every multi-sport event. What happened is for the first time I swam 500 meters without stopping. What happened is I biked 10 miles with a purpose. What happened is that even when I felt like walking, I kept running. What happened is that I finished...and I actually feel great.
The morning was full of anxiety and lots of energy and excitement. As an all women event, it was awesome to be among so many motivated women--and to see so many shapes and sizes out there competing not against one another (well, some were), but against (and for) their very selves. So many women feeling strong enough and confident enough to wear swimsuits in front of one another with no makeup and not caring how their hair looked bulging under their swim caps--that's an amazing and inspiring picture.
I love events like this not just for the sport but for the energy and spirit of it all. This is why I run. This is why I bike. This is why I swim. There's a journey in all of this--these sports aren't just a way to stay in shape or earn a finisher's medal--they're a way to connect, to feel empowered, to build confidence, to feel strong. In a world where so many mixed messages about what it means to be strong and beautiful bombard us, especially women and girls, it's events like these that remind me that those messages are only as potent as we allow them to be.
I did it. I swam. I biked. I ran.
And now... I'm ready for some chocolate chip pancakes... :)
8.26.2010
.restless.
My first ever sprint triathlon is the day after tomorrow...and I am already thinking about what I want to train for next. Isn't that crazy? I mean, I should be thinking about the triathlon itself, wondering about the blue green algae level in the water or what I'll do if my bike breaks down or if I do something really stupid like forget my running shoes. But no, I'm not thinking about that. Well, I am...a little. But mostly I'm thinking about what comes next. Will it be another tri? Maybe a 5K or 10K. Maybe another half marathon. (No,still not thinking full marathon quite yet!).
This way of thinking is nothing new for me. In fact, this sense of "restlessness" as I call it, is a very real way of life for me. It seems just when those "moments" in life come (you know, the ones you are supposed to cherish?), I can't help but starting thinking about what's next. It's like I'm afraid that if I don't think about what's next, I'm going to miss it, or not be ready for it.
These last few months I have woken up at the crack of dawn to hit the pool or spinning class or the pavement for a run, and I am almost sad the tri is Saturday because I am already missing my training schedule. It was my routine. And now my routine is going to change. And that scares me.
So, suffice it to say, I feel anything but fearless right now. Yet, at the same time, I feel empowered. I feel excited. I know that I have put in the time and effort in my training and it will pay off. I know that Saturday will be filled with nerves and excitement and an emotional high that will last beyond that afternoon. I'm trying to focus on that right now--the end goal of all of this. Yet at the same time, my feelings right now remind me that this is what life is about--not just the goals, but the journeys that get us to them.
There are always new goals to set, new races to run, new scenery to enjoy. As my boss said this morning during a brainstorming meeting--"You can't learn something you already know." So...to keep learning, I have to shake up that oh so familiar routine. I have to choose a new race, find a new challenge, set a new PR. I have to take what I've learned in this amazing training process and apply it to something new, expand on it, and set a new goal. At the same time, though, I can't let that thinking take away from being "in the moment." I don't want to miss the spirit of this stop along the journey. What a shame that would be.
So for Saturday, my motto is going to be "just breathe." Just breathe and take it all in. I know it's going to be amazing.
This way of thinking is nothing new for me. In fact, this sense of "restlessness" as I call it, is a very real way of life for me. It seems just when those "moments" in life come (you know, the ones you are supposed to cherish?), I can't help but starting thinking about what's next. It's like I'm afraid that if I don't think about what's next, I'm going to miss it, or not be ready for it.
These last few months I have woken up at the crack of dawn to hit the pool or spinning class or the pavement for a run, and I am almost sad the tri is Saturday because I am already missing my training schedule. It was my routine. And now my routine is going to change. And that scares me.
So, suffice it to say, I feel anything but fearless right now. Yet, at the same time, I feel empowered. I feel excited. I know that I have put in the time and effort in my training and it will pay off. I know that Saturday will be filled with nerves and excitement and an emotional high that will last beyond that afternoon. I'm trying to focus on that right now--the end goal of all of this. Yet at the same time, my feelings right now remind me that this is what life is about--not just the goals, but the journeys that get us to them.
There are always new goals to set, new races to run, new scenery to enjoy. As my boss said this morning during a brainstorming meeting--"You can't learn something you already know." So...to keep learning, I have to shake up that oh so familiar routine. I have to choose a new race, find a new challenge, set a new PR. I have to take what I've learned in this amazing training process and apply it to something new, expand on it, and set a new goal. At the same time, though, I can't let that thinking take away from being "in the moment." I don't want to miss the spirit of this stop along the journey. What a shame that would be.
So for Saturday, my motto is going to be "just breathe." Just breathe and take it all in. I know it's going to be amazing.
8.11.2010
.fearless.
"Fearless"-(n), Oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them; bold or brave
Each year, Girls on the Run girls are asked to write an essay about how Girls on the Run has made them fearless. I have been thinking a lot about this one word recently because that is not a word I would normally ever use to describe myself. I would describe myself as the exact opposite--in short, "I'm chicken." I'm terrified of heights, the site of roller coasters makes me want to vomit, and any moment I feel like I am not "in control," I freak out.
But last week, I let myself climb out of that shell a bit, and I was proud of myself for it. Every summer my husband and I head to the lake on vacation, and every year I say I am going to jet out on the water skis, and every year I chicken out. The thought of being pulled along behind a boat over which I have absolutely no control has always scared me. Not to mention the fact that attempting to pull my entire body and up and out of the water seemed no small feat.
But this year, I tried it. And this year, I went beyond that and tried out the knee board. No longer content staying "in the boat," I stepped out of the boat (figuratively and literally) and tried something new. Sure, I wiped out quite a few times. I ingested more lake water than a human being should. And, I have a big fat bruise to show for all of it...but, the lesson here is that I did it. And I loved it! I felt fearless.
On my morning run, as I was recounting memories of last week, I began thinking about the Girls on the Run essays and all the ways I am fearless.
I am fearless when I...
1. Try a new sport, no matter how awful I think I'll be at it
2. Follow through with my morning run, even when the sun isn't up and it's already 80 degrees
3. Add an extra rest day to my training schedule, without feeling guilty, because it's what my body tells me to do
4. Know that I've overscheduled myself and have the wisdom to say "no"
5. Order a side of fruit with my sandwich rather than french fries
6. ...and when I indulge in a side of fries without feeling guilty :)
7. Speak up and share my opinion, especially when I know it isn't the most popular
8. Ask that "stupid" question
9. Leave the house without makeup
10. Decide to train for a triathlon...even when I dread swimming laps
11. Apply to graduate school 600 miles from home
12. Listen to my gut
13. Head out for a run without my ipod and let the scenery move me
14. Am spontaneous (doesn't happen too often!)
15. Am me
Sometimes, that last one is so hard--to just be me--not to be the me I want others to think that I am or the me others think I should be. Like the song says, "I'm clueless and I'm clumsy, but I've got friends that love me...It's all a part of me. That's who I am." When I recognize and embrace my inner clumsyness--and am able to say, with confidence, "That's me. That's who I am," then that's when I am fearless.
We all have inhibitions that hold us back, keep us from living fearlessly. For some of us, those inhibitions are almost paralyzing. It's when we can embrace the fact that we aren't perfect, let go of the anxieties that keep us from moving forward, and learn to love ourselves for who we are, that we can truly let go of all fear. And with that fearlessness comes freedom--Freedom to try new things. Freedom to have fun! Freedom to share our opinions. Freedom to love ourselves. Freedom to love others.
Freedom...to just...be.
So, think about it. When are you fearless?
Happy trails! :)
Each year, Girls on the Run girls are asked to write an essay about how Girls on the Run has made them fearless. I have been thinking a lot about this one word recently because that is not a word I would normally ever use to describe myself. I would describe myself as the exact opposite--in short, "I'm chicken." I'm terrified of heights, the site of roller coasters makes me want to vomit, and any moment I feel like I am not "in control," I freak out.
But last week, I let myself climb out of that shell a bit, and I was proud of myself for it. Every summer my husband and I head to the lake on vacation, and every year I say I am going to jet out on the water skis, and every year I chicken out. The thought of being pulled along behind a boat over which I have absolutely no control has always scared me. Not to mention the fact that attempting to pull my entire body and up and out of the water seemed no small feat.
But this year, I tried it. And this year, I went beyond that and tried out the knee board. No longer content staying "in the boat," I stepped out of the boat (figuratively and literally) and tried something new. Sure, I wiped out quite a few times. I ingested more lake water than a human being should. And, I have a big fat bruise to show for all of it...but, the lesson here is that I did it. And I loved it! I felt fearless.
On my morning run, as I was recounting memories of last week, I began thinking about the Girls on the Run essays and all the ways I am fearless.
I am fearless when I...
1. Try a new sport, no matter how awful I think I'll be at it
2. Follow through with my morning run, even when the sun isn't up and it's already 80 degrees
3. Add an extra rest day to my training schedule, without feeling guilty, because it's what my body tells me to do
4. Know that I've overscheduled myself and have the wisdom to say "no"
5. Order a side of fruit with my sandwich rather than french fries
6. ...and when I indulge in a side of fries without feeling guilty :)
7. Speak up and share my opinion, especially when I know it isn't the most popular
8. Ask that "stupid" question
9. Leave the house without makeup
10. Decide to train for a triathlon...even when I dread swimming laps
11. Apply to graduate school 600 miles from home
12. Listen to my gut
13. Head out for a run without my ipod and let the scenery move me
14. Am spontaneous (doesn't happen too often!)
15. Am me
Sometimes, that last one is so hard--to just be me--not to be the me I want others to think that I am or the me others think I should be. Like the song says, "I'm clueless and I'm clumsy, but I've got friends that love me...It's all a part of me. That's who I am." When I recognize and embrace my inner clumsyness--and am able to say, with confidence, "That's me. That's who I am," then that's when I am fearless.
We all have inhibitions that hold us back, keep us from living fearlessly. For some of us, those inhibitions are almost paralyzing. It's when we can embrace the fact that we aren't perfect, let go of the anxieties that keep us from moving forward, and learn to love ourselves for who we are, that we can truly let go of all fear. And with that fearlessness comes freedom--Freedom to try new things. Freedom to have fun! Freedom to share our opinions. Freedom to love ourselves. Freedom to love others.
Freedom...to just...be.
So, think about it. When are you fearless?
Happy trails! :)
7.26.2010
the.purest.form
**This post was originally written July 19th and then accidentally deleted from the site. Thanks to a faithful RSS feed subscriber, I was able to recover it. Enjoy!**
In a recent NPR story on All Things Considered, anthro professor Dan Lieberman calls running the "purest form" of exercise. I love the sound of that.
Pure.
It sounds so unadulterated. So untethered. So "uncut."
Running is pure. It's freeing. It requires little more than a pair of running shoes and sometimes not even that at all. There is actually a throng of runners who subscribe to the "barefoot running" method. It makes my feet hurt and my shins cry out just thinking about it. But apparently, my head has it all wrong because the "experts" say that barefoot running is actually more natural and is, thus, safer and less prone to injury. I've never tried it--I overpronate according to the running store where I buy my shoes and I fear twisting my ankle or developing tendonitis because my ankles aren't well supported. But then I wonder if the shoes just aren't the culprit. I mean, stability shoes, non-stability, light-stability--have the mere use of shoes caused us the need to "correct" the ways that we run? Would running barefoot from the start put us all on "equal footing" (pun intended)?
Running barefoot is actually more efficient than wearing shoes, according to Lieberman who studies endurance running as a unique human ability. Running barefoot actually causes you to land on the balls of your feet (too painful to land on your heal), which not only protects that part of your foot but also transfers energy into your foot ligaments and Achilles tendon thereby acting like rubberbands--giving you a bit of a "spring" in your step. Again, pun intended :)
Listening to this story (and here it is in case you'd like to read or listen to it http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128626037) made me think of how we tend to make things so much more complicated than they are--like exercise for instance. Is an elliptical machine the purist form of exercise? What about rowing without going anywhere in the gym? Or walking in place on a treadmill? Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking gyms. My gym is certainly key in keeping me fit. But at what point in our lives did we need gyms to keep us active? Why does "working out" have to feel just like it sounds--like work? What would happen if we gave ourselves over to "the purest form" of exercise and just ran, or skipped, or jumped, or danced, or just moved forward in our daily lives? What is it that keeps us from being energized and moved by the world around us?
Ok, ok, I know that time and busyness and schedules and kids and families and jobs keep us from just getting out there and just moving. I know that, ironically, the discipline of the gym may actually be what keeps some of us going back (b/c we can "schedule" it among the other busyness of our lives). And I also know that some of us are actually really good at enjoying life and getting fit while doing so, that we aren't all tied down to the gym. But it's worth thinking about.
I think one of the reasons running is so popular is that it doesn't tie you down to the gym or any one place. You can run anywhere, at any time, shoes or no shoes. You can run on hills on flat ground on trails on dirt on pavement. You can run around your neighborhood on a running trail in a park in the city in the country around a lake on the beach. Anywhere. Any time.
That's what makes it so pure.
So--what is your favorite form of "pure" exercise? A hike? A bike ride? Walking your dog? Playing tag with your kids? Gardening? Yoga?
I'd like to know :)
Happy trails!
In a recent NPR story on All Things Considered, anthro professor Dan Lieberman calls running the "purest form" of exercise. I love the sound of that.
Pure.
It sounds so unadulterated. So untethered. So "uncut."
Running is pure. It's freeing. It requires little more than a pair of running shoes and sometimes not even that at all. There is actually a throng of runners who subscribe to the "barefoot running" method. It makes my feet hurt and my shins cry out just thinking about it. But apparently, my head has it all wrong because the "experts" say that barefoot running is actually more natural and is, thus, safer and less prone to injury. I've never tried it--I overpronate according to the running store where I buy my shoes and I fear twisting my ankle or developing tendonitis because my ankles aren't well supported. But then I wonder if the shoes just aren't the culprit. I mean, stability shoes, non-stability, light-stability--have the mere use of shoes caused us the need to "correct" the ways that we run? Would running barefoot from the start put us all on "equal footing" (pun intended)?
Running barefoot is actually more efficient than wearing shoes, according to Lieberman who studies endurance running as a unique human ability. Running barefoot actually causes you to land on the balls of your feet (too painful to land on your heal), which not only protects that part of your foot but also transfers energy into your foot ligaments and Achilles tendon thereby acting like rubberbands--giving you a bit of a "spring" in your step. Again, pun intended :)
Listening to this story (and here it is in case you'd like to read or listen to it http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128626037) made me think of how we tend to make things so much more complicated than they are--like exercise for instance. Is an elliptical machine the purist form of exercise? What about rowing without going anywhere in the gym? Or walking in place on a treadmill? Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking gyms. My gym is certainly key in keeping me fit. But at what point in our lives did we need gyms to keep us active? Why does "working out" have to feel just like it sounds--like work? What would happen if we gave ourselves over to "the purest form" of exercise and just ran, or skipped, or jumped, or danced, or just moved forward in our daily lives? What is it that keeps us from being energized and moved by the world around us?
Ok, ok, I know that time and busyness and schedules and kids and families and jobs keep us from just getting out there and just moving. I know that, ironically, the discipline of the gym may actually be what keeps some of us going back (b/c we can "schedule" it among the other busyness of our lives). And I also know that some of us are actually really good at enjoying life and getting fit while doing so, that we aren't all tied down to the gym. But it's worth thinking about.
I think one of the reasons running is so popular is that it doesn't tie you down to the gym or any one place. You can run anywhere, at any time, shoes or no shoes. You can run on hills on flat ground on trails on dirt on pavement. You can run around your neighborhood on a running trail in a park in the city in the country around a lake on the beach. Anywhere. Any time.
That's what makes it so pure.
So--what is your favorite form of "pure" exercise? A hike? A bike ride? Walking your dog? Playing tag with your kids? Gardening? Yoga?
I'd like to know :)
Happy trails!
7.25.2010
just.listen
So, I recently had a post here about running--the purest form of exercise--and running barefoot--the most natural way to run--based on an NPR news story I recently heard: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128626037.
I accidentally deleted it...argh! For those of you who were unable to read it...the gist of it was this: Running is said to be the purest form of exercise and many believe that barefoot running, because it is so natural, is the best and most pain-free way to run. As a runner who overpronates and relies on stability shoes to correct that pronation, I speculated that perhaps the mere contstraints of shoes have created in us the exact problems we need to correct with our running (just a thought?). The post went on to discuss how workouts at the gym (the elliptical, the rowing machine, the treadmill) seem to me the most unnatural way to exercise (you don't go anywhere!). I wondered at what point working out became such a disciplined activity--less "pure" and just another thing we have to schedule in our lives. This is not me knocking gyms at all, as my gym is what helps keep me fit. It was mere thinking about what if we truly gave ourselves over to "pure" forms of exercise? What if we just ran, or lept, or jumped, or danced--without fear, without distractions (perhaps as a way to find balance with all of our daily distractions), and just let the world move us forward?
Perhaps that's a lot to mentally unpack in such a shortened summation, but alas, I didn't want that message to get lost :) It has really touched me this week on my runs...and even during the 2 rest days I allowed myself this week. This morning's 5 miler was the best run I have had in a while, and I believe it felt so good because I let myself get off my schedule for 2 days. I took an unintended rest day and listened to what my body needed--not what the schedule told me to do.
Today's post is a combination of the deleted one and the message that hit me this morning as a I ran:
Listen to your body. Listen to your heart. Let the world move you. When you need the discipline of the gym, use it. When you need a schedule, follow it. But when you just need to rest or you just need to play, do it! That's how you stay healthy :)
Happy trails!
I accidentally deleted it...argh! For those of you who were unable to read it...the gist of it was this: Running is said to be the purest form of exercise and many believe that barefoot running, because it is so natural, is the best and most pain-free way to run. As a runner who overpronates and relies on stability shoes to correct that pronation, I speculated that perhaps the mere contstraints of shoes have created in us the exact problems we need to correct with our running (just a thought?). The post went on to discuss how workouts at the gym (the elliptical, the rowing machine, the treadmill) seem to me the most unnatural way to exercise (you don't go anywhere!). I wondered at what point working out became such a disciplined activity--less "pure" and just another thing we have to schedule in our lives. This is not me knocking gyms at all, as my gym is what helps keep me fit. It was mere thinking about what if we truly gave ourselves over to "pure" forms of exercise? What if we just ran, or lept, or jumped, or danced--without fear, without distractions (perhaps as a way to find balance with all of our daily distractions), and just let the world move us forward?
Perhaps that's a lot to mentally unpack in such a shortened summation, but alas, I didn't want that message to get lost :) It has really touched me this week on my runs...and even during the 2 rest days I allowed myself this week. This morning's 5 miler was the best run I have had in a while, and I believe it felt so good because I let myself get off my schedule for 2 days. I took an unintended rest day and listened to what my body needed--not what the schedule told me to do.
Today's post is a combination of the deleted one and the message that hit me this morning as a I ran:
Listen to your body. Listen to your heart. Let the world move you. When you need the discipline of the gym, use it. When you need a schedule, follow it. But when you just need to rest or you just need to play, do it! That's how you stay healthy :)
Happy trails!
7.11.2010
once.a.runner
Ah, I love it when I hear other people talk about running for the first time! An old friend recently messaged me on FB to let me know that after reading Molly Barker's blog, she was inspired to buy a new pair of running shoes and hit the pavement :) LOVE IT. Another dear friend emailed after one of my blog posts (marathon.mommas) to tell me more about how her husband and young daughter have started running together...and how she has found peace and joy in running as a mom. That's awesome.
I love hearing this stuff because it reminds me of how powerful this sport is--because it transcends the title of "sport." It's therapy, meditation, fitness, peace of mind, togetherness, goal-setting, competition...so many different things to different people. And it's one of those "I could never do that" that becomes "I never thought I could do that...but I can!" Talk about a confidence booster.
I was out on a short run this morning (45 minutes)--with my new triathlon training schedule, I don't run longer than an hour on any given training run (geez--not so long ago, the idea of a 45 minute run was not at all "short" in my mind!). The sun was beating down and I could hear the cicadas, the "sound" to me of summer, of "heat." I think that sound alone made me feel even hotter than I already felt on this run. I was panting, sweating, and within 20 minutes wanted to just stop, turn around, and start walking home. But I didn't. I kept running. Because I had set a goal, I was training, and this 45 minute run was on today's schedule. Today was the day I ran because I had to, not because I wanted to.
Today's run was one of those runs that I want all "new" runners to be aware of--there are those days that you run more of obligation than out of love for the feeling of your feet hitting the pavement or the wind "blowing through your hair." I have actually been having more of these days than normal lately because of the heat and humidity (this is one of many reasons I was never a runner growing up in the South!). I actually read a very helpful Runner's World article about this recently--the battle that all runners face with the heat--that made me at least feel better about days like this when it feels like my legs are 90% lead.
It's days like today that I keep running because I am reminded of that feeling that I got when I stepped over the threshold of "running is miserable" to "running feels good" (even if I was running at 11:00 minute pace!). I still remember the first time I ran for a consistent 20 minutes without stopping to heave up my lungs after only 8 minutes. I remember completing my first 5K and how proud I was to have "run" the entire thing! I remember the first time I crossed a half-marathon finish line. I remember crying the second time I crossed a half-marathon finish line and knew I had just run a 14 minute PR.
I remember.
It's on days like today--hot days. sleepy days. days when I'm "squeezing" in my run before other obligations--that I find inspiration in those memories, those emotions that pushed me past my ability to run for 8 minutes into that realm of actually deeming myself "a runner." When I first started, I would hesitate to call myself a runner thinking, "I like to run, but I'm not very fast. I've never run a race. I can't call myself something I'm not. I might offend the running community." Now that I've pushed myself past that 11:00 minute mile, now that I have signed up for and completed races of different lengths, now that I have started integrating actual "workouts" into my running routine--I feel very comfortable calling myself a "runner."
But, I should have started calling myself a runner a long time ago because, honestly, it doesn't take much. A pair of running shoes. A desire to get out there and pound the pavement at a quicker pace than my daily walk from the parking lot into the office. An even crazier desire to do this more than once. That's a runner.
So, to my friends. You are a runner. No matter how fast you go, how often you do it, whether you enter a race or not, you are a runner.
I will warn you--it's addictive. You may not feel like signing up for a race now, but at some point it will hit you that it's the best way to celebrate this newfound freedom. Don't get caught up in the numbers. 11 minutes. 10 minutes. 9...8...7...6...wherever you fall on the spectrum, you're a runner.
Happy trails! :)
7.04.2010
rest.day
blerg. I.hate.rest.days.
Every training schedule includes at least 1 rest day per week. It's necessary. Your body needs a complete day off to recover, to rejuvenate, to prevent injury, even (sometimes) to prevent burnout. But like most runners, rest days just make me feel lazy.
Today wasn't supposed to be a rest day. I have been following my triathlon training schedule pretty consistently for the past 2 weeks, even adding in some extra strength training with pilates and a body pump class at the new gym I joined, and today (Happy Independence Day, America!), the gym is closed thus forcing me to forgo my scheduled half hour swim. I could have done it yesterday, planned to do it yesterday, in anticipation of this, and yet I had no desire to swim and bike yesterday. None. I settled for the regularly scheduled run instead.
And this morning, as I sip my coffee, spending some quiet time in prayer before heading out to worship, my mind keeps wandering to the fact that I shouldn't be resting today. And yet, I know that this is exactly what my body needs. That perhaps yesterday's lack of desire to swim and today's forced barrier to swimming are merely reminders that the body does indeed need rest. (or just a reminder of how much I hate swimming laps! ha!).
Since joining my new gym (needed a pool for this whole triathlon thing), I have upped my exercise routine a lot. No longer just a cardio girl, I have dedicated myself to pilates and other strength training workouts. My body is wonderfully sore and feels great. I also know that in order not to risk injury, I need to let it rest, and I have not let it fully rest in 7 days. Even God took a breather on Day 7 ;)
And so, here I am, preparing for my day, struggling with that challenge that faces all runners (all athletes I imagine) and writing about it so that maybe I can process it more healthily :) Days of rest are good. They allow our bodies to take a breather, to get some down time, to recover from the stress of pounding the pavement or contracting those abs. We all need days of rest, from a lot of things--from work, from our daily routines, from the stress that comes with housework, paying bills, looming deadlines. Even when we are doing healthy things for our bodies and our minds, we still need to take a break--and those rest breaks are just as healthy as the physical and mental benefits we get from our workouts.
I think I just need to hop on here and write this to wrap my own head around it. I want to embrace today's rest day and enjoy the day as it unfolds. It's a gorgeous day that will be filled with all that fun that comes with celebrating the 4th.
So, in honor of today, I will rest...and not feel guilty about it :)
Happy trails!
7.02.2010
marathon.mommas
I love Runner's World. Every time it comes in the mail, I devour it. I'm not normally a magazine kind of girl--give me a novel any day over pages of glossy articles. But when Runner's World comes, it's a whole other story.
I read it because no matter where you are on the running spectrum--a newbie, a penguin, a sprinter, a marathoner, or an ironman--there are articles, advice, inspiring stories just for you. Each time I read an article, I get the itch to pound the pavement, especially if I have taken time off recently or it's just been too darn cold or hot to do more than run 2 or 3 miles on the dreaded treadmill.
I read it because no matter where you are on the running spectrum--a newbie, a penguin, a sprinter, a marathoner, or an ironman--there are articles, advice, inspiring stories just for you. Each time I read an article, I get the itch to pound the pavement, especially if I have taken time off recently or it's just been too darn cold or hot to do more than run 2 or 3 miles on the dreaded treadmill.
Runner's World also knocks me off my complacent butt and pushes me to go harder, stronger, faster (for me). No, we aren't all 4:30 minute milers. No, we aren't all sub-4 hour marathoners. And many of us (including me) have no desire to be. I simply have the desire to push past my 10 minute mile and run just a little bit faster. When I first started training for half-marathons, I thought my goal would always be to "just finish." But 4 halves and numerous interval trainings later, I have managed to run a PR of 2:05 and now have the desire to run a sub-2.
But interval trainings and sub-2 half marathons aside, I think the most inspiring articles I read in Runner's World are the stories about the moms. The single moms. the working moms. the married moms. the overweight moms. the non-athletic moms. moms with 2 kids. moms with 8 kids. The moms who run. The moms who run marathons. The moms who get up at 4:00 am to run their long runs, then come home to make breakfast or pack lunches and see their kids off to school.
I have been thinking a lot recently about becoming a mom someday. And while there are many things that both excite and terrify me about being a mother, I think one of things I am most fearful of is, "How will this impact my running?" My body is going to go through so many physical changes in pregnancy. And, once the baby is born, I won't have the luxury of running "when I feel like it." My time will then be split even more--beyond the things I already juggle--work, volunteering, running, time with my husband. There will also be this amazing, beautiful little being needing and wanting my time, to even greater degree. And I will, of course, gladly comply :) And while that seems like the most amazing thing to occupy my time over running, I am still fearful.
But, then I read about these women, and I think, OK, they aren't superstars. They don't have super powers. Well, back up. Any mom is a superstar in my book. Moms are amazing beings who are stronger than I can even imagine. But what I mean by that statement, is that these moms have just as many challenges facing them as I will as a mom (some more than others of course)--so it's not like there is this special antidote to the challenges of life that makes them even more capable of training for a marathon than me.
Or maybe that special antidote is running itself. Hmm.
Running is definitely a disciplined sport. Which is probably what attracts me to it. And as a mom, while flexibility is key, having a disciplined approach to life is also key. Juggling, multi-tasking, anticipating--these are all things that moms must master. Perhaps running actually helps with this. Perhaps that's the great irony. While running does, in theory, take time away from family--just like any other activity--at the same time, perhaps it's the one thing for many of these women that gives them the "me time" they need to be the best parent, the best partner they can be.
So maybe I don't need to fear this. Sure, my body will change. Sure, I'll have to adapt to those changes. But the time that I am so worried about--I am sure I'll learn to re-prioritize and figure out how it all fits in. I also have a very supportive husband who understands what this sport means to me and will certainly help me navigate that time commitment.
I've rambled on for a bit, but suffice it to say, running mommas truly inspire me. To me, they are giving their children such a gift by taking the time to focus on their physical (and mental) health. What strong, confident, inspiring role models they certainly are to their children. And as those children get older, what a great past time to share together. I look forward to running with my children someday--from the time they are in strollers to the time they are running alongside me. I already have visions of this, and that makes my heart sing :)
Happy trails,
blogger :)
6.27.2010
moving.forward
Sometimes, you just gotta keep moving forward.
I knew it wouldn't take me long to get to this post...because this post is about a new organization that is near to my heart. Girls on the Run. I mentioned it briefly in my first post, but now I want to go more in depth about what it is and why it has so much meaning to me--as a woman, as a runner, as a girl who once was (and sometimes still is) stuck in the "girl box."
Girls on the Run seeks to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Simply put--it helps girls get out of the "girl box"--a place where girls are valued more for their outward appearance than their character inside. Through a 12 week research-based curriculum designed to promote physical, emotional and social development that also combines training for a 3.1 mile (5K) run, Girls on the Run provides girls with the tools they need to make healthy decisions and form positive self-images.
When I first heard about this program, I was intrigued. Then, I had the pleasure of attending a training at the national headquarters in Charlotte, NC, and I was hooked. Sure, there are all the statistics and research-based evidence that indicates that this program has helped thousands of girls feel better about themselves (and, hopefully, prevented the onset of at-risk behaviors in the teen and young adult years), but what I think I love the most about this program is that it truly is more than a running program. In fact, the girls don't even have to run at all. All Molly (the creator of this awesome organization) wants girls to do is simply "move forward."
And that concept is so magnificent and so powerful and so difficult all at the same time. And that is what has been on my mind today, especially because the whole idea of "moving forward" was a part of this morning's sermon--a message about moving forward and trusting in God's grace even when the life we are living is not at all the one we planned. Now, I could write for pages about this one topic alone, and I will write in future posts about how my running is another way for me to connect spiritually...but I want to get back to the Girls on the Run concept of moving forward and why it's so important (and magnificent and powerful and difficult all at the same time).
There is moving forward in the physical sense--the girls simply moving--dancing, skipping, walking, jumping, running. This is exercise. This is fun. This is powerful.
And then there is moving forward in the mental sense--the girls learning how to move past the hurtful words that may have been said earlier that day or that less than stellar grade on a math test that they studied so hard for.
Moving forward is the key--Girls on the Run teaches girls just that--to move forward, no matter what. No matter if that day has been horrible. No matter if they can't run a lap as fast as their best friend. No matter if they don't feel as tall, skinny, funny, smart, athletic as they want to be. It's all about developing the emotional and physical tools they need to move forward, to see themselves as beautiful and significant no matter what, and to carry that concept with them later in life--no matter the challenges or peer pressure they may face as they get older.
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received as a runner came from my husband, himself a former college athlete. He told me simply this, "Everyone has bad runs. You've just got to realize that and focus on the next one." Running is about 10% physical and 90% mental in my opinion, so this was one of the hardest bits of advice for me to learn and start following. But it has helped. As a runner, I have to be able to put the "bad" runs behind me and focus on what's next. I have to be able to move forward because without doing so, I would have quit a long time ago. I would have stopped challenging my mind and my body because it just would have been too hard.
And that's a lesson for all of us--how often do we struggle with moving forward when we overhear someone talking about us behind our back? or get snubbed by the "in" crowd? or realize the scale seems to have added 5 pounds since last Thursday? Whether you are a young woman, in your golden years or somewhere in between, this resonates with you. Because even when we are no longer pre-teen girls, we still face some of those same struggles.
And running, for me, is what helps break those struggles down so they are much less potent. That is why I believe in the power of Girls on the Run. If I can bring this gift of running and self-reflection to a young girl, imagine the impact.
Imagine a world full of confident, self-respecting girls and women.
Imagine.
And so that's today's message, friends. Move forward. Skip. Jump. Dance. Leap. Run. Whatever you do. Just move forward.
Happy trails,
Blogger
I knew it wouldn't take me long to get to this post...because this post is about a new organization that is near to my heart. Girls on the Run. I mentioned it briefly in my first post, but now I want to go more in depth about what it is and why it has so much meaning to me--as a woman, as a runner, as a girl who once was (and sometimes still is) stuck in the "girl box."
Girls on the Run seeks to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Simply put--it helps girls get out of the "girl box"--a place where girls are valued more for their outward appearance than their character inside. Through a 12 week research-based curriculum designed to promote physical, emotional and social development that also combines training for a 3.1 mile (5K) run, Girls on the Run provides girls with the tools they need to make healthy decisions and form positive self-images.
When I first heard about this program, I was intrigued. Then, I had the pleasure of attending a training at the national headquarters in Charlotte, NC, and I was hooked. Sure, there are all the statistics and research-based evidence that indicates that this program has helped thousands of girls feel better about themselves (and, hopefully, prevented the onset of at-risk behaviors in the teen and young adult years), but what I think I love the most about this program is that it truly is more than a running program. In fact, the girls don't even have to run at all. All Molly (the creator of this awesome organization) wants girls to do is simply "move forward."
And that concept is so magnificent and so powerful and so difficult all at the same time. And that is what has been on my mind today, especially because the whole idea of "moving forward" was a part of this morning's sermon--a message about moving forward and trusting in God's grace even when the life we are living is not at all the one we planned. Now, I could write for pages about this one topic alone, and I will write in future posts about how my running is another way for me to connect spiritually...but I want to get back to the Girls on the Run concept of moving forward and why it's so important (and magnificent and powerful and difficult all at the same time).
There is moving forward in the physical sense--the girls simply moving--dancing, skipping, walking, jumping, running. This is exercise. This is fun. This is powerful.
And then there is moving forward in the mental sense--the girls learning how to move past the hurtful words that may have been said earlier that day or that less than stellar grade on a math test that they studied so hard for.
Moving forward is the key--Girls on the Run teaches girls just that--to move forward, no matter what. No matter if that day has been horrible. No matter if they can't run a lap as fast as their best friend. No matter if they don't feel as tall, skinny, funny, smart, athletic as they want to be. It's all about developing the emotional and physical tools they need to move forward, to see themselves as beautiful and significant no matter what, and to carry that concept with them later in life--no matter the challenges or peer pressure they may face as they get older.
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received as a runner came from my husband, himself a former college athlete. He told me simply this, "Everyone has bad runs. You've just got to realize that and focus on the next one." Running is about 10% physical and 90% mental in my opinion, so this was one of the hardest bits of advice for me to learn and start following. But it has helped. As a runner, I have to be able to put the "bad" runs behind me and focus on what's next. I have to be able to move forward because without doing so, I would have quit a long time ago. I would have stopped challenging my mind and my body because it just would have been too hard.
And that's a lesson for all of us--how often do we struggle with moving forward when we overhear someone talking about us behind our back? or get snubbed by the "in" crowd? or realize the scale seems to have added 5 pounds since last Thursday? Whether you are a young woman, in your golden years or somewhere in between, this resonates with you. Because even when we are no longer pre-teen girls, we still face some of those same struggles.
And running, for me, is what helps break those struggles down so they are much less potent. That is why I believe in the power of Girls on the Run. If I can bring this gift of running and self-reflection to a young girl, imagine the impact.
Imagine a world full of confident, self-respecting girls and women.
Imagine.
And so that's today's message, friends. Move forward. Skip. Jump. Dance. Leap. Run. Whatever you do. Just move forward.
Happy trails,
Blogger
6.26.2010
.blogging.
Bucket list #37: Start a blog. Done.
For you Sex and the City fans, if you were to meet me, you would peg me as a Charlotte from 10 feet away. Maybe. But as I write, the Carrie Bradshaw is coming out in me (just a little...). Like Carrie, my mind is a constant story, reeling with thoughts and observations about the world and people around me. I find myself, wherever I am, thinking, observing, wondering, reflecting...and often as I run, its those thoughts and stories that carry me through the miles. I find myself thinking, "I should blog about that." And so, here I am...blogging.
I read a variety of blogs--for work, for fun, for general info--but the one that is probably the most inspiring and uplifting is Molly Barker's (the founder of Girls on the Run). Her latest post, The Body...the Essence, carried me through the 3.1 miles I ran this morning during a local 5K. Molly's posts often challenge me to think about life in a slightly different way, and this post is no different. The core of its message is simply this, to answer the question: "Who am I?" And as I ran this morning, observing the array of running shirts, ponytails, and embarrassingly tiny shorts weaving in and out of the crowd around me, I began thinking (as I so often do during races) of how differently I would answer that question now than I would have even 5 years ago. 5 years ago, running had only recently entered my life, and it is something I now consider my saving grace, an integral part of my life that I honestly don't think I could live without. Running has become an identifier for me...so much so that when I am nursing an injury or am taking time off between races, I feel off kilter, like something is missing.
So, today, who do I say that I am? I am a woman. a runner. a wife. a friend. a sister. an aunt. a volunteer. a book worm. a child of God. an INFJ. I'm organized. anxious. self-conscious. kind. loyal. driven. concerned. emotional. intense.
I'm so many things...things I haven't even yet named. But I am. I simply am. No matter if I have words for those things or not, I am no less who I am. This blog, for me, is about identifying those words, discovering more of who I am, and sharing that journey of discovery with others. Running is one way I process the varied thoughts, ideas, and emotions that surround me each day. I've heard that running is a much cheaper version of therapy, and I have to say that I agree :) It's an amazing way to let go, de-stress, and embrace the many gifts God has given me.
So this is my running blog--an insight into the thoughts, ideas, stories, and observations that occupy my mind as I log the miles.
Happy trails,
bloggerontherun :)
For you Sex and the City fans, if you were to meet me, you would peg me as a Charlotte from 10 feet away. Maybe. But as I write, the Carrie Bradshaw is coming out in me (just a little...). Like Carrie, my mind is a constant story, reeling with thoughts and observations about the world and people around me. I find myself, wherever I am, thinking, observing, wondering, reflecting...and often as I run, its those thoughts and stories that carry me through the miles. I find myself thinking, "I should blog about that." And so, here I am...blogging.
I read a variety of blogs--for work, for fun, for general info--but the one that is probably the most inspiring and uplifting is Molly Barker's (the founder of Girls on the Run). Her latest post, The Body...the Essence, carried me through the 3.1 miles I ran this morning during a local 5K. Molly's posts often challenge me to think about life in a slightly different way, and this post is no different. The core of its message is simply this, to answer the question: "Who am I?" And as I ran this morning, observing the array of running shirts, ponytails, and embarrassingly tiny shorts weaving in and out of the crowd around me, I began thinking (as I so often do during races) of how differently I would answer that question now than I would have even 5 years ago. 5 years ago, running had only recently entered my life, and it is something I now consider my saving grace, an integral part of my life that I honestly don't think I could live without. Running has become an identifier for me...so much so that when I am nursing an injury or am taking time off between races, I feel off kilter, like something is missing.
So, today, who do I say that I am? I am a woman. a runner. a wife. a friend. a sister. an aunt. a volunteer. a book worm. a child of God. an INFJ. I'm organized. anxious. self-conscious. kind. loyal. driven. concerned. emotional. intense.
I'm so many things...things I haven't even yet named. But I am. I simply am. No matter if I have words for those things or not, I am no less who I am. This blog, for me, is about identifying those words, discovering more of who I am, and sharing that journey of discovery with others. Running is one way I process the varied thoughts, ideas, and emotions that surround me each day. I've heard that running is a much cheaper version of therapy, and I have to say that I agree :) It's an amazing way to let go, de-stress, and embrace the many gifts God has given me.
So this is my running blog--an insight into the thoughts, ideas, stories, and observations that occupy my mind as I log the miles.
Happy trails,
bloggerontherun :)
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