40 by 40
I have been a runner for most of my life but I don't know that I have ever REALLY enjoyed running. What I do love, though, what I CRAVE, is having run. I am enthralled with the race atmosphere and crossing a finish line gives me an adrenaline rush like nothing else. With every race I finish I declare it is my last because I just don't like it...I don't like the training, the cold, the heat, the side pains, legs pains, breathing pains. But another race always comes along and I find myself mysteriously registered. I need to run.
Running is pain and sweat and (literal) tears. Having run is pride and accomplishment and beauty. And bagels. Seriously, food tastes better after a run. And sleep is better after a run. Running just makes things better.
Let me clarify. POST-running just makes things better.
I do enjoy running more as I get older. Some of that is because women hit their peak running years in their 30s so right now is the best I'll ever be. Some of it is that age has chilled me out (a bit) and I'm less competitive/concerned about what people think of me (that I'm slow) and I am better able to run my own race.
I set a goal to run 40 races before I am 40. Actually, I need to be honest. It's to get 40 medals before I am 40. If a race doesn't have a medal at the end of it, get outta here. I'm all about that bling.
I just earned medal number 13 today at the East Bay Half-Marathon in Providence, RI. This one was hard-earned. It was HOT. And HUMID. So humid. Some people dropped out. More ended up visiting the med tents. It was a tough day. I was no where near my time goal. But now it's over, and that's the best.
That right there? That's what participation looks like...
Running is pain and sweat and (literal) tears. Having run is pride and accomplishment and beauty. And bagels. Seriously, food tastes better after a run. And sleep is better after a run. Running just makes things better.
Let me clarify. POST-running just makes things better.
I do enjoy running more as I get older. Some of that is because women hit their peak running years in their 30s so right now is the best I'll ever be. Some of it is that age has chilled me out (a bit) and I'm less competitive/concerned about what people think of me (that I'm slow) and I am better able to run my own race.
I set a goal to run 40 races before I am 40. Actually, I need to be honest. It's to get 40 medals before I am 40. If a race doesn't have a medal at the end of it, get outta here. I'm all about that bling.
I just earned medal number 13 today at the East Bay Half-Marathon in Providence, RI. This one was hard-earned. It was HOT. And HUMID. So humid. Some people dropped out. More ended up visiting the med tents. It was a tough day. I was no where near my time goal. But now it's over, and that's the best.
That right there? That's what participation looks like...
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