I love coming to start a race with so many different people early in the morning, excitement hovering in the air. I love watching people pin on their numbers, do their stretches, or perform their various warm-up routines. I love sitting at the starting line, kind of smooshed together, watching and waiting. I love right when the race starts and everyone is trying to find their spot or space to run. I love running at the same pace as people throughout the race, and also passing others. I love it when you hear racers or spectators cheering runners on. I love turning the final bend and seeing the 'Finish' line, and then that final moment when you speed up and cross it. There's just something about a race that makes it fun and exciting.
When I talk about running that way, some people think I love running because it's always easy and fun. But it's actually the juxtaposition of running that makes me love it so much. It's the fact that it's easy to just go out and do a run, and it's also really hard to just go out and do a run. It feels so good to run, and sometimes so painful. There are days I feel my body move effortlessly as I pound out the miles, and other days I feel like I drag myself along, forcing my legs to move and put one foot in front of the other. I experience the emotional highs that come, and also the low points when I have to decide to just keep pushing through. There are the thrilling moments when I celebrate how far I've come, and the daunting moments when I calculate how far I still have to go. Running is easy and hard, fun and work, exhilarating and discouraging. And I love everything about it.
Me at the end of my race on Labor Day. I also love it when my family comes to cheer me on. :)
2 comments:
When I read how you feel about running, it rang so true to me! This is exactly how I feel about it. It brought me back to all the races I've ever ran and that feeling you get right before a race, and being glad when it's done, and then wanting to do it all over again for some crazy reason:) Unfortunately I haven't ran for months now. It's been hard to drag myself out of bed in the morning when I feel tired everyday. I know that's just an excuse, but it does seem hard to fit it in sometimes. I need to set a schedule so I can get back at it. Thanks for sharing!
Your bro, Trevor
Thanks Trevor! I have had many times in my life when I'm not running much either, I think it just happens with life. But I always find myself eventually gravitating back to it because I love it so much, which I'm sure is true for you too. :)
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