Having been a running instructor with the Running Room, and participated in several running clinics myself, and trained solo for various races - I understand how someone can become consumed by timing and mileage while training. For those A-type personalities out there (myself sometimes included), its very easy to get caught up in recording progress in training. You wake up and say "Today is the day I will run 5k in less than 28 minutes" or "Today I will run 1km more than I ever have before". While I applaud each and every one of you breaking records and reaching your goals, I always wonder if anyone is running for the sheer thrill of a good run?
As I have said before. when you first start running, the runs seem daunting and more tiring than enjoyable. However, once you've been out for a few weeks and create a base in your training, those runs should become less demanding of your brain activity. You should feel less inclined to look at your watch, or listen to your breathing, and your brain starts to sing along with your music instead of thinking of a million other things you wish you were doing. While this is a tell tale sign that you are becoming a runner, do you still get consumed by keeping track of how far you've run, or how long it took you to run those 10k?
I was out for a run along the lake this morning, and for the first time in years I stopped on a park bench to just look at the water. It felt weird to stop in the middle of a run, because for the most part I run with a goal in mind and enjoy nature as I pass right on by. In other words, I am the person who spends about 0.5 seconds admiring the fact that spring came early, and that there are wild tulips growing in the forest by my house; a whole 3 seconds looking at a herd of deer who are standing idly by as I run past them.; and a whopping 5 seconds out of a 50 minute waterfront run looking at the water. How is it possible, that I have turned running into a commuter sport? Sometimes I feel like I have a runners version of Drivers' Amnesia. You know, when you drive home after work and then you pull into your drive way and you have no recollection of how you got there - complete auto-pilot mode. This just doesn't really seem like it should happen when you are outside for 40-60 minutes a day.
Well, at the tail end of my run today, I decided that I was not going to succumb to runners' amnesia, and I stopped at a bench to enjoy the scenery. It wasn't a long pause, but enough to take a look around, have a quick chat with the person who was standing there too, and then be on my merry way. I still did the distance I wanted to run, still ran at a decent time, but I enjoyed my run WAY more than I usually would.
The purpose of all this, is to point out that although you should worry about training properly and monitoring your progress, it shouldn't mean that you aren't enjoying yourself while reaching your goals. Don't let the image of the finish line distract you from enjoying the journey to get there. Afterall. if you aren't having even a little fun chances are you will fall off the wagon at some point. Also, the ability to be outside for even just a quick 20 minute run, allows us to break free from of our susceptibility to Zombie-like habits during the winter months.
So, if you aren't stopping to enjoy the view, smell the now-budding roses, or even acknowledging a fellow runner - chances are you're not getting the most out of your runs. Just a thought.
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