So, after a year+ hiatus, I’m pounding the pavement again.
I was always a runner….my mom was a runner, my step-dad trained me.
My mom used to follow me on her bike and those experiences have led me to develop a list of rules for the person (now my husband) that rides their bike while I run in the dark or for more than 6 or so miles. No riding in front of me, no annoying songs (my mom used to sing the Black Eyed Peas when she followed me on her bike, and when all you’re doing for 8 miles is putting one foot in front of the other, catchy songs pretty much make you want to poke you’re eyes out). Stephen does a good job. My mom did too.
This was always part of my life until I moved to Austin and started working and was practically too tired to drive home at the end of the day. The other problem was that I was living in an apartment which was not in an area that was so conducive to running (i.e. I thought I might die).
When I moved here, I rekindled my love of biking (This is Austin, Texas. It practically begs you to get on a bike), but my problem with that is that I’m scared to go on long rides alone and if you go with people you have to load the bike in the car, remember your shoes, helmet, socks, etc and it sucks if you forget something.
Running is simple. Shoes and go. Obviously the pinnacle of recreational sports for the equipment requirement alone.
After a year of working in Austin, biking turned into less biking which turned into doing nothing and that just wasn’t something I was used to. I wanted to run, but everyday when I got home, the couch seemed alot nicer than the concrete outside. When we got married, we moved into a neighborhood which eliminated my imminent death excuse, so I really had nothing left except that I was perpectually tired….or so I thought.
Conclusion: running is magical. I can come home feeling like I’ve poured out every ounce of my brain and if I just discipline myself enough to put on my shoes and go, I never regret it. I actually have more energy after 40 mins of sweating than before.
This is like alot of things in life. When I was in college I never wanted to go drive to the complete (and I mean complete) other side of town and pick up this young girl I used to mentor, but if I would just get my body in the car and start driving I never regretted it. Not really a coincidence that the saying adds the word “perseverance” to describe how we would have to run our race, whatever the race may be.
Living in Austin is unique. It’s like a snippet of San Fransisco in the middle of Texas. Considering I’m not from Austin and grew up in other parts of this great state, I’m still mesmerized by this city. This is people watching is at its prime and it’s also one of the best places to be an “outdoor person” that I think you’ll find. I am now officially doing my part.
My short term goal is the Capital City 10k coming up in April. I figure if my legs get tired, the eye candy of people dressed in costumes and who knows what else will pull me through.
Go Meg! I ran track in high school, but never enjoyed the whole “running” aspect of it and was never very good. It’s great that you can get the physical benefits of running and also enjoy the emotional benefits, too.
Good luck in the 10k! You are a braver person than I am!
Thanks Natalie! We’ll see how it goes. Apparently this race has a history of people dressing up, so I figure the entertainment alone is enough to get me through! I’m excited about your new blog!