I'm a better person when I run....

As some know, over the last few months, I have been working through an injury that has kept me from running.  While I cannot pinpoint the actual cause of this problem,  it seemed to flair up after a night of candle pin bowling (yeah, candle pin bowling).   Me, who has trained injury free and successfully competed in multiple triathlons as well as half marathons, I get hurt while bowling. I cannot accept this as more than a theory but I have nothing more to go on..so there.

However, not running was not the end of the world!!! The sun still continued to rise and set, I continued to breathe in and out - workdays turned to weekends and seasons changed.    While it wasn't ideal, I had to find other means of cardio exercise (mind out of the gutter, I got on the bike and elliptical!)

As I begin to start running again, little by little and taking things very slow as to make sure I am ready - it's become clear to me.

Simply put - running is not who I am - HOWEVER, I am a better person when I run.

When I started running many years ago, I did it because it was something that I could never do before.  When I was growing up, running was something I avoided.  Soccer practices were hell on the days we had to do sprints - let alone that magical time of year when our gym teachers force us to participate in the Presidential Fitness Test; you remember the time of year when our gym teachers expect us to successfully complete all of the required drills after we have spent all year playing ultimate frisbee or playing with the parachute in gym class.

Who would have known I'd end up running half marathons and triathlons..... guess there is life after the Presidential Fitness Test :)

Now, as I begin to work back into my running as part of my exercise routine I am beginning to remember (and truly appreciate) the feeling of completing a run.  I'll never be the first over the finish line, however, I always think that if one person sees me out there - the chubby mom who taught herself a better way of life and jiggles just a little as she runs - maybe that person will decide to change their own life.

I'm a better mom, wife, friend, coworker....just all around.

The road doesn't ask for anything back from me, only that I pay attention.
The road doesn't get angry if I am not in the mood to talk or ask me what's wrong
The road doesn't get their feelings hurt if I am pissed off for no reason
The road has always been there when I'm happy, sad, excited or otherwise
The road has shared major holidays and milestones with me!
The road knows things about me that are between the road and I.....and that's how it will stay.
The road is indeed the best therapist out there....

Very often when I'm photographed during a run I am smiling....I always say it's because I know something they don't.     I do.

Happy Friday evening....there is a short run planned for me in the morning if I wake up and the feeling is right.


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