My runny Valentine
Like many love affairs, my dalliance with running is humbling.
Like many love affairs, my dalliance with running is humbling.
Last week I thought I was doing amazingly well — running faster, feeling stronger and visualizing the glory of a PB to come.
Then 11.67K into yesterday’s long run, I knew in the depths of my heart — and colon — that it just wasn’t going to happen: my legs were lead; my head felt like I just lost a UFC title-fight; and my breakfast threatened an encore.
So running and I took a break from each-other. Running needed to find itself. I needed to find a toilet.
Fishing out the sweaty $20 that’s wintered in my running jacket, I angrily called a cab and sat, head bowed like an accused felon, as it drove me past the rest of my running group on the way home.
First time I’ve passed those guys so easily.
But here’s the thing: I woke up this morning on a mission, canceled my plans, donned running tights and ran the 23K my schedule called for. Granted, a lot slower than my group would have done yesterday and the route I took was a lot flatter, but I did it. I was all over running again, like a Flavor-of-Love contestant on a stripper pole.
That’s something I love about my relationship with running — redemption is never further away than my sneakers.
With this in mind and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day (and being honest — because all I gave my husband today was a high-five), I’m declaring here and now my love for one thing and one thing only — our sport.
Running, how do I love thee? Let me list the ways:
– Runners are nice people (minus John Mayer of course ) – I woke up from my “recovery nap” yesterday to find 3 messages from running buddies making sure I was okay.
– It keeps me fit
– It’s the perfect excuse to leave my high-fiving husband with two screaming kids
– I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: Spandex
– Where there’s a will, there’s a way
– It takes me places and shows me things, I’d never see otherwise – and I’m not just talking about the bushes of Burlington, Ont.
Why do you love running?
Write a comment below and let us all know. I’m bringing out the chocolate, running a bubble bath and pouring my wine (cause we all know no one else will) and I’m ready to read your love letters.
P.S While it may be getting warmer over here, the hall of shivers entries are still coming. Here’s the latest:
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