Running All Wrapped Up

Running is a funny thing. You do it, you feel great (usually). You don’t do it and you feel crappy (not always). It’s the strangest feeling but when I am running a lot and/or training I feel like myself.

I was in a serious running rut which lasted about, oh I dunno, 3 months? It’s not that I wasn’t running, I was just barely running, I wasn’t enjoying it, and I really didn’t feel like lacing up, ever.

 I felt like this.

Thankfully I am out of that rut, and now days Amy and I always chat during our Sunday long runs, and we always (seriously) comment on how excited we are for these runs. Don’t judge, we know we’re losers.

Sunday runs have lately been around 14-16km which is FAR. But it really doesn’t seem that far. I know how bizarre that sounds. It’s so strange how our perception of distance changes when training for a half marathon. Not only that, but I would way rather run 16km with a slower pace, than run 7km intervals any day.

Anyways, I wish I could wrap up that endorphin-filled, happy, content feeling in a gift box, put a big red ribbon on top, and give it to someone who doesn’t enjoy running – someone who doesn’t know what this feels like.

Naturally, I would expect everyone to look like this:

courtesy of pinterest

But generally whenever I tell someone how I excited I get for running they look at me like this:

Again, thanks Pinterest.

Something wonderful about running is the fact that runners see things other people don’t. I made a collage of all the beautiful moments, mainly sunsets and sunrises, I have seen while running. I guarantee on many of these days I didn’t feel like running. AT ALL. But I went anyways, and I remember specific days where I would say to myself, “(insert bad word here), I’m happy I went. It’s a shame to miss this.” – I know that sounds absurd but I do say that to myself.

The big collage in the centre where you can see my laces? I remember this run the most. It was THIS RUN. My first ever brilliant run. On this day I did not want to run, but I went and could hardly stop running. Top right pink sky? Again, specifically remember not wanting to run. I went and saw this gorgeous sunset in Ottawa, and it put a smile on my face  

Having said all this wonderful stuff about running, let me just say running isn’t easy. Sometimes running is really freaking hard. I get tired. There are days where my legs feel like a ton of bricks and I would rather be doing anything but running. Sometimes I am hard on myself for not “feeling great” everyday during a run, but that’s just the name of the game. It isn’t always easy, but when you have a brilliant run, its all worth it.

…and seriously, there has to be a reason why almost 9 million people liked it. Right?

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