It is funny when you realize just how much part of you is missing until you start it again. Having had to stop running in late fall due to gall bladder stuff (and surgery), I didn’t know when I might be able to pick it back up again. Starting again full force at the end of June to train for the 100 on 100 with friends has been perfect. In the last couple weeks, I have felt more like myself in a long time. It was hard to watch the marathon this year knowing I could have been out there if it hadn’t been for surgery, but it has been great being back in the saddle again. I am even challenging myself to do somethings this time around that I hadn’t done before — early morning runs with my neighbor at a quicker pace than I am used to, trail runs at the Trapp Family Lodge, try a summer race in hot Florida (coming up next week), and looking for other races around the state to try on for size. In no way would I consider myself a “runner” in the same category as real racers, but I don’t care. I love being able to run with the duffer and stop halfway for our “snack and chat” and then run back to the car. I love that the duffer saw his mom out in the heat running a tough course (while he collected the course markers) and then watch her win the race too. I love that he ran his first “race” [in the jogger, but still] and earned his first medal. I love feeling healthier than I have in a long time. It is great. I think it is good to remind ourselves every once in a while about pieces of our identity that we have put on the back burner because of one thing or the other and get back out there. It is a little like a math equation. The whole is only as great as the sum of its parts. I am glad that one of my parts is back in the equation.
Tag Archives: Duffer
Spring
A long time ago, I used to think that summer was my favorite season. Now, I think I enjoy spring much more than summer. Spring has new life blossoming around you with tulips and crocuses and buds all over the trees. The weather is soothing like the calm after a big storm. It say wake up — here I am. The gray, cold, and snow of winter are behind us and now look the mud is like a spa treatment signaling that outside play and vacations are on the way. Just yesterday the duffer and I were exploring the woods in front of my house and he tried to pick up the largest stick on the path. He pulled and pulled for about a minute which is probably like an hour in adult time. Upon realizing it was too big, he found a smaller stick to play with for the rest of the walk. The whole walk maybe took twenty minutes, but it was lovely to not know exactly how long we were outside because it was warm enough to frolic with the dogs and soak up the sun. Officially, spring will not be here for a bit and more than likely we will still get one more doozy of a storm, but I am enjoying feeling like my battery is recharged and ready to move forward with all that is to come.
