Just 5 K? Nailed it.

Just 5 K.Meh. Those were my thoughts yesterday when I had set out for a good 10k.  It was windy, and my day was shorter than I needed it to be.  I cut the run in half, and felt this defeat hit me.  Stupid 5 k.  

Then that remarkable thing happened.  A memory of my first few weeks into my running life a few years ago.  I had no gear, just motivation to change.  k's, splits, negative splits, PRs, these were not in my vocabulary.  To run 5 km in those days, would have been the awesome conquering of life.  5 km in my life would be the ultimate victory.  I remember mapping how far I had gone, and realized "hey, that was 3 km!"  What a glorious feeling!  

And this 5 km.  Nailed it.  Got er done.  It was my conquer for the day.  Success, I realize is in the eyes of the process.  How far have you come?  Where are you going?  Do you feel defeated?  Wind against you?  Need to pull back?  Is your pullback what was once your miracle?  To someone just beginning, who is seeing that obstacle of the time ahead with both dread and wonder at their newest conquest, your "pullback" is an amazing inspiration.

TAKE THAT 5 K! KAPOW!

My Creative Edge

My bestand most brilliant ideas come from my runs.  When I am frazzled with a complex problem, or perhaps faced with a task in which I need my faculties with fresh ideas, I have found that running releases my mind to think more fluidly, allows form me to gestate on new ideas and see them through in my mind.  I have come up with great set lists for when  I am leading worship, I have thought of new approached to projects for work, I have thought through complicated cases in my practice as a counselor, all on a run.  Go out and get your brain flowing!

What Long Distance Running Teaches Me

I have startedmy masters program for counselling in the last few months.  It is an incredible amount of reading.  I have had my doubts over and over again thinking CAN I DO THIS?? This question is not where I need to lay my thoughts, as self-doubt is destructive to the psyche!  With family, work and demands on my time I have already got, the whole idea of studies seems a bit ridiculous.

In my studies I notice some parallels with my running world.  There are things I lean upon to get me through the major pile of assignments and books.

1.  Familiarity with Long Distances

One is the idea of the long run.  There are modes of thinking needed in long distance running, a discipline I can carry into my studies.  Realizing that there is a discipline and focus needed that is unique to the long run, as well as a familiarity with the course one understands as they train.  Same with studying, once a course is familiar, the load is able to be disbursed more evenly.

2.  Cheerleaders!

A big factor is also the support one needs as they train/study.  I have a spouse who is my "cheerleader" extraordinaire, she has been the one who gives me encouragement, creates space for this discipline in our routine, and pushes me when I feel overwhelmed.  Running has taught me to appreciate this.

3.  Mental Strength

Mentally, being focused for long periods of time has also been very helpful as the long run demands this.  Taking breaks is an area I am needing to work on, as the difference here is that there is no end in sight for how much I must do, so resting is difficult.  However, as I have learned from the training rest is a part of the process.  Trusting this part of the process, like the taper or the day off is counter-intuitive, yet wisdom from experience of others and now myself shows that without rest, you cannot be strengthened.

4.  Life long

This course work has no specific end in sight.  I get overwhelmed by this, yet running also has no end in sight, it is part of my life in which the payback is multifold.  I am reminded of this on the harder days, that I am a life long learner, that the journey is important and to keep up the work because there is great payoff overall.  Running has taught me that too.

5.  LIVE!

Lastly, the hope in my studies is that I can access what I want to in my life, in my career, to be the best that i can be with in my short life.  Running started out as a spark of needing to embrace life, to be ready to chase my kids, feel good, and be healthy.  I can say the same for my program of studies.

Video of Our 2011 Marathon

HIjacked

On my way out for a good 15 k this afternoon, I was waiting for my watch to upload the satellite signal, whena man I did not know came by my house.  Im about to put my headphones on and listen to the new Coldplay tunes.

He looked at me and exclaimed: "HEy!  You running? HOw far?"  

Me: 15 k

HIm: Im running, we should run together!

Me: Oh, uh, well I have a route Im going on.

HIm: Oh that is great, lets go might as well since we are both running, I will be running about 125 minutes today.

Me: Wow, well, alright I guess...

So we start running.  Chit chatting, he states he has been running for years now.  He is wearing old gym shorts and a tshirt.  He has a pot belly and a flushed face already, a man in his late 50s.

We start out, and it becomes apparent, we are on totally different pages.  He runs EXTREMELY slow for my pace.  We are talking over 8 minute kilometers, I would be shooting for sub-5 minute kilometer normally.  Hey I am no pace snob, but this feels like we are purposefully gong at a snail pace.  We got to the 3 k mark and he tells me this is faster than he is used to.  

Now I am talking to myself, saying, you know this is great, you are meetings someone new, forced to take it easy, slow down in life, appreciate the moment.

As the run goes on and I realize my 15 k will now take us over the time I had allotted for ( home into suppertime), I decide to cut it shorter.  Besides, this guy is starting to burp, fart and wheeze.  However much he is wheezing though, there is no shortage of talking.  He doe not just talk, but he more BELLOWS everything to me.  I'm attempting to pick the pace up just a tad.  I am running a few feet ahead of him, which is fine, because as we run along the road, each time there is a car, he goes running along the ditch, through brush and bramble, which I find weird.

I find out that he is single, never been married, is retired and lives alone.  And, that he has no friends (his words).  He just moved to town and does not know the lay of the land quite yet.  I am silently reminded of the movie I love: Planes Trains and Automobiles.  He is my John Candy.

As we talk, I see that we are not on any sort of ability to connect, in totally different worlds.  He would ask me a question and as I try to answer, he will cut me off with a bellowing new statement.  Im getting annoyed with the constant chatter from his end.  Part of me just keeps telling myself, that this is good, its community, we need to do this.  THe other wants to run quietly with COldplay. 

How did I end up with this guy,  I keep asking myself!

Near k 9, he asks where we go from here, and I tell him "home".  He says, Im going for another 20 minutes.  We part ways, shake hands and say goodbye.

What an interesting run today.  I learned that I like my time alone running, but that adventure is part of the journey.