My Relationship With Running

A couple years ago I thought it would be a good idea to run a 5k race. I saw so many people posting about it on Facebook, and thought…”Hey! I should do this too!!” Except it never took. I even signed up for the Ottawa Race Weekend 5k back in 2010, and never did anything after that point really but waste the entrance fee.

So this January, I made up my ’Before I am 30 Bucket List’ and running a 5k was on it yet again! So I once again signed up for the Ottawa Race Weekend 5k, and I started running on the treadmill regularly. I would start by just running as long as I could before I felt like dying, then walk. Quickly I was able to run on the treadmill for a steady 35 minutes. I was feeling pretty good about it all! I have to say, I wasn’t enjoying the feeling while running, but I to this day love the feeling after I am done!

With many starts and stops in my training, I made it! I ran (well ran some of it anyways haha) my first 5k race with my aunt & cousin on May 26th!! Then I had signed up to run another 5k on Canada Day morning and the Army Run in September. I was feeling soooo good! Was running regularly both indoors and out, had even lost 36lbs since the New Year!! I also signed up for a 10k in October!

Then I made this pact with myself! I would give myself the week off. (I actually wrote about this break in A Running Break in July)  I was going to give myself a break - time to indulge in not so healthy foods, not really exercise, and just be. Enjoy the week! Well that was the biggest mistake that I could’ve made. Cause one week turned into 2, which turned into a month, then 2 months….you know the story I am sure! I maybe ran about 6 times since July 1st, always waking up saying Iwould run today, then of course more often than not, not do a damned thing! Then it came about a week till my most recent race - The Canada Army Run 5k this past Sunday, September 23rd. So I ran the couple days coming up to the race.

In those couple days I realized, I still didn’t overly enjoy running while actually running. But man, do I ever LOVE the feeling in my body after I am done my run! I ran more of the 5k at the Army Run (meaning very little walking) than any other race I have done. I beat my time by over 2 minutes from running that route in May! I was feeling pretty good and I did it with my 4 fellow OVM`s which felt amazing!

OVM`s pre Army Run!

But I also was very moved during this run. As I was running, we would pass injured soldiers. Soldiers in wheelchairs, soldiers running on prosthetic legs – one or both legs. Then there were family running with their lost loved ones on their backs. And it hit me. I should run because I can. Because I like the feeling of it (even if it is after the fact). I shouldn’t be running because I see everyone doing it on Facebook. Or to flaunt it (cause really, my speed is nothing to flaunt lol) or to be like someone else. Do it for me, because I am here, because I can, because my body allows it.

So I have been feeling pretty stressed about the 10k that I vowed to myself I would run in October. The morning of my 30th birthday at that. Now I am feeling ok. I haven’t changed my mind totally yet, but really, it is what it is. I may just do the 5k, or I may attempt to do the 10k and know that I haven’t trained like I should have and just accept that. Doesn’t mean I have failed. Just one of life’s lessons. If anything, come my 30th I should feel proud! I set out wanting to run a 5k before I turned 30, and I have ran in 4 organized 5k races (one was a early in May)!!! FOUR! I post my 3 bibs and 2 medals on my dresser so that I can see them everyday! I’m proud of setting out and accomplishing a goal, my own way!

If you are a runner (or into other sports/activities) what motivated you to start, and what made you stick to it!?