And so it begins. No more just-go-out-for-a-half-hour runs.  Starting this week, my shortest runs will now be about six miles long. This part of any training plan always makes me question, “Why am I doing this again?” My spare time becomes consumed with training. What used to be a few 30-60 minute workouts a week turns in to a few 60-120 minute runs plus the weekend long runs. I get up even earlier in the morning to fit it in (pre-5am at times) and skip family dinners so I can hit the road at 7pm for a long evening run if needed. Add in a swim in the pool and a bike ride or two, and the hours and minutes of the weeks soon become over-scheduled (especially with a running husband that is training for the same 50K race).  I start to stress about fitting it all in. 

 

So again, why do I WANT to do this?

 

For fun. Crazy, I know. For all the stressing I do trying to fit things in, the moment I listen to my rhythmic footsteps and breathing, I forget about all the stress. All of it just kind of takes a back seat in my brain, and I fall in to the moment, the now, the present. I still think about it, but it doesn’t stress me the same way as it would while my children are pulling at my pant legs arguing about dump trucks and rocks. 

My rhythmic footsteps and breathing moves my mind in to a sort of meditative state and I finally open my eyes and enjoy all the beauty around me. When I run with my friends, it’s even better. We talk, we laugh, we worry, we complain, and we always have fun. I run for the moments like when we were headed down a steep, rocky, drop off on one side, cougar infested (yes, cougar sightings on our favorite trails) trail, Kouba decided to braid her hair and didn’t miss a step - talented and hilarious. Signing up for the 50K just forces us to spend more time together doing all those things. Oh, and of course, there are all those health benefits of running too.

Kouba and her braids

 

My point… even if you aren’t a runner, or only can run a mile, just go. 

Go outside. Open your eyes and look around. Get lost in the moment and enjoy.

 

Happy Earth Day.

 

20 trail miles this weekend, here we come.

 

Coming soon – gear reviews: Shoes, GUs, and Body Glide!