I’ve been kind of out of sorts lately. Nothing big is going on, I’m just feeling like I have a lot of balls in the air. Some of the “balls” are fun things (vacation, races, work). Some of them are not so fun things (taxes). Some are just “things” (my garmin, homework for Jones, volunteer commitments, cub scouts). All of them have just been sort of chipping away at my energy levels.
Yesterday I decided to not run, even though I had planned it as my long run day. Physically, I just felt run down. Mentally, I just couldn’t fathom running for more than an hour, even though the weather was perfect for it. I was sore and crabby and blah. I ended up going to the gym and doing the elliptical and bike.
After a lot of thinking about it, I decided that this would be a recovery week. Apparently running 10 miles in vibrams and two fast 5ks had taken more out of me than I thought it would. So I had no real goal on my run today other than to run for an hour at an easy pace.
And the sun shone and birds sang and unicorns pranced along. (OK, maybe there were no unicorns.) But it was a beautiful run on a lovely day. I averaged a 10:15 pace and it just felt effortless. I just wandered around my neighborhood, letting my mind wander wherever it wanted. 7.5 miles later, I arrived home tired and completely relaxed.
This is why I run. Not to PR, not to race, not to run some pre-specified distance. I run because it makes me happy.
As G would say…
~savor the run~
i’m glad to hear you had a good run! unicorns and all 🙂
So glad you took the day for yourself. It’s sometimes the toughest…but smartest decisions. I’m with you, I run to be happy, although it’s hard not to get caught up in it all as everyone else zooms past! Keep up the great work.
I will be savouring every single run when I can get to do some. I walked again today and it just doesn’t give you the endorphin rush that running does. And I must say I’ve been wearing my cranky pants around all day because of it.
isn’t a refreshing feeling!
Yay! These runs make us remember why we run. Glad you had such a great one!
I think that so much of this attitude comes from getting older (gracefully, of course) and knowing our bodies & mind so well. We know our triggers, we know what is good for those around us, we know what is really important. We are neck deep in having a successful marriage, being a good mom, contributing to society and working….add onto that taking care of ourselves, and we are the masters of balancing and find the way to “savor the run”. Great post!
“I run because it makes me happy.” is the absolute best reason to run!! Yay you 🙂
I like going to the spa for massages because they make me totally relaxed. 😉
I also love hiking for that reason. It completely recenters me.
Yay for running. We all need that activity that recenters and relaxes us.
yes yes yes. I love this
I run not to pr. Not to beat anyone. Not to finish top of my age group, but also because it makes me happy. Makes me feel like I can accomplish ANYTHING
So happy you feel the same way.
😀
So glad your “no pressure” run helped you feel better about things!
running just feeds my soul in ways that other things can’t! some times i lose that when i’m focussed on training, etc., but i love it when i can run just to run, no pressure. glad you had a good one!
those are honestly the best runs….Congrats!
Oh, congratulations! Those runs are definitely the reason I come back. I am so glad you had one- it makes all those pressures seem a little less, doesn’t it? 😉
completely why I LIFT, too.
YA for a great relaxing run. I love it when I get one of those awesome relaxed runs, where you could run for ever.
Sounds perfect!
Glad you had a great run!
Good for you…. I’ve had one or two long runs this fall that I cancelled for similar reasons, I just wasn’t feeling it, and did the bike instead. In the past I would have stressed about missed training, but it was exactly what I needed.