In March of last year, I was thumping myself on the head and wondering when I might be able to run again. I had signed up for a relay (I am signed up for the same one this year!), but was unable to run due to domino injuries in my left leg. Little did I know it would be months before I would be running "right".
This spring, it feels like I have peeled a layer off. Another version of my running journey revealed.
The biggest joys are little things....
A sunny face peeking out through blades of grass....
A turn that takes you to a breath-taking surprise.
These are the reasons I run-- some of them, anyway.
They are the reasons I come back to when running is taken away from me. Therefore, they are the most important reasons I run.
A race PR is a fast and furious romance: It's hot; it makes a great memory, it feels incredible for the moment.
But,
slow, easy running ...
That is a marriage of patience and serenity, cultivated by observation, tenderness, thoughtfulness and yielding peaceful understanding.
It brings a certain calm.
I won't deny wanting the first, but I am quite happy to take multiple helpings of the second.
God's been very good to give me some of both so far, and I am grateful.
***
What are you grateful for today?
Any flowers blooming yet where you run?
***
Congratulations to the winners of my most recent contest, Carri and Marcia !
Please email me by Tuesday 3/11 to claim your prize. (See "contact" above)
Wheeee! I won???
ReplyDeleteYou're so right Raina, it's the little things. And being away from something we love always makes us appreciate it that much more.
We are so deep under snowcover here (getting 6" more snow right now) and it's been so cold for so long, I can't imagine there would be any flowers underneath as yet....but who knows?
What a winter it has been for you and most of the country! I can't even imagine.. Congrats to you for winning :D
DeleteI love to see the new flower blooms. I think we may have some Indian paintbrush in the park where I run and ride.
ReplyDeleteOh, that sounds very pretty! We grow some by the river, but not until summer. Enjoy your week, Tina!
DeleteIMHO - a great post about understanding where you are and who you are. Your comparison between romance and marriage is a bulls-eye shot. Well put. I am grateful for countless things....Him, my wife, family, friends, students (most of them lol), and the ability to help someone today and everyday. For now running is still a distant memory. Time will provide.
ReplyDeleteWe still have 28" of ice on the lakes and 13" of snow on the ground. I have to read your posts to see what green looks like!!
Thanks for commenting! I think it's going to hit like a bon-fire this year for the Midwest... bam! insta-hot.
DeleteGlad to read you are enjoying those relationships.
I am really jealous of your flowers. We still have over a foot of snow to melt. Maybe two feet. But your flowers give me hope!
ReplyDeleteGosh that's a lot of snow! Glad you like the pics today :) Spring is coming... promise!
DeleteI love seeing those blooms coming up! Makes me feel so excited! What a beautiful place to run!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy! It's a good sign of things to come :) Nice to hear from you!
DeleteNo blooming flowers near me yet, but its suppose to be 50 degrees Saturday. I need to learn how to do slower runs and not go all out every time. More importantly I need to learn what that is for me. Will get there in time!
ReplyDeleteFifty degrees sounds pretty good!!
DeleteFinding that sweet spot for slow running can be tricky, but you will know it when you get there. Thanks for the comment!
Grateful for a FUN track workout that consisted of strides and no prescribed pace. To me, there's a very distinct difference between running and racing. Perhaps like driving and the Indy 500. You can enjoy both, but there are times you need to just "roll the windows" down and enjoy yourself!
ReplyDeleteAwesome analogy! I like to drive for some of the same reasons I like to run, too. I love seeing new things- Sounds like a great workout!!
DeleteFlowers bloomed beautifully a few weeks ago, then we got a FROST. I don't know what's going on with this New Orleans weather. It's decidedly bizarre.
ReplyDeleteThat is wild?! I surely would have expected you guys to be in full-swing spring. A few more weeks of arm warmers for you. :)
DeleteI'm grateful my MRI came back negative for a stress fx, woo hoo.
ReplyDeleteLMAO, flowers? Haha, I was just saying how warm it was today........it was 28°.
Love your trail pictures. You know, I just realized recently that you are in OR. For some reason, I thought you were south. I have no idea why, so strange.............
I am so happy for you too!! 28 ? bahaha!!! OK, yes, when it's been sub zero, 28 feels warm :)
DeleteStill in OR.. :D Living the good life.
Good to hear from you, Kristy!
I always say that you should go for broke in a race when you're young and the PRs are still obtainable. That's no longer the case for me, and thus why the trails have become more to my liking. Little adventures!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear running's going so well right now. It's gonna be a great year for you :).
Oh and jealous of your daffodils. It'll be a long time before they're ready to pop up here. Whaaa.
Sending you some daffodils! You surely could use a little spring by now. Good to hear from you, Jill!
DeleteLOVE the daffodil!!! Cant wait for spring!!! Were still buried in snow, BUT, soon!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes! Soon I hope, Deb. It will be glorious ☼ !!
DeleteI'm grateful for the great weather and that I'm running injury free and enjoying my races!
ReplyDeleteFlowers have been blooming since August! Freshened up by recent rain.
It must be wonderful. :) I hope you make it down to Australia some day. What a lovely land it seems to be, with friendly folks.
DeleteRacing? I better see what you've been up to!
I am grateful for my fab friends and fam who help me be sane, make me laugh and are there to lift me up! as for flowers....what are those? hahah sorry stuck in winter up here ... no flowers til april!! sigh So i will look at your pics and be happy.
ReplyDeleteGood friends are the best! They keep us strong, don't they? Hope your spring comes soon, Tina!
DeleteLovely post and I am so happy that you can be so happy about your running again. I am grateful today of the wonderful support my family gives me with my running.
ReplyDeleteThat's surely something to appreciate!! Hope you have a great weekend, Johann :)
DeleteI love how you said that and it is so true! Not much in the way of green or flowers here yet, but I have had some beautiful bird sightings! They always seem brighter and more vibrant in the gray winter!
ReplyDeleteI love bird watching! I wonder what kinds you have been seeing.? They sure do bring some color to winter. Thanks for commenting, Jane!
DeleteGreat way to describe why you love to run! I am grateful that I have accepted that I will be a slow and steady runner, and that is Ok by me!
ReplyDeleteOh my, did I win?? I am over the moon with happiness! Carri~A Running bee
Yes, you won!!! Congrats! Thanks for emailing me. Can't wait to see what you pick out for yourself :)
DeleteI love that analogy of running and relationships! And your pictures are always so gorgeous. I can't believe you've got spring flowers already!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cassie! Yes- it was 68F here today. Feeling good!
DeleteThanks! I hope you get some blooms there soon.♥
ReplyDeleteNo flowers here yet, although I did poke around in my flower beds yesterday and saw green things trying to poke their way up, sadly it snowed again last night. Just more hydration for my flowers, can't wait for spring and green, your pictures are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, awesome photos! I LOVE spring. My race season starts this weekend, but I am taking it easy. No hard racing just yet :) And it is through the desert so no pretty flowers, either.
ReplyDeleteA very beautiful post. This is the best season to enjoy our runs. I am seriously thinking to become a jogger instead of a runner, so I prevent the injures and I can enjoy the scenery. The B.K. is getting elder (indeed he is elder).
ReplyDeleteVery, very well said!
ReplyDelete