So, with life not going so well at the moment, I had 2 bursts of sunshine this past weekend and both bursts involved running. My Saturday 16-miler went well. Ok, it didn’t, but it was a perfect training run. I had “lead legs” by mile 6 and the first 8 miles seemed like they just plugged along. I’m not sure what happened after mile 8, but I must have blacked out because they went quickly and Miles 14-16 weren’t awful. (my last 2 when increasing mileage are always my hardest…bc I haven’t run that far yet! Duh!) It was a great training session to mentally and physically prepare me for how I may or may not feel during the marathon. See? Even bad runs are great 🙂 It was a wonderful 2hrs and 45 minutes to myself – much needed.
The other fantastic running ray of sunshine came when I got an email from Run the Edge Blog offering a FREE Kindle version of Running the Edge. A free book about running, you say? Sign me up! I should have known I’d be hooked when one of the reviews said this book was full of not only great quotes, but great paragraphs FULL of quotes. They weren’t lying. I was only a few minutes into reading the book when Tim Catalano said everything every runner believes:
“Running allowed me to control the storm. It gave me a release for the anger and frustration living inside me. When I ran, I was able to let loose of the fury until I was so exhausted I could feel calm. In the hours following a run, I could see the real me. I could see my potential to be a good person. I could relax and smile and look forward to creating a better life…I was free.”
The “feeling so exhausted I could feel calm” is amazingly true. At some point, my body and mind are so in sync that I don’t feel anything. Hence, the last 8 miles of my 16-miler that I can’t recall. Free therapy and a calorie-burner? Winning! The way I feel after a run? Calm & who I know I have the potential to be. The petty things that bothered me hours before seem just that: petty. It’s great motivation to know that I CAN get to that “level of person” I strive for. Even if it’s just for a few hours.
Another quote, by Adam Goucher: “I am thankful that I discovered a sport that freed me from needing approval from others.”
Amen, brother! Not just the approval from others in running or sports, but in life. Got a problem with me or the way I live my life? Cool, I’m still going to plan my life around running. Seems like a logical response to me 🙂
Brace yourselves: I still have 90% of the book to read. This blog will be FULL of quotes from these guys. We must be soul mates 😉
Since my life obviously only revolves around running and food, I have 2 cupcake reviews to share with you. Stay tuned!