Running Happy, Training with Joy, and Counting Personal Bests Other Than the Time on a Clock

Running with my daughter for her first 5k this summer brought new meaning to  RUN HAPPY , the very fitting for running slogan for Brooks Running! 

Watching the New York City Marathon was definitely one of the highlights of my weekend.  It got me charged up, inspired, and excited about the idea of running (and even training for) another marathon!  Honestly, I was wondering if my joy and excitement for marathon training would come back to me any time soon.  I've been hoping it would since I'm signed up for Boston 2014.  What a dread it would be to train for a marathon when you're really not all that into it.  I mean, those long runs?  I can't imagine clocking a 20 miler without having the DESIRE to train and accomplish new goals.  It's this desire and motivation that keeps me focused during those long runs, time spent logging mileage and putting in the hard work.  Whatever the desire or goals happen to be, you have to really want to do it if you're going to find any joy in training for a marathon.  At least that's the way I see it.  So, I'm really happy to find myself feeling EXCITED to train again.

As I made my way around my favorite dirt path for my easy 5 miles this morning, I thought a lot about where I'm at with running.  I kept coming back to the question that my friend Raina, from Small Town Runner asked this morning:

"Could you be content with all of your PRs as they are, never to do speed work again-- if it meant you could run injury free for the rest of your life?" 

One of the happiest 10ks  I've run, The Best Dam Run. A minute off of a PR but I was still happy.  And even better with friends Raina (second place woman that day) and Nicole. 

Good question Raina!  Definitely one that got me thinking.  A PR...Personal Record is why many of us train for a specific race.  It's exciting to push ourselves to new levels of personal bests.  It feels good to conquer new goals and see our times improving...our legs get faster...our paces easier.  However, I think for many of us, it really isn't about the time on the clock anymore.  It becomes more about finding our Personal Bests or Personal Records with running in other ways.  That's where I'm at right now.  My answer to Raina's question at this moment in time (not saying it won't change in a few months from now) is:

YES, I could most definitely be content with all of my PRs (time-wise) as they are, never do speed work again (even though I probably will during my Boston training) if it meant that I could run injury free for the rest of my life.  YES!  

Would my answer have been YES many years ago?  I don't know.  Doubt it.  In fact, I never had my first real injury until an accident where I tripped over a rock in the forest in 2010 and tore my hamstring completely. This was right after I decided to train for something again after having my babies.  Even during my eight years of competitive running in high school and college...No injuries.   After that 2010 injury, I've had many. And after my last few attempts at PRs in the marathon, I've kind of come to a point in my almost 35 years of living where I'm truly just content running easier and training more for the JOY of running than chasing any big numbers on the clock.

Rock n' Roll Portland last year was far from a half marathon PR (right after Boston 2012)  but I felt so happy running it for a workout and keeping it easier.  When I see this picture, I'm even more set in my answer to the question above.  YES, bring the running for the rest of my life over a PR any day!  

When I first started training for something again after having kids, it was hard not to let my Personal Records from high school and college hang over my head.  Whether I was intentional about focusing on them or not, they were always there in the back of my head saying "Okay, here's the bar.  Let's see what you've got now."  I let them define me as a runner instead of seeing that I was most definitely at a different place in my life.

• Will I ever run a 5:2x-5:30 mile again?  Hmm, probably  not unless a bear was chasing me.  
• Do I ever want to run a 2:2x 800 meters again?  Um, no thanks.  Why? Could I?  Probably not a chance.  
• Will I finally run a 19:xx 5k and redeem myself from that 20:01 just a couple years ago?  Yes, I think this is likely if I can get over my fear of racing.  
• Will I get to taste a PR in the marathon and finally run a sub 3:20?  Gosh, that would certainly be nice wouldn't it?  And very possible. If it happens, great!  But if it doesn't and I can honestly say that I trained with JOY and Balance, then I'm content running whatever my legs give me on race day. These legs of mine have many years of hard mileage on them and they might just be telling me that they're not going to move as fast as they once did.  That's ok. 

For now, as I start building a base for my Boston training, I'm set on making some new Personal Bests. But I'll be taking those personal bests in:

• Running strong and happy (this might very well mean slowing down with times)
• Staying healthy (mind, body, spirit)
• Not letting training take over too much of my life (I have a tendency to be a bit obsessive about things sometimes) to where my balance pie has too many of the running/training slices and other much more important things take a hit.  
• Getting over my fear of competing with myself in races.  This alone will bring more JOY to my training. 

As far as Running Happy and Training/Living with Joy?  Well, if I need any reminders of how to do that, all I have to do is watch how my kids live life. They are just happy to be alive and they so easily find JOY in the simplest of things.  I'm so thankful to have this time being their mother.

Her Joy is contagious!  

Here's to personal bests (whatever that means for us), running happy, and finding joy in living and training!

What about you...how would you answer Raina's question:

"Could you be content with all of your PRs as they are, never to do speed work again-- if it meant you could run injury free for the rest of your life?" 

Amanda 

You can also find Runninghood on:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Runninghood

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/runninghood

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/Runninghood1

Dave Matthews and Doing What Brings Us JOY!

Brewing a cup of coffee at 2:00 in the afternoon isn't my usual routine. But it is a necessary act to get me through the rest of this day after a Dave Matthews concert last night. And to help me gear up for our family costume bowling night as a farewell to summer vacation!  


I wouldn't consider myself a huge concert person.  In fact, I've really only been to a handful or two of big concerts.  This was my second time seeing Dave Matthews, and it was AMAZING!   For so many reasons.  First off, I was with my husband and two of our very best friends.  This alone made the 4 of 5 hour drive worth it.  And then, the venue.  The Gorge Amphitheater.  

The Gorge is one of the most scenic places to see a concert.  And when you are with people you love, a warm summer evening, gorgeous sunset, sky full of stars and up front seeing and hearing a great band, it makes for a memory that will last forever! 


Doing What We Love and Using Our Gifts
Standing on our feet for hours. 
Dancing and moving our heads and hands to the music.  
So close to the stage, 
     feeling the beat, 
seeing the way the musicians contort their faces as they soulfully deliver their notes,         
sing from their hearts,
     and become one with their instruments.  
Dave singing the lyrics,
With such passion and intention,
   Filling us....


As I was watching each band member play their instruments, I found myself noticing so much about the way they performed.  Their facial expressions, the way they moved so fluidly with their instruments, sang with such depth and soul...everything about their performance made it clear that they were doing what they loved.  They were sharing their souls with us!  Using their gifts!  And they were so ALIVE doing it.  It made me realize just how powerful it is to be doing what we love or using our gifts.  At least some of the time.


I think all of us could probably think of something that makes us feel most alive when we are doing it.  We can all think of something that we are good at and that we feel we were meant to do.  Not everyone is able to be doing what they are most passionate about when it comes to making a living but many of us find a way to use our gifts in other ways. 


This concert made me think more about what my gifts are and when I feel most alive.  It also got me thinking about how when I'm using my gifts and doing what I am most passionate about, I am giving not only to myself but to the people in my world.  These gifts would include:

• Teaching.  I am so alive when I am teaching.  Being in the classroom, inspiring kids to learn, seeing them become readers and writers, connecting with them on a personal level, sharing my life with them and building a lasting relationship with them...SO WONDERFUL.  When I think about my years as a teacher, I know more and more that I will probably return to the classroom someday.  Even if it does end up being that I am professor teaching teachers to teach.  In some way, I know that I was meant to teach.  It is one of my gifts.  And I feel joyful and alive when I do it.  
• Running.  Even though I will probably never be an olympic runner or world class, running fills me with joy and makes me a better me.  It isn't about comparing myself to other runners.  It is just for me.  And I know that my spirit comes out when I am making running part of my life!  
• Writing.  Writing is a way for me to express myself and share my thoughts and reflections.  It helps me process and come to understandings that I might not have otherwise. 
• Being a Mother.  A role I've always dreamed about.  I never doubted that I was meant to be a mother.  From as early as I can remember, I said that the one thing I wanted more than anything else in life was to be a mother.  And when I stop to be thankful and present with my children, I realize that I'm doing what I've always dreamed of doing.  And it brings me JOY!

1.  What are your gifts or what makes you feel most alive and joyful?   

2.  Are you able to make these things part of your life?  If not as a paid profession, do you still make your passions part of your life in some way?  

Amanda