Back and ready to run: that's me this week. Finishing up my little Fair gig, watching the kiddos at the bus stop this morning, and feeling a little nip in the air in the evenings has given me that annual refresher I always seem to need this time of year. I can officially close the book on summer (that makes some people sad; I, on the other hand, jump up and down when I turn the calendar to September. I love, love, LOVE everything about September - December.)
Closing the book on summer also gives me resolve to get back to the things that matter to me. This house is pretty well established - we still have projects coming up, but we're settled enough that we no longer need to spend every waking moment working on it. Our dog and the attention she requires have merged into our daily routine. Our endless summer trips, family functions and weddings are over (less one wedding happening this weekend), meaning we have time to ourselves again.
At the top of my fall ME-list is to get back to running. Serious running. Actually, fall is when I always seem to kick it into gear. I credit the weather: it's still light outside until a reasonable time, but it's not so unbearably hot at 7 p.m. that I can't exercise. I've decided to go back to square 1, starting with low miles, adding a 1/2 mile each week and building myself back up. I'm excited.
I have wrestled with myself a lot this summer, angered at the fact that I was running a cool 5 or 6 miles earlier this year and basically let that endurance disappear. But the more I think about it, the more I believe the summer hiatus is exactly what I needed. I was losing excitement about running in general, but now that I have had time to miss the feeling I get from having a good run, I am pumped to get back out there. I have reminded myself why I run, and I'm hoping this learning experience will help me stick with my goals a little longer this fall and winter.
I'm aiming for Grandma's Marathon next June. It's such a right of passage for runners in this area, and I think it would be a fun one to call my first. I have a mere 10 months to prepare, so I'd better get out there!
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
4 comments:
Welcome home! Enjoy your fall runs! Cooler weather and changing seasons does make for some fine running, eh?
I too love Sept-Dec. My fav months.
Ah yes. Grandma's. It is a nice race, and it was my first. I haven't yet done Twin Cities. You can definitely do it. You have plenty of time. And sounds like you have a good plan. After my race this weekend I'm going to rebuild and shoot for a really good run NEXT fall, that gives me a year!
This was a very helpful post to me. Thanks.
Your hiatus was something--your body, your mind, your soul--needing a break. You'll return to your former level of endurance BETTER than your past levels.
Post a Comment