But this a “not running” story. Which is different than a post about running, or a post that is not about running. This is, specifically, about not running.
I was thinking about it this week: about why I haven’t been running and why I had stopped running at various times in my life.
I ran in high school and took the summer off. When I started up again I did too much too fast and injured my knees. That was it for almost 15 years. I ran a little before taking a softball team on Bay To Breakers (that’s a whole other story), but then I was off running again for a while.
I was busy. I was not really interested. I forgot my love of running.
Ten years ago I started running again. I started to lose some weight and feel healthier. Walking turned into running. 1 mile became 2 and then 3. My first 5k grew to a 10k and a half marathon and then a full marathon. I discovered the trail along the way and soon ran my first 50k and then my first 50miler. I ran several 50k races and a couple of 50 milers after that. I never had the desire to go further… until I did.
Life gets in the way and training takes a lot of time. My conditioning suffered as my mileage declined and I also had to recover from various running injuries including Achilles issues, Plantar Fasciitis, and occasional knee pain. I spent a few years alternating between resting and pushing too hard to get ready for a race too long for my preparation. A string of DNF’s and DFL’s and I began to feel less motivated.
Issues with work and like began to eat away at my running as well. I pulled way back from my training and struggled from time to time to get back to it. Then came the crushing (literally) train wreck and the decision to retire from teaching after 22 years.
And then COVID.
Not only did the pandemic change everything, including cancelling my intended comeback race, but my entire family caught the virus. Recovering from any respiratory illness is slow and frustrating.
Another month with fewer and fewer miles, and then a whole month of no running.
A friend once told me that the trails will be there when I am ready and they will always welcome me back. I find that’s true of the running community as well. When I “see” them on social media and mention that I miss them, they always respond with “miss you too, come back soon.” What they never do is make me feel bad for not being there. Neither do the trails.
So, today I ran. 5 easy miles at a slow pace along one of my favorite trails with my wife.
Truth be told, a lot of things in my life affect my running, but my running has an effect on a lot of things in my life. I will get back to running more miles and more time on the trails. I pushed myself to run a marathon a year after getting hit by a train. The pandemic decided it would take two years to do that. I look forward to running with some of my favorite people in some of my favorite places.
Whatever it is that you love to do, but have been denying yourself, you can go back to it when you are ready. No pressure. No hurry. Take your time and do a little at a time. Just do one thing each day.
