I always found it a little difficult to put into simple words what running means to me when trying to explain it to somebody who does not run. Yes, not all days are good days. Sometimes you wonder why you even go out some days. But those days when everything falls into place, and you are in a “zone”, you just lose yourself in that moment, and everything is just perfect! You are moving smooth. Your breathing is efficient. You don’t even feel like you are working. The scenery around you is easy to lose your thoughts in. Most of those running times it is just me and my thoughts. No other outside stress. No other distractions. Just you. So the best description I can really have is that it is a feeling. A feeling like no other. Those days when that feeling is there, it makes all of the other days that may not be going well, worthwhile.
Like everything, it does not just happen. Practice makes perfect. You have to put the effort in to enjoy the rewards. This is not something that is just going to get handed to you. If you want it, you have to earn it. Getting started is always the hard part. It takes practice, patience, and determination. This week, Wednesday June 3, was National Global Running Day. It was the perfect time to get out and run. For those of you who can’t run, go out and walk. My walks in the evening are my recovery times. I always have my phone with me during those walks. I don’t have it so I can talk on the phone, but so that I have my camera. This last few weeks the sunsets at the Lake have been breathtaking. I went Friday night for a 4 mile walk, and ended spending an additional 45 minutes taking pictures. Peaceful. Relaxing. It was actually quite easy to forget about everything else. It would have been no different with running…but for me, it is tougher to stop and take pictures compared to walking. Once I get going, I just take pictures with my eyes.
I have had a permanent training partner with Sarah. We both love to run. That is how we started dating. I would run past her house and notice she would be watching me out her window when we were in Med School. Then we started running together, and have not stopped since. Running brought us together, and has kept us together. We plan vacations/trips to involve running. We have seen new places because of running. We have gotten all of our kids to run, so it is now another means of being able to spend time with them. Just wait until grandkids start coming! Running has been a huge part of our lives. Our social activities and friends are all due to running. I promote to my patients every day the importance of exercise. I promote by example. Someday we may not be able to run anymore, but I will worry about that then. For now, I will keep putting one foot in front of the other, and continue to see where this helps steer out lives.
Nothing is going to change this. It is who I am. It is who “we” are. It truly has taught me how to hang in there when times get tough, and to keep looking for the next finish line. I have to admit, I don’t know how to give up, and I hope I never do. After each tough “race” in life, it has always been worthwhile, and something has been learned. We learn from our experiences. That is truly how we continue to grow in life.
Sarah and I will continue to run until that final finish line comes. In the meantime, there are so many more adventures to enjoy, and life to live. Take advantage of what you have. We don’t know when we are not going to have it anymore. Live for today, and look with anticipation to tomorrow.
Enjoy the journey. There are lots of things to see and do yet. Enjoy each sunrise and sunset. They truly are all different. Enjoy the ride. There may be days where we have to hold on tighter, but they just seem to go smoother after a run, or a walk, or any workout. Move. Use it or lose it. You ask those people who have been runners, and for whatever reason they can’t now, what they think of it. How much do they miss it? How much did they enjoy it? How much more fuller was their life when they ran? Each of us needs to find out on our own. Keep trying…keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of New Streak: # 434
