Yep, it’s been awhile.
I’ve quit running…….hmm, about 5 or 6 times in the last 4 years. About a month or two ago I quit running for good. I made up my mind. I can just walk and ride my bike. I found how much I enjoy riding my road bike. I can go faster and further! All was going well. I’d put on a 15 pound ruck sack and head out the door to walk the hills in my neighborhood a couple of days a week and throw in a couple of bike rides. It was just fine with me. Then on one morning walk in the pre dawn hours there were two runners in the neighborhood. As I was passed by the second one, I waved hi and saw it was my friend Hilda from up the street. It was dark and she didn’t recognize me right away but as soon as she did she yelled Hi! right back at me. I quickly turned and ran along with her. I had to hear about her recent Camino de Santiago adventure.
Last May Hilda told me about her plans to hike a portion of the Camino de Santiago starting from Portugal. The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes to the tomb of the Apostle St. James in northwestern Spain. As we ran she told me all about her adventure on the route and her travels through Portugal, Spain and France. Well, before I knew it we reached the 2 mile mark. It was time to turn around and run back to our neighborhood. I was running! The pace was easy and enjoyable. We turned off the road and back to our neighborhood and I bid Hilda farewell as we parted ways. We had run 4 miles! Good thing I didn’t wear the ruck sack this morning. I truly enjoyed the run! Why had I quit running?
So many times I struggled with getting comfortable on a run. I was beat, exhausted, frustrated after a run. It took too long to recover. Again and again I questioned why I continued to run. I’m old, I said to myself. I’m worn out. I’m a broken runner. Turns out I was losing the runner I once was and I couldn’t let go. I kept looking at my watch on my runs. Kept checking my pace. Yes, I’m getting slower but not by that much, I thought. It was hard to accept. Recently I read something about how people who live their lives according to a clock are not as happy as those who do not adhere to a strict schedule. Yes, there are appointments and commitments to be kept but our free time should be free of time constraints. Running with Hilda at her comfortable pace made me realize running can be fun again if I just run free. Something I always knew but failed to practice. I’m not the runner I once was. And never will be. But I can be the runner I am today, and maybe I can be a runner tomorrow.
I ran again two days after that. And two days after that! Yesterday I returned to the trails at Friedrich park, one of the local favorite nature parks in my area and I loved it. Tomorrow I’ll be running at Government Canyon State natural area. I have the route mapped out in my mind, Joe Johnston trail to wildcat canyon to far reaches and recharge trail for a little over 6 miles of enjoyment. I’ll run at an easy pace and walk when I want to without being tied to my watch.
Here’s hoping I don’t quit again. Wish me luck.
Oh, and Thanks Hilda.
