Today's run was hard, I "slept in" too late which resulted in me being out on the road with more sunshine this morning and though that sounds really nice it was actually starting to get a little too warm for comfort. I am starting to fight a cold and my legs felt like lead - yes, it was one of "those" runs. Today was one of the day's I didn't like running - I have talked about that before on my blog HERE and it is not a big shocker to anyone reading this I am sure!
I have lots of runner friends now, that comes in all shapes and sizes and speeds ;) Many times we confide in each other over our struggles and triumphs while we run but sometimes I feel I am sharing more regularly about struggles than triumphs! Running is really hard for me, it is a battle mentally almost all of the time but also a challenge physically. I do not stride gracefully through 14km without breaking a sweat or having at least 1 body part aching. I work hard and push hard and look as though I am doing something very hard! Some days I feel jealous of those runners who seem to tackle the higher distances with such ease but than I wonder if I would still keep at it, or feel so passionate about it if it was easy.
I am good at writing speeches. I am hired often to write speeches for people who need a little hand with something to say at a wedding, funeral, graduation or business meeting - since writing speeches is easy for me I do not find I get the same fulfilment out of them. So maybe that is what's great about my running, it is hard and because of that when I complete a new distance, or hit a new PR (which occurs few and far between) it feels much more satisfying than a wedding toast.
Last weekend during my long run one of my RBC teammates and I were pacing together only about 2k into the run - we were chatting about work and life out on this long road into the country. All of a sudden another runner passed us - he wasn't from our team - he was fast, and strong and said a simple "Good Morning" as he passed us with one stride - my partner and I laughed nervously at each other both picking up our pace a little as we wondered where he came from. We only had to wonder that for a few minutes when I turned around and a large crowd of runners was approaching (fast) from behind. Apparently our mourning route overlapped the route of a local running club and they were gaining on us fast. I cannot express the relief I felt when we turned right onto a country road and they continued straight. I felt relief but also a bit challenged, and I think that is good for me. Because I do find running long distances hard, and because I do struggle through mentally and physically it is good for me to be challenged every now and than by other runners to ensure I don't give up on game. I see other runners and feel a camaraderie and inspiration from them which gives me the strength to push through.............................even on the tough runs.
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