I love the anything goes topic… it means I can talk about whatever's on my mind and whatever I’m doing. As a nonfiction writer, I’m usually given topics, so being able to write whatever I want is priceless! So today what I want to write about is running!
I have a very checkered relationship with running. When I was in junior high, I hated it so much that I almost got expelled for refusing to run in PE. I came up with a lot of excuses not to run, so when the teacher finally got fed up and ordered me to, I told her to bugger off. (I was very ballsy for a twelve year old and very into English novels at the time.) I walked and ended up in the vice principals office. Now Mrs. Northrup and I went back a long way… like the time she swatted me for chewing gum in the classroom, and the time she kicked me out of school for writing inflammatory poetry about a substitute government teacher. (I was busted after one of the other students threw it back to me when the sub tried to take it and I ate the whole missive when she was coming after me.) I hated the injustice of it… after all, they had no proof— I was digesting it—and didn’t understand how they could kick me out without evidence. But I digress. When the PE teacher sent me to the office, I knew I was toast. And I was. Mrs. Northrup, (Think the Principal McGee of Grease), gave me a three day suspension.
So no, I’ve never been a runner.
But six months ago, I took a good long look at my health and decided I had better do something about it. So I decided I would be a runner even though I hated to run. It’s worked. I’ve dropped a bunch of weight and last Sunday I ran the Race for the Cure. That’s 5k people, 3.1 miles. And I ran the whole thing without stopping.
It was a great first race to run. Over 45,000 people showed up for the runs and walks and they had bands and cheerleaders every few blocks. The energy was amazing! I don’t know if I have ever been so proud of myself as when I finished that run.
Do I love running now? Not really. There are times when I’m bored out of my mind and times when I have to force myself to go out and do it. But I love how I feel afterwards and that makes it worth it!
See, you can be a runner and hate running!
Posts
7 comments:
I'm a runner who hates running too. Totally loathed it all through school, but now I do it and feel great afterwards while hating it all the way through. I mostly use an elliptical actually because running outside is hard on my joints, but the other day it was so beautiful, I ran two miles outside and loved it/loathed it at the same time :)
Love the suspension story!!!
Okay, after claiming that I hate running for more years than I can count, I recently started a running program and I'm hooked. I usually start the run excited about the possibilities of the run, then somewhere in the middle I think- what the heck have I gotten myself into? And by the end, I'm exhilarated and can't wait to do it again!
Same emotions I go through while writing a book!
Yes, the after part is good in both running and books! Go, Teri!
Teri - like I said, I totally blame you for getting me into running and I SOOOOOOOO agree that it can get really boring. Thank God for iPods that's all I can say!!!!
I am in the same boat, hated PE at school and the girls who were in the rowing team... now I'm a PE teacher and love running. The difference? No one was standing over my shoulder trying to make me do it.
I love it when you find the groove about 5 minutes into the run, things slot into place and you feel you can go forever (until you reach the hilly bits)
I love doing the Race for the Cure. Only I walk it. I rarely run. Like Steph, I opt for the elliptical.
I'm definitely not a runner.... though I did jog about 100 yards the other day!!!!!
Post a Comment