Remember back in September when I started running according to heart rate then started doing speed work and started increasing my long run mileage? Well, since my Dad died (and I've talked about this quit a bit) my runs have decreased back down to bare minimum. And by bare minimum I mean a lot of one mile runs and 3 or 4 (sometimes less) days a week of 3 miles. My "long" runs have gone back down to 4 miles, if I have a "long" run. Every Sunday I sit here and wonder how long my run will be.
I do miss my long runs, but they take a much longer time (obviously) and I don't always want to take the time to do them. Plus, it's always those minutes (or hours) before I go that I really, really don't want to do it. So today, Sunday, I sit here having eaten my eggs, and drinking my water, waiting for the food to digest enough to run when I wonder how far am I going to go today? Should I do some speed work? Should I just do my customary 3 miles and be done?
Why am I running? Why do I continue to run? Why do I continue a runstreak when I have no desire to run 2-4 days a week?
I don't have answers to those questions. Maybe my answer is because if I stop I may never start again. Maybe my answer is that it's such a habit that I do it because of that. Maybe it's because I want that feeling back that I used to have when I ran and I hope that if I keep going, eventually I'll love it again. I know part of it is to not gain weight, but I can't lose weight, but I hope I will.
Exercise is good for you. I run for exercise . . . now. That hasn't always been the case. I know that no other exercise really "sticks" for me. I've tried several different things, but the only thing I've done consistently is run. I've tried spinning (which I also love, but would need a spin bike to do it at home and they are expensive), weights, swimming, and yoga (although I have kept up with my "yoga" with my sister). So I run.
The longer I put off running, the less I feel like running. I guess that means that I should go running earlier. I used to aim for 10am on the weekend, but I've gotten lazy. Today I didn't eat until about 10am. Anyway, time for me to log off and go run.
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I miss running. I am too overweight to get back to it just yet. But when I was able to run, I didn't always enjoy it, and I had to make myself do it sometimes, but there is no other workout that gives me a sense of peace when it is going just right. I want to get back to running because it burns calories, sure, but it's more what it does for my mind that I miss and want to return to. Any workout can burn calories, but not every workout can be so mentally cleansing as running.
ReplyDeleteI also miss running...but need to lose some weight because running right now is just me beating up my body! And also for me...it's a love hate relationship!!!
DeleteI run for health. Most of my runs are short & easy. Sunday used to be my long run day but I haven't run over 4 miles in quite some time.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you took the time to reflect where you are in your running journey. I am with you....the earlier the better....because I will sit and contemplate and dread it and try to talk myself out of it!!!
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