That's Fit

Now that I've lightened up on the ever-so-intense marathon training schedule, I've started to enjoy running again. You know, running for running's sake.

There is a strong opinion among many that one should never run merely for the sake of running. One must always be setting and achieving goals, then setting bigger goals. One must be racing or going a further distance or doing more hills or some such thing.

Well, not me. Today I just ran for the heck of it. And it felt great. The only downside was the realization that I stretched out my favorite long-sleeved running shirt while I was preggers.

Actually, it was good timing that I loosened the reigns on the training schedule when I did. This past week I became sicker than I have been in years. To make matters worse the baby had a little something too, so we were sick together. Needless to say he was in a better mood than I was. He still got all the attention he needed, while I had to carve yet one more thing out of my life by not being able to run.

Running is what I do. It is who I am. I love to talk about it, I love to do it, all the time. Rain or shine, regardless of the wind chill (well, OK, anything below 30 degrees I'm not so sure of) I like to be out there, doing my thing.

Normally, when I get sick I run anyway, but this time around I simply couldn't. I am forced now, as a mother, to take care of myself right along with my little one. It's a great feeling, actually. I took off nearly an entire week to try to ward off the sickness, which hit me anyway. I still probably recovered more quickly as a result, however.

And today I headed out with only one thing in mind--doing a lap. A lap around our park is approximately 3.35 miles, depending on whom you ask. What with all the heavy-duty training I was on a very strict schedule of mileage, increased mileage and more mileage.

When I wasn't racking up the miles I was racing up hills trying to increase my lung capacity and my leg strength. As awful as it sounds I actually looked forward to hills days as it meant fewer times around the park which ended up being slow and, at times, laborious.

I never got to do what I loved best: just do a lap. It had been so long since I'd just popped around the park at a fair clip I'd almost forgotten how! I also wasn't sure how fast I could do it. While I'm not competitive, I am with myself. I used to time myself to see how fast I could get around the park.

It wasn't always easy but it was certainly fun. And the rush afterwards was a feeling nearly unmatched. To be honest, until I had a baby, no other feeling compared to that post-run glow. Today, after running around 3 and 2/3 miles in just over 30 minutes I got the glow back.

I still feel great, even as I write this. I am supercharged and ready to take on the rest of the day. Sure not being under the weather helps and the lack of humidity is a dream, but just getting out there and doing what I love with no restrictions was key.

I'm all for setting goals and training for big events like the marathon. Running a marathon is a once in a lifetime opportunity and an incredible accomplishment one should be very proud of. For me running one--or rather, training for one--was getting in the way of enjoying the experience.

I'm pretty sure at this point I will not be showing up at the starting line of the NYC Marathon this year. And that's OK. I have my own pace and my own path and my own rules to follow. There's a certain freedom I enjoy in running simply because I want to. It's a freedom, and a feeling, that will keep me running for hopefully the rest of my years.

And there's always next year. Like a lap around the park the NYC marathon will always be there.

Photo of running by beigeinside.