So as you all know (well, we will pretend you do), I have been taking some time off of running and doing the Insanity workouts. I had gotten a bit burned-out on running and needed a break. Now I completely recognize that this may have been due to the use of the treadmill, but it had affected my desire to run at all.
I started up the Insanity work outs, and while I still hate doing DVD’s as a source of exercise – it was a nice change. It also started me working on my core, which I DESPERATELY need. In fact, I hadn’t realized how bad it was – until this time around doing the DVDs. I know see that my hernia-surgery repair took an already weak core, and made it weaker. Logically this makes perfect sense, as I spent some time doing everything possible to NOT engage my core (specifically hip-flexor area.)
Now, as what might seem as a segue, I had also started looking back into the SCA. This reminded me of when I used to fight, and it wasn’t stamina I lacked. I didn’t have enough arm-strength. I could go for a few fights, then my arms would need a break because they simply didn’t have the strength to go on. Since then I have been doing between 80 and 120 push ups a day. (I lose track of how many I do. The goal is 100.)
I have ceased (temporarily) on the Insanity, because I feel that if I am going to be running a 10 mile run in 8 days, I should probably have a little bit of recent-running under my belt. Consequently, I got out on the road on Weds. night.
I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed running so much. The air was perfect, the songs on my phone – fantastic, the pavement? in great shape. I was surprised when I heard my mile split at 8:30! Then my second mile was a bit quicker! The air was simply fantastic. It was only a 2.25 mile run – so I wasn’t worried about going to quickly and wearing myself out. (I normally keep my “First runs” to about a 10 minute mile).
So on Thursday night, I was really looking forward to going back out. It was again in the high 40’s (not as nice as high 50’s, but WORLDS better than 30’s!) So off I went.
I have to admit.. My legs were a wee bit sore and tired.. But they got over it pretty quickly.. The run was again nice. I did have one terrible moment. It seems that someone’s garbage can had blown over – blocking the only way past on the side-walk. It was a horrible quandary.
Do I turn around and go back? If I did, that would make my run a grand total of .5 miles… That’s not far enough!
Do I turn around and go another way? Into uncharted territory? But what if I got lost? I’d have to call my wife to come get me! What if I didn’t know where I was to tell her?
What about (gasp!) leaving the sidewalk? I could after all run on the road… But what if I trampled someones just starting to come out begonias? How sad it would be to have their flowers trampled before they even had a chance to bloom!
Then.. It occurred to me… I saw myself in highschool.. Track… With my own unique (funny) hurdling form as I did the 110 high hurdles, and hte 400 medium hurdles.. I could clear this.. So with several stutter steps to get the correct foot forward (come on, its been 20 years since I even pretend to hurdle, cut me some slack!!!) I flew over it with the grace of a gazelle grace of a tripping drunk-guy.
I was able to continue on with my run! My mile split was actually faster, with my overall pace at 8:12/mile.
You know, I’m glad to be running again.
I run, because I am a runner. Having realized that I have always "been a runner" - even when I went years with out running, I am learning how it has integrated itself in all aspects of my life. When I started running in highschool, my perspective on life changed. Funny that I didn't realize how much it had affected it until just recently.
Once and Future Runner 
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