I love seeing people get excited about sports. I think that’s one of the reasons I get excited about the Olympics (and football season, but that ought to be saved for another day). Seeing people gather together to watch most of the world’s athletic talent all in one place is pretty moving to me.
The Olympics’ opening ceremonies was an incredible display. Throughout watching it was hard for me to separate what I know to be true about the country of China and the state it’s in and the amazing display of manpower. Which, yes, I see the irony in even that distinction. Most of all, though, it was about starting the competition in a way that brought people together. And, possibly, in a way that gets a lot of people into sport that may normally not be. As a recreational athlete (at best), there’s just something very valuable about that for me. Something inspiring.
Really, that seems to be the thing I’m always looking for, anyway. To find some value in what I’m doing, and maybe a little inspiration. This is something I really had to think about this weekend. I’ve been wanting to do a fall marathon this year. In fact, I was training for it. I was increasing mileage at an acceptable rate and though my body wasn’t 100% cooperative, I was pushing through. Marathon training isn’t easy, right?
After my time away, I returned last week to begin regular training again. I felt good, but not great. I felt strong, but not healthy. I had some knee and ITB pain, which of course I’ve known before. I kept pushing all week. I had people around me telling me I could do it. People giving me tips and advice on getting past the pain. The reality was, though, that no one was telling me to stop. I understand this, I really do. No one wants to tell anyone to give up, or even have it seem that’s what they’re saying. In the meantime, though, I’d fallen victim to one of the worst Runner’s Sins: Not listening to my body.
Instead I wanted to listen to the woman who runs through every injury she has. She keeps getting injured, but also, she keeps running marathons. I’m not sure which is better, honestly. I even had someone say to me, if you can imagine, that I was at the point where I wasn’t a “serious” runner if I wasn’t at least doing one marathon a year. Yes, that person is a moron. And thankfully I knew when I heard that that it was time to stop. Because these people—in their 50’s, by the way—are not me. These people are not twenty-eight years old and looking (hopefully) at a long life of running. These people are not in my body, feeling my pain, and they don’t know me at all if they think I should ignore it.
And really, what it comes down to is: I really don’t care that much. I don’t care if I’m faster. I don’t care to collect medals. I don’t care to check things off the list. I don’t care to beat any time, or to qualify for anything ever. I just want to enjoy it. I just want to be with my friends and cheer each other on. I just want to have fun. I just want to run. That’s it.
Once I came back to that, and settled with it in my own mind, I was fine. I had a revised training plan and had one of the best 4 mile runs ever on Saturday morning. I felt relaxed, and not pressured. I felt a little more free, and a little less forced. A truck drove by me at the end of the last mile and I could hear “R-O-C-K in the U.S.A.” coming from it’s open windows. It’s these little things that keep me excited, keep me going. And best of all, I wasn’t in any pain.
So, I’m probably going to try for a half in the fall. I’m going to host a couple friends coming into town, and it’ll be a great weekend. After all, we are just recreational runners. We do this VOLUNTARILY. We aren’t winning medals, representing our country, or making a career of this sport. We take inspiration from those people, and sometimes, that even motivates us. We just want to run. And that’s enough.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
God I love the Olympics _ I think for the same reason, the togetherness, the sense of unity. I cried AGAIN this morning when they were replaying parts of the opening ceremonies.
That’s plenty, I say!
I’m really enjoying the Olympics. I forgot how much fun it is to watch.
Heck! It’s a whole lot more than I’m able to do so …. my hats off to you. R-O-C-K on!
It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of the events. My daughter fell in love with swimming after watching the last summer Olympics – even copied some of the swimmers to advance her swimming. In the end though, it wasn’t her sport at the moment; she lost all interest. (She was 4).
I have always loved reading your words about running and your experiences with running because you seem to do it for the love of doing it. No other reason, you just seem to enjoying the feel of the movements and the experiences you have. It isn’t for the awards or beating your times but because it is a part of you. That is just how it seems reading your words!
I’m psyched for the track and in particular the marathon this year as every year since I started running them!
I think you’re taking a very good approach on not pushing if you are hurting. You’re right, you do want to keep running and enjoying it…I’m trying to get back that feeling…you saw my breakdown! As for the one saying if you aren’t running a marathon a year you’re not serious…I’m sorry, but I define serious as someone who goes out most days and runs, whether it be a 6 minute pace or a 15 minute pace. Doesn’t matter if they do no races or 100 races in a year. And it doesn’t matter the distance or number of miles…it’s the people that are out there doing it just because, no matter what. They are runners (joggers are those people that just do it on occasion, once in a while, not because they enjoy it, but becasue they feel they have to, and it doesn’t matter if they run 6 minute or 15 minute miles either!).
Because of my heart issues, running is a challenge for me, but I kind of fast walk 4 miles each day and watching the Olympics this weekend really made me want to try even harder. It’s great that you enjoy running as much as you do. I’ve longed to be able to just run for so long. Wait, did that sentence even make sense??
And who doesn’t like to hear John Mellencamp’s R-O-C-K. I’m pretty sure it’s buried somewhere on my Ipod. Have a great Monday!!
You are right on target! I’m one of those women in my 50’s (okay, 50 and a half) and my plan is to run forever. Yes, I do lots of marathons, but I could lift this paragraph right out of your blog and put it into mine:
And really, what it comes down to is: I really don’t care that much. I don’t care if I’m faster. I don’t care to collect medals. I don’t care to check things off the list. I don’t care to beat any time, or to qualify for anything ever. I just want to enjoy it. I just want to be with my friends and cheer each other on. I just want to have fun. I just want to run. That’s it.
That’s me! I’m currently lucky enough to be running injury free and enjoying it at the marathon distance. Yee-hah! I’ll enjoy it while it lasts, and for as long as I enjoy running. Great post!
Running for enjoyment is exactly the right reason. I’ve added cycling to the mix to spare my knees, and the feeling there is similar. Doing a race with others and just having fun is a blast!
I am doing this, too! I signed up for a November 1/2 and am going to work very hard at not psyching myself out and just enjoying doing it and not ‘for time.’ Let’s wish each other luck
A marathon a year means you are a serious runner? I don’t think so.
I think everything you just talked about in your post makes you a runner. 6 minute mile or 12 minute mile — it’s the lacing up the shoes and putting one foot in front of the other because you not only want to but something in you says you *have* to makes you a runner.
I’m new to the sport and don’t know how I ever got along without it.
I ran a sprint yesterday and was suprised at how smooth and fast I was and I made it back to the checkout counter before the cashier was even halfway finished ringing up my cart.
You are awesome. That’s all I have to say.
the friend who introduced me to running can no longer run (at least as much as she’d like too) because she pushed herself too hard, especially when she knew she was injured. While it sucks for her, it has provide me with a good lesson. I’ve (knock on wood) been injury-free throughout my running career, but I am well aware of what my body is telling me and prepared to scale back if need be.
Hope you can get back into it without further problems. I am running another half in the fall too!
You are very smart and a real person. I don’t share your interest in these Olympics, but I sure like your attitude!