I didn’t really know who I was, physically, in college. I mean, I didn’t really know who I was for the most part in college, but as an exerciser (person who exercises?), I knew even less. I knew I liked it, but that’s about it. While not sedentary, I wasn’t a super star athlete in high school, and mostly I just really liked doing something. I liked moving. I also had no motivation from my body as, you know, I didn’t eat to remain or not remain a certain way. I didn’t think about it in the same way. (Don’t worry, I still found plenty of time to say mean things to myself about my body, things it would take me years to overcome, I just didn’t so much connect that to Big Macs, is what I’m saying.)
I did physical exercise for fun. And that kind of continued in college, in a less organized way. I went to lots of aerobics classes (shut up, step aerobics was huge in ‘99, people), and I’d go for a sporadic run every now and then. I liked doing stuff. It wasn’t until I was out of college until I figured out how much I needed it. Which is when I started running. I was twenty-two years old.
Last month, February, which marked itself with several other events that don’t need to be revisited, was also the ten year anniversary of when I started regularly running. It was my Runniversary.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m only 32 (eye roll), but having committed to something and it making me both continually happy and crazy and thrilled and grateful for the course of a decade seems pretty huge. There are few other things in life I’ve loved this long, and suffice it to say no other things that are not living things, that I have found such a home in. It feels really good to celebrate that, if only in my heart.
Today, the first week of March, it is 65F degrees here in Colorado. I went out for a run before a noon yoga class and took some time to think about what the last ten years have been like, and how this one constant thing I do all on my own has brought me so much. Friends, travel, relationships, solace, peace, worn out treadmill belts, love, frustration, time, pain, joy, fun– it has all been there, wrapped up in countless pairs of shoes and miles I’ve never really been good at keeping track of. I have done short races, some longer races, relays and been on teams. I have medals and photos and more wonderful memories than I deserve. I have not only called myself a runner but have been doing it long enough to be able to realize what an incredible gift that is.
It has been a good ten years and I am so grateful. I hope I get ten more.
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Happy runniversary! You have got far more than 10 years of running left in you, trust me. My brother in law started running around age 50. Now, fifteen years later he is still running a few marathons a year. See what you have to look forward to?
What a great milestone to recognize! We’re alike in that I didn’t start running until after college, either. I was always a gym rat … usually doing 30 minutes of cardio (on the elliptical) and then lifted weights. My then boyfriend suggested that I could run if I wanted. I made it into a personal challenge to learn how to run. I never imagined it’d turn into something that was so important to me for so long. As I sit here now, more than 15 years later and starting from scratch again, I am excited to re-learn something I grew to love. So long as you listen to your body, pull back when you need to and adjust expectations as your body changes, then you’ve definitely got decades of great running ahead of you!
Oh Happy Day! It is wonderful to celebrate something that you love and are passionate about. May you continue to love it and find other loves to celebrate.
Wow a decade of running. You deserve a medal for THAT! Or maybe you should bronze a pair of your running shoes!
I think I’m only coming up on my five-year runniversary. I was a late bloomer, as with pretty much everything else in my life.
I need to go on record here to say that some people, ahem, still do step aerobics in the privacy of their guest bedrooms. Who can get enough of Kathy Smith in a purple leotard, anyway? I mean, seriously…
That is awesome!
I also did aerobics in college – it was huge!
I wish decades of more running happiness.
I had to laugh when I read “I did physical exercise for fun.” I was never good at sports, I’m guessing that is why I always hated exercising. I mean, I had PE classes in school (which I dreaded), and also took jazz and aerobics, but it was because I had to (it was part of the curriculum). There were certain things I liked: swimming, hiking, tennis (a little bit), and then I discovered yoga in 1998, and have been practicing it on and off ever since. But 10 years of running, that’s wow, that’s an accomplishment. Congratulations! You should be very proud of yourself
This is a little late in coming, but happy runniversary…what a great term. And what a great date you picked to start on this journey. (It happens to be my birthday, which is what brought me out of lurkdom.)