Runners Lounge

Running For Many Reasons

We are lucky to have met so many wonderful runners over the last few months.   Many take the time to share their stories with us, including some of the reasons they are running.   

Here are a few runners running for reasons larger than themselves.  Stop by and show your support through a comment, a thought or contribution:

• Allie (aka RunnerGirl) who is running her first marathon and doing it in support of Ronald McDonald House
• Jason who is trying to raise $25,000 before the Marine Corp Marathon to fund the local cancer center (link to story), in memory of his mom who passed away from esphogeal cancer.
• Joe is running to raise money for WWII veterans.  On November 8, he'll be running the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon. Leading up to it he will raise money to help send his county's World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to see the war memorial. Last year, my county lost 138 veterans, and they want the ones remaining to go to D.C. before it's too late. His goal is to raise more than $5,000 by having citizens, companies and civic groups sponsor me for a day, a week, or a month worth of miles. ALL of the proceeds will go to Bartow County(Ga)'s American Legion so that they can buy tickets and hotel rooms for as many veterans as possible.  Click here for a link to his story.
• Milano Running Mom is raising money to help kids and people in her community have a place to run.  She lives in a tiny community that has no track and only dirt roads that aren't safe. She is trying to raise the necessary funds to build a track for the community, senior citizens to grade school kids. With grants and donations she hopes to have a track in place in less than 2 years. Check out the upcoming race and community group - nowhere2run.org.

Anyone else running for a good cause?  Drop us a note or leave a comment below and share your cause.

The Extraordinary Running Award For June

"Why we run" has been the focus of several blogs and comments lately at the Lounge.  So it’s no surprise that the winning Extraordinary Runner story for June answers the same question.

Long before he decided to start running, this month's winner, Kevin, ran via the legs and hearts of those around him. But our job at the Lounge isn’t to retell stories, but to publish them.  So read more about his story in Why Am I A Runner?

Monthly Extraordinary Running Stories of inspiration come in all forms—getting started, finishing, racing, persevering, and returning from setbacks.  We run because we want to, because we need to, because we crave running, and because without running we would be less than our best.

As we say at Runners' Lounge: Great moments in running happen every day.  But Extraordinary Running  stories don't unfold because we are extraordinary runners.  In fact, they happen because we are ordinary runners who experience and achieve extraordinary moments through our running, goals, and dreams.

So sit back and re-consider how your story might be more inspiring than you think.  Each month’s winner earns a free pair of running shoes from Onlineshoes.com.  And the rest of us will  benefit by enjoying your story.

Everyone is welcome to submit their story!

You are a runner...

You are a runner...when you crave running. 

I started running to get fit, lose weight, and get a better pair of legs.  But over the years, running evolved from just a physical activity to something I need just like air and water.

On a pretty regular basis, I find that even when my legs don't need a run my mind does.  Just  yesterday, my brain was plotting out a long, flat, easy course so my legs could take it on an hour of mindless running to work through questions at work and to do lists at home.   It seems like the wheels of my mind turn easier when my legs are also turning over during a good run.

And then on other days, when too many days have gone by without a run, I feel my legs just itch to get out there and move.   

When I tell someone I need to run, it usually isn't because I have a run on my training plan, but instead because I need to run to recharge, reorganize, relax and rejuvenate.   That is the reason I crave running and also the reason I know that I am definitely a runner.

Picture by me - The famous "I am a runner" bracelet from Runners Lounge.  Since the fall when we launched the Lounge, Tom and I have given away thousands of "I am a runner" bracelets to runners who proudly proclaim their runningness.   

Related Posts:

• Collection of "Why I Run"
• Rules to Becoming a Runner

Warning! Cranky mom...coming through

Yesterday, one of my kids said something to this effect:

So I did.   

And afterwards?  My kids seemed a little bit cuter.  My husband seemed to be a better listener.  My dog didn't smell so bad.   My house seemed a little bit cleaner.  My to do list seemed a bit more manageable.  My tummy seemed a little smaller.  The weather didn't annoy me quite so much.  My Diet Coke was a bit more bubbly.   Work seemed almost tolerable.   My son's video games almost made sense.  The inside of my car didn't smell like dirty kid feet.  My unmowed lawn resembled a beautiful native prairie land instead of an untamed jungle.  Little Pony hair/makeup time didn't make me want to scream.   Someone mentioned I wasn't so grouchy.  Life was better.

Yep, life is good - if you run. 

You know the words to this song!   Join in and sing a verse of your own...

Tshirt on cafepress.com

Why I Run

This weekend, I had a few open minutes to take a leisurely stroll through the blogosphere and  stop by and listen to why people run. 

Ahhh...its like a much needed massage for the brain.

There was more than once that I had to stop and jot down something from a post of another runner because it so perfectly captured my feelings about running too.   Here are a few for you to stop by and enjoy as well:

I found this image (right) I just had to share.  The picture of the word "Run" in shoes is from Suzie Petunia's recent post on her philosophy of life.  Great post from a great blog!

If you have ever been tempted to write - Why I Hate Running and I can't stop - here is a sample, then you must stop by and read this recent post by Healthy and Simple. 

So why did I go running? Well, quite honestly I’d run out of excuses not to go. With the arrival of daylight savings time and spring I could no longer argue that it was too dark, too wet or too cold. So the only remaining excuse was I was too lazy, and the only way to prove I wasn’t was to hit the road.

And Tek wrote a great post about Why I need to run sorta and summarized the "why" behind running as:

Yesterday someone I know who "doesn't get the running thing" asked me: do you feel stronger when you run? I realized, yes I do. when I finish a run I feel like I have accomplished something big - even a little run feels fulfilling.

And Footfeathers who is training for an ultra added this from his recent post:

The waves of pain break you down, and you're left with the choice to rebuild and continue or quit. The layers of junk from daily life are stripped away. It's pure and raw. You find out a lot about yourself, probably more than you ever imagined.

Owocki laid down a few sentences that capture the essence of why I run:

I don’t know that I have the right vocabulary to describe the feeling that hits you at or around the 5th mile of a run.  It’s somewhere between proud, exhausted, with a hint of clairvoyance and focus too. It’s just.. worth it. Trust me.

And this image is from a blog of a cross country runner, trainlikehell, who recently posted a great (adapted) article of why she runs.   The image is the header of his blog - and it was too good not to share.

While I was visiting this weekend, I found the list from Erin, a runner, as she tells others 100 things about herself.   You will notice more than a few are about running.   It inspired me to start a thread for the Lounge to capture 100 reasons Loungers run.  Would you do me a favor and stop by and leave your "why" today?   I think it will be a great way to share why we get out there and do what we do.

I want to be a runner

You heard me right.  Even though I am a runner, I still carry with me every day the desire to be a runner.  Since starting running decades ago, my desire to be a runner never has never died.

My desire to be a runner doesn’t stem from still trying to achieve an unmet race time, or weight or body shape.  That’s the land of regret and I don’t go there.

Instead, my desire to be a runner comes from the activity and the joy of running—sometimes sluggishly, sometimes spectacularly, but most times ordinarily, and that’s just fine with me.

Amy and I have gone on record saying that the only thing we enjoy more than running is the wonderful people running connects us to.  To us, there are two types of people—those who are runners, and the less fortunate rest of the population. Yes, we’re biased.

We regularly hear that a favorite feature on the Runners’ Lounge home page is the “Why I Run” space.  It changes with every click and offers some inspiring reasons that explain why runners run.  Makes me wish I’d said them myself.  Below are some of the reasons you’ll find.

Notice how many reasons we have in common and how some are so unique.  Go ahead and click on them and discover the runner behind the reason.  And then introduce yourself and leave ‘em a comment. 

to see things from a different perspective

it keeps me sane and healthy

It clears my mind and makes me feel strong

To get in shape and have some "Me Time"

I used to be competitive, but now it's for fun!

I want to watch my children grow up & I love M&Ms!

Peace, clarity, strength and balance

for the love of it

To be strong and fit, to be a runner.

It's Like Free Therapy, Homies!

To explore what I'm fully capable of

It empowers me and makes me strong

No better feeling than completing a good run!

love the way it makes me feel!

I love the feeling of accomplishment!

Fun, Fitness, and Friends

Because I can ...

The reasons are endless, and we hope you're still discovering and expressing why you run.

This is Inspiration Week at Runners’ Lounge

We’re excited to learn about what inspires and motivates you, and we expect we’ll all pick up some deep inspiration from each other.  Also, on Tuesday, the winner of free running shoes will be named for that runner whose story was submitted for an Extraordinary Running award.

Keep up your good running!

Tshirts Have Taken Over My Closet

On the chore list this weekend was the dreaded task of switching over the kids closet from winter to spring/summer clothes.  They are both still young (4 and 8) so they grow out of clothes overnight and with the change of season they need different, bigger stuff .

Feeling inspired, after I finished their closets, I turned to mine.   My Tshirt shelf had taken on a life of its own.  At some point in the last year or so, my TShirt collection exploded!  It seems like I don't run that many races.  Really.  If you had asked me if I had run much in the last 12 months, I would say, "Heck, no! I Really need to get out there more!"   But my closet held the truth.  In the last few years, I have racked up over thirty TShirts!   I couldn't believe it.   As I pulled the shirts out of the out of control shelf, it was like clowns coming out of a circus car act.  How in the world could that many shirts fit in one shelf?!? 

As I sorted through them, I remember a conversation my husband and I about 10 years back.  We were lamenting that we just didn't have enough Tshirts.  In fact, we went to a store to buy some.  Today, I found out that I have only 2 TShirts that aren't race shirts and the other almost fifty were from some race - some I barely remember.   You could tell the ones I am really proud of because they are well worn, have stains from the kids, and still have residual stink from runs.   I don't think even Fitzfabulous solution to making Tshirts more presentable would fix them.

If an archeologist studied my household a million years from now, he would be able to piece together in detail my schedule for at least the last ten years just based on my tshirt collection alone.  I am a rather predictable runner.  I knew I had my favorite races, but it was seeing them lined up year after year that it hit me how many times I had done the cycle of my races.

The good news is that I have enough raw materials for at least 4 more TShirt quilts - or one big one like Running Around in CT. Soon everyone in the family can have one and not fight over my current one.  It seems like a good solution since I don't think I am ready to use them to fill up holes in my yard as this Run The Planet article suggests.  And I don't think I will be near Barney's for their Tshirt recycling program (partnership with Loomstate) between April 13 and the 27th (but it is a cool idea - check it out!)

As I finished my final chores restocking, reorganizing, and restacking the clothes in our closets, I really appreciated my trip down memory lane and the chance to remember so many good runs, runs with friends, finish lines, and cold beers in celebration.   It was a nice little pick me up for my chores and my running.   Now its time to get busy and earn some more shirts!

Everyone Should Run A Half Marathon

Yep, I know, the title is a bit over the top and has a touch of bully - but it's hard to quench my excitement for the half marathon.   It is my favorite distance! 

It's the perfect distance for most runners and especially us slower runners.   It's not too long that we need to plan for the entire day away and its not so short that it is obvious how slow we are running.   Any heartful awe and wonder we don't get from the crowds with our speed we make up in their admiration of our spirit to run "that far" or for "that long".   Half marathons smile more and longer - we are the darlings of the race - at least until the marathoners get back.

The training does take time to get in the long runs, but even those are 2-ish hours can be found in the schedule.  Where the marathon asks for 12-16 weeks of training to get ready, the half marathon can be tackled with as few of 6-8 and still live to tell about it. The distance does requires training - but you can still cover it somewhat comfortably and completely with little training and good intentions when push comes to shove. 

Race day is still a big deal.   There are still the nerves and careful preparation, but you know you can't get into serious trouble in a half marathon.   You can finish in about 2-3 hours, even at a relaxed pace, which puts you on track to pick up lunch on the way home from the race and you still have the day left to play, do chores or relax.   And if your nonrunning life has kids and commitment, the half marathon is gracious enough to allow you to still live out the day without a long nap.   Although, if you are lucky enough to get one it is the icing on the cake.

It's a serious distance.  It isn't one for the weak or runner who hasn't commited.  Because it is for real runners, any runner who takes it on earns the right to buy the best running gear, gadgets and other stuff to make them look as cool as they feel.   

And even though the distance can be forgiving, it still must be respected.   Tom has said in the past, "if you run the marathon wrong, it can really hurt."   And if you have run a marathon wrong, you know "hurt" doesn't even come close to describing those feelings of pain.   For the half marathon, the same holds true.   If you break the basic rules of training, it can hurt.  But she is more gentile than her evil twin brother the marathon.  She will punish you for a day, maybe two, and three tops and then you are free to dream of your next half marathon again.

The training and distance may be a fraction of a full, but the joy and pleasure of finishing isn't reduced to a margin of a big race.   It's all still there and all still worth it.

I can't wait for my next one!

Happy Super Bowl!

With the big game upon us, I hope you have your long run or workout behind you for today and your eye is on the big game and a few party refreshments.

I have been running all weekend in order to fully enjoy a few of my favorite things....yes, beer and cookies!   And in that spirit, I leave you with this short video which provides both an interesting idea for a run as well as sound advice.

Video on YouTube by Remmy

With running friends, it is never...

Too Snowy

Too Cold

Too Windy

Too Dark

Too Late

Too Much of A Hassle

With running friends, running is always just right!

Thanks Art and Nancy for getting me out there last night in a one heck of a snow storm.  It was the most fun, relaxing run I have had in a long time.   Let's do it again and bring a friend.  Mike?  Kirk?  Kent?  David?

If this winter has left you wondering if you really even want to run, find a running friend and head out on a few miles.  It will adjust your perspective about running.   As a runner, it was a good reminder that I started running for many physical reasons but I keep running because of other runners.

Running with friends keeps the momentum going.

Why I Run

I have provided many, many reasons why I run over the last year.   But, last night, I was reminded again of one of my many reasons.

I run ... to eat cookies!

Meet the enemy. 

Meet my sweet savior.

Meet Triple Flavor Big Batch.   

She is one sweet combination of peanut butter, oatmeal, cocoa, and chocolate chip perfection.  It doesn't even matter how many kids "help" me make them - they always turn out perfectly.

Last night, someone in my house said they needed something sweet.  The next thing I know I am standing over a big bowl of something that should be illegial.  I am not sure it is even within FCC regulations to be able to share such an addictive recipe across the airways.   This cookie is strong enough to bring down even the best athlete and reduce them to an uncontrolled cookie addict hiding in a corner sneaking one to many between gulps of whole milk.

I had originally planned a simple 3 or 4 mile run today.   Looks like it will be 5 or 6.

Yes, this is why I run.

For noncookie related reasons why other reasons run, check out:

• Little Runners' post from end of December who runs because she can as she stays in remission from scleroderma and gets ready to run Disney on January 13th, and
• Greg D Cruz's post about running to develop inner strength

Run well this weekend and remember all the reasons you run.

New Year's Day Running Tradition At the 11th Hour

I rarely post about my runs, but yesterday’s run seems worthy.

Spending the last several weeks out of town, last night we drove home, arriving to a warm house around 8:30.  The day’s hectic schedule kept me from running, the frigid temperatures so unfriendly.  But I hated to miss my tradition of running on New Year’s Day.

There’s something just so right and important about running on January 1st.  I’m not talking about the New Year’s resolutions.  Instead, a run on January 1st kicks off the rest of the year with hope and renewed commitment for all the other runs that follow.  It’s invigorating, a christening that launches the full range of runs throughout the year—the ordinary, the rotten, the awesome, the hot and humid, the what-was-I-thinking, and the it-doesn’t-get-any-better-than-this runs.  But today, I’d missed my run—and my New Year’s Day running tradition.

So with Mary and the kids away or in bed, I sat at the laptop e-mailing. reading posts, and doing some real work-work before returning to the office.  The 10:00 news come and went.  Boring. The temp in the house began dropping. 

Then at 10:51, I hear the chime from my computer  announcing an e-mail message.  It’s a wonderful comment from Nat in response to a post, and she wishes me “many ‘hell yeah!’ runs, perfect weather conditions, and body glide in the right places.”

What a wish!  What a friend!  What an inspiration! 

In a nanosecond the possibility flashed through my mind.  “It’s not too late,” I thought.  Scrambling to the basement I gathered my running gear.  Dashed upstairs to change into my running clothes and I dialed the number to hear the time and temperature.   11:02 p.m. and 4°.  Count ‘em.  Four degrees!

Pulling the layers and shoes on, it’s a few minutes past 11:00 p.m., and I’m out the door.  A wonderful easy run!  Five miles later I’m finishing my all-time favorite neighborhood course, all the while thinking about “the tradition” of my New Year’s Day run. 

With several blocks to go, it’s Tradition Time.  My family knows just what it is.  I stop under a street light, take off my gloves and hat and then peel off every layer from the waist up.   I’m still warm from the run but know I’m only a few seconds before the chill arrives. 

Dashing the final blocks and careening down the hill that dumps me into my driveway, I’m breathless from the pace and the arctic air.  Carrying my clothes in one arm, I raise my other arm and pump my fist in the air. 

I arrive in the house before midnight.  The tradition of the New Year’s Day topless finish continues for another year! 

Thanks, Nat!  Hell Yeah!

If it wasn’t for the 11th hour,

a lot of things wouldn’t get done!

Snowy Streets on Flickr by Yonder Wall

Clock on Flickr by MindWind

Come Along On My Favorite Fall Run

Fall running.   ahhhhh.....  There is nothing like heading out on a run during one of the six perfect weeks we have here in Iowa to catch a glipse of the leaves of fall or get a lung full of that crisp cool air.  These six weeks make the remaining 46 weeks of the year when it is too hot, too cold, too windy, too dusty, too dark, too rainy/icy/snowy or downright unpleasant just a bit more bearable.

My favorite fall run is the trail that loops around the outside of our property. It is close to home and easy to access.  I indulged a few years ago and had this trail "blazed" as a present to myself and running.  It is the crowing jewel of living out here off a dusty country road.   An extra bonus is that I always have the company of my dog Buddy for every step and I usually have a pacer or two (my kids) for the first or last lap.   

I would love to have each of you join me in a run on this trail, but I know how tight schedules are, so I took my camera along last week and grabbed some photos while I ran along.  While it takes about 10 minutes to complete the loop, I condensed my run in video to about a minute and 30 seconds.  I added my favorite trail tune to the picture show - so if you are at work, hit mute or grab the headphones.  Hope you enjoy the ride!

If you have a favorite fall run, let me know where it is.  I have a wish list of runs that I someday hope to exhaust - but in the meantime, I will keep adding them on.  Check out Database Diva's run in pics.

Happy fall running!

Running For Something Bigger Than Ourselves

Last week at the Des Moines marathon, Tom and I were excited to give away a few hundred bracelets for a small donation to the three charities that were aligned to the marathon.   It was a small way we could give back and support three tremendous causes that do great work on the behalf of the dollars that runners raise.   I have a deep respect for the runners who take the time to train for an event, but also put in the extra time to support a cause, raise money, or honor a special person.   

There are a few runners out there right now who are doing this in a big way.  If you haven't had a chance to check out Scott, Paul, and Wade's stories, here is a glimpse of the good they are doing:

For the last week, I have been following Scott Giddings quest to complete his journey that he started this spring.  Scott started a run across Nebraska in mid April with a goal of completing the 480 miles across the state.  About 11 days into the run, with 232 miles behind him, he had an injury to his leg which caused him to change plans, stop and recover.   

On October 20th, he picked up his journey where he had left off and began running the last 240 miles, ending at the Missouri River in Omaha.   Scott didn't take on this journey simply as a test to his own endurance, he took it on as a way to raise awareness and honor the Girls and Boys Town where he works and specifically the Aftercare program .  In his posts, he talks about how important it is to be a role model and fulfill the promises he made to the kids and himself, how he needs to adjust to life's curveballs, and of course, that like this run, life is a marathon, not a sprint.    As he finishes his last leg today - drop him a note of congratulations and encouragement.   

And Paul Staso.  In 2006, Paul ran across the United States, unsupported, pushing a jogging stroller.  He did this heroic feat as a way to promote P.A.C.E - Promoting Active Children Everywhere.  In 182 days, Paul is going to take on a challenge again and run across his homestate of Montana, all 610 miles of it, and ask kids to race with him virtually.   Students from Kindergarten to High School can run along by acquiring mileage at school and track his journey through Montana.  Pass on the link to your teachers - it would be a fun and educational program at school!

Paul is an amazing person.  Not only because he is a phenominial runner and he is coordinated enough to push a jogging stroller for that long a distance.  But he does all of this while also being a father of four, running alot, running a small business and of course, starting the PACE Fitness Foundation.   He is hanging out in the Runners' Lounge too - so drop him a note on his site or in the Lounge and cheer him on!

Fitness of our kids is personally a strong belief of mine that someday in the future I hope to find a way to support in impactful way that Paul is doing today. 

Don't forget to check out Wade's story too!  Wade Mitzel is running across North  Dakota for Operation Christmas Child.   The program allows us to contribute shoeboxes filled with small gifts and deliver them to children living in desparate conditions in the world.  Wade is from North Dakota but personally experienced the poor conditions of children in his mission trips to China and Africa.   He knows firsthand the joy from children of receiving a small gift or kind note.   He started on his journey a few days ago - so stop by his blog and leave him a comment and cheer him on - he just passed the 100 mile mark on Sunday.  I can't imagine running a marathon everyday - and much less in the very cool weather of North Dakota.

Way to go guys!  You make being a runner a pretty special thing!

Why I Run, Really

Why do we run? 

A nonrunning friend posed this question to me as I recounted a few of the stories from Chicago marathon on Sunday.  He had listened patiently, but honestly wasn't convinced that these stories were anything more than a bunch of crazy people with nothing better to do on a hot Sunday morning.   It was in this discussion that he asked: "Why do people run?...  Why do runners push themselves so hard?...  So hard that it hurts or they are in pain?...  Are you just plain crazy?"

I don't have the one universal answer to his questions.  But I tried to explain a few of the reasons why people run.  You know I love this topic so I have an arsenal full of great reasons from lots of great runners.  So I told him about all the great reasons from many wonderful runners like:

My list at the end of July list, and how Rob chatted about "fighting the desire to quit". 

My early August list that had many examples showing that running isn't about an activity, but instead about becoming something more.

My late August list of "Why I Run", Ian's  description of running being almost like meditation.

And then to my mid September list, where Lora's reason still rings in my head.  She says she runs for "soulful experiences, powerful situations and deep moments of appreciation".

And to sum it up, I borrowed a great phrase from Jennifer from last week, who says: 

I am a runner. I love it. It's no longer what I do, but it is an important part of who I am. Passions are like that; they grip us.

Passion.  That is a great word to describe the feelings many runners have about this "sport". 

But yet, he was unmoved.  He just didn't get it.

Made me feel kinda' bad for this fellow not to know what I was talking about. Not one to give up, I took a deep breath and unleashed a rambling, realistic view of why I run.  I tried to put it in terms he could understand.  It went something like this:

I run so...I have the patience to explain to my kids for the thousandth time that candy corn is not a vegetable.  It is merely a coincidence that they harvest the corn around our house at the same time it shows up in stores.  And that they shouldn't bite into a real pumpkin because it tastes nothing like the little candy pumpkins that are next to the little candy corns.

I run so... I can stand the sound of flip-flops... I have the will power to sit and smile patiently through unplanned drop in's of coworkers ranting about topics that don't matter... I have the endurance to work through lunch and sometimes dinner... I have the brainpower to finish the mind-numbing complex work that has to be done in minimal time and with not enough money or resources.   

I run so...I can listen to a 20 minute nonstop dissertation on the best and worst Pokemon, which kid has what card, what Pokemon crap we desparately need - and do so with a "I am so interested in what you are saying" smile the entire time...I can reward myself with time on the floor with my kids playing puzzles or coloring without thinking how I need to get up and do something.

I run so...I can eat cookies in large quantities but mitigate the effects...I can stay in the same size jeans - because shopping for jeans that need to be a size larger is a hundred times worse than running for hours...My beer tastes even better.

I run so...I have a few minutes of peace to myself...I allow myself to do only one thing at a time while running - there are no phones, email, or urgent other issues....I have a chance to catch my breath even though sometimes I run hard enough I lose it.

I run so...I have the core strength to vaccuum at super human speeds...My legs are strong enough to chase after kids who escape...I spend 30 minutes less in my house each day looking at the corners and cobwebs that need to be cleaned.

I run so...nonrunners seem less annoying.  :}  I did throw that into the end just to see if he was still listening to my ranting. 

I think I may have got through to him on the "few minutes of peace"....

Whatever your reasons (share 'em!), best wishes for a great fall run today!

Bumper sticker by bryanbope

Just Run by jc1985

My New World Record

At 7:22 a.m. this morning, I set a new land speed record for the 1/3 mile distance.  What?  You say that isn't an official race distance?  And I bet you are wondering how me, one of the slowest runners on the planet, would now hold the record.  Here's how it happened:

My lovely 3 1/2 year old daughter quietly put on her bright pink cowboy boots and let herself out the door and ran to our neighbors house.  What makes this an adventure is the fact we live in a rural area, this neighbor is about 1/3 mile away. 

Best guess is that it was about 2 minutes when I realized that she wasn't sitting in the mudroom playing with her boots and that she was gone.   She had been asking to go the neighbors daily for the last few days so I knew in an instant where she had gone.  By the way, my daughter is a really fast little girl - even in flashy boots!

With a mixture of absolute fear of losing her and horror that she had invited herself to the neighbors house at early o'clock on a Saturday, I set a blistering pace through the grass and woods, without shoes.  I am pretty sure that I left a trail of fire behind me. 

Sure enough, there she was, with our dog Buddy by her side, posed to ring their doorbell as I flew into the rescue.    But, alas, too late!  The ringing had commenced, and she had knocked loudly, yelling (so they tell me)..."it's me Sophie, it's morning time..."    (here is where humiliation and profuse apologies commenced....).

So my dilemma of whether my back was ok to run or should I run fast or slow today....yeah, it's out the window.   With that amazing show of speed, I think my work here is done today.

Dad's Running Voodoo

One of our kids lays around and utters, “There’s nothing to do.”  Or someone’s tired or crabby or dealing with a problem.   And that’s when I resist suggesting they “Go for a run.”

In the past, my kids looked at me like I believe in voodoo, and I'm pretty sure they're thinking, “Dad, you’re a little crazy.”  Of course “Go for a run” conjures up images of red-faced, sweaty, stinky Dad, and so they wonder why would running be a good option for them?

I recognize that running isn’t for everyone and it’s  not the solution for every situation.  But my natural impulse is to frame daily challenges, hassles, and opportunities in the context of a run.

Nothing to do?  A relationship matter?  Stuck making a decision?  An easy run is often a best option to keep me going when it’s unclear what to do.   Even when running appears the least logical for others, it works for me!   

Tired?  Some of my best runs have come after working on my feet as a concession stand volunteer or presenting training all day at work. 

Figuring things out?  One morning during an ordinary run I was mulling over household finances and wondering how to pay a repair expense.  Then like seeing an oasis, I recalled out of nowhere that we had some money in a forgotten account.  Without that run, not sure if I would ever have remembered those funds to meet the expense.

Some people believe we run to “get it all out,” like we have demons that need to be released.  Maybe, but mostly I run to arrive at a place that I can’t reach otherwise—where I’m mentally and physically restored— more than if I laid around waiting to get energized or zapped with a flash of brilliance.

My maturing kids actually do understand more about running, and their glances at me like I’m a voodoo doctor have stopped.  They each run when their schedules and lives allow, on their own terms.  So these days when I suggest going for a run, their responses are more like, “not now, but maybe later.” 

That’s progress.

Voodoo Doll on Flickr by GotJenks

Problem Soved on Flickr by Myopia Pix

Running For the Feel of It

Amy and I have office cubicles a few feet away from each other, post on the same blog site, but we typically don't know what the other is going to write about…not until we read it right here like everyone else.  So imagine my surprise and delight at her post Why We Run.  And rather than leave her a rambling comment, I'm posting about it again.

I run for the pleasure of running.  But there’s still a little gauge operating inside me comparing today's run with past runs.  The gauge factors in the distance, intensity, weather, my energy, mood, health—monitoring how today's run feels different compared to other runs.

Sort of like squeezing the Charmin—I run to experience what each run feels like.

Over my years of running, I’ve intimately courted every distance, storing a warehouse of runs to compare with my next run.   When I run easy, I compare it to other easy runs.  When I have a hard tempo run, I assess it against past tempo runs like it.  Sometimes the stopwatch helps measure a run, but mostly perceived effort and feel are the ways to size up my runs.

I'm not in search of the grand feeling from one of Runners' World's picturesque Rave Runs, and I don't run hoping to float along free from discomfort.  Instead, my runs have countless details to compare.  One day's easy street incline can feel like scaling Everest the next day.  Last week's butt-dragging distance can be easily doubled today with seemingly less effort.  After a restless night's sleep, I expect a grim zombie run, but my legs reward me with a cushy, country club run.  That's what I run for.

I continue to run marathons to see what it feels like, to enjoy the early miles and to see if I can better manage the fatigue until later than in past marathons.  Those early miles are pretty predictable, but it’s the later stages—at mile 10, halfway, 15, 18, 21, 23 and so on that have my curiosity.  I run wondering how I will feel at certain points, comparing them to how I’ve felt at those same landmarks during past marathons.

Despite the appearance of sameness and repetition, I try to find something good in each run.  Otherwise, I wouldn’t run again day after day, year after year.  The point isn't to match or trump the feeling of past runs.  Instead, I run eternally hopeful that each run will eek out a slightly new feeling.

Watching runners like Pre looks painful and makes me wonder if other runners hope to achieve that intensity.  Veteran marathoner Elizabeth talks about a puking runner leaving it all on the race course.  That's not the feeling I'm going for. 

I'm not alone.  Da Big Leap is running the full marathon distance in his training—twice— to get ready for his first marathon.  He takes courting the feel of the distance to a new level.

And Lia writes about running a short 13 miles this past weekend as she tapers for next Sunday’s marathon.  No doubt she’s hoping to feel 13-mile-fresh at the end of 26 miles!   You also gotta love her URL—http://smileatmile20.blogspot.com

I've never had two identical runs and don't expect I ever will.  On tap for me tomorrow is an easy five-mile run.  I'll run it to discover what it feels like.

Charmin on Flickr by Roadside Pictures

Road runner on Flickr by Ironmaikl

Why We Run

Running can be hard.  Running can make us sweat (literally and figuratively).   Running isn't for pansies and wimps.   And because of that, we like to talk about why we run.   Running helps us define our character and who we are.   Our reasons for running are individual but when shared can be motivating for others. 

Many of us are coming off of races, long runs, tough workouts this weekend.  Or worse, we are tired and cranky today because we are back at work, school and routine.   To lift your spirits, follow these simple steps:  1) grab your favorite "get-me-through-it" beverage/snack, 2)  pick one or two of these posts that talk about the "why" behind their running and   3)  read, digest, enjoy.   Here is a list of some of the great ones in the last few weeks that have inspired me:

• Kiki's brief but powerful reasons she runs
• Jason's fantastic story of why he runs and how he believes we run "for something larger than ourselves. It's almost as if we run for each other."
• The Everyday Athlete's reminders of why we run, especially when life is overwhelming
• Mike runs to lose weight instead of just dieting
• Kristin Armstrong's recent post that she runs to be someone better.  (Don't forget all the great comments!)
• Pat runs because he likes too and does a fabulous job telling us why
• After a 61 day streak, Clark tells us why he does it
• Little Miss Sunshine tells us why she started and keeps doing it even after a broken back
• Pastor Karl runs for his fitness, to be a role model, and to compete and accomplish ...and those are just a few of the reasons.
• Will, a high school runner, who runs "because nothing holds me back. It's just me, my shoes, and the trail. I run for me."
• Ian's explanation that is almost meditation
• The Laminator who found that when he runs he is anything but average.

And of course, from Tom and me.

Aren't you glad you are a runner?

Photo by jng1x

Have you hugged a "slow" runner today?

I was reading through the annual summary of running stats on Running USA.  After I digested the information, do you know what my first thought was?  I don't think us slow/ordinary runners get enough credit.  There is a lot of great stuff going on in the sport - and I think we are the reason.  But we are dismissed too easily with labels like joggers, weekend warriors, mommy runners, fun runners, charity runners, middle/back-of-the-packers and recreational athletes.   

We don't get commercials, million dollars deals, free stuff or cereal boxes.    Heck, we don't even get a spot near the front of the starting line or the porty potties.  And not that we need those types of rewards - cause we don't - but we do need a little recognition of what we have brought our beloved sport.  Here are a few of our contributions:

• We have sparked more races.  Did you know that the number of races increased for just about every distance?  The number of 5K's up 5%, Half Marathons up 10% and Marathons up by 3%.   You know why?   Almost 7.85 million "fun runners" where out there whooping it up.   More races equals more opportunity for Mr. Speedypants to show off in his shorty shorts.  But, hey, we are happy here in the back licking the last drops of water off the table.
• We make slow look cool.  Did you know that in the largest marathons, like Chicago and LA have 25-33% of the finishers cross the line after the 6 hour mark?   Honolulu boosts that 42% of its finishers are after 6 hours.   11% of all marathon finishers (greater than 1 in 10) finish after 6 hours.  This has fueled a record setting number of finishers. When you look this good and have this much fun, everyone wants to do it.
• We fund all the great advancements in gear.  There are about 12 million of us in the US alone.  We are generally "educated and affluent".   Our spending power has fueled a growth in the running apparel industry by 8% for one year and 20% for two years.  We have pushed athletic footwear sales up 8%.   We love the gadgets and gear, in fact we crave them.  And more importantly, we weren't born natural runners and need all that stuff to get us through the rough miles.  The millions of us fund the true needs of Sir Fasty Fastman.
• We help others!   Through charity runs alone we have raise over a half billion dollars each year.   
• Without us, there wouldn't be so many choices of gels, drinks, and bars.  Think about it, who needs energy food more?  The guy/gal running a marathon in 2:30or one who is out there for an additional two or three or four hours.  (As a speedy friend once said to me after my 5+ hour marathon...."I could never imagine running that long.") With some many of us out there running slow, a whole industry was born to satisfy the energy needs on our loonnggg runs (and we mean time, not miles).
• We know our neighborhoods really well.   Running this slow we know all the cracks, crannies, regular stuff and not so regular stuff in our neighborhoods.   We take it slow and enjoy the sites.   We are rewarded with being the number one group to find dead people.   But, hey, that's the price we pay.
• We are fun to cheer on and we cheer back.   Ever see an elite runner stop and say thanks to a police officer, chat with a race volunteer, back up to give high five to a little kid or give a cheer on a spectator?  Nope, too busy trying to hit those splits.   But us?  Yep, we appreciate being out there and everyone that makes it possible.  And we inspire others.   People look at us ordinary runners and think, heck, if that slow fat girl can do that, so can I.

Look at all we have done!  Thank goodness for the ordinary-salt-of-the-earth runners!  Sure we are sweaty and smell funky - but give us a hug anyway.  Three cheers for all the unsung heros out there running today!

And one last fun fact:  According to 2005 data, the average finisher time for a 5K for a woman is 32:26 minutes and for a 10K is 1:00:39.  So all of you runners who think that if you aren't way under 10 min/mile pace you aren't a runner - think again -- you are an average runner - says so right here.  Welcome to the club!

Photo of runners hug by Kath B

Photo of go runners by bengoc

Photo of mug by HandsOff

First Encounters With Running

When I find a runner’s blog I haven’t read before, I zero right in on their profile to learn what it is they’re all about and particularly how they got started running.  Stories about first encounters with running are interesting to read.   Same goes for meeting a runner for the first time, I enjoy hearing how they got started running and how they reached where they are now with running.

The stories are all unique, but they also have some common threads…

• “I was trying to manage my weight…
• “A friend invited me to run with her…
• “I wasn’t very good in other sports…
• “I signed up with my sister for a race… 
• One of my favorites is, “I always wanted to be a runner....”

And then they detail how they crossed the line and “discovered” running.

Ultimately, if runners talk long enough, we often use words like “hooked” and "addicted" and say we wish we’d started running sooner.  Starting running is like those first encounters with rare people and forces that change our life forever once we experience them.

I suppose it’s because running opens doors for us—provides lots of new “firsts” like higher levels of fitness, enables us to enjoy our guilt-free pleasures, gives us new-found confidence, the social and competitive experience of races, and plugs us into a fun network and community.

Some blog profiles worth reading include DaBigLeap, and Amy's Running Life.   Run To The Finish is uplifting.  See Srod Run is super charged about running.

BTW,  a great book is How Running Changed My Life.  It’s entirely stories by ordinary runners—not elite runners—describing the far reaching impact of running on their living.

So what's your getting-started-running story?  How did you get hooked on running? 

 

A Question About Running Enjoyment

I often run in our close-knit neighborhood where I wind near homes of friends, past  businesses, and around parks, churches, and schools. 

It’s not unusual to later bump into a friend in our neighborhood who says, “I saw you running the other day.”   They sometimes ask how far I was running, am I getting ready for a race, or comment how much I must really enjoy running. Those are genuinely nice people and I politely reply briefly about my running and then move on to chat about the weather, spouses, kids, etc.

Then once in a while some dunderhead asks me, “If you enjoy running so much, how come you don’t smile when you run?” or “I’ve watched marathons on TV and why do those runners look miserable?” 

Zing!  They feel like they just busted me!  They sheepishly grin like I was just exposed on Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator.”  I smile and let them believe they found me out, and that I, plus millions of other runners world wide, are fakes. 

So does not smiling while running run tell the world runners are miserable?   I guess so.  Yup, we’re all just out there every day pretending to find enjoyment, satisfaction, and other rewards in running.

Hmm, is it our faux enjoyment that explains why we pour ourselves into our fitness?  Is that why getting new running shoes is a sacred experience and why those who truly understand runners well, like Josie, give runners gear and gadgets as gifts?

Is it our imaginary enjoyment that explains why we spend our hard-earned money on race entry fees?  And how do we explain why many like Marcy get up early to run or run in the heat of the mid-day or the last hours of the evening to fit in some miles? 

Why do we plot training runs and race dates on our already-busy calendars?  Why are some of our best friendships with those who also suffer through their running?  Some folks must associate sweat and effort as synonymous with running self-inflicted torture.

I actually believe many non-runners  do understand that runners enjoy running, and accept that we don’t need a grin plastered across our faces as evidence.  But to some skeptics, we runners appear to be screwballs.  Sadly, they haven’t experienced the thrill of the running life, and secretly, I believe they’re suffering from running envy.

So now with the smiling and enjoyment question put to rest, I'm looking for responses to some other far more important running questions:

• Why is it when I walk up several flights of stairs along with non-runners, I’m just as short of breath as them?
• Why don’t runners wear striped shirts?
• How many non-blogging runners do you estimate there are for every one of us blogging runners?

Happy Girl running on Flickr by Lynn

Happy Man running on Flickr by Traveling Gurl

Young Happy runner on Flickr by Design Grave

Weird Running Experiences

I was talking with my brother and the subject of weird running experiences came up.  He mentioned a few, and it made me recall the strange stuff I’ve seen over my years of running. 

First of all, I run in a pretty ordinary neighborhood where the scene is typical stuff—kids playing, garage sales, folks mowing their lawns, etc.  But I also have a short list of strange stuff I've come across when running.

Out of the Ordinary

• A pair of lion statues in front of the house dressed frequently in different hats, clothes, and accessories
• Several arrests taking place complete with TV crews on hand and the apprehended faced down in the grass
• The soldier I’ve nicknamed “Sarge” who runs each morning in full camouflage uniform, year round, in his combat boots
• Homeowners stepping outside the door to get the morning paper pretty much naked

Without an Explanation