Hello, Old Friend
Since being on the road I’ve had an unexpected reconnection with an old buddy…
I picked up long distance running in my 20’s, entering local races on my own until I stumbled into the Triathlon world and found Team In Training. For all of that time, my focus was always on speed and endurance, so I mostly tried to run on flat/paved surfaces. As my baby weight loss plan, I ran a marathon after each boy was born. But after Olive was born and I felt ready to get back out on the road, my body revolted.
“No more,” it said.
My hips didn’t like running anymore; apparently there was too much shifting during pregnancy, and they never quite settled back the same way.
It hurt. A lot.
So I retired my running shoes and gravitated towards yoga, cycling, and tennis instead. I’ve missed running a lot over the years, and have tried many times to hit the road again, but each time my body reminds me that things are different now. It just didn’t feel good anymore.
While on the road, I had planned to throw my yoga mat down outside the RV and continue practicing every day, but I’m finding myself less interested in doing that on cold mornings. My body wants heat to do yoga. Practicing outside in Vegas in the summer is basically the same as a heated vinyasa class, but up here in the PNW, 45 degree mornings don’t necessarily lend themselves to bendy limbs. We are almost always surrounded by beautiful trails, so I decided to lace up my sneakers and revisit my old friend instead.
And you know what? It feels really good.
My motivation is different now, I don’t care about my pace or the distance. I care about the movement, and the release, and if I’m being really honest, the alone time. And my body doesn’t revolt when I’m running on dirt because the earth is inherently more gentle and forgiving than pavement.
In the past, I always avoided trail running because all of that dodging and weaving, the uneven terrain, the ups and downs of the path were hell on my pace.
But as it turns out, the smooth steady road was hell on my body.
I may never find my old race pace, and I’m pretty sure there are no more marathons in my future, but I’m finding myself on the trail… and that feels good.
I missed you, old friend. Happy to be back.
In Joy, Truth, & Love,
~lisa
P.S. I also tend to come across some pretty beautiful views and lots of creatures on my runs, which is all just an added bonus.
