Some people just love to run. That’s pretty evident with all the different marathons taking place on any given weekend around the country. The Boston Marathon, the granddaddy of all marathons, just took place on April 17th. 27,221 runners started that race, 26,411 finished it. But that’s just one race. There is the Disney World Marathon and the New York Marathon. You name the city and there is probably a marathon. Then there’s the Color Runs across the country that have become popular, and 10Ks for all occasions, along with the Two Mile Fun Runs for the less ambitious and more practical runners.
I am no longer a runner and I never was a distance runner. When I was in Jr. High I was on the track team. Must have been driven by a competitive spirit that was out of control, as I’m pretty sure I never found it “fun”. I was fast, but I was a cheetah! Able to gain top speed over very short distances. I gave it everything I had and then some, but when I crossed that finish line at 50 yards I was used up.
Why coaches insisted that everyone train by running a mile I have no idea. For me, running a mile was akin to running a marathon, felt dreadfully as long and equally painful! Why not have cheetahs practice what they do best, sprint? I never saw the cross-country team running sprints! They didn’t cross into my domain; I would happily stay out of theirs.
After I graduated from the 8th grade I hung up my cleats. I would run on occasion, over a very short distance, like to get out of the rain, or if I was late for class, but no one ever held a stop watch as I did it. There was one time however….
Shortly after the birth of my first child, Ft. Bragg, California, where we lived at the time, was hosting a 10K and Two Mile Fun Run to celebrate the Gray Whale migration. See what I mean by “every occasion”? My husband, Kim, prefers the longer rhythms of a 10K, but I was coming off a hormonal overload and thought two miles wouldn’t be bad. After-all, they call it a “Fun Run”, so he joined me, pulling our son along in a rolling convertible backpack (I’m not sure they make those anymore), promising to stay with me. “It’ll be fun”, he said.
Long before we got to the mile mark it ceased to be fun for me! Distant memories suddenly flooding back. When I rounded the corner to head back to the finish I was quickly enlightened that the last mile of “fun” was to be run uphill! I waved Kim and my baby on, ordering him to, “save yourselves”! At my insistence, he and Ben pulled away and it wasn’t long before I lost sight of them.
I finished and I wasn’t last, but I had a revelation. There is nothing fun about a “Fun Run” and I have never been tempted or lured into that trap again. If ever there was a more inappropriate word to be linked with running, I surely do not know it.
I recognize that some people need to run. Some run to clear their heads, to quiet their minds, to feel their muscles work. I don’t pretend to understand them, but I do cheer them. Later this month my sister will participate in her first half marathon, a little over 13 miles. Because she loves to run? No. Because she needs to run? No. Because her daughter asked her too. Now that’s love! She insists I don’t call it a race and I think she’s crazy, but most definitely I will cheer her on!
Always fun to read.!!
Thank you for your support and thank you for sharing on your Facebook page. I appreciate that.
Back in the day we didn’t even realize we were running. Those days are gone!
Too true.