I have a passionate love-hate relationship with……….running!
It’s a whirlwind romance, really. I’m head over heels for the endorphin rush, the surge of energy, the thrill of it all. But there’s also a part of me that cringes at the 4:30 am alarm, and, trust me, there are mornings when I’m pounding the pavement before my brain’s even left the pillow.
Then there’s the adventure of route planning on the fly, especially when I’m out of town. I try to pick paths that I’ll remember, but sometimes it’s a treadmill or bust. And let me tell you, treadmills, with their lack of challenge and scenery, are as exciting as watching paint dry. The return home? A slow slog of regaining any pace or rhythm I lost while away. Running was a breeze in my 20s and 30s, now it’s a careful balance of aggression and preservation because I plan on doing this for the long haul.
The trifecta of my running journey? Persistence, patience, consistency. Without persistence, I wouldn’t run at all. If I didn’t have patience with myself, I would’ve thrown in the towel years ago. And without consistency, I wouldn’t have mastered the art of a 4:30 am wake-up call.
And oh, the weather! Running under a blistering sun feels like a Sisyphean task. You know, the chap who got to roll a boulder uphill for all of eternity. Running in the biting cold? It’s like sucking on a mint, if that mint were a block of ice – not exactly refreshing. But these trials and tribulations are all part of the ‘running journey’. You can’t relish the good runs without slogging through the tough ones. Despite the challenges, what keeps me going is the sense of achievement, the exhilarating freedom, and that sweet adrenaline rush.
In the end, the joy of running – much like life itself – isn’t in the finish line, but in the journey. That’s why I still put my running shoes on, day in and day out. Because the rewards – physical, mental, and spiritual – far outweigh the reasons why I might hang up my running shoes for good. So, here’s to my love-hate relationship with running – may it continue to challenge and reward me for years to come.
Cheers to the pavement pounding, sweat-drenched runs that leave me feeling like a superhero. And even the sluggish, lackluster ones that make me question my sanity. Because it’s all part of the journey, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So, here’s to the next run! Take that, Greek myth punishment! And bring on the minty fresh winter air – I’m ready for you. Let’s keep this love-hate relationship going strong.
