Where have I been since March 2009?
here's the short version: Made it through the sore knees, sore hips, another pair of shoes, running 2-4 times a week. I haven't gotten much faster (as if!) but I can say that I haven't stopped. This became very evident last Monday night, I began my 3rd year with Memphis Women's Run training program. I'm still in the same running group, but no longer am I in the back of the pack. Also have noticed that fewer women are running in my age group. I will soon be 55 and that puts me into the next age group, where even fewer women venture. Why is that? but by the same token, one (who has never run)might ask Who takes up running in their fifties?
It is so much a part of my life now, it fills so many needs, physical, social, spiritual.
see you on the path
Jinks
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Monday, March 2, 2009
FIRST 10K
Saturday morning before the snow hit, I was downtown doing my first 10k.
Had a great breakfast of Kashi 7 grain pilaf with almonds, blueberries, cranberries and was ready to hit the pavement with about 500 others. This was a chip timed event so found my place in the back of the pack.
My strategy was just to finish the race. In my mind I went to my "happy place".
Let me tell you about this place. Here there are no pressures, no expectations, no fear, no worries. I don't angst about my speed, the length of the run, who is ahead and who is behind.
I tell my body that it is free to enjoy the experience. I begin and the journey unfolds.
Along the way, many of the other travelers are miles ahead others only yards and those I happen to pass get a "good morning".
For the next 1 hour 28 minutes and 46 seconds, I am relinguishing control and loving every moment of it.
Because I am 53 years old, heavy set, and slow my jog might be judged as hardly worth the effort, but I know better. I feel stronger with every breath and every step along the way.
My two grown children are volunteering in this race and approaching the 2 mile marker they encourage me with cheers and water. As I come to the split, where the 5 k runners turn right
a well meaning policeman suggests that I have obviously missed my turn. "Hey mam? 5k people go that way" he points with authority. Being a wiseass, I say "I know, it's nice to have someone looking out for them". His eyes are wide and he looks embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I thought....." I give him a little wave laughing to myself realizing that only months earlier, he would have been correct.
Just at that moment, as I look ahead and the closest runner is but a fading dark spot in the distance I feel a sudden giddiness, a lightness, a sense of adventure and excitement.
Sticking to the plan had gotten me this far and I was certain it would bring me across the finish line.
Had a great breakfast of Kashi 7 grain pilaf with almonds, blueberries, cranberries and was ready to hit the pavement with about 500 others. This was a chip timed event so found my place in the back of the pack.
My strategy was just to finish the race. In my mind I went to my "happy place".
Let me tell you about this place. Here there are no pressures, no expectations, no fear, no worries. I don't angst about my speed, the length of the run, who is ahead and who is behind.
I tell my body that it is free to enjoy the experience. I begin and the journey unfolds.
Along the way, many of the other travelers are miles ahead others only yards and those I happen to pass get a "good morning".
For the next 1 hour 28 minutes and 46 seconds, I am relinguishing control and loving every moment of it.
Because I am 53 years old, heavy set, and slow my jog might be judged as hardly worth the effort, but I know better. I feel stronger with every breath and every step along the way.
My two grown children are volunteering in this race and approaching the 2 mile marker they encourage me with cheers and water. As I come to the split, where the 5 k runners turn right
a well meaning policeman suggests that I have obviously missed my turn. "Hey mam? 5k people go that way" he points with authority. Being a wiseass, I say "I know, it's nice to have someone looking out for them". His eyes are wide and he looks embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I thought....." I give him a little wave laughing to myself realizing that only months earlier, he would have been correct.
Just at that moment, as I look ahead and the closest runner is but a fading dark spot in the distance I feel a sudden giddiness, a lightness, a sense of adventure and excitement.
Sticking to the plan had gotten me this far and I was certain it would bring me across the finish line.
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