My new favorite: spinach, eggs, goat cheese, Rudi's gluten-free bread. |
When I went back to the gym to finish the last five miles of the 18-mile run, not even a single person realized that I was down to the minute on my childcare limit for the twins, so those last two miles were miraculously fast (not in real time, but in because-I-feel-like-crap time).
And I did all of that wearing the ugliest (but I still love them) shoes ever invented.
Even though I had running partners (thanks, Jimmy and Michael) for the first 13 of those miles today, there was something weird about ending a long run by myself and not having anyone to talk to about it. I wanted to do a happy dance (except my legs were too stiff from the long run) and sing a song about how I felt crapster and then happy and then crapster again, but I finished!!!! And doesn't everyone in my line of sight right now get how important that is?! Especially right in that moment when you finish something that just 30 minutes ago you had convinced yourself was impossible and had been an inch from quitting at least twenty times. Anyone care at all? Anyone, anyone? Nope, no one, nobody. Everyone at the gym just kept about their regular gym business of squatting and bench pressing, while I had just witnessed my own personal running miracle.
When you're with people who also just ran 18 miles under tough circumstances (or when the tough circumstance was that you felt like crud), you might talk for a second about the actual run, but there is that silent camaraderie and shared heck-yes-we-dids for finishing a challenging run. I know a lot of you are great at running solo, and there is definitely a reflective quality in solo running that I sometimes enjoy. But I need/really want running buddies to give a round of high fives to at the end of a long run, to observe just how gross the circumstances of the run were (even if they weren't, we can exaggerate to make ourselves feel tougher), and to excitedly plan the next torture session.
So next time you are running by yourself and you do something that you want to shout to the oblivious-of-your-awesomeness world, just know that there are others of us runners out there silently rejoicing and imaginary high-fiving with you.
Love this post. As a majority of the time loner runner, there are many times I want to shout out and have others understand. By the way love that picture of you!! That outfit is fabulous!! Love the shoes. I have heard good things about these Hokas and would really love to try them, but am nervous.
ReplyDeleteI am laughing, I completely understand this! Delayed high 5 from Michigan!!
ReplyDeleteI tried Hokas on a demo run at our running store but only went a few miles, i'm curious how they'd be on a long run. I kept tripping on my own feet in them, think they'd take some getting used to for me, i'm clumsy to begin with:)
HaHa!! I run by myself for pretty much all my runs and I definitely congratulate myself for starting, maintaining and finishing those long runs!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job fitting in all 18 even with the couple of interruptions to deal with kids & food!!!
Congratulations on gutting it out! Love your post. And I don't think your shoes are ugly.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! I also recently got the ugliest shoes ever. Just did 8 miles in them this morning. Still deciding if I love them enough to keep increasing my miles in them.
ReplyDeleteI'm so curious about your ugly shoes ;)
ReplyDeleteHigh five from me! I am enjoying training for our local marathon as our local running group has supported runs every Saturday morning and different routes on part of the course. So we all get to look like stiff robots together.
ReplyDeleteHi. Five.
ReplyDeleteI love High Fives....they are free!!! I was actually just thinking I needed a cheering squad today while I was doing a long run. Should I start paying people to stand at the side of the road so I can get cheered? Also, while I was running today, there was a lady watering her plants. Would it have been weird for me to ask to get sprayed with the water for a refresher?
ReplyDeleteI have been. Rey very interested in some hokas. Tey are so damn expensive but I think if I wore them on my long runs it might help prevent injury!!! I'd love to k ow. Ore about these!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! It is so true - and nice to be able to share and have others understand the feeling of accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteLol! This post is awesome. I run all of my long runs alone, so I totally know what you're saying. I guess that's why I post all my runs on my FB and IG, that way I get some virtual high 5's! :)
ReplyDeleteHigh Fiving you! Seriously.. those shoes were the first thing that caught my eye in the picture. Everybody is talking about the Hokas. I'm so intrigued!
ReplyDeleteLol. I love it! High 5!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou look super cool in the ugly-shoe photo. Great outfit, great hair, amazing arms! Nice work,Momma!
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