This Sunday wraps up the 2016 season for me with a full marathon at the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. By the time October 1 comes around I am pretty much over the idea of running. I know it happens every year, and each year in the spring I feel like I can conquer the world, or at least another 26.2 miles and register for another marathon.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not this race. It’s a great race! I have nothing negative to say about it. What’s not to love when the Race Director waits at the finish line to shake hands and give out hugs — even to the one who comes in DFL (Dead Freaking Last). Runners will find pickle juice and Oreos at the aid station around Mile 19 or so. (Pickle juice: YAY! Oreos: No, not during the race). And there is an excellent beer garden featuring New Holland Beer at the finish line area. So it is not the race, see? It’s definitely me.
I wish it weren’t me (also not wishing it was the race either). I run because it’s good for my body, my blood pressure, my serotonin levels. I do not love running the way some people do. I like it, and I don’t know how to fall in love with it.
I keep at it, plugging and plodding away. I’m glad to be done with it at the end of the year, but I’m not quitting.
To help me keep up with some sort of exercise or fitness I bought an inexpensive planner to help. It will become a training log, and also hold my training schedule for next year. I got an undated one; I wrote the starting date as November 1. I will take a short break, and will keep it short for a change. The last few years the “short break” turned into two months. My injury this year forced me to take some breaks and bouncing back was so hard. I lost speed and went from not fast to turtle-marching-through-molasses-in-January slow. My pace dropped more than 5:00/mile. I lost all my stamina. It was a terrible summer for allergies where I live and my allergy-induced asthma kept my lungs on fire when normally they wouldn’t be.
But I’m not quitting.
I put it out here for the masses to see.
I just need someone drag me out of bed on cold, dreary winter days and help keep me accountable.
Thick Chicks Run, Too 