Yesterday, I did my first run since--get this--1995. There's a group of people that I ride with who get together to run on Saturdays and Sundays during the winter. After a couple of months of feeling sort of left out, I met up with them yesterday. New running shoes and all. The group is rather motley in that some people run at a pretty good clip, some a bit slower, some do intervals and some just walk. Then they all meet up for breakfast and shoot the breeze.
I had planned on doing intervals but instead more or less ran with a few of the slower people. I ended up doing just under 3 miles. Considering the most anybody in the group does is 4, I was pleased. From there, I went to my usual spinning class but took it easy. I just wanted to keep my muscles moving. I'm sore today, but not horribly. It'll pass.
I'm not necessarily looking to get into running like I'm into cycling. I ran track and x-country for a couple of years when I was in H.S. but sustained a number of injuries. I ended up quiting it and my team cold turkey, something that has been the source of much regret. I ran off and on a bit through college and law school but never really came to love it. The fact that I had fun yesterday was a bigger accomplishment for me than the running itself. I think my attitude about myself as an athlete has changed in the last couple of years thanks to biking and yoga. I'm more of a "I think I can" girl than I used to be.
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
--Mary Anne Radmacher