Marathon training update
I'm planning on running the Houston marathon witih my sister on January 13th, so yesterday was my last long run, the 20 miler. 20 miles is a long way - just measure it out the next time you're driving and you'll see what I mean. Running 20 miles also takes me a fairly long time, because I'm not a particularly fast runner. It takes me even longer in the winter, when I have to slow down to blow my nose, take off my mittens to get my Gu open, and walk around the icy spots.
Enough with the whining. While I don't look forward to running for 3 1/2 hours, I enjoy it once I get started. How often do we have 3 uninterrupted hours to think about whatever we want? To just let our mind wander? In my life, running is the only time this ever happens.
Yesterday I thought about Christmas when I was a kid, and when my teenagers were little (they used to kiss the Christmas tree goodnight). I thought about my sisters and parents, and what they were doing this year for Christmas, and how much fun it would be for all of to be together again for the holiday. The last time was 1992, and I'm hoping that in 2008 we'll be able to swing Christmas holidays together again. I thought about the More 1/2 marathon training group I'm putting together, and made a mental to-do list for our kickoff meeting on January 3rd. I ieven thought about the topics for various freelance articles I have in various stages of production.
Sure, I was interrupted: by a flock of geese that lives down by the Battenkill and were waiting to cross the road. What the heck they're doing here the end of December, I'm not sure. But that was the only interruption during the entire 3 1/2 hours.
I bet your life is as full of interruptions as mine. You don't have to run 20 miles to enjoy the freedom of your thoughts. Even 20-30 minutes on a regular basis will give you time to yourself. You don't even have to run, although I DO encourage you to get outside when you let your mind wander.
Enough with the whining. While I don't look forward to running for 3 1/2 hours, I enjoy it once I get started. How often do we have 3 uninterrupted hours to think about whatever we want? To just let our mind wander? In my life, running is the only time this ever happens.
Yesterday I thought about Christmas when I was a kid, and when my teenagers were little (they used to kiss the Christmas tree goodnight). I thought about my sisters and parents, and what they were doing this year for Christmas, and how much fun it would be for all of to be together again for the holiday. The last time was 1992, and I'm hoping that in 2008 we'll be able to swing Christmas holidays together again. I thought about the More 1/2 marathon training group I'm putting together, and made a mental to-do list for our kickoff meeting on January 3rd. I ieven thought about the topics for various freelance articles I have in various stages of production.
Sure, I was interrupted: by a flock of geese that lives down by the Battenkill and were waiting to cross the road. What the heck they're doing here the end of December, I'm not sure. But that was the only interruption during the entire 3 1/2 hours.
I bet your life is as full of interruptions as mine. You don't have to run 20 miles to enjoy the freedom of your thoughts. Even 20-30 minutes on a regular basis will give you time to yourself. You don't even have to run, although I DO encourage you to get outside when you let your mind wander.
Labels: running
posted by Lynn Grieger and Mike Ryan at
1:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home