I Heart You, Running.

Bust out your streamers, balloons, and spikes…it’s National Running Day folks! It may be an obscure day of observance for those in the real world, but for us running obsessed, Gu-lovin’, mileage makers… today we celebrate!

A Holiday After My Own Heart

Today I get all teary-eyed and celebrate why I love running.

Heeeeeeey there, Running!

Running, you had me at hello.

Well not really. Initially I was introduced to running via the speed team in high school and it quickly turned into a “it wasn’t you, it was me” relationship. I don’t do speed work. My legs don’t turn over quick enough to make it 100 meters faster than anyone else and in the end, I just looked like the goofy gal giggling thr0ugh the race because I knew just how awful I was.

Lucking, a year or so later, I found long distances and fell not just in lust…but in love. I finally found a sport where by no means was I the best (in all honesty, I was consistently the last one to cross the finish), but I could instantly tell that something had clicked. Was it my height? Stamina? Or abnormally long femurs? Abundance of slow-twitch muscle fibers? Who knows. But whatever it was, I had found where I was supposed to be.

Flash forward a couple years and the honeymoon phase was over. Injuries crushed all dreams of a successful senior year on the track and I had to say au revoir to my new favorite passion.

But as they say, separation makes the heart grow fonder and I soon found my love again. With the help of a friend I was back on the bandwagon paving paths towards new goals, like my first marathon in 2003, and so began my tale into long distance racing and love obsession with the road.

Marathons, half marathons, 10Ks, turkey trots, and 5ks faded in and out of my life over the next seven years, but the one constant was  an underlying obsession that has lead me to where I am today, and I’m loving every minute of it.

I love the endorphins.

I love drafting new training plans.

I love exploring a city by way of a sidewalk.

I love the way I hate the treadmill.

I love the smell of new running shoes.

I love the awful taste of Gu.

I love running shirts with holes for your thumbs.

I love race expos.

I love race day anxiety.

I love race bling.

I love the running community.

I love crossing the finish line and seeing Chicken (the fiancé) at the finish line.

And in case you haven’t realized by now…I heart you, running. Happy National Running Day!