Running Scared

There is a movie and a song called "Running Scared." I have not seen the movie nor heard the song. So, anything I say in this blog is not related to either. Of course, I have heard the term "running scared" most of my life. It means to run away from a challenge you may have instead of facing it head on. It means something else to me, however.

This coming weekend, I travel to San Francisco to run in the San Francisco Half Marathon. California will be state #16 in my quest to run in a race in all 50 states. Not all of the races are half marathons but I wanted to run across the Golden Gate Bridge, so I chose this half marathon. This will also be my 5th half marathon. I have completed one full marathon, the Chicago in 2011.

Training for a race can be challenging. Time, weather and injuries can be a factor when it comes to training. So far, I have had time but the weather has been sporadic. Now, the heat and humidity has set in here in Atlanta. A 5 mile run can feel like a half marathon. It is just part of the deal and I can live with it. What I cannot live with, however, are injuries. I have had my share. I have strained both hamstrings, my left calf muscle and my right groin muscle. Of course, most all runners deal with feet problems. We lose nails and we get blisters. Again, it is part of the deal.

So, what do I mean by "running scared?" As the time gets closer and closer to a big race, my training runs are scary. I run scared. A strained muscle a few days before a big race, when you have spent money for the race and travel, is devastating to a runner. It's a little like having car trouble on your way to your vacation. It messes everything up. So, right now, when I am going out to the greenway to run, I am running scared. I hope that running scared does not cause an injury. If you see my running times on Facebook or Twitter, you can see that I have slowed way down. Running scared. But....running!!

 

Happy National Running Day!

I didn't even know there was a National Running Day but I'm glad there is. There is a day for most everything else and certainly there should be for the world's oldest sporting event. The question is being asked "why do you run?" I immediately thought of my blog name. I run for freedom.

I still consider myself a novice even though I have run about 40 races in 15 states including 4 half marathons and 1 full marathon. My first race was a 5k on Thanksgiving of 2009. I have probably run about 4,000 miles since then.  Obviously, I love to run. There have been many challenges of injury but that just comes with it. Athletes have injuries but we never give up. Athletes have challenges but we never give in. No terrorist will ever stop us from running

I run for freedom. I am free from being over-weight. I am free from an unhealthy lifestyle. I feel more free when I am running than anytime in my life. My mind is free to hear spiritually and to refresh mentally. The running course is my sanctuary. Running reboots my competitive spirit even at age 58.

I am so thankful for my daughters who encouraged me to walk and run as I was losing weight 4 years ago. Had I not done a 5k, I may never have known the joys of running like I do now. The t-shirts are cool, the medals are neat and the bibs I have saved are great mementos. But better than all of those things is the feeling of freedom I have when I run. So, on this National Running Day of June 5, 2013, I run for freedom. Let's go on a run!