Take It And Run Thursday - What Nobody Ever Told Me About Running

The theme of this week's Take It And Run Thursday, courtesy of the good people at Runner's Lounge, is:

Yeah, no one ever told me this about running.... Now that you are a runner, what is something you have learned about running that no one ever told you before. You didn't read it in a book, a blog or hear it from a friend or another runner. Or...maybe you did, but you didn't understand it or remember it until you learned it yourself.

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What nobody told me about running is how much it would become a part of my identity, and how unfamiliar and out of sorts I'd feel once I wasn't running. I'm still "on hiatus," trying to figure out the best possible workout routine, the best shoes, the best way to take care of my body, and the one thing I defintiely haven't found is my running mojo. Mostly because it's been in the high 90s with massive humidity for the past week or so, but also because I've been taking a class at the gym before work, which leaves me with little energy to run.

Last night the heat and humidity finally broke, and gave way to a beautiful evening -- it was in the low 80s, and the air was pretty dry. I got home around 7 and ate dinner before settling into some yardwork - mowing, watering - and then an impulsive trip to Home Depot to buy some grass seed. While out and about, the sheer number of walkers, runnings, and bikers was astouding. As I drove along the parkway and around Lake Nokomis, I was absolutely stunned to see how packed it was. As if we'd been in reverse hibernation for the past week, hiding from the heat, and couldn't wait to bust out of the air conditioning.

For the first time in ages, I felt an urge to be out there, running. But exhaustion + housework kept me back, and while I'm glad I got a few things knocked off my to-do list, I'm irritated that I didn't take advantage of the day -- I woke up to thunderstorms this morning, which has given way to a bright blue sky... coupled with 90 degree temps and 95% humidity. Foiled!

However, feeling that urge to RUN again is refreshing, and makes me realize that I haven't lost my identity as a runner completely -- it's just waiting for the right time to re-emerge, hopefully stronger, safer, healthier, and more determined than before.

I know that this time, I'll simply be running for running's sake -- not to make a trial, a time, or run a race. I'm not about distance, I'm simply out to enjoy the run.

Off and running,

~JessiferSeabs