Some of you may already know this, but for those who are unfamiliar, my other hobby is bicycles. Last fall, my friend Monica and I revived an all-women's monthly bicycle ride called Menstrual Monday. To get our name out to the Seattle lady cyclist population, we put our brains together and hosted an all-girl alleycat bicycle race on the Saturday after San Diego. It took months of planning, writing to sponsors, securing venues, and organizing volunteers, but it was well worth it. 46 racers was enough to convince us that a competitive all-girl bicycle race was long overdue. Stops included a "soccer mom" stop at Meridian park, where the girls had to pound a glass of Franzia, then spin around in circles and kick a soccer ball; the "pretty princess" stop where the ladies were welcome to their pick of decorations for their bike; a secret prom photo stop at Madrona Park along Lake Washington; a "rocker girl" stop at the old OK Hotel, where fake tattoos were applied; and finally, my brainchild, the big wheel tricycle time trials down the bridge to nowhere. Riders had a blast and in all, I consider it a great success.
I've also traveled quite a bit: my boyfriend brought me along for a work trip to Anchorage, AK, a place I've never visited but loved. I also just returned from a 3-day weekend in Boston, where I saw a dear friend from Montana marry a good man. On top of travel, I've helped a friend clean her house to put up for sale as an anticipated addition to her family means that they'll have outgrown their first home, I've joined a Corporate League ultimate frisbee team, I've taken to step aerobics classes at 24hour fitness, shopped for and purchased a great outfit that I can wear to this summer's weddings, occasioned bike rides with my marauding band of drunken cyclists, accomplished wrap-up tasks for the alleycat race (thank you notes to sponsors, sponsor profiles for our blog, posting photos on facebook, etc.), worked at least 40 hours a week, and somewhere in there, managed 1 load of laundry and attempted to be a good, albeit absent girlfriend.
Excuses, excuses, right?
I guess I just needed a little break. I get easily burnt out on things, especially in light of difficult weather patterns in Seattle. I hate to admit it, but the lack of sun has finally taken its toll. I'm coming to terms with it again, now that we are breaching 70F days, but for a while, I was feeling pretty blue.
That said, I'm back on the wagon, beginning yesterday with a 5 mile run on my favorite running loop, except in the opposite direction that I normally run it. I have to admit, it felt terrible at first. My legs were sluggish (possibly after a night in heels that hike me up to 6'2"?), my breathing was weird, and I had no evidence that I could ever find a smooth in my life. My first three miles were only willpower, but the fact that I could muster enough to keep running was empowering. I suppose that I probably had to acquiesce to the fact that I'd let myself slip, but that it is okay. And maybe that self-forgiveness and acceptance kept me from getting to frustrated or upset to give up.
But then I turned a corner and hit my favorite running spot in the whole wide world: Seattle's lush, green Interlaken Park.
The trees had a cooling effect (the balmy 68F was a bit too much for my delicate Seattle constitution!), but I was fully engulfed by the beauty, and by happy running memories from training last fall. I LOVE this place, and I think that the sudden pangs of joy were physically manifested by a spring in my step and a boost in my pace. Running felt the way I remembered - it was joyful and it was an opportunity. I was able to think about how my attitude had changed last fall, when I returned to running after a year-long injury and some extra time off - running was a privilege, even a blessing. I was lucky to be so healthy that I could take on 5 miles!
This is what I have been missing for the last few months!
I didn't even look at my finishing time. I felt great about this run because it brought me back. Now I'm ready. I have a big, big milestone to prepare for: my first full marathon is less than 4 months away! I am scared, even a bit intimidated, but I am excited. I am itching to get on the road again, and it feels SO GOOD to approach a run without that feeling of obligation, or even dread.
Do any of you have favorite running places and similar reactions to them? Tell me about them!
