Taking a Break and Rediscovering Running

I have been MIA with my blog for a couple of weeks.  I have been trying to let go of structure related to my running.  Lately I have been feeling a little off with my running.  Since I started running I have always found it, with the exception of the occasional bad run, to be very centering and something I looked forward to everyday.  This summer the weather was just brutal and I had a recurring injury with my arm.  I have been dealing with other fun "woman in my forties" issues and running was starting to feel like a job, a frustrating one too, because I wasn't meeting my goals.

So what is a girl to do?  I don't know what all girls do, but this girl decided to first cut some things out.  One was the blog.  I like to use my blog to be upbeat, inspire other non-athletic geeky girls to give running a shot, and occasionally be a little funny!  I wasn't in a place to do any of that.  What I did not want this blog to be is a whine fest!  Wine Fest would be fine, especially a nice Merlot, but constant "why can't I find my groove" is just not my style.  The other thing I did was let go of goals.  I had a miserable half in September and Silver Comet at the end of October, and a sub-2 goal, was weighing me down like running underwater.  So I just decided to let the goals go.  I originally started running for fun and fitness; guess what, I can do that if I never run a half in less than 2 hours.  I heard Ghandi never ran a half in less than two hours and he seemed to accomplish quite a lot.  To be fair, I eat a lot more than Ghandi, so I do need to run.

I also decided my long runs would be what felt good.  I already ran 13 miles last month.  I am pretty sure I can do it again on a trail I run every week.  I incorporated more runs without music.  Just put on my shoes, and clothes of course, or I would be typing this from jail.  By the way I am not typing this from jail!  I also was on a long run last week and met a new running friend.  She is also training for a half.  We run a similar pace and we are going to try and meet up again to do a long run together.  Since hubby caps at 6 miles this was great.  She really helped me power through the end of my nine miler last week.

Operation just relax and remember this is fun culminated in a beautiful Cartersville 10K with my favorite running partner today.  It was 50 degrees, windy and absolutely beautiful.  We laughed and talked our way to 56 minute finish.  Not my fastest, but definitely one of the most satisfying races.  I am back on the track of loving running.  I have kept up my strength training and now instead of forcing myself out the door and to the gym I am again happily enjoying that time.

I am trying to catch up on your blogs too.  I kind of just cut all of it off for a little bit.  I will be busy at a conference next week, but hope to get back to blogging regularly when I return!  I am grateful today for a beautiful run!  Hope you are enjoying everything you are training for, otherwise what's the point.