A Bump in the Road, A Blessing in the Road
This past spring I set out with the goal of running 11 races since it’s 2011. I was on course for it, running an average of 2 races each month starting in April. And then, a couple weeks ago, I hit a bump in the road.
I’m not ready to go into details about said bump, but thankfully everyone in my world is healthy and happy, there has just been a reason to change my goal. Now, I’m backing down from the races.
When I skipped the first race almost 2 weeks ago, I was heartbroken. I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t going to accomplish this goal I set for myself. Thankfully, my fiance kept me plenty busy at home and I was able to keep my mind off it for awhile. I can’t determine exactly why I am so heartbroken about this decision, but I know a lot of it has to do with missing the atmosphere of racing, along with the challenge to myself to place at every race.
So, where to go from here?? I found some comfort in my heart realizing that even though I’m not racing, I go out every day to run and continue to push myself as well. I guess this makes me a true “runner”. As I headed out on my run the afternoon of the first skipped race it dawned on me that THIS was why I run, the run itself, the feeling I get when my legs are pounding the pavement and I’m sweating to my tunes. THAT is why I run, not for the races. Those are just a bonus.
Then, the blessing came…God knew what I needed and the following week I was contacted by some fellow runners in my area saying that they were going to start group runs, last Saturday was the first one. It was a cold, cloudy, humid day and had it not been for the group run, I don’t know if I would have gotten out there. But, because of that group I did and it was a GREAT four miles. I was pushed by them…similarly if I had been racing.
Guess what?? We’re running again this weekend. This time its a trail run, I love trail runs for the challenge that they pose and I’m looking forward to it even more in my new group! Even though I’ve had to abandon my goals, I’ve been given such a blessing in my new running group and can’t wait to see what it brings the rest of the running season.
3 comments
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We keep getting told in life to set goals for ourselves. Finally, it sinks in and for one project or another we set a goal. We’ve committed ourselves to something; we’ve invested ourselves in it; we’ve (in some cases) put some amount of our reputation on the line. Even when we can’t fulfill that goal for a reason outside ourselves we can be upset. Maybe we resent (on some small level) being unable to see our plan through; maybe, now that we finally talked ourself into this commitment, we want to see if we could really do it. If nothing else, it’s a death of sorts and any death leads to some sort of grief. Whether it’s resentment, unresolved curiosity, grief or something else, at least you’ve got a plan to make up for what you don’t have for now.
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I understand. I’m in a slump right now because I know that all my July races are a “no-go” and although I LOVE running simply for running, I feel like I need that something extra. Maybe I need to start a Roland running group
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You should!! they are so much fun and I’m sure there are a few runners there!