Tonight I had the pleasure of talking with Coach Jeff, host of the great podcast, The Coach Jeff Running Podcast. We caught up on the newly started 2013 Run for the Sun and how the 366 Project is going. We talked about a lot of things. Had a complete blast during my very first podcast interview! But one thing that I thought about after our talk is, what have I learned so far from the 366 Project? One of the most important things that I've always known in my heart is, and have said here before, is that running is a journey, not a destination. This has been thoroughly confirmed by the Project. Are you a runner, or are you a runner?
As a brand spankin new new runner I wanted to do what every other new runner wanted. I wanted to lose weight, get in shape and run fast. Over these 11 years I can say with a great deal of pride that I have lost weight, gotten in better shape than most 39 year olds that I know and have gotten faster than I ever thought possible. But, as time goes by I'm smart enough to realize that the times will get slower and the weight will be harder to keep off. Not a very promising future. Or is it?
What does it mean to be a runner? When you start running it consumes you, it becomes what you do, who you are. When people look at you they don't see "you" anymore. They see somebody who loves chafing, farmer sunburns, the sting of sweat as it runs down into your eyes and the hilarity of getting frostbite on your private parts. They see somebody who thinks it's normal to pay $275 to run 26.2 miles through all of NYC's boroughs, loves the smell of new running shoes and takes pleasure when they can't walk after a 60 mile training week.
Yes, all of those things are wonderful in their own special ways. But I'm here to tell you that in the end all those things won't matter a bit. The times, the races or the fast PR's will all fade away. All you are left with in the end is you. The race is long, it's hard at times, but in the end it's only with yourself.
Over time I've learned how to Chi run, the Galloway method, how to power climb a hill, how to run a negative split, how to remove black toenails, how to find the best deal for a pair of running shoes, how to work a GPS watch like a master and how to eat to fuel myself for a marathon. But out of all my talented running related skills, the most important thing I've learned is listening to my body. What's the point of running yourself into the ground when it's the really, really long race of your life?
Running has become such a center point in my life. It's what I do. It's who I am. It's my relaxation time. It's my journey to find my way in this world. It may sound ridiculous to the non-runner, but I've gotten more from simply putting one foot in front of the other than any college course, job or relationship. I want to make sure that I'm able to continue to do this forever. Someday I will die. It's inevitable. There's much I can do to delay that.
I want to be the crazy old guy who's out there at dawn slowly chugging up that hill during morning rush hour. I want to be that old guy who walks into the running store to buy new shoes and doesn't need to try them on. "Hey man, I've owned 200 pairs. Trust me, they fit. I'm good." I want to be that crazy grandfather who runs 20 laps around his granddaughter's soccer field during games. I want to be the oldest guy to run my hometown marathon. I want to be a runner for the rest of my life.
But the end will come. When it does, I hope I'm out there running on some random road with the sun setting into the lake in the background. The final finish line will be waiting and my friends I want to finish strong. No matter your pace, your distance, your weight. You are a runner. But are you a runner or are you a runner? Run for your lives my friends...be a runner.
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