Bold Moves

It’s easy to lose sight of why running is fun. Setting goals is fine but it can sometimes add pressure and soon, running becomes a stress adder instead of de-stressor. Goal setting is a basic element of my personality. I enjoy achieving goals, even falling short is okay in the quest for improvement. Last year though, I think I got a bit too caught up with my running goals and I ended up disappointed in Chicago. Even though I still managed to pull off a PR, it was a close one and after all of the extra work I had put in, I felt very disappointed.
The Chicago Marathon is an awesome race and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it. Now that many months have passed I have learned to be happy with my PR and accept that in the future, my best goal in destination race, especially a Major with 47k runners, is to just enjoy it and not push pace. Over the winter I focused on base building and staying injury free. I ran many long runs by feel rather than pace. I rediscovered why I run.
One of my favorite places to run is Smithville Lake. Beautiful paved trails there with one in particular that snakes through all of the major camping areas while skirting the lake. I love taking in the beauty of the lake, the wildlife and usually on my way back, the diversity of the campers who are waking up and getting active. I try to really soak it all in, to be in the moment. I stop letting thoughts rumble through my brain and just let my senses take over. Have you ever done that? Try that on your next walk or run. Kind of turn off your brain for a bit and focus on letting everything around you envelope you. It’s a very relaxing yet invigorating experience!
If you feel stuck in your exercise routine, trying going for a long walk or run and experiment with being in the moment. Don’t think about anything. Just experience. I’ve rediscovered my joy for running and am now really happy to start training for marathon #5, the Prairie Fire Marathon in Wichita this Oct. One big change this time though…no PR quest…race by feel. I’m training hard but racing relaxed. That’s the plan. Plus I’m racing for Team-in-Training again, 4th time. Very exciting to raise $$ for a great cause!