So what has sparked this slurry of words that are about to spew forth onto the page? I'm getting annoyed by people who don't run, questioning whether running is healthy or not. Okay, okay, I realize that running three marathons in 14 days was definitely borderline crazy, and could have gone horribly wrong at any moment. That being said, I feel like I took steps to tackle that craziness as safely as possible.
- I cut back to only one other run during week
- Maxed out at 37 week total miles
- Listened to what my body was telling me (If I wasn't feeling good, I wouldn't have gone through with it)
- Had a sufficient amount of base training
- Weather (Other than Cleveland, heat wasn't an issue. If it had been forecasted for high temps in either of the other races, again, I would have slept in instead.)
I will say this; running isn't for everyone. Just like not everyone is meant to dunk a basketball, paint a mural, or find the cure for cancer. I do think that running is still pretty universal and almost everyone (baring the handicapped or otherwise physically unable), but that doesn't mean everyone's bodies are made to hold up to the pounding. We must be aware of our own limitations and boundries.
For me running has become a big part of my lifestyle, it's become a big part of how I define myself, so when I get questioned about the sanity of running, it's almos like my sanity is in question. Can you imagine if I were telling people I were training for a 100 miler...*cough*Spike*cough* (just kidding Spike, it's totally on my to do list)
I don't know how my body will be holding up when I'm 80, if I make it that far. I do know that I'm not going to look back with regret for not trying something when I had the chance. I'd rather be the guy in the retirement home who can't get out of bed, but has neverending memories and stories of adventures in my life, than the guy who played it safe and never truly got to experience the excitement of taking a chance.
There's a cliche quote I've heard, not sure who it's by, but it totally fits: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW-- What a Ride!"
I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of this ride, I hope you do to!
*This doesn't mean I have complete lack of regard for my personal safety. I'll make the jump, but you bet your ass I looked at the landing spot first. Okay so there was a little bit of word vomit there.
Do people give you a hard time about running and question your sanity for doing it?
It happens to me all the time! I get a lot of heat for running so much, especially since my body really doesn't seem to appreciate it, in all honesty. But it's fun, fulfilling, and no one who is sitting on their couch is ever going to have the right to say they are more healthy than me, even if they delusionally think so. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I am entitled to ignore them :)
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