[Blog Update from Running Ambassador Sarah Monte]
It is a few weeks before the St. Luke’s Half Marathon, but instead of worrying about race day performance, I am reflecting on the bigger picture. Yeah, sure, I’d love to finish strong and maybe a little faster than I had hoped, but in truth, it’s all about each and every training day. The days it was cold and rainy and feeling the sense of accomplishment for getting out there. The days it was beautiful and I felt so lucky to be able to be running outside with the sun on my face.
This race gives me the reason to get out there on the inclement days which allows me to truly enjoy the perfect days.
I am always a runner regardless of whether I’m ‘training’ or not. I like to answer the question, “why do you run?” When I run, my mind is clearer, my body is stronger, my sleep is better and I have a general state of well-being. 25 years ago, when I started, my running was a different animal. Today it is far more cerebral, meditative and modest.
I stopped listening to music and started listening to my surroundings and my body. I problem solve and plan. I start out slow and let my body determine my effort. It is not the fiery, exhilarated running of my past where I ran so hard, fast and long that I felt my heart ready to burst from the thrill of extreme effort. Sometimes I miss those days and at times one can observe me wistfully looking into the sky thinking about PRs and toned muscle, BUT back then I didn’t have 40+ half marathons and more than a half dozen marathons under my belt!
Running for me now is like a long term relationship. My understanding of the sport as it relates to me is profound and deep. I have days where I’m bored with it and feel like trying something new, but nothing has been able to give me the contentment that I feel from running.
With this gained knowledge and insight, my hope is that I can continue to sign up for, train and finish these races, year after year after year!