Longing to Run

As the temperatures start to rise and the days become longer, I find my desire to run growing stronger and stronger. I want to feel the cool breeze on my skin. I want my checks to be flushed and even frozen. I want to feel the cold air pumping in and out of my lungs. I long to run.

This longing is a strange feeling for me. I remember too many torturous runs. There were so many times that I felt like throwing up, crying, or even quitting. I often despised running. I sometimes tolerated it. And every now and then I enjoyed it. Completing a nice long run lifted me up and made me feel invincible. Somewhere along the way I started to have a passion for running. Just before the Chicago marathon last year, I started to truly love and enjoy it. My feelings were indescribable.

The day after I ran the marathon, I got pregnant (yay!). I ran for the first 5 months of my pregnancy. My level of enjoyment, comfort, and passion for running declined rather quickly and I stopped only because I did not want to turn my passion into hate. So I am waiting until the day my body is ready to run again. When I run again it will be torturous, I may feel like crying or quitting but I will work through it because I know that through all of these feelings, my passion will grow and my experiences will be amazing.

So when you go out for your next run, remember to take a minute to enjoy the breeze and the feeling of your heart pumping , remember that every run is getting you closer to achieving your dreams and that you truly are becoming the person that you want to be. Running is more than just exercise; it becomes part of who you are. It transforms your body, your mind, and your soul.

I long to run.