I had the pleasure of running this morning with a wonderful group of people.  The fact that I can say that is really quite remarkable in and of itself.  I ran for longer than I have for many months and it wasn’t really all that long.  You see, my running has taken a different path of late (no pun intended).

I began running 30 years ago this coming November.  I would like to say that it has been smooth sailing, but it hasn’t.  I’ve had almost every running injury known to (hu)man.  Achilles tendonitis, calf issues, piriformis issues (!), SI Joint, lumbo-sacral issues.  I haven’t had plantar fasciitis or ITBand issues – so I can be thankful for that.  I’ve spent more money on physiotherapy, chiropractics and special Prolotherapy injections – than anyone I know.  Well – that might be an overstatement but I do know that I helped these professionals with the cost of amazing renovations and vacation homes.  But – what I have also experienced is – pleasure.

Pleasure?  What?  People that don’t run (or otherwise really push their bodies), don’t get it.  There is something about putting one foot in front of the other.  Finding a rhythm in breath and step.  The burning lungs, quads, calves.  The pleasure in the conversations, the scenery, or the solitude.  There is pleasure in it all.  Even when it hurts.  We runners – we learn to put new perspective on ‘pain’ or ‘hurt’.  Once you start running regularly – you perceive things that are uncomfortable with a new barometer.  You welcome discomfort – in a weird way.  If you can believe it – the thing I miss the most about running marathons is the muscle aches that I used to get the morning after the marathon.  I’m not sure what that means.  Most people would think that’s really weird.  I know my mom does.  I think my dad gets it.

So what’s it all mean?  Here’s what I think.  I think that until you really stretch yourself and welcome the pain, discomfort, unbalancing of really pushing yourself, your body or your mind – you’ll never really know what you are made of.  What you can tolerate.  How you might re-frame your life, your capacity.

What stretches you? Don’t know?  Go for a run.

LiveSplendidly!