Trails

So I’ve been digging into the relaxing wonder of trail running lately. Well, perhaps I should say that I’ve lightly scratched the surface by about 5 kms.

I’m not good at floating between goals. I enjoy it alright, but then a few weeks pass and I wonder why I’m running or the high from my last race wears off and I wonder What else? what else? It’s been (almost) two weeks since the Army Half, and I’ve done some short runs in the woods behind my house. I’ve done some medium runs on the streets through my city. And I’ve signed up for a 10k in November.

This makes me very excited for two reasons: It’s been over two years since I ran a 10k race (I know!) and I am so much stronger and faster, I’m bound to get a great PB. Also, yay for a race that doesn’t require me to bring gels!

I love distance running. Not because I’m fast or bound to win any race, but because long runs are the place where I dive back into myself and look around at what’s there. Long runs are the hours I spend alone that I find God and speak to him her. Long runs are when I tap into my strength, my beauty. And I don’t mean the physical – I mean that beautiful light that shines within all of us. The flame that we can feed and fan and watch grow until it takes over the other parts of our life and shines a light on them too. Long runs help me see beauty and feel compassion and empathy and love. Long runs are the time when I center myself, so that I can give again to others and feel the pleasure from it.

But long runs are tiring, and when my race is over, I’m always happy to leave them behind for a while. I’m getting better at reaching that peaceful place inside of me without putting two and a half hours into my sneakers, but that’s because once you find a place, it’s often easier to go back.

I’ll be running another half marathon in early December, so my current break from the long run is short. But until I decide it’s time to pack my gels and water bottles and resolve to push through a little pain, I’ll be enjoying the quick, short and fun trail runs in the woods.