After reading Murakami's reflections on his own running, it got me thinking about what running actually means to me. Introducing running into my life has changed it more than I can imagine.
I truly understand what people mean when they talk about a running 'hump'. From October to December, I was not particularly enjoying running; I did it just because it was a free way to lose weight and keep fit. I'd signed up for the Barcelona Half Marathon in order to motivate myself to run; I was convinced that I would not regularly run unless I had a difficult race to train for. Then, a funny thing happened at the beginning of this year. I would wake up on the weekends (one where there had not been too many drinks consumed the night before), and actually look forward to running. I'd be excited about having an hour or two to myself, listening to random dance music, running alongside the ocean and, generally, feeling very peaceful. Might be a strange, slightly pretentious thing to say about a run, but it's become a way for me to align my often scrambled thoughts. As I have become a bit fitter, it's lead to a greater enthusiasm for exploring Barcelona; I have more energy to do more things, write more, go more places, see more people. I love it.
That feeling of having completed a race is also pretty immense; I can definitely see why people become addicted to races. I have only run two 10K races so far, but they have both been great. Bloody scary, but amazing experiences. People jittering around you, all wearing the same t-shirt, all anxious, waiting to run up to the start line, the cheers at each kilometre, the random well-wishers on the street, the crazy costumes...it's all a bit much to take in, but in a wonderful way. The half marathon is going to be a very different experience- less kilometre markers, slower pace, more anxiety at the beginning I should imagine. But, I'm still nervously excited- everything worth doing makes you a bit nervous, right?
Why am I writing these incredibly self-aware reflections? I guess I'd like to assure anybody thinking about running, but not particularly into the idea, that it can actually become achievable and enjoyable. Just train at your own pace, gradually push yourself to run a little further than before, and before you know it, you're surpassing even your own expectations. 3km one week, 5km the next, 6km the next...you'll be running in double figures before you know it. Running is certainly not for everybody- there are many awesome sports and types of exercise out there that serve the same purpose. However, I personally think I've finally found my sport- the first time in my life that I feel I'm actually achieving great things very quickly, and that I can be even better. No pity party intended here; I'm just taking a moment to be a little proud of myself, I suppose.
So, I'm very happy that I have found running- and, really, it's all thanks to my very good Norwergian friend Monica, who regularly runs and gave me the push that I needed. It feels like I have discovered a new country- now I just need to explore its outer limits. There's a whole lifetime to do that, of course...
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