After a week on leave, and not running, I went out today for about three and a half miles. It felt good at the end, but that does not mean it felt good the whole way. But, that is the reminder of why I run.
This morning’s run was, somewhat surprisingly, difficult. It has been about two weeks since I have run. I ran in Korea before leaving and there was a busy week before I left where I missed running all together. So, it had been awhile since running at all. It was good to get back in the groove. The temperature was 61—Kansas City is having a record setting warm period right now. There were more hills than I remembered in Kansas—there are none on my route in Korea. All of these elements combined to put together a small challenging run as I went out this morning.
The reminder of why I run came as I was hitting my stride on the last leg of the run. Maintaining good running sequence helps to never be completely caught during a challenging run. Being out of running while traveling has put me behind a little so it took a couple of miles to get back to form. But, more importantly, I faced a small challenge when I went out. This was my reminder. Some people think that runners never face a challenge. The truth is, every run is a challenge. Some are bigger than others. Some are challenges that become a routine—facing the same challenge every day. These challenges become routine, but when you are away for just a short time—you see the challenge more clearly. It is good to feel the success of facing the challenge and overcoming. It is good to be reminded of the challenge and the ability to face them. It is good to run and return to facing the challenge of the day.