What are YOU training for?!

That was the question posed to me as I was halfway through my mile swim today at the community pool.  I didn't quite know what to say as I'm not training for anything. And it got me thinking about the question. Is there an implication there that you shouldn't be working out unless you are training "for" something??  Have I portrayed that attitude when it comes to getting out and moving?  Whoa.  I almost decided that I should set a goal this year of no races just so that I can patiently learn how to "train" for nothing at all!  One of things that stands out among the group of people that I like to run and bike with now is that most of us do so because we truly enjoy it.  Sure, we do some races and we have goals, but those seem minor when it comes to just being what I call "out and about".  I don't know, is that a uniquely Iowa thing?  Or Is that something only I profess?  I'm not sure.  What I do know is that being able to exercise is something I enjoy. It gives me time inside myself, time to contemplate and sometimes, time to spend with some great friends. I really don't need anything else.  After my lane partner for the day posed what I'm sure was an innocent-enough question, I gave him a smirk, then a fist pump and a wink and said, "for life!"  I am training for life!  What about you?!

Seasons of running

Since my marathon training, I have come to a far greater appreciation for the process of running.  I find that I am noticing my progress (or lack of) differently, finding my "mood" or running gait to "feel" differently and I am paying attention to different details with every one.  The detail I'm thinking about today is "running seasons."  If you aren't a runner, you might be thinking of spring, summer,winter,fall; but I think most runners measure seasons differently.  It might even be that every runner has their own definition.  Here in Iowa, among the groups I run with most, we seem to have these seasons: training season, race season, fall season, holiday season and January/February season.  There might be a sixth season in between training and racing and fall called vacation season and all those might mesh together a little.  But, each has a distinct mindset.  For example, I happily did NOTHING during holiday season (November/December).  Well, at least "nothing" as defined by a runner:  I ran a 4-mile race on Thanksgiving day and did not "really" run again until New Years Day (that means that I might have run a couple times but no more than 2 miles and probably not outside).  Today, I am thinking about running in the dreaded winter season.  That's because today was a perfect winter running day.  It's in the 30's and the sun is shining.  The roads aren't quite clear, so sometimes you find yourself running in a sort of slush-like "sand" and everything is wet.  Running on a day like today is a double-hitter for me because I not only get the outdoor run endorphin hit, but I also get a great big dose of outdoor vitamin D, which I am sorely lacking.  My run today wasn't even a very good run.  I felt sluggish, slow, thirsty and out of breath.  But, here I am, post-run, basking in how awesome it was to do it.  Relishing even my very slow gait up 1st St hill and cursing that I let myself walk up "the bump" before that.  I'm smiling over the fact that our trio today included Heather, who hasn't been out with us since early fall.  And, I'm tickled that these running friends of mine share little pieces of news from their lives with me as we pass through the miles.  Running in Iowa on a day like today is glorious, no matter how good/bad the run is.  After all, tomorrow, the winter running season may actually feel like that and each of us will choose to either skip it altogether or forego the midwest elements for some mindless indoor alternative while we dream of what training season will need to be.  After all, the January part of winter season is for dreaming' not until the February part of winter running season do we need to commit to actual goals.

My journey to Des Moines

I recently went to Des Moines, IA for the sole purpose of getting out of my car and running 26.2 miles.  In case you didn't realize it, that is just a really long way to run.  And, getting to that point isn't so much a training program as it is a journey.  I almost think of it like that show The Amazing Race.  I could not have gotten from point A (capable of finishing -slowly - a half marathon) to Point B (twice that) without a little; okay, a lot of help!  I had friends who would run with me, relatives who made sure my kids were taken care during my longest training times and/or shuttled me around so I could start and finish in just the right spot.  It was pretty amazing.  It was humbling. Eventually, it was also painful, but the pain was part of the journey, part of the learning and in a sick, runner sort of way, I'm grateful for it.

I could expound on all sorts of details and the people who helped me experience them and yet, I don't want to create this long list. My first marathon wasn't a list, a checkbox; it was more.  I am truly amazed at what it took to get there and feel like I need to give some of that back - back to running.  I want to help others run their first; their first mile, their first 5K, their first whatever; or maybe the one after that. I'd like to give back by appreciating every single run, even the ones that suck. Right now, with some lingering back pain, I am giving back by being patient with the healing and strengthening and not pushing myself too hard and knowing someday, I'll be able to push hard again.  Most of all, I want to give back by encouraging those who run.  Some need cheers, others need someone to listen to their story, a few need someone to run next to.  I hope I can be all that and more because it was all those things that got me through that journey to Des Moines.  And, I am sure that I will ask for some combination of those things to keep me running for years to come.