I run three days a week, on the average. I have Boot Camp on Monday and Wednesday evenings and I run Tuesdays and Thursdays with Jennifer. I also run alone on Saturday or Sunday, and do a home workout DVD on Fridays. I take one day off of working out a week, maybe two. I am not telling you this in any kind of I AM WORKOUT LADY, HEAR ME ROAR vein, but just stating facts. I work out almost every day because it feels good to be strong, and because I inherited a metabolism that is slower than my kids are when I ask them to clean up their toys.
I really do enjoy working out, especially Boot Camp and the Jillian workout DVDs I do once a week. (I don’t enjoy Jillian, per se, but she does lead a good workout.) I love cardio that makes my cheeks bright red and I love that I have defined deltoids and shoulders that have defined bumps (I’m lacking terminology, here). For the first time in my life, I like my THIGHS. I don’t love them, no, because that persistent inner thigh will hang on forever and ever (and ever). The crazy thing is, I’ve been wearing shorts (instead of knee-length capris) while working out for the past six months because I don’t feel like I have anything to hide. I don’t know if you understand how freeing that has been for me, but if you do, well. It’s kind of foreign and completely amazing.
As for the running thing, we have a love/hate relationship. I love being outside and enjoying nature, I love the cardio, I love how many calories it burns. Running does not come easy to me, though. I have a long torso and short legs. My body is better suited for weight training (see above) and I will never (ever ever) win a race, even if I was in the Seniors age bracket.
I’m not even kidding.
My lack of natural ability aside, I am never one to back down from a challenge. I ran a 10K in June and beat my previous personal record (despite having been stung by a wasp on my ankle). I ran another 10K race on July 1st and finally cracked the one-hour mark, despite battling an anxiety attack.
Two weeks from this coming Sunday (Canadian Thanksgiving!), I’ll be running in another 10K race. I’m hoping to beat my PR, but I’ll honestly be happy just to finish. So why do I keep signing up for races?
Because I’m inherently lazy when it comes to fitness. Don’t laugh.
I need to be in the routine, and I need to be pushed. I am in the routine of Boot Camp. In the four years since I started, I have only missed it when I was violently ill or out of town. It is part of what I do, and missing it is not an option (unless I’m violently ill or out of town). As for running, I will easily lapse into running my usual 5K if I have no reason to do otherwise. I have been signing up for 10K races so that I am forced to do longer runs, regardless of the run time, so that I push myself a little harder. I am not built to be a runner, I am not a fast runner, and I do not have the fancy running gear (except for my shoes. Good shoes are KEY). I feel like an impostor 95% of the time and talk about it in the Canadian question-accent.
I run a few days a week? It’s hard, but kind of great? You should try it?
It’s one of those things where I have a hard time stating that I am one, because I didn’t get a degree in it and don’t have any initials to prove that I am one. See also: Writing and photography. I may not be a Runner with a capital R, but I run. Slowly, but surely. Faithfully. Persistently. Bi-weekly. Consistently. And sometimes, wind-suckingly.
I’ll still keep keep on keeping on, hopefully for years to come.
Comments:
All the best for your race! I’m sure you will do well.
I call myself a runner, even though I’m really S L O W and I don’t run everyday (or even 3 times a week, at the moment). Still, I never used to be able to run and now I can, so I call myself one. Hehe.
You ARE a runner. Even if it doesn’t come naturally to you, you still do it regularly and find joy in it. And honestly, a 10k in under an hour isn’t something everyone can do so own it! If you are interested in getting faster you could incorporate some speed work into your plan. I’m not a coach or anything but if you want some suggestions feel free to email me. I’ve been running since middle school (with a break during college but I’ve been back at it for 7 years now).
I read a lot of running related blogs and one theme seems to be that people who start running later in life (i.e.; not during their school years) tend to have trouble with that runner label. You run. Therefore, you are a runner. You don’t need any fancy gear (other than shoes) so that doesn’t make you any less of a runner.
Sorry to ramble on..
I agree, you are a runner. If I can say I am a runner, then so can you! I feel the same way about running and have the same reason for entering races. If I don’t, I stop running altogether. There really is nothing better than running faster than you ever have before. It’s all relative because I swear a turtle passed me in my last race. Show off.
I’m considering taking my 5K runs to 10K because I need a new challenge. I can totally see myself getting into a routine now because it’s just easy. But I get the need for motivation to kick your butt!
And that pesky inner thigh thing: Totally genetic. I’ve always had it, even when I weighed 110 lbs. and had a 24-inch waist. It is what it is.
Yes, you are a runner. And can I say that I’m a runner, too? I run (or try to run) 3 times per week. And I have to sign up for a race to keep going more than 3 miles those 3 times. I also bike and swim and play hockey and those are fun, but it’s the running that really really really makes me feel good, you know?
(and I loath Jillian, but just requested three of her DVDs from the library… might be all I can do in the dead of winter)
I was nodding through a lot of this (of course not running right now because of my ongoing, stupid, jerky Achilles issues but still). We have a lot in common.
i so so get this.
me too.
ditto.
yes!
…nods head…
after a long hiatus, i’m beginning again to do “my” 5k in october i’ve done several times. i enjoy that i have run in 5ks. i do not enjoy getting there.
but i gotta say…. the 10k i signed up for ALREADY that doesn’t occur til’ march has been canceled.
and due to my odd health issues that cropped up at the beginning of this year, that same race i was forced to not run this past march.
somehow all that’s a tad disappointing.
i’m hoping to get back in the swing of everything like i did last fall/early winter b/c i think there was like a 3 day period of my life where i-ahem-LIKED exercising. whuuuu??
good luck to you!!!!
I totally need to register for races to stay consistent. This fall? I didn’t register for a race even though I was going to and guess how much running routine has fallen off track? Yeah. Time to look for a race I guess!
Good luck on your Thanksgiving race
“Because I’m inherently lazy when it comes to fitness. Don’t laugh.”
I did laugh!
You are not lazy. You are very admirable and inspiring.
I got through week six of the eight week couch to 5 k and was feeling great and then….
I don’t know but it’s been weeks.
I went to my very first boot camp last Friday and hated and loved it. But now it’s Tuesday night and I haven’t been back to the gym since.
I need to get my butt back on the fitness wagon.
Dude. You are a runner. A Runner.