My friends and I were asking that questions to irritate each other while we were running last week. Sometimes we throw that question to other runner passing us. We all laughed at it and after that we saw some laugh, smile or just relief in our faces. We are not alone in this course. We have our own distance to cover, 100km, 70km, 42km or just like me and my friends, 21km.
Some friends asked me if I like running, and I said I don’t. They looked surprised cos to them I perceived that I like running a lot hence I participated in running events. However, I don’t like it much as I need to go through a series of self questioning before I’m actually running. How long? Where to run? What time am I able to wake up? What to eat before?
And, I never been a fast runner or have a bull stamina, I’m at the opposite spectrum. I’m slow runner, as I like to look around enjoying the scenery. Maybe it’s a self-distract mechanics that my brain devises to motivate me keep running. Until one of my friend commented, why don’t you run faster since you can talk or chit chat. I tried to, without talking, but seems likely body has mechanics to auto-slow myself when I tried to run faster. Speed limit that is.
Why do I run?
Because of the last running event is kinda new to me, I did some research about this and that. (This is also a extra effort, beyond normal that I did about sports) as a result, in my Google app, articles related to running started to appear more and more. Yesterday was this and the day before was this.
After reading these posts, I have the same feeling exactly like how we asked question, are we there yet, during the run. “Ah, I’m not alone in this journey” those people had been there, done that and continue from there.
I told my sensei that I won’t be able to come to my Sunday class because I have a swimming event to join. My sensei asked if I’m good in swimming, and I said I’m not. She said, good, sometimes you just need to challenge yourself.
Do I really like challenge?
Don’t we have enough challenge at work? My sensei told us sometime ago that it’s important to have hobby, an activity you like to do during your free time. Why don’t I take running or swimming (or cycling) as leisure hobby?
I guess, at some point, the hardship that I have while doing those activities makes me more resilient to overcome challenges at work.
The memory
As we are sharing each other stash of photos, glam and unglam ones, and videos. I feel a rush of sensation about the event. My whole body is tingling to repeat that experience again. Well, despite that my black toe is still in recovery process, gradually becomes more and more black.
But I guess I’ll get used to this feeling. As I like to write/scribble a lot too, sometimes I feel nostalgic when I read them again.
Post run
The muscle pain was gone after 2 days. I guess that’s the average recovery day for me, I can step down from staircase properly on day 3. But I have other things to take care of. My stiff upper back and headache, which according to the traditional Chinese doctor, is caused by muscle inflammation. Hence the blood doesn’t circulate well and it causes all the stiff neck-shoulder and headache.
For the first time or rarely, I have a thought I rather desperate to run. A light one. Maybe I just want to feel good like the post-run day last week? I don’t know whether my two running buddies think the same. (Maybe it’s just me)
But I take it that recovery is also part of it. If I do it halfway, I probably won’t be able to do it for a long run due to injury and so on.
And part of me said, take it easy tiger. You still need to tidy up your room, settle the laundry (you still owe Salomon a good wash). This is your current “race” XD
So Kartika, we are not there yet.