Nips & Tucks - Learning to Run

Anybody can run, right? If you are being chased, you will run. It may not be a pretty sight and you may hurt yourself, but, given the right motivation, anybody can run.  That is why I think I love running the most. It really doesn't take much skill or equipment-- just determination to keep going -- ignoring the elements, your pain, and anything else screaming at you to stop.

Because I was going to get 'serious' about running, the first thing that was necessary was to go get professionally fitted for running shoes. The salesman had me put the shoes on and jog around the store to see how they felt. This is not a good measure for me, because I hardly can think about how the shoes feel when I am worried about what a doofus I look like jogging around the store. To end this humiliation, I go with the shoe I wanted anyway -- the prettiest ones.  And the ones that matched my new, 'pretty' bike. Very scientific, eh?

I've enjoyed running for many years, but I should probably call it 'jogging' -- or even 'hunched over fast walking'.  I was slow and clunky.  I remember telling S#1 I was running about an 12 minute mile and had a goal of a 10 minute mile.  He couldn't even suppress his laugh -- for a 25 year old, this was unbelievably slooooooow. I gave him a break, knowing that he wouldn't fully understand the feel of weak ankles, achy knees, and burning hips until many more years.

After a few months on the treadmill, I grew anxious to start road running. It was winter 2011 when I started running outside.  I would bundle up under multiple long sleeved shirts, 2 pairs of running pants (my butt would get frost nip if I didn't), gloves, and a colorful wool hat.  I wore a bright green light jacket so that I would be easily seen in the winter dusk. And since I had not yet perfected the 'snot rocket', my pockets would be full of kleenex.  This was a necessity since my nose runs faster than I do when I am outside breathing in 'fresh air'.

My knees really hurt -- had to wear a knee band/brace for a while to give them some support.  In fact, something usually hurts when I am running.  But, I found if you play an interesting enough podcast on your iPhone, you can't hear your body complaining.  However, I don't recommend running with headphones in both ears. Always keep one ear free to be able to hear the people, things, or animals that are bearing down on you from behind. Large dogs can be especially frightening when off leash and chasing you (PSA: Please keep your friggen dogs in your own yard!!).  One time a dog ran up behind me and nipped my behind! I'm sure it was just a love nip, but for a while after that I ran with a stick just in case 'lover dog' came back for more.

Quasimodo

I improved a bit on my run and decided I needed more challenge: hills.  Fortunately, in our area, one never has to go far to find killer hills. I found that it was better to tuck my head down and look just a couple feet out in front of me when tackling a never ending hill.  I reasoned that it was better to keep one's head tucked down and then be pleasantly surprised when the ground leveled out.  This resulted in TERRIBLE form and posture, of course. Not to mention, people probably thought I was a crazy, bundled up, homeless lady searching for a lucky penny.  It wasn't pretty. On some of the hills, I even had to <gasp> walk. I hated having to walk. I always felt like a failure if I had to walk.  Needless to say, all of this was wrong thinking. It is MUCH better to walk with head high and shoulders back; than run like Quasimodo. Better to walk with proper form, than run with poor form.

I got up to 5 miles in distance my first year of running.  I never did experience a 'runners high' in the sense of a feeling that I could run forever.  Yet, I often experienced a 'high' in the sense that after a run, I had sweated away the stresses of the day and my heart was happier & healthier for it.